More than just a pretty face
The Rocky Face Ridge is known for the beautiful views in Dalton, but it is actually crucial for protecting our community
What is community resiliency?
Community resiliency refers to a community's ability to effectively prepare for, prevent, withstand, and recover from weather-related disasters such as flooding, erosion, landslides, and more. The more resilient a community is, the more successful that community will be. The more resilient a community is, the less risk to people's lives and property and the more successful that community will be.
How do we improve community resiliency?
To improve Dalton's resilience, we can use take preventive nature-based measures like planting more trees and creating green spaces to absorb excess water during heavy rains. Additionally, updating zoning regulations to limit development in high-risk areas can also help reduce the impact of potential disasters.
"Weather by definition is the state
of the atmosphere including temperature, atmospheric pressure, wind, humidity, precipitation, and cloud cover. Weather has a high impact on the quality of our lives and the environment that surrounds us. In contrast to weather, climate represents long-term averages of these weather conditions. With the changing climatic conditions our region is experiencing, Rocky Face Ridge plays an important role in protecting our community from harmful changes such as hotter summers and more intense and frequent rainstorms."
-Chris Stearns, Dalton Tree Board
How the Rocky Face Ridge impacts our resiliency
The undisturbed forests of Rocky Face Ridge protect our community from threats such as intense rainstorms, heat waves, and droughts. Its forested slopes act as Dalton's natural air conditioner, offering cooling relief during scorching summer days and reducing the urban heat island effect caused by surfaces such as parking lots, roads, and rooftops. Beyond just keeping us comfortable, they play a crucial role in preventing flooding by absorbing excess rainwater and reducing runoff. As this water soaks into the ground, it recharges the groundwater levels and helps to ensure our streams keep flowing, even during dry periods and droughts. Additionally, their robust root systems help stabilize the soil, guarding against erosion and landslides, thus safeguarding the integrity of our homes and local waterways. This ensures clean water for both our community and the diverse stream life that call this area home. Forests also allow our community to do its part in slowing climate change by absorbing heat-trapping carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it in the roots and trunks of trees.
