Over 130 people came out to celebrate

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May 2012 CONFLUENCE Working Together for Healthy Rivers Weekend For Rivers Inspires Attendees Over 130 people came out to celebrate rivers at GRN s Weekend for Rivers March 31-April 1 in Roswell.

river problems, partying (with just a little bit of karaoke) and paddling the new, federally-designated stretch of the Chattahoochee River National Water Trail.

1 May 2012 CONFLUENCE Working Together for Healthy Rivers Weekend For Rivers Inspires Attendees Over 130 people came out to celebrate rivers at GRN s Weekend for Rivers March 31-April 1 in Roswell. Folks from all over Georgia converged on the beautiful Chattahoochee Nature Center to spend two glorious spring days sharing stories about the rivers they love, brainstorming answers to Georgia s river problems, partying (with just a little bit of karaoke) and paddling the new, federally-designated stretch of the Chattahoochee River National Water Trail. This year s Weekend for Rivers taught us that sometimes trying something new comes with a big reward. The event has historically been a 3-track conference that facilitated the sharing of information about river issues to and among advocates and citizens alike. This format was popular for over a decade, but this year we wondered, What would happen if we just asked people to tell us their best river stories? We tried it and the results were phenomenal: there were stories told in poetry, song, photography and landscape painting. Topics ranged from childhood paddles with a grandparent to how to pull a tire out of a river. The day was capped off by an outdoor party complete with campfires and s mores! There was even a campout! years, people have been asking us to put on more than one Paddle Georgias a year. At this year s Weekend for Rivers, we launched Mini-Paddle Georgia, complete with gymnasium camping and even the same caterer. So, please plan to join us next spring for Weekend for Rivers And look out for the call for proposals for next year s event sometime in November: we want to know what your river means to you, and you can tell it through song, poetry, art or through good, old-fashioned storytelling! Story cont d on page 2. The next day, participants got a little taste of spring on the Chattahoochee during a leisurely 9-mile paddle through the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. For Participants envision healthy rivers. In This Issue... Judy and Buddy Sharpton perform a song. River Celebration Awards 3 River Heroes: Sally Bethea 4 Paddle 12 Rivers in Ingle Attends Conference on Conservation 4 South River Paddle 5 Reel Paddling Film Festival 5 Legislative Session 6 Chattahoochee Named First National Water Trail 7 Turner Regrants 7

GEORGIA RIVER NETWORK 126 South Milledge Avenue Suite E3 Athens, GA 30605 (706) 549-4508 (Phone) (706) 549-7791 (Fax) info@garivers.

org Working Together for Healthy Rivers MISSION Georgia River Network is working to ensure a clean water legacy by engaging and empowering Georgians to protect and restore our rivers from the

2 GEORGIA RIVER NETWORK 126 South Milledge Avenue Suite E3 Athens, GA (706) (Phone) (706) (Fax) Working Together for Healthy Rivers MISSION Georgia River Network is working to ensure a clean water legacy by engaging and empowering Georgians to protect and restore our rivers from the mountains to the coast. Weekend for Rivers cont d from page 1 A Special Thanks to Our Sponsors! Patagonia, Stormwater Systems, The Rainbarrel Depot, Coca-Cola Refreshments, Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, Cedar Creek RV and Outdoor Center, The Outside World, Sweetwater Brewing, American Rivers, Coosa River Basin Initiative, High Country, Flint Riverkeeper, GreenLaw, Café Campesino, Southern Environmental Law Center, Broad River Watershed Association, Ogeechee Riverkeeper, Upper Oconee Watershed Network, Georgia Lakes Society GOALS Help citizens work together to protect and restore their local rivers Support local river groups and citizens by helping build their capacity to protect and restore their rivers Work with citizens and local river groups to advocate for strong, responsible protections for Georgia s rivers Board of Directors Mr. John Branch Ms. Cari Clarke Phelps Ms. Dorinda Dallmeyer Mr. Mickey Desai Mr. Bruno Giri Mr. Gary Hopkins Mr. Duncan Hughes Mr. Victor Johnson Ms. Christine Rodick Ms. Dee Stone Ms. Julie Stuart Staff April Ingle Executive Director Chris Manganiello Policy Director Gwyneth Moody Community Programs Coordinator Jesslyn Shields Watershed Support Coordinator Dana Skelton Director of Administration & Outreach Debra Tate Administrative Assistant Davin Welter Development Director Georgia River Network is a 501(c)3 non profit organization. Contributions are fully tax deductible. Top: April Ingle with Ogeechee Riverkeeper: Dianna Wedincamp, Ann Hartzell and Emily Markestyn. See pg 3. Bottom: Peter Morgan and Alan Crawford launch from Garrard s Landing.

