Summer 2013 A publication of Chattahoochee Riverkeeper (CRK) RiverCHAT www.chattahoochee.org New campaign focuses on industrial stormwater pollution ook no further than Proctor Creek, a general permit under the starting in downtown Atlanta, for the National Pollutant Discharge Limpact of industrial stormwater pollu- Elimination System (NPDES) tion on nearby streams and neighborhoods. every five years that sets Recently selected as one of 11 waterways in out requirements for best the nation to participate in the EPA’s Urban management practices, Waters Federal Partnership, this tributary inspections, water quality to the Chattahoochee has long been plagued monitoring and reporting. by polluted runoff from sources such as CRK participated as the sole landfills, auto salvage yards, chemical and environmental representa- concrete plants. tive in the stakeholder group that negotiated and helped Controlling industrial stormwater runoff is a strengthen the permit, which daunting challenge throughout the Chat- was issued in 2012. tahoochee River basin. Our watershed is home to thousands of industrial facilities With thousands of industrial that operate equipment and store materials facilities across the state CRK’s Jess Sterling samples runoff from an industrial site in the Proctor Creek watershed. outside, which are exposed to precipitation. currently managed by a single Clean Water Act, or that it may be failing to In fact, state and federal environmental state employee, EPD is woe- meet the terms of the permit. regulatory agencies have identified the fully understaffed to ensure compliance and pollutants of concern from more than 28 enforce the permit. CRK has been told that Since last fall, we have communicated with types of industrial activities. For example, the agency does not have the resources to nearly 200 problem facilities and already food-processing facilities may discharge fully implement the permitting program. Our seen encouraging progress from our efforts. bacteria; auto salvage yards may discharge research shows that there may be as many An asphalt manufacturing plant in Gwinnett oil and grease; metals manufacturing may as 500 unpermitted industrial facilities in County has developed a pollution control discharge zinc, arsenic and chromium; the Chattahoochee watershed, and others plan and installed best management prac- and agricultural chemical production may that have filed paperwork but are failing to tices. A large auto salvage yard in Fulton discharge nutrients. comply with terms of the permit. County has hired an environmental consul- tant to help them comply with the law. Nearly 200 industries contacted In Atlanta’s Utoy Creek watershed, a metal- Given the inability and/or unwillingness of plating company that discharges into an im- the EPD to enforce the law, CRK is using this paired water body is taking steps to comply new regulatory tool (the permit) to help with an impending effluent limitation. And, clean up the Chattahoochee watershed. Our in the Proctor Creek watershed, a paving focus: industries that are not meeting water company has made visible progress to stop quality standards and are located near resi- the flow of contaminated stormwater from dential communities, recreation areas and its property. drinking water supplies. Since we expanded our patrol jurisdiction throughout the entire CRK will continue to help enforce the clean CRK uses Google Earth imaging to identify problem facilities. Chattahoochee basin in 2012, we are now water laws by advising these industries of investigating problem industries in the practices they must follow to keep our CRK has found that hundreds of industrial middle and lower sections of the watershed, river clean. operations in the Chattahoochee River wa- in addition to the upper section. tershed are not fully complying with clean water laws. In response, we’ve launched our With the use of advanced mapping tools Inside This Issue: latest initiative, “Protecting Streams and such as Google Earth, water quality test- ing, site visits, research and agency file Communities from Industrial Pollution.” Developer muddies water Page 3 Our goal: achieve compliance from 100 in- reviews, we are identifying facilities using dustrial facilities within four years. this comprehensive approach. Armed with this information and the regulatory require- Chattahoochee river cane Page 4 State program understaffed ments applicable to each facility, our intent is to work collaboratively with industrial Memorable river journey Page 5 To minimize the impact of stormwater dis- operators to achieve results. We notify each Drought harms farming, fishing Page 6 charges on waterways, the Georgia Envi- industry we identify that it may be discharg- ronmental Protection Division (EPD) issues ing without a permit in violation of the Bill pits north vs south Georgia Page 7 Staff Sally Bethea Executive Director and Riverkeeper Reflections Tammy Bates Outings Manager My 92-year-old mother