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RiverCHAT Winter 2017 A publication of Chattahoochee Riverkeeper (CRK)

West Point Lake Floating Classroom Sails to Success he Floating Classroom (WPLFC) has quickly found its place in the Middle Chattahoochee region, Tserving as the only on-the-water educational resource for school groups of all ages, as well as the community at large.

Modeled after Chattahoochee Riverkeeper’s successful program on , the WPLFC has served nearly 4,500 students and adults since launching in the fall of 2015. Initial expectations for the program were high, but the immediate and enthusiastic support of students, teachers and local citizens has surpassed CRK staff (L-R) Hannah Bradford, Laura Breyfogle and Henry Jacobs and Boat Captain Jim West take students from The West Boys & Girls Club on a voyage of discovery on West Point Lake. our goals.

Generous contributions For students and adults alike, this field experience can be life- from individuals, changing: a first time on a boat, a first outing on West Point Lake, foundations and local an exceptional teaching opportunity. Elementary school teacher businesses have allowed Jennifer Pineda told us: “The West Point Lake Floating Classroom us to offer this exceptional was the best field trip experience I’ve had in my seventeen years program at no cost to of teaching.” underserved communities and Title I schools.

First and foremost, the “What a great way for our WPLFC is an education program that teaches students to see science in action!” science, ecology, history, Tammy Eason, Eastside Elementary, Coweta County and math in accordance with STEM (Science Technology Engineering Every 6th grade public school student in Troup County will and Math) goals and experience the WPLFC this spring, a learning adventure made Georgia and possible by financial support from the Callaway Foundation and Performance Standards. generous individuals. Schools in Carrollton, Columbus, Franklin, Newnan and Eastern Alabama are signing up thanks to support Guided lake tours and from Kia, City of LaGrange, Alice Richards Foundation, Ray C. special programs such as Anderson Foundation and Dave and Mary Jane Kirkpatrick. wildlife, history and music cruises are also offered for You can provide scholarships for deserving students to community groups, summer experience this one-of-a-kind educational program in 2017 by camps and others onboard giving $500 for a class, $250 for ten students, $100 for four or $25 our 44-passenger vessel, the for one. To learn more about the program, schedule a program Miss Sally, which is docked or make a donation, contact Laura Breyfogle at lbreyfogle@ at Highland Marina Resort. chattahoochee.org.

Inside This Issue

Meet the Fleet Proctor Creek Success Patron Dinner Page 4 Page 9 Page 11 STAFF Melanie Baird Communications and Marketing Manager Reflections Tammy Bates Outings Manager The past year has been a Lake Lanier finally reached its Hannah Bradford weather-induced roller coaster full pool elevation, and then Watershed Protection Specialist & Naturalist ride and the impacts on the the rain suddenly dried up. Laura Breyfogle system have been quite WPLFC Instructor dramatic to watch. By early summer, it was Dale Caldwell evident that we were quickly Watershed Protection Specialist Think back to Christmas 2015. transitioning into a drought Juliet Cohen Not only was it the warmest and Lake Lanier started Executive Director Christmas in recorded history, dropping. As we neared Dara Epstein but metro got slammed Thanksgiving, we were still Industrial Stormwater Fellow with about four inches of rain seeing record high or near Erik Fyfe in one day. The result: serious record high temperatures — Watershed Protection Specialist flooding, polluted runoff and a and Lanier was ten feet below Ogechi Irondi jump in the water level at Lake normal pool, a fifteen foot Neighborhood Water Watch Fellow Lanier of five feet above the drop in eleven months! Henry Jacobs normal pool. Middle Chattahoochee Outreach Manager The term “normal” is losing meaning when Kevin Jeselnik As we celebrated the new year and entered describing river flows and lake elevations. It Staff Attorney 2016, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which will be interesting to see what the future has Keena S. Johnson operates Buford Dam, began to drain Lanier in store. Development Associate to the normal water level. And drain they Becca Klein did! For the first few months of last year, the In the meantime, it is evident that this drought Development Director downstream of the dam is going to continue well into 2017, despite Chris Manganiello was constantly on the brink of flood stage. At December rains, and we must all do everything Water Policy Director one point, several parks and roads in Roswell we can to conserve water. It also seems like Michael Meyer even flooded due to the water releases. a good time to study the feasibility of raising Neighborhood Water Watch Director the full pool of Lake Lanier to help curb the Jessica Sterling Then someone turned off the faucet dramatic impacts that a changing climate is Technical Programs Director already having on our beloved river system. After a wet winter and spring with constant Suzette Taylor Financial Manager deluges racing downstream, it was almost like Jason Ulseth someone turned off the faucet. The flow in the Riverkeeper river returned to the seasonal normal after Riverkeeper Janet Westervelt Headwaters Outreach Manager Christina York Database Manager Faces of the Chattahoochee BOARD OF DIRECTORS J. Rutherford Seydel II, Chair Dave Kirkpatrick, Vice-Chair

Rebecca Cranford Mary Anne Lanier Sarah Dearman Jeff Mokotoff Denise Donahue Steve O’Day Bert Ellis Marian Pittman Gary Gaines Jamie Pryor Gerard Gunthert Mary Schrepfer Billy Hall David Shaffer Victor Haydel Laura Smith Hugo Hernandez Catherine Woodling Richard Jacobson

Our mission is to advocate and secure the protection and stewardship of the Chattahoochee River, its lakes, and watershed.

ATLANTA OFFICE 3 Puritan Mill 916 Joseph Lowery Blvd.

Atlanta, GA 30318 Photo courtesy of Bard Wrisley 404-352-9828 My love for the Chattahoochee started ten years ago when I cast a fly into Dukes Creek, a GAINESVILLE OFFICE near the Sautee Nacoochee community, and hooked my first Georgia trout. Or, maybe that trout 104 Washington Street, S.E. hooked me. I think the Chattahoochee is a river lover's paradise; its beauty equals the most storied Gainesville, GA 30501 Western and its fishing diversity is enough to keep any angler busy all year. Last fall, I hiked with 678-696-8866 CRK members to the spring where it all begins. To see the spring was so inspirational - almost magical. LAGRANGE OFFICE From there, the water descends almost 2000 feet, gaining speed as it’s recharged by tributaries. The 35 Lafayette Square Chattahoochee is one beautiful mountain river. LaGrange GA 30240 — John Shaw 706-882-3701 Sautee Nacoochee www.chattahoochee.org

