https://www.bent-tree.com//LW/Habitat

Lake and Wildlife partners with BTCI on large projects but relies on fundraising for much of its day to day operational budget. Donations can be made to Keep Bent Tree Beautiful as a line item when annual homeowner assessments are paid. There are several community wide fundraisers throughout the year including Hanging Basket and Poinsettia Sales, BT Days at Whispering Springs Nursery, Direct Sheets, and Tamarack Treasures.

Treat yourself or give a gift of Hibernate Bed Sheets.  Share with your friends and Family as anyone can take advantage of this great deal.
*** Sheets come in 6 sizes & 14 beautiful colors ***
Order directly at:  https://www.directshipfundraiser.com/benttreelw/sheets
 * a portion of all sales go to Lake & Wildlife*
 

The Hiking Club provides opportunities to residents to participate in planned and guided hikes throughout the year for exercise and the sheer enjoyment of hiking our beautiful countryside.  These are usually day hikes, with occasional overnights. Join the mailing list for the most up-to-date information on upcoming hikes and events.

Elden Bonnette is the Lake & Wildlife liaison.
Miguel Rodriguez sends group communication via a NEW EMAIL address.
[email protected] 
 

Keep Bent Tree Beautiful (KBTB) is made up of property owners who donate their time and talent to promote the natural beauty of Bent Tree. With the monetary donations received, KBTB work together to develop, organize, and install annual “color plantings” in our common areas, which includes weeding, trimming, and mulching. We also identify and improve areas requiring clean-up throughout Bent Tree.  We work in harmony with the Bent Tree Grounds and Maintenance staff, our General Manager, and the Lake & Wildlife Committee. With the monetary donations that are received, we develop, organize, and install major landscaping renovations while also identifying and working on areas requiring clean up throughout Bent Tree.

KBTB ARCHIVES

The Lake and Streams subcommittee works to promote the best possible conditions for Lake Tamarack and surrounding streams. Many uses are considered, including  swimming, fishing, wildlife habitat, and water recreation activities. Factors indicative of lake and stream health are monitored following processes established by GA Adopt a Stream. Results are recorded in the Adopt a Stream database and are reported to Bent Tree residents and leadership. 

2022 Fish Study Summary
2022 Echo Article about Fish Study
Current Fishing Policy

A resident guide to Fishing Lake Tamarack Updated April 2023

Large one-time projects that require significant resources are accomplished with the leadership of L&W Special Projects. Often these initiatives are a joint effort of L&W, BTCI, and the Bent Tree Foundation. 2020 saw the building of the Sallie Doss Nature Center pavilion, in 2021 a kayak launch was installed, and currently an accessible walkway is being built at Sallie Doss.

Lake and Wildlife members are busy throughout the year maintaining and improving our wonderful place, but we also take time to enjoy each other’s company. The annual Fish Fry features delicious catfish filets, hushpuppies and covered dishes and desserts provided by L&W members. December brings the annual Holiday party that begins with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres followed by dinner. We also host an annual Employee Appreciation Day, providing all Bent Tree employees with a hearty lunch and words of thanks.
 

Bent Tree is a lovely community carved from old farm sites and mountain wilderness. To really know Bent Tree best, hike the trails along streams and Lake Tamarack enjoying spring dogwoods, mountain laurels and fall foliage. There are four trails in Bent Tree: Sallie Doss, Forever Memorial, Denny Ridge and Beaver Run. They are all relatively short but range from easy to strenuous, each offering a unique hiking experience. The Trails committee organizes Trail Clean up and maintenance workdays to maintain these community trails.

Download Hiking Brochure
Chestnut Cove Trail System

The L&W Wildlife team monitors wildlife and wildlife habitat conditions within the community, reports to the community and BTCI leadership, and partners with wildlife management agencies such as the Georgia DNR.  We believe that good wildlife management is based on solid biological best practices and information, must include the needs and management of humans, must consider habitat at large, and should not be narrowly focused on a single species of wildlife. 

In emergency situations please call public safety for assistance. To learn more about injured or potentially orphaned wildlife : ​What to do for injured wildlife

Wildlife Wednesdays! 

Other useful references :
Georgia Department of Natural Resources
Georgia Audubon Society
How to identify a feather
BearWise