recently to protect public recreation on the moved to nursing care, and I be- Chattahoochee River from sewer Juliet Cohen General Counsel came the custodian of our family lines, roads and development. history: dozens of large envelopes, Laura Hartt Spotting zoning notices along the Water Policy Director bulging albums and even a small “horse-hair” trunk, all filled with river corridor, concerned citizens Duncan Hughes learned that both Fulton and Headwaters Outreach Coordinator handwritten deeds, certificates, Cobb Counties had plans to run Bonnie Jackson wills and other memorabilia from sewer lines along the river. Fulton Operations Manager the late 1700s to the 1940s. County’s plan called for a ledge Becca Klein In this unorganized jumble of to be blasted out of the Palisades’ Development Director births, deaths, news stories, old cliffs, above the water line, to ac- Mary Manson Receptionist photos and family trees, I have commodate the pipes. found an amazing woman — Michael Meyer Friends of the River — or as Watershed Protection Specialist my grandmother, Helen Cowles Whitehead. as they were informally called, David Lee Simmons “river rats” — stopped the Fulton Communications Director Born in New York City in 1880 and County sewer line. Their river Jill Sistino educated there in physical educa- protection efforts led to the pas- Regional Outreach Manager Helen Cowles Whitehead tion and social work, my grand- sage of a precedent-setting state Jessica Sterling mother moved to Norfolk, Va., as the land use law (the 1973 Metropoli- Program Assistant bride of a physician in 1909, and got involved in her tan River Protection Act), which has helped ensure a Jason Ulseth community. Today, we would call her an activist. green corridor for much of an 84-mile section of the Technical Programs Director Chattahoochee in the metro region. Christina York By the time she died in 1948, a few years before I Database Manager was born, she had helped improve public welfare In 1978, the river rats stood in the Rose Garden when Board of Directors programs throughout the city — from better-quality President Jimmy Carter signed the law establishing Rebecca Cranford and reasonably priced food to programs for soldiers’ the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, Sarah Dearman families and juvenile justice advocacy. a protected playground. Today, more than 3 million Denise Donahue people boat, fish, paddle, picnic, walk and jog in this In 1913 — exactly one hundred years ago — my grand- Gary Gaines national park every year — many of them unaware of mother helped establish, and for years supervised, Billy Hall the history behind the creation of this park that pro- Norfolk’s public playground program in five parks. The Victor Haydel vides 65 percent of the green space in metro Atlanta. first-ever municipal playground was installed in New Hugo Hernandez York City just a dozen years before Norfolk decided to Government and business may offer essential support Bill Hoffman provide its youth with a safe place to play, exercise, for needed improvements, but the germ for those vi- Christine Hung learn games and compete in a friendly atmosphere. sions is almost always found in the actions of individu- Dr. Victor Ibeanusi als and small groups. Communities depend on the Richard Jacobson Child and family welfare advocates, including my inspired actions of ordinary citizens, like the river rats Dave Kirkpatrick grandmother, saw the immense benefits offered by and my grandmother. Steve O’Day this innovative new concept — the public playground. Jamie Pryor David Shaffer Sixty years later in Atlanta, another group of visionary Charles Smith activists got involved in their community. They rallied Catherine Woodling Executive Director and Riverkeeper J. Rutherford Seydel II, Chair Our mission is to advocate and secure the protection and stewardship of the Chattahoochee Watershed Moment River, its tributaries and watershed. Atlanta Office The “metro Hooch,” especially around Powers Ferry, is the 3 Puritan Mill closest escape to a river I have. I can be surrounded by God’s 916 Joseph Lowery Blvd. amazing beauty of nature and mountain scenery in the middle Atlanta, GA 30318 of a big city. Most days I paddle, I have the river all to myself. 404-352-9828 Jackson Thompson, my son (pictured), has been near rivers since Gainesville Office he was born. He has watched me from the shore since the age of 615 F Oak Street Suite 1000 2 weeks old. Most people use a baby tub to wash their child, but Gainesville, GA 30501 I used to fill up the bathtub and float him in his baby tub. 770-531-1064 — Rick Thompson, Sandy Springs LAGRANGe Office 35 Lafayette Square What’s your “Watershed Moment”? Email your hi-res color image of the river, and about LaGrange GA 30240 100 words about its inspiration, to [email protected]. 