Accomplishments

2008

Created “Tapped Out: The Drying Up of Atlanta”, a PowerPoint outlining the causes of the water crisis in north Georgia and offering practical, cost-effective solutions for a sustainable future; presented Tapped Out to more than 2,000 elected officials, citizens, students and business leaders.

Celebrated Atlanta’s completion of a massive sewer tunnel project, a component of the federal consent decree that settled UCR’s 1995 lawsuit; honored Mayor Shirley Franklin for her critical role in delivering this result—cleaner water in the river and its tributaries—on time and within budget.

Initiated the only on-the-river water quality monitoring program downstream of Atlanta; opposed state requests to lower flows in the river at Peachtree Creek, noting the state’s failure to provide real-time flow monitoring for compliance with state regulations.

Provided scholarships for hundreds of inner city and disadvantaged youth to participate in our floating classroom program on Lake Lanier, offered since 2000 with Elachee Nature Science Center.

Opposed a proposed discharge of treated sewage into pristine trout waters within the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area because of inadequate pollution limits; helped ensure that an environmental assessment is conducted prior to any approval of the discharge.

Secured important new provisions that will help keep muddy water out of our waterways while serving as an appointed stakeholder in negotiations on the renewal of the 2008 General Stormwater Permits for Construction Activities.

Created a new state-approved workshop for engineers, developers, consultants and local officials to become certified in erosion and sediment control and held inaugural training session.

Initiated our new River Discovery Series with nine paddle trips for more than 150 river enthusiasts, focusing on the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area.

Brought a successful legal action against a developer who dammed a stream for an amenity lake and damaged thousands of feet of stream in violation of erosion control/buffer laws; the dam will be removed, the stream restored and several local environmental projects funded.

Performed routine river patrols of countless river miles in our river patrol jet boat, taking visual surveys of the river for suspicious spills, smells, garbage and fish kills; responded to over 300 citizen Hotline calls regarding water quality problems within the Chattahoochee basin.

Mobilized approximately 350 volunteers to remove more then 70 tons of trash from Lake Lanier and the Chattahoochee River.

Worked with legislators to defeat a bill that would have exempted the GA DOT from fines for erosion violations; helped defeat the passage of a Constitutional amendment that would have accelerated the development of “private cities” in rural areas by allowing developers to lessen their risk by selling bonds to fund infrastructure and pass these expenses on to future property owners.

Participated actively in the mandated updates to the long-term water plans approved by the Metro Water Planning District in 2003; provided detailed comments on the inadequacies in the proposed updates and offered recommendations for improvement; helped lead media campaign to expose flaws in the Metro water plans.

Worked with the National Park Service and state DNR to complete a feasibility study of a potential canoe trail on the Chattahoochee from Sautee Creek to Lake Lanier, linking existing state park land.