2 River CHAT River Buffer Destroyed in Habersham County Nearly 400 linear feet of forested buffer along the Chattahoochee was cleared of all vegetation just downstream of the SR 255 crossing in Habersham County. The property owner applied for a state buffer variance in 2011 to perform “river restoration” activities; however, when the work started last fall, CRK received Hotline calls from concerned citizens. We learned that not only were best management North Fulton Sewer Line Finally Gets Attention practices not installed to protect the river, For a year starting in January 2015, a single but also that the applicant had failed to sewer line that parallels the Chattahoochee obtain all required permits. We are working in north Fulton County spewed more than with local and state agencies to ensure that twelve million gallons of untreated sewage this buffer is properly restored. into the river. The cause: unintentional inflow of stormwater into the sewer line that overwhelmed the line’s capacity during storms. Following in-depth media Apollo Chemical Spill Still a Problem coverage by WSB-TV, CRK held meetings In August, we and field visits with county staff to insist received an on plans to fix this serious health hazard. urgent Hotline The county has begun to invest significant report of a financial resources to correct the problems large chemical in anticipation of future rain events. CRK will spill in Smyrna continue to monitor progress until the issue is at Apollo completely resolved. Technologies, a chemical contract packager. We First Remote Sampling Drop-Box in Roswell immediately CRK has teamed up with the City of reported the incident to emergency Roswell to create our first remote water response officials who were already sample “drop-box” at the city’s drinking en route to the site. A 2,500-gallon water plant at 100 Dobbs Drive. tank containing carburetor cleaner Volunteers trained in our Neighborhood had erupted during the night and Water Watch (NWW) program Apollo employees were caught on are now able to drop their samples video the next morning hosing the on Thursday mornings for pick-up and chemicals into nearby storm drains. analysis in the Atlanta lab. A great The spill resulted in a major fish kill new partner in our metro area NWW in a tributary to expansion, Roswell is also sponsoring which flows into the Chattahoochee. several new sampling sites, bringing the While government response teams total number of weekly sampling sites to were initially impressive, cleanup efforts 141 in the Chattahoochee basin! have been disappointing. While the state government response was initially impressive, long-term cleanup efforts have been disappointing. CRK’s data still shows high levels of contamination Collapsed Sewer Line Fixed and we continue to monitor federal In November, water samples taken by our remediation efforts. volunteers identified a large sewer spill near Center Hill Park on a tributary to Proctor Creek. Tests conducted in CRK’s Coal Ash Contaminates Groundwater Atlanta lab revealed bacteria levels more than 500 times the federal standard for has pledged to shutter safe recreation. After we notified Atlanta’s all coal ash storage ponds in the state by Watershed Department, the city set up a 2019. As a part of this closure process, the series of bypass pumps to manage the company conducted monitoring to detect sewage flow while they investigated the any groundwater contamination by coal cause of the spill. The problem: a collapsed ash at Plants McDonough, Wansley sewer line that was forcing sewage to back and Yates along the Chattahoochee. up in a manhole and flow into the creek. Initial results detected arsenic, beryllium, Recent samples have shown that water cadmium and selenium at two facilities: quality has returned to normal levels; CRK McDonough and Yates. At McDonough, will continue to monitor the situation. arsenic concentrations were twice the federal standard. At Yates, beryllium spiked at three times the standard. These elements are linked to human health concerns including cancer, nerve damage, and reproductive problems. These elements are linked to human health concerns including cancer, nerve damage, and reproductive problems. CRK is monitoring these sites and the state process for closure of the coal ash ponds.

River CHAT 3 MEET CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVERKEEPER’S FLEET!

The Chota Princess II, Chota for short, lives at Aqualand Marina in Gainesville and serves as the Lake Lanier Aquatic Learning Center (LLALC), an award-winning education program started in 2000. She is the second vessel for the LLALC and was launched in the summer of 2007. Built by Corinthian Catamarans and custom-rigged by CRK’s former boat captain Harlan Trammell, the Chota measures at forty feet long and ten feet wide. She is powered by twin 225 HP Honda outboard engines and is certified to carry up to fifty-two passengers.

Between the months of March and November, the Chota can often be spotted on Lake Lanier near Islands, as she runs upwards of fifteen to twenty school trips on busy weeks. More than 5,000 students and teachers come from all across metro Atlanta to experience a truly unique hands-on learning experience each year. The Chota is also chartered for special outings and tours. Visit chattahoochee.org for 2017 outings.

The Chota Princess II

CRK is the only entity — governmental or non-governmental — to routinely patrol and test water quality in the river between Buford Dam and West Point Lake. In order to navigate the rocky shoals that are present throughout this 115 mile stretch of Chattahoochee River, no ordinary boat would suffice. CRK’s patrol boat was custom-built by Oquawka Boats in Illinois and designed down to every minute detail by Harlan Trammell and Riverkeeper Jason Ulseth.

Our patrol boat is powered by a 150 HP Yamaha outboard engine that was converted to a 105 HP Jet Drive. By changing the engine to a Jet Drive, the boat can run without a traditional propeller and navigate the river in as little as three inches of water. Not only can the patrol boat shoot through unbelievably shallow water, she is built as tough as a tank. The entire outer hull is constructed with one quarter inch thick aluminum, which is literally bulletproof. This means that if the boat does bump or rub a rock in the shoals, no damage is sustained.

CRK’s Patrol Boat

Following the tremendous success of the Lake Lanier floating classroom program on board the Chota Princess II, we began the process of building a second floating classroom boat for West Point Lake in 2014. After a nine-month long construction period by The American Pontoon Company, the Miss Sally was launched on West Point Lake in July 2015.

Named after CRK’s founding riverkeeper Sally Bethea, the Miss Sally is a forty-two foot long TriToon vessel capable of carry up to forty- four passengers. She is powered by new state-of-the art 150 HP twin Suzuki outboard engines. Today, the Miss Sally is home to the West Point Lake Floating Classroom and hosts several thousand students and teachers from the Middle Chattahoochee region every year, in addition to wildlife, history and music programs for all ages. See page 1 for more on the West Point Lake Floating Classroom.

