Martha Williams, Director U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service Department of Interior
1849 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20240

RE: Proposed Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Boundary Expansion

Dear Director Williams,

On behalf of the Sierra Club, we want to express our enthusiastic support for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service’s (FWS) Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge (ONWR) Boundary Expansion Proposal. This critical initiative aligns with the longstanding need to protect and preserve the historic, ecological, and cultural significance of the Okefenokee Swamp—a globally recognized treasure.

The Okefenokee Swamp holds a profound history dating back thousands of years. It was originally inhabited by Native American tribes, including the Timucua and the Muscogee (Creek), who named the swamp “Okefenokee,” meaning “land of trembling earth.” The swamp’s cultural significance extends through its role as a sanctuary for escaped slaves who sought freedom through the Underground Railroad. Later, it became a critical area for environmental advocacy in the 20th century, leading to the establishment of the ONWR in 1937 as a means to protect this unique ecosystem.

Today, the ONWR is the largest wildlife refuge east of the Mississippi River and one of the largest intact freshwater ecosystems on Earth. With its significant cultural, ecological, and economic value, the refuge attracts more than 600,000 visitors annually, contributing over $90 million to nearby communities.

The Okefenokee Swamp is a globally significant freshwater wetland system and a refuge for numerous imperiled species, including the red-cockaded woodpecker, gopher tortoise, and indigo snake. Importantly, it serves as the headwaters for two vital rivers: the St. Marys and Suwannee Rivers. The Suwannee River, in particular, flows southward into Florida, nourishing the ecosystems of North Central Florida and beyond. Its waters recharge aquifers, sustain springs, and provide essential freshwater to Florida’s wildlife and communities. The Suwannee is a lifeline for agriculture, recreation, and local economies, and its protection begins at its source in the Okefenokee Swamp.

The Suwannee-St. Johns Group of the Sierra Club represents a region that encompasses North Central Florida, including the areas that depend on the Suwannee River and its connected wetlands and springs. This area includes iconic water systems such as the Ichetucknee, Santa Fe, and Wacissa Rivers, which are integral to the ecological health, recreational opportunities, and cultural heritage of our region. Protecting the Okefenokee Swamp and its role as a headwater system is essential to ensuring the health of these interconnected waterways and the communities that rely on them.

Beyond its ecological role, the swamp serves as a vital carbon sink, storing an estimated 400 million cubic meters of peat. This ancient peat, some of which is over nine feet thick and thousands of years old, is critical to mitigating climate change. Even a slight decrease in water levels could expose the peat, increasing the likelihood of devastating wildfires that would release vast amounts of carbon dioxide.

The FWS’s proposed boundary expansion includes approximately 22,000 acres of privately owned lands adjacent to the ONWR. A key area within this proposal is Trail Ridge, a geologic feature that acts as a natural hydrologic dam, protecting the swamp’s waters. This ridge is also home to habitats that support endangered species and is essential for restoring longleaf pine forests. However, these lands face an imminent threat from Twin Pines Minerals LLC, which seeks to mine titanium on Trail Ridge. Mining this area would irreparably damage the delicate ecosystem, mirroring a similar proposal by DuPont in the 1990s, which was ultimately withdrawn after significant public opposition.

Expanding the ONWR boundaries would provide permanent protection for these lands, preventing future mining threats and preserving the swamp’s ecological integrity. The proposal is critical to the conservation of this irreplaceable wetland system, which holds immense value not only for biodiversity but also for its historical, cultural, and economic contributions.

For these reasons, the Sierra Club strongly supports the approval of the ONWR Boundary Expansion Proposal. Thank you for your attention to this vital matter.

 Respectfully,

Sarah Younger
Sierra Club Suwannee-St. Johns Group
Executive Committee