Winter 2012 A quarterly publication of Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper (UCR) RiverCHAT www.chattahoochee.org Water Coalition’s ‘Dirty Dozen’ exposes Worst offenses to GeorGia’s WaterWays elebrating 10 years of advocating for adequate to protect Georgia’s most heavily clean water, the Georgia Water Coali- used river from growing demands. To ensure Ction last November named its Dirty protection of the Chattahoochee, EPD must Dozen for 2011, exposing the worst offenses insist that agencies share important data, to Georgia’s water. Two of the 12 offenses are fund real-time water monitoring stations and located in the Chattahoochee watershed: the conduct a study to confirm, or recommend state’s failure to monitor river flow at Atlanta, revision to, the minimum flow requirements to and a proposed new reservoir on a tributary protect all downstream users. to Lake Lanier. With a price of more than $350 million, the proposed Glades Reservoir on Flat Creek in Hall County illustrates what is wrong with Georgia’s strategy to “drought proof” metro At- lanta. Promoted by powerful insiders, Glades involves building a dam to create an amenity lake for a residential development masquer- ading as a water supply reservoir. It would siphon massive quantities of water from the Chattahoochee River immediately upstream of Lake Lanier. The state’s leading water protection group, the Coalition is a consortium of more than Other members of the Dirty Dozen include a 180 conservation and environmental organiza- textile manufacturing plant on the Ogeechee tions, hunting and fishing groups, businesses River blamed for a massive fish kill; Rayo- and faith-based organizations representing nier’s pulp mill on the Altamaha River; the more than 300,000 Georgians. Upper Chatta- proposed Savannah River Harbor deepening “Too often in Georgia, the fox is watching the hoochee Riverkeeper is a founding member of project; a proposed coal-fired power plant on hen house,” said UCR’s Sally Bethea, a former the Coalition. the Oconee River; depletion of flows on the member of the DNR Board who was removed Flint River; destruction of coastal marshes; during a purge in 2007 that also eliminated “This is more than a list,” said Jerry McCollum, and fish kills in middle Georgia linked to kaolin other conservationists. “Some of the problems president of the Georgia Wildlife Federation. processing. on this list have been happening for decades, “This is a call to action for Georgia’s citizens and the agency that is supposed to fix the and its leaders. The sites populating this list funding cuts, political cronyism problems can’t, or won’t. The failures go are only poster children for the larger problem deeper than lack of funding.” The Coalition blames continuing funding cuts of a system that is failing to protect our water, to EPD and a lack of political will to aggres- our fish and wildlife, and our communities. The Coalition’s report details the history of sively enforce state and federal environmental each site and provides solutions to correct Dirty politics on the Chattahoochee laws and implement state policy that better these ongoing pollution problems and protects and manages Georgia’s water. Since eliminate the listed threats. Visit http:// In the 1970s, the Georgia Environmental Pro- 2008, EPD has seen its funding slashed by 44 www.garivers.org/gawater/dirtydozen.htm. tection Division (EPD) established a minimum percent, on the heels of steady cuts of around flow standard of 750 cubic feet per second 40 percent since the 1980s, but the Coalition (cfs) in the Chattahoochee at Peachtree Creek asserts that political cronyism also plays a Inside This Issue: to dilute discharges from sewage treatment part in the agency’s failure to enforce laws. plants in metro Atlanta. EPD and metro water utilities led by the Atlanta Regional Com- At least half of the 18 citizens serving on the UCR prevents clear-cutting Page 3 governor-appointed Department of Natural mission have refused to support real-time Volunteer finds his groove Page 4 monitoring at this critical location. This makes Resources Board, which oversees EPD, have compliance impossible to verify, thereby ties to business interests that are directly or Better Building Challenge Page 5 threatening the river’s health downstream. indirectly regulated by EPD. By contrast, there are no full-time environmental advocates, Safeguarding West Point Lake Page 6 Moreover, EPD has not conducted a com- scientists or biologists serving on the board. prehensive study to confirm that the flow 2011 By the Numbers Page 8 standard established 30-plus years ago is still Staff Sally Bethea Executive Director and Riverkeeper Reflections Tammy Bates As I write this column, it’s late November and Lake Without notice, the governor fired long-time state Events and Outreach Director Lanier is almost 13 feet down from its “normal pool”; climatologist and UGA professor David Stooksbury, Juliet Cohen West Point Lake, downstream of Atlanta, is almost 11 and appointed