4 River CHAT The Miss Sally Thank you to all our members and donors for helping us keep watch over our waters! July through December 2016 River Benefactor River Conservator Margie Cohen Eddie's Attic Wolfgang Tiedtke ($10,000 and up) ($1,000-$2,499) Walter Craig Jr. Electric Cowboy Greer and John Tirrill Alice Richards Charitable Fund Anonymous Cypress Street Pint & Plate Elmyriachi Vortex Bar and Grill Anonymous Yum and Ross Arnold Eileen and Bo DuBose Denise Elsbree Smith Stacey and Jason Weldon Bank of America Beverly and John Baker Jennifer and Steve Farace Brandon Evans Peter Wellman The Coca-Cola Company Ballast Point Brewing & Spirits Jack Friou Anthony Felando Winfred H. Westbrook First Baptist Church Kristian and Matt Whittington Cox Enterprises, Inc. Bankhead Beverage LLC Tracey and Gary Gaines Frank Family Foundation Wild Wing Cafe (Dacula) EPA Region 4 Barefoot Wine Georgia Power Company Erin and Greg Freer Wild Wing Cafe (Alpharetta) The Frances and Beverly M. Sally Bethea Bill Gibson Carolina and Sam Friedman Wiles Restaurant Group LLC DuBose Foundation Kitty and Glenn Bosio Joan and Bill Goodhew III Friends of McIntosh Reserve Michael Williams Abby and Gerard Gunthert Michael Bufkin Grindhouse 2 LLC Gardan Group, Inc. Wing Cafe Hampshire Foundation Clea and Marcus Calloway Mark Hackner Lisa Gordon Susan and Elliott Winton Jabian Cares Children's Healthcare Of Atlanta Mitzi and Paul Hagan Lisa Gower Daniel Wooten The Kendeda Fund Sidney and Don Childress Jewell Harper Jacqueline and Gary Greenhood Yeah Burger Kim and Tom Noonan Clayton Distributing Company, Inc. Ellen and Bob Harris Martha and Mike Greenway Angelica Young Sally and Pete Parsonson Lori and Ken Cohen Victor Haydel Grindhouse 4 LLC Charles Yovino Charles Guth The Sapelo Foundation Mandy and Knox Culpepper Elizabeth and Ken Hixson River Supporter Gwinett County Laura and Rutherford Seydel Julie and Tom Cutler Matt Kappy ($100-$249) Cynthia and John Hicks Tull Charitable Foundation, Inc. Lora and Geoffrey Fishman Media Star Promotions Robert Abramson Highlands Grill The Waterfall Foundation, Inc. Lynn and David Fountain Blake Albar Celeste Myall and Dan McAlexander Hillside Montessori Wells Fargo Jan Albitz Judy and Eddie Garland Kimberly Nikles and Michael Roach Christine and Lance Holland Ina Allison and Jeff Hite WestRock John and Eileen Gilberto The Nook On Park Hook Line & Schooner Pegi Amend and Bob Buschman Wilson Family Foundation Graham Family Foundation Eugene O'Brien Zachary Hunt Angel Anbari Julie Hairston William A. Parker Leslie and Scott Inman River Defender Bob Anderson Hideaway Bay Marina Clarence Jackson ($5,000 - $9,999) William Phinney Patricia and Thomas Andrews Kelly and Simms Jenkins 755 Restaurant Corporation Cathy and Phillip Hodges Mary Jane and John Piazza Anonymous Beth Josephic Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation Joni House Andrea and John Pruitt III Toine and Roy Ashley LaGrange Grocery Company The Charter Foundation, Inc. Judy and Walter Hoyt Gregory Puckett Bearden Barnes Donna Laird and Bill Behm Jennifer and Graham Dorian Catherine Lautenbacher Rain Barrel Company, LLC Barrett Barnes Lanett Church of the Nazarene Lockheed Martin Gil Shearouse Debbie and Andy Bauman Ellis Communications, Inc. Patricia and Donald Lehman Aeronautical Systems Six Feet Under Andrea and John Bealle Georgia-Pacific Corporation Leon's Full Service Molly and Kip Lynch Ann and Ted Beason Shearon and Taylor Glover Jeannie and Charles Smith Local 7 Elizabeth and Bruce Macgregor Jay Beech Beth and Matt Hereford Wesley Smith Erica and Hal Lowman Penelope and Ronnie Bernath Bonnie and Mike Jackson Donna and Bill Malloy Laura and Edward Smith Elise and Dan MacIntyre Jonathan Bernhardt The Jinks Private Foundation Aaron McWhorter Corinne and Jim Thornton Marlay House Jim Berry The Metropolitan Club Universal Joint Holdings, LLC McCray's on the Square Mary Jane and Dave Kirkpatrick Sally Betenley Morgens West Foundation McCray's West Village Tavern Trans-Siberian Orchestra Pam Walker Lisa Bianchi Morningstar Foundation, Inc. Stuart Meddin NewFields Catherine Woodling Nancy and Gary Bivins Mellow Mushroom Brookhaven Ormsby's Cheri and Terry Morris World Of Beer Roseann and Joel Blacher Midway Restaurants, LLC William Phelps Nantahala Outdoor Center Mary and Charlie Yates Lori and Robbie Blackmon Jeff Mokotoff PNC Bank Marie and Steve Nygren Tim and Ashley Boggs Friend of the River Andrew and Katharine Montgomery Marc Overcash Patrick C. Bowie SweetWater Brewing Company ($250-$499) Ruth and Tony Narcisse Radiance Solar, LLC Elizabeth Boyd Turner Enterprises, Inc. 3M Foundation Gail and John Neeld Clare and Norm Richie Lynn Boyd and Harry Vann Lea Agnew Beth and Chris Nelson River Advocate Reed and Brad Roberts Margaret and Stuart Bramwell Valerie and Cotten Alston Betty Obenshain and Brad Marsh ($2,500 - $4,999) Jim and Joy Brill Roderick S., Flossie R., and Helen Stacy and Fred Altiery Christine O'Cleary Anonymous Roger Brinson M. Galloway Foundation, Inc. Dana and Jon Ambrose Olde Blind Dog Irish Pub Anonymous Robert Brooks Karen and Clay Rolader Ansley Park Civic Association Inc. Mike Oneby Gail and David Chester Cassie Brown Sylvia and Ron San Martin Atlanta Fly Fishing Club Maureen and Thomas O'Shea City of LaGrange Christine and Keith Bruno Tejal and Neal Shah Atlanta Technical College Tami and Luke Owen Wendy and Julian Buckmaster Susan and Carl Cofer Southern Sailing Club Aveda Corporation Paddy's Pub and Eatery Ashley Bush Wendy and Peter Corry Linda and Mike Bain Park Tavern Judi and Bahns Stanley Theresa and Chris Camp Rebecca and Kevin Cranford Carol and Woody Bartlett Paschal’s Restaurant Park Julie Campbell John and Grace Davidson Robert Beck Patrick Dugans Restaurant Terminal West Lorna Campbell MaryJo Depiero Jennifer and Paul Bennecke Patricia and Michael Petelle Twisted Oar Daniel Caplan Development Authority Black Bear Tavern Tim Phillips United Distributors Douglas Caulkins of LaGrange Joseph Boland Kate Price Upper Chattahoochee Chapter Alice and Dennis Champagne Saloon Brannen Proctor EarthShare of Georgia of Trout Unlimited Andy Chandler Cafe Lily PURE Taqueria (Brookhaven) Elachee Nature Science Center Krist and Ben Voyles Durenda Chapman Carol and Kenneth Campbell Teresa Raczek EMSA Fund, Inc Cheers Fine Wine & Spirits Watershed Alliance of Sandy Springs Dianne Cannestra Ralph's Tavern Michael Goot Susan and Fred Christian Melody Wilder Wilson and Jenny and Ted Cater Resource Planning Group, Ltd. Joan and Bill Hoffman Debra and Rea Clark David Wilson Susan and Anthony Coker Rocky Mountain Pizza Hutchinson - Traylor Insurance Austin Clary Columbus Technical College Sean Rogers River Patron Juliet and Jeffrey Cohen Susanne Keough and Community Foundation of the Rose And Crown ($500-$999) Richard Cohen Sydney Roberts Chattahoochee Valley Garvis L. Sams Anazao Salon Gigi and Chip Collins Mary Anne and Jaime Lanier Jody Cook Karen and Marshall Sanders Anonymous Peter Collins Moondogs Katherine Coppedge Nancy and John Sanker Leslie Battle Peter Conlon Patagonia Atlanta CORE Benefit Solutions Martha and Conner Seabrook Callie and Riddick Beebe Jaclyn and Michael Connell Greg Pope Coweta County Water and Burke Searls Stephanie and Barton Cooper Royal Little Family Foundation Jessa and Tierson Boutte Sewerage Authority Tess and Scott Seydel and Robert Copeland Lynn and Michael Briggs Susan and Ron Determann Margaret and Charlie Shufeldt Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP Cindy Copeland Debbie and Speer Burdette Kristen Dooley Don Spencer Southern Company Gas Brenda Coston Bob Caton Doughstraw Tally Sweat Sandra Spoon Avery Cotton Janet Chapman Stefanie Dye and Mark Tanyard Creek Community Garden Amanda and Nate Stibbs Bill Cox Jennifer and James Chapman Schurmann Tynke and Frederik ten Lohuis Louis Tanenbaum Sean Cox City of Gainesville Stephanie and Robert Earley Liz and Andy Thompson Toto USA Eclipse Di Luna Bryan Crafts River CHAT 5 Kim and Peter Crahan Anne and Rene Huberdeau Carolyn and Jeff Rader Ben Wilson Jane Brann Mary Creech Connie and David Huelsbeck Carol and Stephen Raeber Steven Wohl Linda Braun Caroline and Tom Crittenden An Jeanne and Dennis James Joseph Ramion Ruth Woodling Mary Breen Shannon and Robby Cullens Tricia and Mark Jarvis Red Clay Consulting Katherine Woodruff Williams Marti Breen and Charles Crutchfield Sherman Curry Brianne and Kevin Jeselnik Roberta and Chip Reed III Russ and Whit Wright Laura and Sam Breyfogle Sarah Dearman Colleen and Barry Jones Connie Reinke WSP-PB Elizabeth Brooks Nick Decarbo Laura and Bert Jones Michael Revitsky Nancy Wylie Bill Brooksher Robert Dennis Mary Beth and Ben Jordan Bev and Vic Riccardi Julie Yamamoto Taylor Broun John DeRoo Cecily and Henry Kannapell JR Risick Whitney Young and Jeff Brown Patty Dontje Cindy and Tom Kelly Lynn and David Rogers Sonny Molloy Claire Brown Ruth and Ed Doss Alan Kendall Gina Romaniello Virginia and Al Zachry Brian Brown Sue Dunlap Joann and Jim Kiley Roger Rupnow Cathy and Gady Zeewy Karen and Robert Bruhns Ken Durand Deanna King Brian Ruppert Julie Zweig and David Friedman Dorothy Brumbeloe Sue and Julian Duttera Christopher Kingsbury S&S Fire Pits Ruth and Robert Bruner New and Peter Dvornek Lindsey and Gillespie Kirkland Joyce Sato John Bumgarner Francine Dykes and Richard Delay Alison and Todd Klie Nadia Sawicki Renewing Donors Diana and Chris Buntin Tanya Early Alyssa and Richard Kopelman Virginia Schenck (0-$99) David Burge Allison and Cameron Adair Merrie and Bruce Edelston LaGrange Toyota Bob Schmitt Liz Burlingame Ronnie Adams Carol Emmons Tim Lam Chastine and Brooks Schoen David Burns Linda Adams Tina Engberg John A. Lanier Barbara and Bill Schwendler Pamela Burns Cynthia Adamson and Don Horne Mary Anne and Brian Ericson Gary Lanneau George Shannon Janet and Carl Busse James Albert Suzanne Eskin Tom Lantz Veronica and Daniel Shaughnessy Dale Caldwell Gail Allen Anne Marie