In late January, Atlanta’s Department of Watershed Management (DWM) broke ground on a massive $145 million stormwater diversion system along the North Fork of Peachtree Creek near I-85 and Lindbergh Drive. The system will hold up to 15 million gallons of combined runoff and raw sewage, so sewage won’t spill into and pollute the creek during heavy rains.

As you walk along the South Fork trails at Zonolite, Peavine, or the Confluence, keep your eye out for flowers that are in bloom right now.  If you’re stumped about the name of a plant, you can check out the plant on the INaturalist app.

How clean is the water of the South Fork of Peachtree Creek? People ask us this question often, and although the creek is safe for wading most of the time, the answer depends on many factors. The time of year, recent rainfall, and water levels all change what is going on in urban streams. Sewage spills, active construction, and other activities also impact our waterways.

Although it’s not yet officially summer in Atlanta, you may be ready to discover a place different from your usual haunts for picnics or walks. The South Fork Conservancy has a few suggestions that may be just what you’re looking for. This month we visited two metro area greenspaces that border the South Fork of Peachtree Creek where you can get away for part of your day or weekend.