706-882-3701 www.chattahoochee.org www.getthedirtout.org 2 River CHAT State Supreme Court denies petition On Patrol In March, the Georgia Supreme Court denied CRK’s petition for review of our appeal of a wastewater discharge permit issued to Forsyth For further details on CRK’s investigations and enforcement actions, go to County for its new Shakerag sewage plant. We worked for more www.chattahoochee.org/on-patrol. than four years with state officials and in the courts to change the per- mit to set stricter limits on the amount of bacteria and phosphorous that Developer threatens water will be discharged into the river. A stronger permit would have better protected the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, quality in Hall County ensured that the river continues to bring millions of dollars in recreation and tourism spending to Georgia, and saved treatment costs for the ast spring, CRK received a Hotline call from a municipalities that take water from the river downstream of Forsyth citizen in Hall County about a 61-acre site near County’s discharge point. While we are very disappointed, we will LLake Lanier that was being cleared without continue to fight for strong permits to protect our river. implementing any best management practices (BMPs) to prevent silt from flowing into nearby streams and the lake. During a site visit, we confirmed the clearing activities and resulting damage to streams. Nutrient standards proposed America’s Home Place (AHP), the property owner, for Lanier, West Point Lakes claimed that they met a forestry exemption within The Georgia EPD has been studying Lake the state’s Erosion and Sediment Control Act and Lanier and West Point Lake for several years therefore were not required to adhere to stream buf- to develop new watershed models to better fer or BMP requirements. After discussions with the understand how nutrient pollution reaches the Georgia Forestry Commission, Hall County and the lakes and, importantly, how it can be con- Hotline caller, BMPs for forestry activities were even- trolled. The Lanier effort was undertaken as a tually installed on the property. Since AHP claimed result of the lake’s “impaired” status and a legal Hall seeks state funding a forestry exemption and harvested timber within a requirement to develop a plan to limit nutrients entering the lake. The West Point Lake effort for Glades reservoir stream buffer, Hall County placed the property under was requested by the city of LaGrange to a three-year moratorium for any development. The Hall County Commission revisit the nutrient standard set in the mid-1990s submitted an application to the that was based on insufficient data. The models At the same time, we learned about another AHP site Georgia Environmental Finance have led to proposed changes in the standards in Hall County where the company requested and Authority in April for $14.5 that are expected to be approved in late sum- million in funding from the received permission to pipe over several hundred feet mer. CRK has been actively involved in the lake Governor’s Water Supply of a stream in order to build a commercial develop- assessments and will now focus on implementa- Program to support Glades ment close to Lake Lanier. tion of measures to reduce nutrient loadings Reservoir; this sum represents from sewage plants and polluted stormwater. When residents in an adjacent neighborhood ex- a fraction of the $130 million pressed concerns about potential polluted stormwa- estimated cost of the 850- acre real estate amenity lake ter flowing from this site during construction, CRK’s masquerading as a water supply technical programs director, Jason Ulseth, hosted a project. The most current version “Get The Dirt Out” Workshop for the neighbors. At of Glades depends on the with- the workshop, he taught several dozen residents how drawal of more than 100 million to spot and report water quality violations at con- gallons per day (mgd) from the struction sites. CRK will be closely monitoring both Chattahoochee upstream of Lake AHP sites in Hall County to ensure compliance with Dive into summer with the Swim Guide Lanier and storage of that water clean water laws. CRK has joined forces with our fellow waterkeepers in the reservoir to yield up to to provide the latest information on recreational 49.8 mgd. While the project safety at beaches and other water locations across is undergoing an extensive North America — including the Chattahoochee. environmental review by federal The Waterkeeper Swim Guide website and agencies, CRK continues to app provide the latest information to keep you in- evaluate the ever-changing formed about two locations within the Chattahooch- project plans and raise ques- ee River National Recreation Area: Medlock tions about operations, cost and Bridge and Paces Ferry Road. Samples are environmental impact. collected weekly at these locations and analyzed in conjunction with a long-time partnership with the National Park Service, U.S. Geological Survey and CRK. When new sample data is available, CRK updates Swim Guide which is at www.theswimguide.org.

