Nearly 500 acres of land outside of Atlanta now belong to the state for conservation.

The Department of Natural Resources has long eyed about 469 acres in Dawson County.
 
That’s because the tract connects two previously separate sections of land of the Dawson Forest Wildlife Management Area. 
 
In announcing the acquisition Wednesday, Gov. Sonny Perdue said the property protects a vital segment of Amicalola Creek that’s home to 27 native fish species. 
 
Three of them are endangered.
 
A mix of public and private funding went to buy the acreage.
 
Together, the three contiguous tracts amount to 15,000 protected acres.

Tags: fish, conservation, Dawson County, amicalola creek, dawson forest wildlife management area, endangered