and Greg Esslinger LaQuinta Inn & Suites John Shaw Emily Caldwell Melanie and Jack Altman Suzanne Estes and Chris Nesbitt Sarah and Lee Lewand Laura Shedd Anthony Caldwell Kimmar Anderson Mary Lane and Dave Fantigrossi Austin Lockman Adriane Shiflett Karen Calhoun Heidi Anderson Kitty and Clayton Farnham Michael Lucker Pam and Tim Shippy Jan and Rick Calkins Julie Anderson Debbie and Ric Felker Maria and Gary Ludi Justin Shoemake Shannon Callaghan Melinda and Dale Anderson Susan Ferguson Susan Lunn and Kurt Schurenberg Richard Simmons Amy and Mike Callahan Jan and Mike Angstadt Regina Fischel Jane and Jeff Luther Carol and JodySimms Jason Caravella Anonymous Anita Ford Cecilia and Bill Maher Glenn Sims Wendy Cardell Anonymous Mary Fortson-Harwell Doug Mannheimer Courtney and Jason Sirotin Sian Carlson Mark Apen Christine and Dieter Franz Nonnie Marett and William Rogers David Smalley Marolyn Carlson Stephen Apte Amy and Chad French Gail and Howard Marshall Deborah and Kevin Smith Bobby Carmichael Kyle Askew Friends of Wendell Willard Rhonda and Lonny Martin Julie and Steve Smith Jennifer Carroll Gordon Atkins Earllette Frye Kirsten Martter Susan and Walton Smith Jamie Carson David Aviles Kathy and Robert Fuller Sandra and George Maule Roy Sockwell Daniel Caryn Don Bachand Elsa Gaines and Joe Meyer Wendee and Ben Maxwell Sharon Sowders Angela Caudill Jo A. Bachman Rick Galeano Kim McAfee Melanie and Curtis Sprung William Chambers Abby Back Kristina Garcia Rachel and Chris McBride Helen Stacey Katerana Chan Linwood Baggett Mary and Richard Gerakitis Kevin McCauley Melanie and Eric Stallings Bill Chandler James Bailey Jason Gingold Kathie and Jay McClure Robert and Regina Stephenson Arianna Chang Michael Bailey Judy and John Girardeau Mary and Steve McConnell Michelle Stine David Chenault Riggs Bailey Elizabeth Glass Patty and Laughlin McDonald Angie and Jerry Stober Kylie Cho Melanie Baird Howard Gleiter Janine and John McKenney Esther and Jim Stokes Tammy Clabby Destiny and Marshall Baquet Tamra and Steve Glenn Leann and James McLendon Sue Stoudemire Janet and Howard Clark Jamie Bardin Annie Godfrey and John Kittle, Jr. Mike McQuary Shirley and Bill Strang Melanie Clark John Barnes Helen and John Gordon Jo and Hal Meeks Stephanie Stuckey Benfield Benjamin Clary Patricia Barton Sandy and Stephan Gosch Judy and Taylor Merrill Denise and Jim Suddes Robert H. Claxton Charlene Baxter Wanda and Fred Granitz Bonnie and Matt Meshad Lynn and Shea Sullivan James Clay Lisa Bayer Mark and Caroline Greatrex Cheryl Messer Julie and John Swanson Robert Clydesdale Keelan Bearden Larry Griffiths Judy Meyer and Gene Helfman Camm and Judith Swift Shannon Coburn Monalisa Beasley William Gryboksi Mitzi Michelson Christine and Brad Thomas Beth Ann Coffey Carol and Alan Beatty Jennifer and Reed Haggard Robby Miller Celeste Tibbets Betsy Cohen Lacey Behn Cynthia Hale Pam and Leonard Moniz Dr. and Mrs. William Tietjen Janet and George Cohen Glenn Bell Philip Hales Melissa Moore David Todd Samuel Cohn The Benevity Community Impact Rebecca and Clay Hales Michelle Morgan Alan Toney David Cole Fund Mr. and Mrs. Haley Sue A. Morgan Brenda Trickey Beverly Collier and Hale Spiegelberg Chris Beran Lillian and Mike Hall Patrick and Erica Newcomb Vicki and Walter Tschinkel Edith Collins Steve Berger Chris Hannah Jenna and Tal Nudelman Jim Unger Matt Como Niles Berthen Scott Hansard Marcia and Kevin Nuffer United Health Group Mitt Conerly Emily Besson Jane Harmon and Mikell Jones Joe and Elizabeth Nuzzaco Will Urbanski Kelly Conron Beverage World Rod Harrison Ginny and Tom Offer Stephanie Van Parys and Joe Cook Elizabeth Bibby Mary O. Harrison Catherine and Dudley Ottley Rob Cleveland Edward Cook Robert Biccum Michael Hastings Michael Ottwiller Ashley Vandiver Timothy Coons Sue Binder and Jeff Sacks Kathy Hearn and Keith Sharp Dey and Pick Parks Joy Vannerson Glenn Costa Wendy Binderow Don Henderson Meghan and Terry Pate Ganesh Venugopal Courtney Costanzo Maryanne and Joel Blackford Chris Henrich Catherine Pendleton and Melanie and Keith Vickers Louis Costanzo Janet Blackmon Tom Hensley Robert Fritz Marie and Wally Vidal Cindi Costoulas Charlie Blackmon Paul Hergesell Megan and Tripp Penn Cathy and John Villines Bruce Cotterman Eddie Blackmon Neill Herring Kathryn and Bill Pettyjohn Barbara Vlasz Lindsey Courson Tyler Blackwell Doug Hessinger Karen and Joel Piassick Charlotte and David Walbert Roland Cousins Ron Blanton DeeDee Hider Jean and Marc Pickard Lyle and Michael Warshauer Cliff Cowart Ethan Blase Lesley D. High Jenny Pittman Cantrell Morning Washburn Anne Coxhead Ryan Boelter Michael Hill Planter's Garden Club Chrissie and James Wayt Lisa Crafton David Bolton Beth and Alex Hodges Brook and Kyle Pointer Janet Westervelt William Cross Diane Bouchillon Amanda Hoffman Angie and Steve Ponsell Lori Westphal Andrew Cryar Craig Bounds Carol Holliday Karen Porch Andrew White Sandra Culp Patricia Bowes Natalie and Philip Holloway Marcia Postal-Ranney and Nedra Whitehead and Becky and Donald Custis Becky and Roger Boyd Michael Honnold Tim Ranney John Bolton Mary Lou Dabbs Bill Bozarth Tom Hooks Helen and Andy Powell John Whittemore Benjamin Dahl William Bradfield Evelyn Hopkins Vivian and Iain Prentice Karen Wilkins Tom Dahn Paula Bradford Michelle and Scott Horstemeyer Marisa and David Preston Ben Wilkinson Dorinda Dallmeyer Linda Bradigan Nancy J. Hostetter Victor T. Prevatt Milton Williams James Darby Christine and Charlie Bradley Merideth and Joe Houseman Kent and Jamie Pryor Mary and Van Willis Alicia Davenport Lorrie and David Brandt John Howard Jennifer and David Pryor Dylan Wilson Kenneth Davis 6 River CHAT Donald Davis Trey Gibbs April Ingle Matthew Lawrence Roger Moister Jr. Joshua Davison Micah Gilbert Jessica and Allen Isdell Taylor LeBlanc Barbara Monday Akeem Degrasse Edward S. Giles Garrick Isert Whitney Lee Ronnie Monteith Fernando Del Valle David Giles Gaby Ivie Mary Lefevre Tierney and Ben Montoya Dave Delchamps Jenn Gilley Katrena Jackson Elizabeth Lehman Marian Moore Aspen Dellipoala Bethany Gilmer Jane Jacob Ray Lejeune Matthew Moore Diane Denniston Bobby Goldstein Natasha Jacobs Carl Liggett Roberta and Robert Moore Doug Densmore Bill Goldstrohm Melissa Jacobus Cook Vickie Lindsey Jim Moore Scott Denton Kenneth Gonzalez Dale and Rob Jaeger Katie Lloyd Brian Moores Edith Desantis Helen and Ted Gordon LaToya Jefferson Michael Lockhart Nancy and Steve Moorman Clement Desaulniers Jade Gormley Ann and Joseph Jennings William Lott Selene and Donald Morgan Cynthia Devine Sharon and David Grainger Cheryl and Keith Jewell Wanda and Bill Lowe Jamie Morgan Matt Dinkle Joey Grant Jeanne and Stephen Johnson Brett Lowe Gay and Stuart Moring Rebecca Doll David Gray Keena Johnson Amelia and Andrew Luke Barbara and Randy Moser Jason Dougherty Nancy and Herbert Green Ryan Johnson Paul Lycett Mothner Family Kayla and Eric Dove Nancy and Mick Green Leslie and Chuck Johnson Shannon Lynch Kathleen Murphy Colby Downing Judith and Kenneth Gregg Ben Johnson Barbara Lynn Trudy Murphy Brad Dozier Jillian Griffin Brenton Jones Garner Lyon Chris Nadine Pauline Drake Lane Griffin Sammie and Fred Jones Georgann and David Lyons Ran Nahum Sean Dreybus Megan and Brad Grout Rick Jones Mary Mack and Pat DeGrow Mithil C. Nayee Paul Drilling Tracy and Steve Gruenig Susan and James Joninas Richard Malerba Caroline Nelson and Sim Blitch Elsa Duel Hunter Guckert Jonathan Jordan Candela Manfredi Janet Nelson Dan Duff Laura and Carmen Hadgraft Anna Jordan Chris Manganiello Craig Nemeth Dana Duggan Elizabeth Haggard Dan Joseph Emory Mann Network for Good Kimberly Duncan Tanner Hall Julian Juergensmeyer Virginia Marchant Chelsea Newbolds Shannon K. Dunlap Carter Hall Jeff Kaczynski Lee Marks Kathie Neyman and Henry Skoog Shane Durrance Ty Hall Jennifer and Bill Kaduck Chris Marshall Julie Nguyen Matthew Dusanic Jessika Hall Diana Kafka Laura I. Martin Beverly Nicholls Kenneth Dye Sharon Hall and William Auterman Pradheep Kaliraj Laura and Ed Matlock Ron Nichols Jody Dyes Glenda Hamilton Sharon Kane Michael Mayne Eli Nichols Brenda and Richard Eaves Johnna Hammatt Katie Kardian John Mcadoo Betty and Tommy Nicholson Janice Edens Sean Hammett Oren Katz Amy McAllister Norfolk Southern Foundation Michael Edmonson Charles Hammond Jennifer Keel Matthew Mcclain Beth and Roger Nott Betty Edwards Jessica Hand Mary Keesee Laney and Cullen McClure Wes Ogden Jeremy Edwards Jamie Hanley Cindy Kelly Diane McCreadie Margaret Ojala William Edwards John Hanson Shannon and Mark Kelsey Alex Mcgee Joyce Oliver Mike Ehmke Donna Haralson Audrie Kelton Lynn McIntyre Michael Olson James Ehrlich Andrew Hardin Kaitlyn Kimberley Thomas McKenna One World Learning Margaret and Jonathan Ehrlich David Hardy Mary Kimbrough Charles McKinney Tina and Paul Oresteen Mim Eisenberg Katherine Harlan Scott Kirk Joseph McNally Cathy and Bill Otto Sid Elliott Jeffrey Harper Kendel Kitchen Jason Meade Ruth and Charles Otto Suanne Ellis Bob and Dottie Hart Sabrina and Hank Klausman Mike Medin Sterling Palms Johari Ellis Michael Hart June Klein Carlos Menezes Ellen Parkhurst Erica Ellis Jane Hart Anna and Jeff Kling Jessica Messick Tyler Parsons Jean Ellis Maria and Stuart Harvey Lauren Koehler Jeff Mette Keith and Shirl Parsons Fallon Emmett Caryl Harwell Gloria Korkus Kaitlin Meurer Ashish Patel Dan Engle Cale Hatch Diane and Gene Korzeniewski JoAnn and Ken Meyer Jignesh Patel Greg Engle Jen Hathaway Cathy Kosmanski Michael Meyer Michael Patterson Dara Epstein James Hawkins Abe Kruger Gabrielle Micale Blake Patterson Mark Esoda Carol Hayes Art Kunberger Jimmy Mier Theodore Pearsall Stephanie Estrada Peter Hayes Michael Labrecque Brian Miesieski Penny and Billy Peebles Joyce and Jack Etheridge Ron Haynes Stephanie Lampman Kirby Miles Cory Peltier Heather Evans Joseph Healy Dot and John Lancaster Phyllis Miller Melanie and Patrick Penna Angela Evans Amy Helling Terence A. Lane Lee Miller Jeff Persson Karyl L. Evans