Winter 2010 Newsletter Altamaha hhisis TTreeree TBBelongselongs ttoo YYou.ou. YYourour SSupportupport HHelpselps ttoo PProtectrotect iitt aandnd oourur AAmazingmazing WWatershed.atershed. Holland found the tree when visiting the area in the Altamaha River fl oodplain in Long County and McIntosh County with state offi cials and jokingly claimed the tree as his, but it really belongs to you. The state recently purchased the 7,180 acre track from The Nature Conservancy for about 8 million Altamaha Riverkeeper James Holland discovers the largest cypress tree dollars to protect the old growth trees. in Georgia, measuring 44 feet and 5 inches The land, which supports at least 17 rare and endangered species and includes freshwater wetlands, tupelo swamps, and longleaf pine forests, will be maintained as a conservation area in the Townsend Wildlife Management Area. Ohoopee Dunes Natural Area ARK’s Walk on the Wild Side participants thank Mincy Moffett with GA D.N.R.’s Nongame Conservation Section and Nature Conservancy Land Steward Erick Brown for a wonderful tour of the Ohoopee Dunes Natural Area. Thanks also to Board Member Marilyn Lanier and Faye Parker for a magical day. ARK looks forward to working with D.N.R. to protect this unique ecosystem. A Celebration for the Altamaha and Satilla Riverkeeper to show support for both Riverkeeper groups. Claire Cox is also proud of her brother, Gordon Rogers who was the Satilla Riverkeeper until recently when he took the helm of the Flint Riverkeeper. Everyone enjoyed the delicious BBQ pig and all the fi xings catered by Satterfi eld’s and cakes and pies homemade by the Cox’s friends and family. The night progressed with updates on the Riverkeeper’s work and fabulous music by the band, 6 Degrees. It was a special night and we want to thank everyone for supporting watershed protection. We are especially grateful to the hosts who made the event possible.; Claire The fi rst thing to appear when you came over the and Charlie Cox , Beth Collins and Bob Farquhar, Bob hill in the Macon neighborhood was a big festive tent in and Susan Middleton, Duck and Jeanette Moss, Joe and Claire and Charlie Cox’s front yard. Under the tent on Virginia Popper, Lindsay and Marie Holliday, Molly the beautiful October night were over a hundred friends Martin, and Tom and Tricia Bass gathered to support the work of the Altamaha Riverkeeper Thanks also to Barry Hudson of Middle Georgia and Satilla Riverkeeper. Tent Rental, Southern Eagle Distributors, and Bee The Cox’s and other hosts live in the Altamaha River Natural Candles. With all of your help, the Altamaha and Watershed near the Ocmulgee River and many have life- Satilla Riverkeepers will continue to protect our greatest long experience on the Satilla River and the group wanted resources for generations to come. Rayonier Stink Affects Fish, Residents, Tourists, and Tourism Dollars Complaints from from people who say that Rayonier’s foul odor makes llocal citizens and tourists them feel nauseous and sick. oof stinky air and catching Rayonier claims they are not in violation of their ssmelly inedible fi sh in consent order from the state Environmental Protection tthe Altamaha River near Division and that they are making efforts to reduce the color tthe Rayonier pulp mill and odor of the plant’s discharge into the river. ARK thinks iin Wayne County near Rayonier’s efforts are inadequate. Until Rayonier cleans up JJesup increased during its smelly discharge which is interfering with the enjoyment tthe summer of 2009. of the river and making the fi sh unsafe to eat, Rayonier is The Altamaha negatively affecting the environment and economy of all the Chad Crews holds his nose RRiverkeeper is part of communities in the area. after cleaning this bream caught the Altamaha River near Raynier. Partnership (ARP), a coalition of state, regional, and local representatives promoting nature-based tourism and associated economic development opportunities within 11 counties bordering the Altamaha River. The partnership goes to great length and expense to promote the Altamaha as a tourism destination through Local Area Welcome Centers, Departments of Tourism, and Chambers of Commerce. Outreach includes producing and supplying annual Altamaha River calendars and thousands of brochures entitled, Georgia’s Altamaha Speakers at the December 1 forum on Waste Water Treatment River - A Canoe Trail Map & Adventure Guide. on the Georgia Coast received photos taken by James Holland. The brochures attract boaters and kayakers from Pictured here are Chuck Hopkinson, Bob Freeman, James around the country. Tourists rave about the beautiful Holland, Brian Baker, Jim Poff, Bruce Pruitt, Bill Sapp, John Day, Mark Hooks, and Jack Blanton. Thanks to Chandra Brown, trip down the Altamaha until they get in the vicinity of Daniel Parshley, David Kyler, John Carswell, and Bill Sapp for Rayonier. At that point, ARK receives constant complaints organizing the event. Altamaha 2 Salt Marsh Soldiers Students in Vicki Klahn’s classes were inspired