Southern Cross Ranch Mitigation Bank

Southern Cross Ranch Mitigation Bank is an approved U.S. Army Corps of Engineers mitigation bank providing stream mitigation credits for all types of stream and buffer impacts in the Upper Chattahoochee River Service Area. The Bank borders over three miles of the Chestatee River in Lumpkin County, Georgia. The Bank includes 650 acres of riparian buffer and 61,400 linear feet of direct tributaries to the Chestatee River, specifically Town Creek, Bells Branch, and Ralston Branch. Timber harvest and intensive mining took place on the site from the middle 1800’s to middle 1900’s, resulting in degraded and channelized streams. Mitigation actions to improve habitat and reduce erosion include Priority 1 and 2 channel and riparian restoration and preservation.

The restored stream habitat will benefit a range of aquatic species and improve water quality in the Chestatee River. The Bank is within a Georgia Department of Natural Resources High Priority Watershed for species conservation and the area has also been identified for conservation by the State Wildlife Action.