Edward Henderson Avery Lane Steve Miller Wendy Peter Tom Evans Gayle and Seth Hendricks Lauren Langley Denna Miller Margaret and Brian Philbin Benjamin Fairchild Christi Herman Christine and Michael Lanzing Harrison Mills Anja Philippe Melissa Farley William Hess Judy Lawrence Peter Min S. D. Phraner Paul Felch Ben Hestley Matt Felis Nancy Hickey Stephen Felix Will Hickman Together we can protect and restore Georgia’s Chattahoochee River, John and Vicki Fenton Thomas Hinkle its tributaries & watershed, both now and for future generations. Lisa Ferestad Courteney Hinkson Please join us! David Fields Fran Holland Please complete and return to: CRK, 3 Puritan Mill, 916 Joseph Lowery Blvd. NW, Atlanta, GA 30318 or log onto to www.chattahoochee.org to donate today. Carol and David Fink Jane Hollis Robert Fleming Jace Hood ______Heidi Fliess Nick Hoover Name Margi Flood Benjamin Hopper Denise and William Flook Alyssa Horacek ______Address George Flynn Joan and Carson Hostetter Denise and John Forbes Daniel Hourigan ______Susan and Patrick Foster Ralph W. Howard City State Zip Edna Foster Jeff Howard ______Christine Fountain David Howell Phone Email Jerri Franco Tom Howick { } Enclosed is my check payable to: { } Please charge my credit card: Allison Freeman Mariantonia Hoyos Lopez Chattahoochee Riverkeeper { }Amex { }MasterCard { }Visa { }Discover Scott Frick Andrew Hudak { } Student/Senior Membership - $15 Nathaniel Friday Paul Hudson { } Individual Membership - $35 ______Garrett Frieberg Taylor Hughes Credit Card # Tanya Fry Ricardo Humareda { } Family Membership - $50 { } River Supporter - $100 - $249 ______Meera Gadit James Hunsucker Expiration Date CID # Kristiana Gaillard Emily Hunt { } Friend of the River - $250 - $499 { } River Patron - $500 - $999 ______Alice and Bob Gartley Jessica Hunter Signature Rebecca Gaunt Eric Hurst { } River Conservator - $1,000 - $2,499 Marsal Gavalda Michael Ingardia { } Other $______{ } Pledge of $______to be paid in { } monthly { } quarterly installments Robyn and Bruce Pichler Elizabeth and Mike Skrynecki Sally and Ron Warnken In honor of Zack and Perry Julia Grove Dana Pierro Tom Slagle Stephen Warren Freeman Debra Michalak Diane and David Pitts Norman Slawsky John Watkins Katherine Coppedge Jennifer Nelms-Trout Eric Pochynok James Slay Stuart Watson In honor of Erik Fyfe Marisa Salcines Heather Pohl Jesse Smith Shelby Watson Randy Thrower Paula Sutton Richard Polk Katherine Smith Jess Weaver and Sonya Jones Shawn Welsh Tommy L. Portwood Cheryl Smith Robert Weeks In honor of Jeff Hampton Jonathan Powell Kevin Smith Renee and Steven Weiniger Carolyn Kopf Carl Whitmire Alonso Prado-Masias Matthew Smith Eric Weiss Kathleen Hanna gave in honor of: Gifts In-Kind Suzanne Prince Nikki Smith Suzanne and Tom Welander Carol Anderson 5 Seasons Brewery - Atlanta Caroline Prochnow Sean Smith Donna Werner Buie Family Affairs To Remember Connie Propes Steven Smith Vicki and Thomas West McCoy Family The Pugh Family Gwen Smith George West AMC and Stalwart Films, LLC Crystal Ramos Kim Smith-Bufton Hampton Whatley In honor of Mechelle K. The Atlanta BeltLine Partnership Terri Ratchford Mark Soll Bernard White Hodayari Don Ratliff Delmer Southall Matt Wilbanks Mike Davenport Nikki Ray Valerie Spiller Steve Wilder Atlanta Hawks In honor of Bill Hoffman Atlanta Journal Constitution Marlee Reavis Joseph St. Philip Timothy Wilkerson James M. Cox Foundation Jean Reber Linsey Star James Williams The Atlanta Opera Center Andrew Reece Danyel Starr Joanne and Zeke Williams In honor of Kevin Jackson Atlanta Shakespeare Company Marci and Robert Reed Sarah A. Steadman Jessica Williams Michelle Morgan Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Whitney Regan Dave Steele Kelly and Evan Williams In honor of Keena Johnson Ballast Point Brewing & Spirits Michael Reins Kathy Stephens Deedee Williams Lashana Addison Barefoot Wine Anna Rice Candace and Matthew Stevens Landon Williams Faith Sewell Melton Big Green Egg Bruce Rickey Larry Stevens Brandon Williams In honor of Fisher and Selia Kelly Big House Isabel Rico Denise Stewart John Williams Louis Cahill Benjamin Riekhof William Still Leandra and Hugh Williams Kim Blass Canoe Restaurant Patrick Ringer Cheri Stone Linda Willoughby In honor of Laura I. Martin Cartecay Vineyards Nadine Rivers-Johnson Robert Stout Cassie Wilson Pat Renn Sam Roberts Stephanie Stout Gail C. Wilson Center for Arts In honor of Brad Mostowy David Robinson Tyler Stravinski Keelah and Steve Wilson Chattahoochee Nature Center Alejandra Rodriguez Max Strickland Cassandra Wilson and Kelly Moye Claxton Printing Co. Kevin Rodriguez Elizabeth Sudduth Chris Wilson Tara Mostowy Crane Creek Vineyards Tyler Rogers Lisa Sue Isaac Wilson In honor of Tara Mostowy Delta Air Lines, Inc. Dean and Joanne Rogers Mike Sullivan Leigh Wilson Linda Lopiano encyclomedia Charles Rogers Sue Summerour Glenn Wiltshire In memory of Nicolas Needel Fab'rik Natalie Romero Dean Swanson Avis Winfield Dubrow Family Google Mark Romzick Jim Swartz John Wingate Barry Johnson John Rose Ryan Swisher Jordyn Winters Hooch Skateboards Dave Rosselle Donna and James Sylvan Randy Wise Ruth Needel Henry Howell Brenda and Chris Rouse Sarah Szczepanski Cary Wise Lisa, Robin, Susan and Cory Morgan Rowe Jake Tankersley Jesse Witt Needel Kai - The Medical Spa Joe Rude Kerry and Stephen Taylor Sherry Wittenberg David Stein Live Nation Michael Ruiz Kristen Taylor Roger Wolf Judith Stein Magnum Linda Russell Scott Taylor Maury and Ed Wolfe Maxine, Carl, and Sharyn Stein Kathy May Ivy Rutzky Christopher Tennan Zachary Wollerson Penney Stein Paul Mayberry Ryan Sage Lilonga Thandiwe Wesley Wood Steffi, Alan, Deborah, and Mellow Mushroom Rose Sanders Wanda Thompson Mark Woodall Sarah Stein Nespresso Kenneth Sandin Brandi Thompson Richard Woodward Ormsby's In honor of the Nichols Family Marco Sant'Anna T. Thompson Alec Woolfolk Orvis Buckhead Giulietta Family Dr. and Mrs. Rein Saral Randy Thrower Barb and John Wrede Patagonia Atlanta Alexandra Sawicki Lisa Thule Jeannette Yen In honor of Erick Nicholas Peachtree Tents & Events Kate Schankweiler Melissa Thurmond and Elliott Rick Young Pochynok Porsche Cars Kyle Schickner Jones John Youngman Penny Mayo Jeff Schiele Jamie Tkaczuk James Zahnow PTS Screen Printing In honor of Reese Kathryn Schiveree Miguel Tobar Mike Zamora and Embroidery Patrick Schlottman Tokio Marine Management Tiffany Zamora Kelly Orkin Rain Barrel Company, LLC Stuart Schmidtke Ann Tolbert Carol and Ron Zaremba In honor of Patti and Don Ross Ian Rawn Kathryn Scholl Lara Tolchin Cristin Zegers Susan Lowenberg Regency Fine Art & Frame Mini Schulte Muriel and Jim Toler Claire Zens In honor of Laura and River Through Atlanta Kay Schulze Ann-Heather Toole In Honor of/ Rutherford Seydel S&S Fire Pits Kristell Scott Sarah Topper Memorials Kerry and Bailey Izard Salon Carcica Barbara Seal and Don Schreiber Marcia Tourtellott Serenbe In honor of Janet Ward In memory of Chief Shepherd Leonard Seal Chris Treible Monica Sheppard Dorothy and Paul Shea Anonymous Dawn and Steve Shaffer Bill Truman Sign Designs, Atl Jesse Sharp Michelle Tuckwood In honor of Alicia Anderson In honor of Thrower Starr Smith's Old Bar Edith and Don Shedd Aubie Turiak Pamela Anderson Patrick Starr Brian Sheets Clark Underwood The Spotted Trotter Chief Shepherd United Way of Greater Atlanta In honor of Sally Bethea In honor of the Thomas Family SweetWater Brewing Company Lance Sheppard Erin Valek Helen Rice Janet and Robert Riggs Ted's Montana Grill Kim Shingleton Joshua Van Lieu In honor of Laura Breyfogle In honor of William Thomas Terminal West Matthew Shugart Christine Van Roosen John B. Scott Nathaniel Thomas Theatrical Outfit Kimmie Siegelson Carter Vick Matt Thomas In honor of Juliet Cohen In honor of Anna Tucker Linda Siersma Kathie and Richard Vickers Tiger Mountain Vineyards Patti and Don Ross Rob Kris Cali Caroline and Hal Silcox, Jr. Jennifer and Bill Victor Total Wine & More Norah Silva Leigh and Gavin Violante In honor of Leon Cohen In honor of Sloan Ware Harlan Trammell Ward Silver Kathleen and Mike Viscusi Linda and Gene Davidson Donna Ware Ruth Woodling Karen Silverthorn and Brian F. Argean Vokes In honor of Dara Epstein Bard Wrisley gave in honor of: Bill Wooten Chapin Joel Volpl Benjamin Epstein Tracey Beeferman WSB-TV Charity Simmons Sherry Von Klitzing In memory of Jeffrey Erikson Pamela Benke Steven Simms Orie Wade Vineyards Bo Sinkler Robert Waechter O’Connor Family Sara Boudreaux Kathryn Sinkus Vicki Walters In honor of Jason Fowler Allison Christopher Barbara and Dudley Sisk James Warner Ray C. Anderson Foundation Bob Fennell Dan Skeels Lucas Warner Pamela Fogg 8 River CHAT Pollution Levels Plummet in Proctor Creek ollution tracking requires technical expertise, persistence, water before it was discharged into the stream. One of the a certain fearlessness — and sometimes a little help from facilities (known as Greensferry) was built on the tributary Pman’s best friend. mentioned above. Both were failures. Mike Meyer (pictured below) still remembers the dog that As part of the settlement of CRK’s 1995 lawsuit against the city unexpectedly jumped through a hole in a chain link fence, for its failure to meet clean water standards at the CSO facilities showing him one of the few ways to access a creek in northwest and elsewhere, the pipes in the combined Greensferry CSO Atlanta suspected of being polluted with sewage. He was watershed were separated and the facility de-commissioned. In scouting for locations to take other words, the sewer lines water samples on a tributary were re-directed to a sewage to Proctor Creek, as part of treatment plant, while the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper’s stormwater continued to flow Neighborhood Water Watch into creeks. (NWW) program — a highly- successful initiative that Mike Water quality improved has managed for the past significantly, but problems four years. remained.