after Altamaha Riverkeeper’s Riverkeeper’s environmental education and Altamaha Riverkeeper James Holland’s educational outreach work is increasing stewardship. The Glass Wall presentations and formed a conservation group named the Project created by the Salt Marsh Soldiers at Mary Ross Salt Marsh Soldiers. This photo is of their October river Waterfront Park depicts how Brunswick students created clean up at Brunswick’s Homer Wilson Boulevard just something beautiful with recycled trash, in this case north of Andrews Island. discarded bottles. Governor Purdue Dumps Dirt in Jackson Lake and Pleads Ignorance On October 3, when Jackson Lake residents Fonnette and Robert Harris saw someone dredging in the lake with a track hoe, they took their pontoon boat across the lake to investigate. According to the Harris’s they confronted the man standing on the dock next to the dredging and asked if he had permits for dredging, the man replied, “Ma’am, I don’t know nothing about any permits.” Next the Harris’s asked if Governor Perdue knew they were doing this work, the gentleman politely replied, “Ma’am I am the Governor.” Mrs. Harris said, “Governor don’t you know you are violating many environmental regulations? “ The Governor replied “I don’t know nothing about any environmental regulations.” When caught by citizens, Perdue denied knowledge of any At that time Ms. Harris said “And you are the environmental regulations. Governor of Georgia?” lowers the lake levels, corrective action will be required of Jackson Lake is on the Ocmulgee River and part of the Governor; he will have to properly remove and dispose the Altamaha River Watershed. The Altamaha Riverkeeper of the dredged dirt to a proper confi ned upland disposal James Holland (ARK) reported the incidence to the federal site.” Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Holland says, Holland says, “The Governor saying he did not know “This problem requires investigation. It is illegal to dredge a permit was needed is not an acceptable excuse for the and also to discharge a pollutant (dredge spoil) in Waters Chief Law Enforcement Offi cer for the State of Georgia. of the U.S. without fi rst obtaining at minimum a Federal The amount of dredged and discharged spoil is not the Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 404 Permit. question; the question is why Governor Perdue did not ARK talked to Molly Davis at EPA who said, “Georgia obtain any and all permits before dredging in Waters of Power is the permit holder for Jackson Lake and ultimately the U.S. as required by law. It is common knowledge, responsible for all actions on the lake. Georgia Power every county commission chairman in the state knows that investigated the site and estimated that fi ve cubic yards of you cannot dredge in U.S. waters without fi rst obtaining dirt were dredged at the Governor’s dock and discharged Federal Permits, much less discharge the dredge spoil back into the lake. After Thanksgiving when Georgia Power into the same body of water it came from. ” 3 Altamaha More Coal to Impact the Upper Watershed As ARK continues to address ongoing problems operating on the Ocmulgee River near Macon and 1500 with reduced river fl ows from upstream consumption, megawatt Plant Harley Branch coal plant upstream on pollution from industrial and municipal discharges, and the Oconee River’s Lake Sinclair near Milledgeville, our increasing uncontrolled stormwater run-off, our troubled watershed already suffers serious impacts of air and water Oconee River is targeted as a water source and waste pollution from the dirty coal industry. ARK is working water discharge location for the proposed new coal-fi red with dozens of groups and hundreds of individuals to stop power facility, the 854 megawatt Plant Washington in Plant Washington. We are also seeking support from more Sandersville. citizens in monitoring the operations and environmental With 3200 megawatt coal fi red Plant Scherer already impacts of Plant Scherer and Plant Harley Branch. Plant Washington’s Draft Permits Based on Faulty Assumptions In recent years, local residents have seen the Oconee withdrawal modeling is based on an incorrect premise that River’s fl ow reduced to dangerously low conditions. Our underestimates the frequency and duration of groundwater experts say the current modeling and analysis has an withdrawals. It also appears that EPD failed to consider inadequate drought contingency plan, little planning for whether the proposed plant’s groundwater withdrawal worst case scenarios, and does not address what happens if would impair the net fl ow of groundwater into the Oconee water is not available. during drought. Faulty modeling and fl awed analysis generated and The water withdrawal permit also requires the presented by Power4Georgians contributed to the EPD’s applicant to consider the worst case scenario, such assertion that the Oconee River could provide cooling as periods of drought when cooling water might not water and accept waste water for Plant Washington.