Streams flowed red with mud downstream of America’s Home Place site near Wade Orr Road in Hall County.

River CHAT 3 River Stewardship clean water festival celebrates a revitalized lake he 2nd Annual Clean Water Festival at West Point Lake ben- efited this year from expanded programming, beautiful weather Tand surprise guests, as we welcomed 250 people to Yellowjacket Beach Creek on June 1. The festival serves as a reminder that West Point Lake has come a long way since the 1980s. It’s an important recreational destination that can deliver more than $700 million annually to the local economy.

CRK Technical Programs Director Jason Ulseth hosted rides on our pa- trol boat. Guests hit the beach in droves, but also got a chance to learn about the importance of the lake as their drinking water source. CRK Wa- tershed Protection Specialist Mike Meyer presented our “enviroscape,” an interactive tabletop demonstration model that that explains how everything from stormwater runoff to pet waste can impact on our water.

Lake fishing, kayaking

Dr. Bill Conine, a retired minister and expert fisherman, offered a demon- Festival attendees enjoyed rides on our patrol boat and water monitoring demonstrations. stration that explained the lake’s history as a fish habitat. Frank Hard- estein of Pine Mountain Adventures showed how the lake isn’t just for members of the Watertown, Mass., police department — in town for the fishing and motor-boating anymore, but also serves as a great place for Boston Relief Fund 5K to benefit those injured in the May bombing — at- kayaking and canoeing. “You can find everything at West Point Lake — tended the festival to greet attendees. fantastic boating and fishing, wildlife, bird-watching and beautiful views,” Big thanks to our sponsors for the festival: Interface (Presenting Spon- said CRK Regional Outreach Manager Jill Sistino. sor), LaGrange Grocery Co., Coca-Cola Company, The Branding Firm, Representatives from the city of LaGrange’s Department of Watershed Pine Mountain Adventures, Highland Marina Resorts, PC Screening. Management were on hand to discuss their efforts to keep area wa- Also thanks to our partner in hosting, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. terways clean. There also was an added bonus to the afternoon when

couple's tireless work helps restore precious river cane iver cane (Arundinaria gigantea) River cane in the Nacoochee Valley is a species of the single genus of Rbamboo native to North America Fortunately, there remain isolated areas and was historically abundant along where river cane thrives. One such place river bottoms in the Southeastern United exists along the Chattahoochee in the Na- States. Dense stands of river cane, called coochee Valley in White County. Joanne canebrakes, provide critical environmen- and Bob Steele have been caretakers for tal services. the Montag property since 1976.

Like other vegetated stream buffers, With support and agreement from the canebrakes slow runoff, have root Montag family, the Steeles consciously systems that hold soil in place decided to dedicate areas on the prop- (decreasing erosion along rivers), and erty for river cane to spread. filter pollutants from stormwater that would otherwise enter drinking and “We were inspired to invest time and recreational waters. effort in river cane restoration as we learned more about how indigenous As transitional areas between water Bob and Joanne Steele have helped river cane thrive along the Chattahoochee River in the cultures used river cane for so many and land, these canebrake ecosystems Nacoochee Valley. practical purposes,” Bob said. also serve as an important habitat for a diversity of wildlife. At least six species of butterflies and moths feed Thirty-five years later, canebrakes now thrive where pasture previously exclusively on river cane and are increasingly rare as their food source adjoined the river. The stands are so thick that they’re difficult to see and habitat disappears. The Bachman’s Warbler, a small perching bird through and provide a riparian buffer of up to several hundred feet last sighted in 1988, is thought to be extinct for the same reason. between hay fields and the river.