Today, more than 100 visits In 2010, we began working later, Mike nimbly squeezes with local residents and through the dog’s hole in neighborhood groups to test the fence with his sampling water through our NWW equipment, after saying hello program, an effort that has to the folks he regularly sees expanded to twenty monitoring in the community. He’s told locations in the Proctor them that he’s checking the Creek watershed; samples water and working to stop the are collected by community pollution — and that he doesn’t volunteers trained in U.S. work for the government. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) procedures. To While he can’t tell the residents our knowledge, CRK’s bacteria that this urban stream is totally clean yet, Mike and CRK are monitoring initiative in the Proctor Creek watershed is the most celebrating a major victory, along with our volunteers comprehensive such program in the state of Georgia. and partners. Spurred by CRK’s NWW data (329 water samples) and increasing Recent tests show that E. coli bacteria levels in the tributary — pressure from the community, the city conducted an extensive once a thousand times the federal standard for public health investigation. Ultimately, fifteen illegal sewer connections — have decreased by seventy-five percent! As a result, the were found at the decommissioned Greensferry facility and water in Proctor Creek is measurably safer for the surrounding disconnected, stopping most of the flow of sewage into the community and wildlife, although there is still work to be done. Proctor tributary. Fifteen Illegal Sewer Connections Found Proctor Creek and the surrounding community have received a great deal of well-deserved attention in recent years. EPA has Proctor Creek was once considered one of the most-polluted declared the stream a National Urban Waters, making federal in the City of Atlanta. The nine-mile waterway begins resources available for restoration initiatives. The city and many in and flows downstream under Hollowell nonprofits, corporations and foundations have invested in the Parkway, past the Bellwood Quarry and under Jackson Parkway human and capital infrastructure in an attempt to revive a long- before entering the Chattahoochee River. struggling community.

