Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper Kristina Robertson 4/14/2011 Clemson University ENR The trouble with water – and there is trouble with water – is that they aren’t making any more of it’. - Marq de Villers, Water. The trouble with water – and there is trouble with water – is that they aren’t making any more of it’. - Marq de Villers, Water.

The Beginning  1964 Fishermen meet to discuss the pollution of the Hudson River Fishermen meet to discuss the pollution of the Hudson River Bob Boyle suggests the use of existing laws to stop violations Bob Boyle suggests the use of existing laws to stop violations Rivers and Harbors act of 1888Rivers and Harbors act of 1888 Refuse Act of 1899Refuse Act of 1899 Created the Hudson River Fishermen’s Association (HRFA). Created the Hudson River Fishermen’s Association (HRFA).

 1972 Clean Water Act passed Clean Water Act passed Tom Whyatt is appointed as the first Riverkeeper Tom Whyatt is appointed as the first Riverkeeper  Robert F Kennedy Jr. becomes the Riverkeeper’s Chief Prosecuting Attorney Robert F Kennedy Jr. becomes the Riverkeeper’s Chief Prosecuting Attorney HRFA and Riverkeeper merge HRFA and Riverkeeper merge

 1999 Kennedy becomes the head of The National Alliance of River, Sound and Baykeepers Kennedy becomes the head of The National Alliance of River, Sound and Baykeepers Renamed Waterkeeper Alliance Renamed Waterkeeper Alliance  Present Waterkeeper Alliance Waterkeeper Alliance supports the over 200 waterkeeper organizations worldwidesupports the over 200 waterkeeper organizations worldwide dedicated to protecting community’s right to clean waterdedicated to protecting community’s right to clean water

Waterkeeper Campaigns  Clean Energy exposing the truth behind the coal industry exposing the truth behind the coal industry protection of our food systems from mercury contamination protection of our food systems from mercury contamination  Polluted Runoff strengthening storm water laws and regulations strengthening storm water laws and regulations  Pure Farms, Pure Water protection of rural watersheds working with farmers, environmentalists and political leaders protection of rural watersheds working with farmers, environmentalists and political leaders  Defending Clean Water block attempts to weaken the current environmental protections of the Clean Water Act block attempts to weaken the current environmental protections of the Clean Water Act

Waterkeeper Regions  Worldwide Africa Africa Asia Asia Australia Australia Canada Canada Europe Europe Latin America Latin America USA USA Great LakesGreat Lakes North AtlanticNorth Atlantic GulfGulf PacificPacific South AtlanticSouth Atlantic

Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper (UCR)  Established in 1994  Part of the South Atlantic region  Was the 11th licensed program in the Waterkeeper Alliance  5,000 members that advocate for the protection and restoration of the Chattahoochee River Basin The Riverkeeper's guide to the Chattahoochee River : from its origin at Chattahoochee Gap to Apalachicola Bay

Chattahoochee Watershed  provides drinking water for approximately 3.5 million people  drains an area of 8,770 square miles and is part of the Appalachicola- Chattahoochee-Flint Basin  flows 430 miles to its union with the Flint River at Lake Seminole and the Florida border

UCR Tools   Advocacy Water conservation and planning   Education Floating classroom The Lake Lanier Aquatic Learning Center on the Chota Princess II for grades K-12 Get the Dirt Out Workshops controlling runoff from construction sites Certification Classes Erosion and Sediment Control   Research   Communication User friendly website Numerous programs and interaction opportunities

  Cooperation Report a Problem Citizen "hotline" program   Monitoring Monthly river patrols BacteriAlert program Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area total coliform and E. Coli Lake Lanier Clean Water Campaign Chattahoochee river's confluence with Peachtree Creek Dissolved oxygen   Legal actions Enforcements Legislature Tri-State Water Wars

UCR Projects   Riparian Restoration & Education Project/Soque River Restoration Project Prevent the further erosion into the Soque River. Use a restoration technique that is unique to Georgia. Improve habitat and stream health. Demonstrate that it is more cost-effective to prevent problems

  Source Water Protection Program in Habersham County Provide sediment source assessment of the watershed. Evaluate the effectiveness of the current water supply plan to protect Clarkesville's drinking water supply Designate a strategy to protect this drinking water supply from future collection of silt Educate watershed residents concerning protection options   Biodiversity: Assessment of Threatened Fish Species work with UGA’s Institute of Ecology enhance knowledge of the aquatic species found in the headwaters provide information about the occurrence and distribution of aquatic fauna lay the foundation for future studies and implementation of conservation policies

Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper’s mission “is to advocate and secure the protection and stewardship of the Chattahoochee River, its tributaries and watershed, in order to restore and preserve their ecological health for the people and wildlife that depend on the river system”

Sources   Brown, Fred. "The Riverkeeper's Guide to the..." Google Books. Web. 21 Mar   Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper Web. 21 Mar   "Water Quality | Riverkeeper." Riverkeeper - NY's Clean Water Advocate. Web. 3 Apr   Waterkeeper Alliance. Web. 3 Apr