A study by the U.S. Department of the Interior in 1995 estimated that a “We value the river cane for the aesthetic beauty, wildlife diversity — mere 2 percent of large canebrakes remain throughout their range. As it provides amazing habitat, and utility of the cane itself,” Joanne said. with the disappearance of wetlands, the loss of these canebrakes — to For information on canebrake restoration, see http://www.rivercane. agriculture, urbanization and changing land use patterns — has msstate.ed. ecological consequences. 4 River CHAT A trip of a lifetime down the Hooch r. Robert coast to Alabama’s River Matters Fuller has Mobile Bay before For information on these and other river-related Dlived a life returning northward events, visit www.chattahoochee.org/calendar full of adventure. up the Alabama, August 3 Coosa and Etowah Watershed Outing As a boy growing rivers to his home Join CRK's Jason Ulseth aboard Chota Princess II, our up near St. Peters- in Dahlonega. burg, Fla., he and 40-foot catamaran, on Lake Lanier his brother fished By the time he was August 10 for gunnet in Tampa done, Fuller had Paddle Cleanup Bay. After high paddled 1,500 miles Photo courtesy of Dr. Robert Fuller Photo courtesy of Dr. CRK and Trout Unlimited Cleanup, Medlock Bridge school, Fuller served “I knew I’d never forgive myself if I quit,” Dr. Robert Fuller said of his river in four and a half to Jones Bridge in the Marines, months. journey to the Gulf of Mexico and back. August 17 running a radio relay River Discovery Series station in the demilitarized zone between North Hurdles and highlights Morgan Falls to Paces Mill and South Vietnam. Before joining the faculty at North Georgia College & State University — where Fuller faced many challenges. When asked if he September 28 he’s a professor of geosciences — Fuller was an ever wanted to give up, Fuller recounted flip- Watershed Outing engineer, diver, pilot and photographer. ping his canoe during a heavy storm in freezing Hike to the Chattahoochee Headwaters temperatures and said, “I knew I’d never forgive October 9 During his Vietnam service, he was exposed to myself if I quit.” So he gathered his gear, dried 19th Annual Patron Dinner Agent Orange, and by 2010 he’d been diagnosed himself out and got back on the river. The Foundry, Atlanta with chronic lymphocytic leukemia – a form of cancer linked to the chemical defoliate. His favorite memories: dolphins in Apalachicola October 12 Bay, the solitude of camping along the Chatta- Watershed Outing An ordinary person might have given up, but hoochee, and the help of his friend Richard Grove, Sweetwater Creek State Park not Fuller. He viewed his diagnosis as a sign: “I who literally carved a path through logs lying October 12-13 decided I would take the trip of a lifetime. It was a between Fuller and home along the Etowah. McIntosh Reserve Camp and Paddle Trip lifelong dream of mine to paddle the full length of McIntosh Reserve to Franklin the Chattahoochee.” Fuller ranks stormwater runoff as the highest threat facing the Chattahoochee and says, “I really October 19 Fuller paddled from the Chattahoochee headwa- hope my journey inspires others to take action to Watershed Outing ters near Helen to the Flint River confluence and protect our river.” Water Conservation 101 at Hansgrohe's Aquademie then down the Apalachicola River to the Gulf of Mexico. He then made the return trip by paddling Read more about Fuller’s incredible journey at from the Gulf west along the Florida panhandle http://blog.ung.edu/rcfuller/. the CRK Store is open! Ptar ner campaigns fuel CRK programs With new T-shirts, caps hile CRK continually benefits from sup- “We were so happy to be raising money for Chat- and more, port from our partners, two fundraising tahoochee Riverkeeper again this year for our Wcampaigns over this past spring and Earth Month efforts,” said Susan Dykstra, Van our CRK Store through this summer will play a particularly im- Michael Salon’s CEO. “We know how valuable the features lots portant role in our efforts on the Chattahoochee. river is to all of us and hope that we were able to of great ways raise some awareness in addition to the financial to enjoy the For the second contribution.” warm weather consecutive year, and support Aveda This summer, longtime partner SweetWater Brew- selected our work. We CRK as its Earth ery’s support heats up again, but this year with a now have a Month partner new twist. For nearly a decade CRK has benefited redesigned for Georgia, and from the brewery’s Save the Hooch campaign. But the response was this year the brewery is changing it up a bit with long-sleeve T-shirt and a light, short-sleeve T-shirt. impressive. During its new Save Our Water Campaign. Also fresh on our virtual shopping shelves are the month of April, three different styles of caps: an army-style cap, From July through August, SweetWater once again salons through- a “trucker”-style cap, and the more traditional will be selling beer throughout the Southeast, out the state and ball cap. We also feature a CRK koozie (made with especially in metro using its traditional paper fish and T-shirt sales that will represent money earmarked for “keeper” recycled materials) and a dry pouch to keep your