River Celebration Awardees are Our Heroes G eorgia River Network held the 8th annual River Celebration Awards to recognize the

Honorees received awards in a special ceremony as part of the 2012 Weekend for Rivers Georgia River Network s annual conference.

Year Poni Shannon Greensboro, GA River Conservationists of the Year Tara Muenz and Allison Hughes Atlanta, GA To read more about the

html Bottom Left - Poni Shannon, Bottom Right - Allison Hughes and Tara Muenz, Right - Dianna Wedincamp of Ogeechee Riverkeeper Georgia

3 River Celebration Awardees are Our Heroes G eorgia River Network held the 8th annual River Celebration Awards to recognize the successes and dedicated efforts of river advocates in Georgia. Honorees received awards in a special ceremony as part of the 2012 Weekend for Rivers Georgia River Network s annual conference. The winners of the 2012 River Celebration Awards are: Watershed Group of the Year Ogeechee Riverkeeper Statesboro, GA Volunteer of the Year Poni Shannon Greensboro, GA River Conservationists of the Year Tara Muenz and Allison Hughes Atlanta, GA To read more about the winners, visit org/events/river-celebration-awards/141.html Bottom Left - Poni Shannon, Bottom Right - Allison Hughes and Tara Muenz, Right - Dianna Wedincamp of Ogeechee Riverkeeper Georgia River Network - A 1% For the Planet Partner Georgia River Network is a 1% for the Planet non-profit partner. Over 1200 companies are giving 1% of their profits to organizations in the network that are committed to creating a healthy planet. Learn more at

River Heroes: Sally Bethea Each year the national organization, River Network, celebrates one individual s accomplishments with the James R. Compton Lifetime Achievement Award.

For more than two decades, Sally has demonstrated extraordinary leadership in her quest for clean and plentiful water in the Chattahoochee River Basin and throughout Georgia.

4 River Heroes: Sally Bethea Each year the national organization, River Network, celebrates one individual s accomplishments with the James R. Compton Lifetime Achievement Award. This year s honoree was Georgia s own Sally Bethea, the Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper. For more than two decades, Sally has demonstrated extraordinary leadership in her quest for clean and plentiful water in the Chattahoochee River Basin and throughout Georgia. Her achievements have touched the lives of millions of Georgians providing them with cleaner creeks, streams, lakes and rivers for their drinking water and recreational needs. Early in her career, Sally addressed the habitual fouling of the river by the City of Atlanta s sewage treatment discharges and bypasses by leading a coalition in opposition to the city s pollution. The eventual Clean Water Act citizen suit Sally Bethea accepts her award from Don Elder. Paddle 12 Rivers in 2012 led to one of the largest and most effective sewage treatment overhauls and cleanups in the country. The award was given by River Network which is an organization leading a national watershed protection movement that includes more than 2,000 local, state and regional and local grassroots organizations whose primary mission is to protect rivers and watersheds. For more than twenty years, River Network has worked closely with watershed protection groups from coast to coast building the capacity of state and local organizations, assisting people grappling with water and environmental health problems, protecting habitat for fish and wildlife, developing blue cities and reducing our country s use of water and energy. Visit River Network online at and learn more about Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper at www. chattahoochee.org. Georgia River Network is encouraging river lovers to celebrate Georgia s rivers from wild places to urban waterways by paddling 12 rivers in The paddling season is just now starting, so its not too late to set your New Year s resolution to get outside, get active and get to know your home state. Use the Georgia Water Trails Website to identify water trails to paddle, locate outfitters, find organized paddling trips or plan your own trip. Learn more at We are posting stories from paddlers at Left: Matt Elliot and family paddle the Oconee River. Ingle Attends White House Conference GRN Executive Director, April Ingle, attended the White House Conference on Conservation where President Obama delivered remarks. There were keynotes and 3 panels discussing the different aspects of the America s Great Outdoors initiative EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, and Council for Environmental Quality Chair Nancy Sutley all participated and spoke. At the end of the day President Obama gave a speech about the importance of our country s public lands and waterways. You can view the speech here: You can view the press release/summary from the day here: pressreleases/white-house-conference-sets-stage-for-new-era-of-conservation.cfm

Reel Paddling Festival at Paddle Georgia Join Georgia River Network and Paddle Georgia participants on Monday, June 19 at Wayne County High School in Jesup at 7:30 PM for a free film festival focused