For decades, overflows from the city’s combined storm and CRK could not do this work without the support and sewer system spewed pollution into Proctor Creek 60-80 times participation of the Proctor Creek community and financial per year — a public health hazard of enormous proportion. resources provided by The Turner Foundation, The Kendeda Fund, The James M. Cox Foundation, Courts Foundation, EPA, In the early 1990s, two mini-treatment combined sewer overflow Drs. Sally and Peter Parsonson, Harland Foundation (CSO) facilities were constructed to screen and chlorinate the and others.

River CHAT 9 At the State Capitol: Legislative Preview hen the Georgia General Assembly resumed work in early January, CRK and our partners in the Georgia WWater Coalition were there to protect our natural resources. CRK’s new policy director Chris Manganiello is on board to expand our ability to advance our environmental priorities. This year, they include: securing protective buffers on all state waters, protecting our groundwater from power plants’ coal ash waste, and preventing oil and gas companies from using imminent domain to take private property to build pipelines. Protecting Stream Buffers

Vegetative buffers along our rivers and streams help keep water clean and protect property values for waterfront landowners and those downstream. The state restricted activities in these streamside zones, until a policy change in 2014 left stretches of our streams, rivers, and lakes unprotected. Chris Manganiello, PhD, CRK’s new water policy director, speaks to a gathering of the Georgia Water Coalition.

During the 2016 General Assembly session, legislators attempted of coal ash in Georgia, preferably in lined landfills on Georgia to improve this law to equally protect all of Georgia’s waterways, Power’s properties and located away from our vulnerable rivers. but inexplicably the state Environmental Protection Division (EPD) actively opposed the efforts to fix this problem. We will Evaluating Pipelines Proposals champion a proposed bill with strong bipartisan support to In recent years, out-of-state corporations accelerated efforts to reestablish buffers on all waterways that EPD left vulnerable after locate new petroleum and natural gas pipeline routes in Georgia. its policy change. They have used eminent domain to take Georgian’s private Safeguarding Groundwater property for these energy corridors. Georgia legislators should pass state law prohibiting the use of eminent domain to take Coal ash waste stored in ponds at Georgia Power plants across private property for construction of pipelines that provide no the state poses a potential threat to groundwater resources. We benefit for Georgians. Similarly, we are advancing a resolution will urge the legislature to adopt laws that prevent coal ash from urging Georgia’s Congressional delegation to reform the Federal contaminating well water or being disposed of at ill-equipped Energy Regulatory Commission, which issues licenses for gas municipal landfills. Legislation must address the safe storage pipelines, to provide greater protections for landowners. Riverkeepers File Brief in Water Wars Case he legal battle between , Georgia, and Alabama Along with our fellow riverkeepers — Gordon Rogers of the Flint over water in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint (ACF) and Dan Tonsmeire of the Apalachicola — CRK has promoted TRiver Basin which straddles all three states has reached a shared goal: to convince the Court to consider the river the nation’s highest court. While many hope this will be the system’s ecological health in addition to the economic impacts last lawsuit in the three-decade saga, the outcome may leave all represented by the states. states unhappy. Represented by Emory’s Turner Environmental Clinic, CRK, Flint In 2013, Florida filed a lawsuit in the U.S. Supreme Court Riverkeeper and Alabama Rivers Alliance filed a brief showing the against Georgia to limit the water Georgia may consume from legal authority for the Court to consider the ecological health of the Chattahoochee and Flint Rivers which flow into Florida’s the rivers in its findings. Apalachicola Riverkeeper submitted a . Florida argued that high water consumption brief focused on the unique environmental conditions of its river by Georgia prevented enough water from flowing downstream and bay. into the , resulting in higher salinity levels that have harmed the oyster fishery. Georgia argued that Florida In the coming months, the Special Master is expected to issue overharvested its fishery causing a collapse in 2012. his recommendation to the Supreme Court regarding water consumption in metro Atlanta and southwest Georgia and the Special Master Oversees Trial volume that must be left in the rivers for downstream users. With our partners, CRK will continue to advocate for a healthy and The Court appointed a “Special Master” to oversee the trial, sustainable river basin with water allocations for all users that which began on Halloween and wrapped up in mid-December. are fair and equitable. CRK staff monitored the trial in Maine and reported back to our members, partner organizations and the press.