Atlanta promoted Photo courtesy of AJC gear water-proof, perfect for storing your key and our efforts to their Van Michael Salon supported Aveda’s groups in markets that sell their beer (including clients, with CRK Earth Month Campaign with a “cut-a- CRK!). Supporters also can donate at phone during your trip down the Chattahoochee. receiving a percent- thon” on Earth Day, benefiting CRK. www.WaterkeeperBrew.org. Shop with CRK by visiting http://www.chattahooch- age of sales. In fact, Since our partnership with SweetWater began in ee.org/shop-with-crk.php participating salons in Georgia staged a “Cut-a- 2006, the brewery has helped raised more than Thon” by offering discounted haircuts to clients, $350,000 to support CRK’s river patrol and water again providing proceeds to CRK! quality monitoring programs.

River CHAT 5 As drought operations fill Lanier, downstream farmers and fishermen suffer he past year has been a good one for those advocating for a full Lake Lanier. In May 2012, in response to yet another drought, the TU.S. Army Corps of Engineers reverted to drought operations across the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint (ACF) basin. As a result, Lanier and West Point Lake were kept relatively full while Chattahoochee River flows were allowed to dwindle.

Add to this Georgia’s request to reduce target flows in the Chattahooch- ee at Peachtree Creek, from 750 cubic feet per second (cfs) to 650 cfs. The Corps complied from late December 2012 through April 2013, even after the drought was over, normal rainfall patterns had resumed, and Lanier had returned to above-average lake levels. By May 2013, Lanier and West Point Lake were full again. Only then did the Corps cease drought operations.

Meanwhile, other ACF communities suffered. Last year, the Flint River basin experienced one of the worst droughts in its history, with many streams dropping to record low flows. As wells ran dry, farmers again faced the prospect of economic ruin.

Simultaneously, Apalachicola Bay oyster populations crashed, and by While Lake Lanier is at full pool, the Apalachicola Bay’s oyster population has been decimated by drought. September Florida Gov. Rick Scott sought federal assistance for families and businesses impacted by the decline. In April 2013, the University of Ongoing ACF Stakeholder efforts range from characterizing healthy river Florida Oyster Recovery Team attributed the massive oyster die-off to flows, lake levels and bay salinity to developing a sustainable manage- reduced freshwater flows coming out of both the Chattahoochee and ment alternative to the Corps’ current operations. The ACF Stakeholders Flint rivers, causing high salinity in the bay. will share their results with the Corps in conjunction with the agency’s effort to update the ACF Water Control Manual governing its operations. Balancing Act As an ACF Stakeholder, Chattahoochee Riverkeeper is working with The ACF Stakeholders have accepted the challenge of balancing these other partners to achieve an equitable solution that balances the needs competing needs across the basin. The Stakeholders — which include of people, farmers, oysters and others. local governments, businesses, farmers, environmentalists, and fishing and recreation groups from Alabama, Georgia and Florida — are working To learn more about the ACF Stakeholders, visit http://acfstakeholders.org/ to develop an equitable water-sharing agreement. or contact Laura Hartt at [email protected].

