Phinizy Swamp Nature Park - Wastewater into Wetlands

William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder of God’s creation. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message

Anhinga darter bird in cattail wastewater treatment marsh at Phinizy Swamp Nature Park and Center for Water Sciences in Richmond County, Augusta, Georgia USA. Anhinga anhinga is a water bird also known as snake bird or water turkey.

What a concept: turn our wastewater into a wetland! In a world that historically hasn’t been friendly to the environment, at least the last few decades have shown some progress in preserving and caring for the natural home gifted to us by our Creator. One such place is the Phinizy Swamp Nature Park and Center for Water Sciences in Augusta, Georgia.

According to their website, the City of Augusta was ordered to upgrade its wastewater treatment system in 1993.  Instead of releasing treated wastewater into Butler Creek, a series of wetland cells was created to further purify the water before being released into the Savannah River.
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Other than a few pumps and a slight odor, you’d never realize it was a water treatment facility. And the waterfowl definitely don’t seem to mind that is a constructed wetland. “Build it and they will come!”… Phinizy Swamp is loaded with herons, egrets, ducks and other water-loving creatures. The manmade dikes topped with gravel are perfect for hiking, biking, birding or running. ​

New Year's Day at Phinizy Swamp Nature Park; Richmond County, Georgia
- Clouds and sun, with a high near 81; wind gusts as high as 25 mph.
- Sunrise 7:32 am; Sunset 5:31 pm
- Daylight Hours: 9 hours, 59 minutes (+31s)
- Moon: 1.8% Waning Crescent

Boardwalk trail over the Butler Creek floodplain panorama at Phinizy Swamp Nature Park and Center for Water Sciences in Richmond County, Augusta, Georgia USA. Cypress trees, Spanish Moss, blue sky, clouds and cattail marsh grasses. Phinizy is an environmental wastewater treatment facility and waterfowl impound.

Pied-billed Grebe water bird, Podilymbus podiceps, swimming in green marsh. Phinizy Swamp Nature Park and Center for Water Sciences in Richmond County, Augusta, Georgia USA. Phinizy is an environmental wastewater treatment facility and waterfowl impound.

American Coot water bird, Fulica americana, . Phinizy Swamp Nature Park and Center for Water Sciences in Richmond County, Augusta, Georgia USA. Phinizy is an environmental wetlands wastewater treatment facility and waterfowl impound.

Anhinga darter bird in cattail wastewater treatment marsh at Phinizy Swamp Nature Park and Center for Water Sciences in Richmond County, Augusta, Georgia USA. Anhinga anhinga is a water bird also known as snake bird or water turkey.