a state employee in his place. The General Counsel feet down. Water inflows to Lanier are at an all-time respected Stooksbury was frequently quoted in the Bill Crawford low, while water withdrawals from the lake and the media, providing important drought information. Little Business Manager river continue unabated. has been heard from the new climatologist. Laura Hartt Water Policy Director The Corps of Engineers, One might speculate that there’s an aversion to the Becca Klein which manages the lakes, “d-word” in state government these days, a 180-degree Development Director predicts that they will turn from four years ago when then-Gov. Sonny Perdue Mary Manson continue to drop, mean- claimed that metro Atlanta was just 80 days from run- Receptionist ing that Lanier could be ning out of water, and publicly prayed for rain. Bonny Putney just a few feet from its all- Headwaters Outreach Manager time low of 20 feet below In fact, if you fell asleep four years ago and just woke up, you might assume that little had changed in terms David Lee Simmons normal pool when you Communications Director receive this newsletter of the weather, and that the region was still mired in the same drought. Jill Sistino in January. Of course, it Regional Outreach Manager could start raining again, The difference now is that our elected officials are but are we willing to bet on the weather temporarily Jason Ulseth not talking about the drought, its looming impact to Technical Programs Director bailing us out and continue business as usual? our economic prosperity and the health of our rivers, Christina York perhaps hoping that, by ignoring this elephant in the Office Manager The most startling fact about our situation is that few in state government are talking about the extreme room, it will just shuffle away. drought that Georgia has been facing for more than Board of directorS A few local governments are taking steps to protect half a year. Denise Donahue their citizens by implementing water-use restrictions, Gary Gaines a deafening silence from state leaders focusing on outdoor watering that takes a huge toll on Billy Hall our lakes and rivers in late summer and early fall. Un- Victor Haydel Last summer, Gov. Nathan Deal asked for federal fortunately, thanks to the much-touted Water Steward- Hugo Hernandez disaster relief for parched farmers, but other than this ship Act passed in 2010, municipalities must now fill Christine Hung plea for taxpayers in other states to provide funds to out paperwork and secure state approval before they Richard Jacobson Georgia farmers, there has been a deafening silence can take these water-wise actions. Ben Jordan from state leaders regarding our ongoing water crisis. It’s time for state leaders to learn that the first step to Dave Kirkpatrick There have been no calls for citizens and businesses recovery is acknowledging the problem. Jim McCaffrey to cut back on water use and no incentives provided Steve O’Day to encourage conservation and efficiency, except from Jamie Pryor a few affected local governments. David Shaffer Charles Smith Executive Director and Riverkeeper Catherine Woodling J. Rutherford Seydel II, Chair Our mission is to advocate and secure the Watershed Moment protection and stewardship of the Chattahoochee River, its tributaries and watershed. I’ve paddled the Chattahoochee River from Atlanta Office West Point Dam to Lake Harding hundreds of 3 Puritan Mill times over the past 14 years; it’s the place I go 916 Joseph Lowery Blvd. to relax and spend time with friends. One day, Atlanta, GA 30318 404-352-9828 we’re going to make this section an official blue trail, so that it’s more accessible to folks, Gainesville Office 615 f Oak Street which is one of the reasons I helped start the Suite 1000 Middle Chattahoochee River Stewards. Then, Gainesville, GA 30501 more people can learn about the old mill dams 770-531-1064 on the river (photo) and their history, see the LAGRAnGe Office abundant wildlife including eagles, and visit 35 Lafayette Square my favorite place, the Crow Hop Islands. LaGrange GA 30240 Valley, Ala. www.chattahoochee.org — Jimmy stewart, www.getthedirtout.org 2 River CHAT Monitoring reveals violations on Lake Lanier On Patrol During the 2011 “growing season” (April-October), UCR col- lected monthly water samples at 10 locations on Lake Lanier and For further details on UCR’s investigations and enforcement actions, go to tested them for chlorophyll a as part of our Lake Lanier Clean www.chattahoochee.org/on-patrol. Water Campaign. Chlorophyll a levels are used to determine the amount of algal growth in the lake and are an important indicator of the lake’s health. The samples, which were analyzed airport WithDraWs plan to by a University of Georgia water lab, showed violations of the Clear-Cut river, stream buffers state water quality standard at three locations, indicating that excessive nutrients are still entering the lake and confirming the fficials with Fulton County’s 50-year-old need for an expedited cleanup plan.