Two environmental groups are giving local residents and elected officials an opportunity to visit the site of a proposed reservoir that could be built in the Dawson Forest Wildlife Management Area.

On Nov. 6, the Coosa River Basin Initiative and Georgia Conservancy will lead a 1.5 mile hike to Shoal Creek.

Wildlife biologists from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the University of Georgia will join hikers on the trip to examine fish species in the river.

The hike begins at 11 a.m., and is limited to the first 30 people to register. If there are enough participants, a second hike will begin at 2 p.m. Pre-registration is required to participate. Visit www.coosa.org or call (706) 232-2724.

According to its Web site, the Coosa River Basin Initiative is a “grassroots environmental organization based in Rome, with the mission of informing and empowering citizens to protect, preserve and restore North America’s most biologically diverse river basin.”

The Georgia Conservancy is a statewide, nonprofit organization that “collaborates, advocates and educates to protect Georgia’s natural environment.”