Selected through a contest, the winners and other shortlisted films are then toured to more than 100 cities around the world, screening for an audience of more than 30,000 outdoor adventure

5 Reel Paddling Festival at Paddle Georgia Join Georgia River Network and Paddle Georgia participants on Monday, June 19 at Wayne County High School in Jesup at 7:30 PM for a free film festival focused on paddling. Rapid Media s 7th annual Reel Paddling Film Festival showcases the world s best paddling films to audiences around the world. Selected through a contest, the winners and other shortlisted films are then toured to more than 100 cities around the world, screening for an audience of more than 30,000 outdoor adventure enthusiasts and their friends and families. Double Your Giving Paddlers participate in South River Paddle. Paddling the South River I n April, GRN s Gwyneth Moody joined a dozen others for South River Watershed Alliances Beyond the Bridge 2020 kick-off paddle. Along the way, Gwyneth captured people s river stories on video which can be seen at youtube.com/user/garivernetwork. The South River has a history of neglect and abuse and SRWA along with help from other organizations, like Georgia River Network, are working towards making the South River an established Water Trail with recreational, economic, and health benefits for the local and greater Atlanta communities. Georgia River Network will be hosting a Water Trails Workshop in fall 2012, so stay tuned. An anonymous couple has issued Georgia River Network a challenge. If we can raise $10,000 in cash by October 1, they will match each gift dollar for dollar. The gifts have to be $1,000 or more and must come from a donor who has not made a $1,000 gift to GRN before. The anonymous couple wants to encourage new major donors in the work of protecting Georgia s rivers. This exciting challenge has the potential to generate $20,000 for GRN s mission. Here is a great chance to make your generous $1,000 gift become a $2,000 gift immediately. If you have any questions or wish to accept this challenge, please contact Davin Welter at: davin@garivers.org or

GRN Fights for Strong Protections for Our Rivers During Legislative Session W orking with our partners in the Georgia Water Coalition, we had a lot of success during the 2012 legislative session.

We tracked and worked on numerous bills that fell into one of three categories: clean water action, habitat conservation, and fiscal responsibility.

6 GRN Fights for Strong Protections for Our Rivers During Legislative Session W orking with our partners in the Georgia Water Coalition, we had a lot of success during the 2012 legislative session. GRN worked with legislators and engaged our members in advocating for strong protections for our rivers. We tracked and worked on numerous bills that fell into one of three categories: clean water action, habitat conservation, and fiscal responsibility. Senate Bill 269 sits squarely in the clean water action category. SB 269 was introduced by Sen. Rick Jeffares (R Locust Grove). This bill would have allowed the Environmental Protection Division (EPD) to give violators if tilapia are introduced to Georgia s ponds or lakes, the fish will escape to our natural rivers and streams, reproduce and become an invasive Kudzu fish that will out-compete our native fishes, such as bluegills, bream and other panfish. House Bill 811 was all about fiscal responsibility. Introduced by Rep. Jay Powell (R Camilla), HB 811 aimed to stop the raiding of trust funds. Several fees have been established to fund various state programs including a fee collected on tires that is supposed to go to the Solid Waste Trust Fund to clean up illegal tire dumps and other solid waste problems, and fees collected at landfills and places that handle hazardous materials that are supposed to go to the Working with partners in the Georgia Water Coalition, GRN had a lot of success under the Gold Dome during the legislative session. of clean water laws including large industries and municipal utilities permission to take voluntary action to fix their problems instead of being fined. On the heels of several large spills and massive fish kills over the last 18 months including the Ogeechee River, Trail Creek in Athens, and kaolin spills on Commissioner Creek, Brier Creek, and Reedy Creek the last thing the state needs to do is relax enforcement of its clean water laws. GRN also helped defeat multiple bills that would have harmed river habitat throughout Georgia. For example, Senate Bill 360, would have classified tilapia as a domestic fish species in Georgia. Introduced by Sen. John Wilkinson (R Toccoa), this bill would have legalized the rearing of certain species and hybrids of tilapia, a non-native, exotic fish species, for use in ponds and lakes as feed for trophy fish, such as largemouth bass. Scientific studies warn that Hazardous Waste Trust Fund to clean up old hazardous waste dump sites that threaten ground water. However, the state too often spends these funds for other purposes and constitutionally there is no way to make them stop. This bill was designed to stop the raiding of these funds by reducing the amount of fees the state can collect if they use them for some other purpose. HB 811 overwhelmingly passed out of the House and passed the Senate, but was severely gutted in the Senate Appropriations Committee. Senators, led by Senate Appropriations Chair Jack Hill (R - Reidsville), were not in favor of the bill and ultimately killed it by refusing to compromise in the final hours of the session. For a thorough summary of GWC legislative action, please visit:

