Jordan Tyler Wallace grew up listening to stories from his father and other firefighters in Dawsonville. So, when it came time to decide on an Eagle Scout project, it was natural for him to contact Lanier Swafford, Chief of the Dawson County Emergency Services. Swafford shared with him that they had been wanting to place mile markers on the Etowah River for a long time.

The reason I chose this project is because I wanted to do something that would really help people, said Wallace in an email. Something that would really benefit our community.

The projected included marking 10 miles of the Etowah river starting at mile 12.5. The green signs are made with reflective lettering so that even in the dark, emergency services are able to quickly respond.

I have been down the Etowah before, and I know how easy it is to get lost, and in an emergency there would have been no way to know where you were for the emergency services to find you, he added.

Chief Swafford echoed Wallaces concerns.

Before this project, if you were on the river from Hwy 9 south up to Kelly Bridge, and you had a medical emergency, we wouldnt know how to find you, said Swafford. This provides us with a great tool so that we know where to plan access and we can respond much more quickly, he added.

Locations of the signs are recorded with GPS coordinates at the Dawson County E-911 center. The markers are placed every half-mile and are positioned in the most visible locations such as the side of a tree or along the shoreline.

Swafford said he hopes to partner with other Eagle Scouts like Wallace who are willing to adopt sections of the Etowah river.

Jordans goal of doing something to benefit the community has certainly been achieved, added Swafford.