

	U.S. House passes Dirty Water Act; tell the Senate to vote NO! On July 13, 2011, the U.S. House passed H.R. 2018 – better known as the Dirty Water Act – by a vote of 239-184. (See the vote breakdown here.) This bill, misleadingly called the Clean Water Cooperative Federalism Act, would effectively gut the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s regulatory powers under the landmark Clean Water Act of 1972. (Read Sally Bethea’s op-ed on the subject here.) Voting AGAINST the Dirty Water Act from Georgia: Hank Johnson, John Lewis, David Scott. Please thank these Congressional leaders. Voting FOR the Dirty Water Act from Georgia: John Barrow, Paul Broun, Phil Gingrey, Tom Graves, Jack Kingston, Tom Price, Austin Scott, Lynn Westmoreland, Rob Woodall. Not voting: Sanford Bishop. President Barack Obama has promised to veto the bill if it comes before him. Let’s not let it get that far; contact Georgia’s U.S. senators, Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson, and tell them to vote NO on this dangerous bill: U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson: (770-661-0999/202-224-3643; email: http://1.usa.gov/3Tx6ZJ U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss: (202-224-3521/800-234-4208; email: http://1.usa.gov/cb0P7



	Cleanup volunteers brave the heat at Peachtree Creek UCR staffers and interns joined 31 volunteers from Autobell Car Wash, Turner Broadcasting System and Whole Foods Market to brave the heat and clean up trash on July 22. The group picked up 26 tires and a truckload of trash and other recyclable materials from the North Fork of Peachtree Creek near the Atlanta Silverbacks soccer training facility. The creek is a tributary of the Chattahoochee River. UCR’s cleanup program pulled 20 tons of trash over 22 cleanups in 2010 alone. That’s not even counting this past spring’s Sweep the Hooch cleanup, in which more than 350 volunteers removed 2.76 tons of trash and 1,500 pounds of recyclable materials from 18 different sites. UCR also partners with Remix Recycling for the recyclable materials. “[These cleanups] make our partners aware of what UCR does and the importance of our mission to protect and preserve this natural resource,” said UCR Events and Outreach Director Tammy Bates. “At the end of this cleanup, all the volunteers will walk away feeling very satisfied that they helped make a difference." Sign up for the next cleanup, Aug. 13, here.



	Lower lake levels, severe drought underscore need to conserve According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, Georgia is experiencing yet another drought. The most extreme conditions are occurring in the southern part of the state, where wells are running dry and farmers face the prospect of economic ruin. Here in metro Atlanta, we are feeling the drought’s impacts as well, as the need increases to release water downstream to help our neighbors. Lake Lanier’s elevation is now below 1,067 feet – four feet below full pool and the lowest it’s been since our last drought ended in September of 2009. The Middle Chattahoochee’s West Point Lake is down below 632 feet, more than three feet below full pool. The good news is we are in a lot better shape than we were in December of 2007, when Lanier dropped to an all time low of 1,051 feet and West Point Lake dropped as low as 622 feet. In spite of a recent court ruling granting metro Atlanta access to Lake Lanier for water supply, we cannot take our water for granted. By embracing water conservation, we all can do our part to help our neighbors and live within our means. To learn how, click here.

Join us at Canoe on August 13 to celebrate biggest Save the Hooch Campaign ever!

Tickets are still on sale for this year’s End of Summer BBQ on Aug. 13 at Canoe Restaurant! The annual party will celebrate SweetWater Brewery’s Save the Hooch Campaign, with proceeds going to UCR. The $25 ticket price includes food from Canoe, beer from SweetWater, and a one-year membership to UCR. Tickets can be purchased by clicking here.

“We are thrilled to celebrate the biggest Save the Hooch Campaign ever,” said UCR Executive Director Sally Bethea. “It is an honor to have the ongoing support of SweetWater — a company that understands that it is more than just the bottom line and has been a major contributor to our organization over the years through this campaign, events, and more.”

SweetWater’s Save the Hooch Campaign has raised more than $250,000 since its inception in 2006, helping support UCR’s river patrol and water quality monitoring programs.

The event will take place on Canoe Restaurant’s patio area along the river and will begin at 1 p.m.

Atlanta singer-songwriter Ben Deignan has been confirmed as the featured performer, and SweetWater will formally present the 2011 Save the Hooch check during the afternoon’s festivities. Join us and be the first to hear this year’s campaign total – and raise your pint glass to another successful campaign!



	Read all about it! The Summer issue of our RiverCHAT newsletter is in the mail (and online)! The *Summer issue of the quarterly RiverCHAT* newsletter comes out this month, with the print edition available to members but also as an online download. The cover story focuses on UCR's major legal victory in the Forsyth County permitting case, in which Judge Kristin L. Miller of the Office of State Administrative Hearings agreed with UCR that the permit's discharge limits would unlawfully lower the water quality of the Chattahoochee. Also in this issue: Sally Bethea's "Reflections" column about past victories and upcoming challenges; UCR's support of EPA's proposed mercury and toxin rules; consultants' role in the push for new reservoirs*; a wild brown trout study; and much more. You can download the PDF version of the Summer issue from our RiverCHAT* archives here. .

U.S. House passes Dirty Water Act; tell the Senate to vote NO!

Cleanup volunteers brave the heat at Peachtree Creek

Lower lake levels, severe drought underscore need to conserve

Join us at Canoe on August 13 to celebrate biggest Save the Hooch Campaign ever!

Read all about it! The Summer issue of our RiverCHAT newsletter is in the mail (and online)!