Chattahoochee River - First River Designated as National Water Trail This spring, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar unveiled the new National Water Trails System, a new network of water trails

7 Chattahoochee River - First River Designated as National Water Trail This spring, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar unveiled the new National Water Trails System, a new network of water trails that will increase access to water-based outdoor recreation, encourage community stewardship of local waterways, and promote tourism that fuels local economies across America. Salazar also announced that the Chattahoochee River through the 48-mile Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (CRNRA) will be the first river designated as a National Water Trail under the new system. The park serves 3.2 million visitors annually, most from the local Atlanta metro-region. In addition to providing over 65% of the public greenspace in this urban region, the river provides most of Atlanta s drinking water. The park and new water trail contain 18 developed public access points and connects with other local city and county parks. Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper s Sally Bethea said, This water trail is a living monument to the memory of local conservation heroes such as Jane Yarn, James Mackey, Roy Wood, Dan Sweat, Al Burruss and Paul Coverdell, who fought to protect the river that supplies millions of Georgians with drinking water, while also providing outstanding recreational opportunities. Bethea noted that the CRNRA was established in 1978 largely because of the advocacy of a small group of self-described river rats who undertook local sewer, zoning and development battles in the early 1970s, on the heels of the first Earth Day. The river that these activists believed was a national treasure and fought to save today is heavily used by anglers, tubers, kayakers, canoers and rafters. One of the most ardent early river advocates, Roger Buerki, now 71, worked tirelessly to protect his beloved Chattahoochee four decades ago, and continues today. He helped form a group called Friends of the River from whose ranks the Carter Administration would subsequently draw some of its environmental officials. Gwyneth Moody and Hugo Collantes paddle through the CRNRA during Weekend for Rivers Upon hearing of the river s new recognition, Buerki said, This designation confirms the vision and ability of ordinary citizens to overcome politicallypowerful opposition to save the Chattahoochee River for the future. People love the rivers that flow through their communities and they want to be able to access and enjoy these waterways for a wide variety of activities. Learn more at National-Water-Trails-System-to-Promote-Healthy- Accessible-Rivers.cfm Now Accepting Turner Re-grant Applications Thanks to a grant from the Turner Foundation, Georgia River Network is pleased to offer grants for watershed work by grassroots river groups in Georgia. Up to $40,000 will be awarded to river groups through the grant program. Deadline for applications: May 30, For more information, visit protect-your-river/small-grants-program.html or call Dana Skelton at

8 126 South Milledge Avenue Suite E3 Athens, GA Calendar of Events June 4, 2012 Paddle Georgia Presentation REI - Atlanta 6 PM 8 PM Come learn everything you ever wanted to know about the event but were afraid to ask. Paddle Georgia staff will be on hand to answer questions about what to expect and what you ll need to optimize your Paddle Georgia 2012 experience. June 16-22, 2012 Paddle Georgia Altamaha River Reidsville to Darien June 19, 2012 Reel Paddling Film Festival Jesup - Wayne County High School 7:30 PM, free Join Georgia River Network Type of Membership: $1,000 River Hero $500 River Guardian $250 River Supporter $100 River Friend $50 River Watcher (Family Membership) $35 Individual River Enthusiast Additional Tax Deductible Contribution: $ Total Amount Enclosed: $ Check #: Date: Mr. Mrs. Ms. Dr. First & Last Name: Address: City: State: Zip: Phone #: Fax #: We occasionally have the opportunity for our members to receive information from other conservation organizations. Check here if you do not want us to share your information with other organizations. Mail To: Georgia River Network, 126 S. Milledge Ave, Ste. E3, Athens, GA, GRN is classified by the IRS as a 501(c)3 organization. Contributions are tax deductible. Confluence 5/12

CONFLUENCE. Dirty Dozen Report Highlights Worst Offenses to Georgia s Waters The Georgia Water Coalition released the. In This Issue...

CONFLUENCE. Dirty Dozen Report Highlights Worst Offenses to Georgia s Waters The Georgia Water Coalition released the. In This Issue... January 2013 CONFLUENCE Working Together for Healthy Rivers Dirty Dozen Report Highlights Worst Offenses to Georgia s Waters The Georgia Water Coalition released the second Dirty Dozen list in November