W ater advocates from around the world gather in Georgia he 15th Annual Waterkeeper Con- ment is for fishable, swimmable and ference organized by the drinkable waterways worldwide. TWaterkeeper Alliance and co- hosted by Chattahoochee Riverkeeper 200 Waterkeepers, 6 continents and Flint Riverkeeper was held in June at Callaway Gardens. The inspirational From the Great Lakes to the Gulf of four-day event brought 250 water advo- Mexico, the Amazon to the Ganges, cates from around the world to learn and Waterkeeper Alliance has become a pow- strategize about water issues in work- erful voice for the world’s waters with a shops and panels led by a wide range fast-growing international program. of experts. The Alliance aspires to protect every In addition to Alliance president Robert major watershed around the world, F. Kennedy Jr., conference speakers while collaborating with other leading CRK board chair Rutherford Seydel (right) introduced Waterkeeper Alliance president Robert included former Atlanta mayor Shirley national and international environmental F. Kennedy Jr at the recent Waterkeeper conference. Franklin, the Rev. Gerald Durley, Shawn and public health organizations. Wilson with Usher’s New Look Founda- CRK has participated in the Alliance at tion, and Kevin Butt with Toyota. Georgia’s Riverkeepers Robbie Arrington | Altamaha River | www.altamahariverkeeper.org the leadership level with Sally Bethea Established in 1999, Waterkeeper Alli- Sally Bethea | Chattahoochee River | www.chattahoochee.org serving on the board of directors from ance provides a way for communities to Joe Cook | Coosa River | www.coosa.org 1999-2005 and Juliet Cohen, our general stand up for their right to clean water Gordon Rogers | Flint River | www.flintriverkeeper.org counsel, currently serving on the Alli- and for the wise and equitable use of wa- Emily Markesteyn | Ogeechee River | www.ogeecheeriverkeeper.org ance’s Watershed Council and Interna- ter resources, both locally and globally. Ashby Nix | Satilla River | www.satillariverkeeper.org tional Committee. The vision of the Waterkeeper move- Tonya Bonitatibus | Savannah River | www.savannahriverkeeper.org

6 River CHAT Bill pits North Georgia versus South Georgia n the waning hours This north-south tradeoff of the 2013 legislative is outlined in detail in the Isession, the Georgia grant application submit- Water Coalition (GWC) ted by the Southwest Geor- stopped a bill that would gia Regional Commission have resulted in less water to the Georgia Environ- in the Chattahoochee mental Finance Authority downstream of Atlanta, (GEFA) and approved last and further depleted flows year. More than $5 million in the upper Flint River. in state grant funds will support an ASR demon- Introduced by Sen. Ross Metro Atlanta stration project, prior to a Tolleson (R-Perry), Senate wants 250 MGD program build-out that is Bill 213 changes Georgia’s projected to cost at least regulated riparian water $1.2 billion for 150 wells. law to accommodate an “aquifer storage and Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal recovery” (ASR) scheme supports the ASR project promoted by powerful as a way to bolster water political insiders. Experimental ASR supplies for the metro Project = 250 MGD region. Those who stand to The bad news is that this Cost Estimate = benefit most significantly bill is still in play for the $1.2 Billion include real estate inter- 2014 session and must be ests and reservoir promot- defeated again to protect ers in north Georgia. Georgia’s rivers, aquifers and property rights. Story shifts with audience

Change in water rights As SB 213 made its way through the state legisla- The scheme involves ture this past winter, bill pumping water out of the proponents offered differ- Floridan aquifer in south ent rationales for the ASR Georgia’s Baker County, MGD - million gallons per day water scheme, depending which lies just under the on the audience. surface of the ground in the lower Flint Basin, and ASR proponents even treating the water before convinced south Georgia injecting it back into farmers that without the deeper aquifers for stor- passage of the bill and age purposes. greater state control of the Flint River, federal agencies will “shut down” their farms to protect During drought, the water would be pumped out of the deep aquifers endangered species. In fact, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service noted in and released into the Flint to “augment” stream flow to satisfy require- a letter to a state legislator last spring that the agency is doing every- ments to protect endangered species in Florida’s Apalachicola River, thing it can with grant funds and collaborative outreach to support formed by the confluence of the Flint and the Chattahoochee rivers. restoration and irrigation projects to keep the farmers in business.