10 River CHAT Ambassador Andrew Young, Others Honored at Annual Dinner hattahoochee Riverkeeper kicked off the fall season MANY THANKS TO ALL OF OUR SPONSORS! with an evening of celebration, awards and competitive Cauction bidding at CRK’s 22nd Annual Patron Dinner. PRESENTING SPONSORS On September 28, 2016, nearly 450 supporters, local business Colonial Pipeline | The Atlanta Journal-Constitution leaders, community partners and other distinguished guests RIVER CHAMPION gathered at The Foundry at Puritan Mill. The annual event was Encyclomedia a resounding success, raising $260,000 for CRK’s advocacy and RIVER BENEFACTOR education programs. Cox Enterprises, Inc. | Ray C. Anderson Foundation | Patti and Don Ross | UPS RIVER DEFENDER Affairs to Remember | The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation | AVEDA Ballast Point | City of Atlanta-Department of Watershed Management The Coca-Cola Company | Delta Air Lines | Jennifer and Graham Dorian Shearon and Taylor Glover | Abby and Gerard Gunthert | Bonnie and Mike Jackson Mary Jane and Dave Kirkpatrick | NewFields | Drs. Sally and Pete Parsonson | PNC Laura and Rutherford Seydel | Southwire | SweetWater Brewing Company | T.E.R.N. Turner Enterprises, Inc. | WestRock RIVER ADVOCATE 755 Restaurant Corp. | Barefoot Wine | Cadmus Design Build | Susan and Carl Cofer JST Foundation | Merrill Lynch/STG Partners | Nantahala Outdoor Center Marie and Steve Nygren | Dave Shaffer | Smith, Gambrell & Russell LLP Jeannie and Charles Smith | Southern Company Gas | Toto USA

(L-R) Riverkeeper Jason Ulseth, Executive Director Juliet Cohen and CRK Board Chair Rutherford Seydel congratulate Ambassador Andrew Young (C).

We honored Drs. Sally and Pete Parsonson with our River Guardian Award for providing more than a decade of critical support for our fleet of boats and trucks, laboratories for monitoring water quality and mentorship and guidance for our staff and board.

Ambassador Andrew Young received our River Leader Award for his role in authoring and helping pass legislation to create the Chattahoochee River . On the 100th Anniversary of the National Park Service, we were privileged to recognize Ambassador Young’s lifetime of public service. Other CRK Regional Outreach Manager Henry Jacobs (far right) greets River Steward Award honoree Charles honorees: Charles Smith (River Steward Award), Ericsson (River Smith and friends from the Middle Chattahoochee region. (L-R) Bob Harris, Ellen Harris, Jeannie Smith, Sustainability Award) and Bill Cox (River Hero Award). Charles Smith and Rodney Cook. Twenty-Five Tons of Trash Out of the River! n 2016, Chattahoochee Riverkeeper UPS’s Mary Schrepfer says: “Participating conditions for trash removal. To date, removed more than twenty-five tons in CRK cleanups affords our teams the CRK, its volunteers and partners have Iof trash and tires from the watershed ability to learn more about the issues pulled nearly 850 tons of trash from the with the help of more than a thousand related to our water supply, while Chattahoochee River system. volunteers and recycled ten percent of building camaraderie and providing a the volume! shared sense of purpose.” With 2017 shaping up to be another record drought year with low water In fact, we’ve been picking up trash While twenty-five is the most tonnage we levels, CRK is preparing to take advantage from the river, its lakes and tributaries have removed in recent years, not long of these conditions. See our calendar of since we got started in 1994; our biggest ago our volunteers removed eighty tons watershed outings and cleanups on the annual haul was in 1998 when 568 tons in one year! That year was 2009, when back cover of this newsletter and join us of man-made debris were removed by an exceptional drought dropped water as a member or with your corporate team! professional teams from thirty-seven levels significantly, providing excellent miles of Chattahoochee tributaries in the City of Atlanta. That massive effort was a requirement of the settlement of CRK’s lawsuit against Atlanta for failing to comply with clean water laws. Getting dirty builds teamwork

Some of our most productive trash cleanup partners are corporations. Cox Enterprises, Cox Automotive, UPS, Colonial Pipeline, MillerCoors, Porsche, SweetWater Brewing and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta participated last year by hosting cleanup events for their employees. Our corporate partners believe that trash cleanups are effective and satisfying projects that build community Cox Enterprises team of 80 volunteers cleanup Tanyard Creek. ties and improve employee morale. River CHAT 11 Non-Profit Organization US Postage Paid Join us Permit No. 3363 Outdoors in 2017! Atlanta, Georgia 3 Puritan Mill Middle Chattahoochee Paddle 916 Joseph Lowery Blvd. Address Service Requested March 25 Paddle a remote, ten-mile section of the river from Whitesburg to Chattahoochee Bend State Park in Coweta County — one of Georgia’s newest parks. Open to paddlers of all skill levels. 7th Annual Sweep the Printed on 10 percent post-consumer recycled paper. Hooch April 8 If you prefer to receive RiverCHAT electronically,contact Christina York at [email protected]. Help us clean up the Chattahoochee by walking, wading or paddling! CRK, Upper Chattahoochee Chapter of Trout Unlimited and the National Park Service are again organizing a massive, one-day cleanup at more than forty sites along the river from the Headwaters to West Point Lake with a focus on the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area.

Earth Day Paddle Cleanup April 22 Download the CRK App for iPhone and Join us and the Soque River Watershed Association for a rare Android mobile devices from the App Store for FREE and have access to CRK’s Hotline opportunity to paddle the largely-private Soque from the Hwy program to Report a Problem, Events Calendar, 105 Bridge to Wildwood Outfitters at Duncan Bridge. We’ll pick up Watershed Map, and more on the go. trash while enjoying four miles of this Headwaters stream.

Chestatee River Paddle June 3 Paddle the , a tributary to the Chattahoochee and the former home of the Indians. We’ll start on remote and beautiful Yahoola Creek, which flows into the most popular stretch of the Chestatee — eight and a half miles in total.

Full Moon Blues Cruise featuring Jontavious Willis June 8 Join us aboard the Miss Sally for an evening cruise on West Point Lake with live blues performed by Jontavious Willis. You’ll also Chattahoochee Valley learn about CRK’s programs in the Middle Chattahoochee River River Revival May 6 region, while you enjoy the moon-lit lake. Float three miles from West Point Dam (Hardley Creek Park) to the West Point River Park. Then, hang out at the park for live music, good local food and the screening of river-inspired films.

Wild & Scenic Film Festival Gainesville May 13 Be awed and inspired at this popular film festival where you’ll see the Earth’s beauty and learn about the challenges facing our planet and the work that communities are doing to protect the environment.

15th Anniversary Back to the Chattahoochee River Race & Festival May 20 Watch - or join - racers as they take to the water to see who can make it to Roswell’s Riverside Park in record time! The eight- mile river race is open to paddlers of all ages. A festival follows at the finish line with exhibitors, arts and crafts, local businesses, For more information on CRK Frisbee dogs, kid-friendly fun and live music. Outings visit chattahoochee.org.

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