According to the language of SB 213, the state would own the added Faced with mounting media attention and scrutiny over possible con- water, requiring its unimpeded flow past downstream riparian landown- flicts of interest with ASR project consultants – including Allen Barnes, ers holding valid water withdrawal permits. Fundamentally, the bill the former head of Georgia’s EPD and the state’s current point person would change water law in Georgia, threatening property rights. in the tristate “water war” negotiations – the state announced in May that it would take over the water project. GEFA is now soliciting new North-south tradeoff consulting firms to manage the project.

As long as water demands downstream in Florida are met, aquifer “Success” for the ASR project has not yet been defined, yet metro transfers into the lower Flint could be used to offset additional water Atlanta taxpayers could ultimately be on the hook for the $1.2 billion withdrawals from the upper Chattahoochee – up to 250 million gallons total cost, as noted in the grant application. of water per day. South Georgians have long worried that north Georgia interests would As a result, communities along the middle and lower Chattahoochee try to pipe their aquifer water north to Atlanta, which is dependent River – including Newnan, LaGrange, West Point, Columbus, and on surface water in small rivers. If SB 213 passes, these fears will be Eufaula, Ala. – could face severely reduced flows threatening water realized, but with a twist: aquifer water would flow south to Florida, supply, recreation, fishing, navigation, power generation and allowing Atlanta to suck the Chattahoochee River dry, and avoid the other needs. expense of a long pipeline.

River CHAT 7 Non-Profit Organization Record turnout for US Postage Paid Permit No. 3363 Back to the Chatt Atlanta, Georgia 3 Puritan Mill 916 Joseph Lowery Blvd. Address Service Requested

Printed on paper made with 30 percent post-consumer waste.

Printing provided by Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta.

Aaand they’re off! Another wave launches at Garrard Landing. t has become a recurring theme in 2013; record numbers are showing up for CRK events, and the 11th Annual Back to the Chattahoochee IRiver Race & Festival on June 15 is but the latest example. We welcomed an all-time-high 419 paddlers in 322 boats span- ning all ages and skill levels for the annual race, which launches at Garrard Landing Want to learn more about If you prefer to receive and covers a scenic 8-mile Chattahoochee Riverkeeper? RiverCHAT electronically, course down to Riverside Park Scan the QR code to visit our contact David Lee Simmons at in Roswell. Speaking of record website! [email protected]. turnout, we enjoyed a mas- sive turnout of about 1,300 for this “super-sized” festival that featured longer hours, more Big thanks to our major sponsors: bands and more exhibitors and River Benefactor vendors at the park. MeadWestvaco | AJC We also netted $15,000 for our river protection and monitor- RIVER ADVOCATE ing programs! The successful Chris Nadine (aka Wonder Woman) won Best Costume. 97.1 The River | Another Broken Egg Cafe | Cox Enterprises, Inc. | Federal Home Loan turnout for Back to the Chatt Bank | SignUp4 | Southwire Company | Weed Man Lawn Care comes on the heels of a sold-out Wild & Scenic Film Festival in March and our largest turnout for the multi-site Sweep the Hooch cleanup in RIVER CONSERVATOR April. For info on future outdoor events, visit www.chattahoochee.org. 755 Restaurant Group | The Coca-Cola Company | City of Atlanta Department of Water- shed Management | Georgia Canoeing Association | Mountain High Outfitters | MWH | KHAFRA, A Joint Venture | Porsche Cars North America | Republic Services | SweetWater Brewing Company | TDawg Presents | Tree Sound Studios | Upper Chattahoochee Chapter Trout Unlimited

RIVER PATRON Abbadabba's | Mr. & Mrs. Victor Borowsky | Brown and Caldwell | Mitigation Management | The Rain Barrel Depot | Veolia Water North America

Preston Dean of Georgia Disc Dogs thrilled the crowd with tricks. Perennial favorite: The SweetWater Beer Barge! Twitter: @CRKeeper • Facebook: Chattahoochee Riverkeeper • YouTube: UCRiverkeeperVideos