River and Lake Cleanups Continue

In the wake of September's historic flood, UCR has been working with groups around the watershed to clean up the trash blanketing our shorelines.  On Saturday, October 24, we joined with the West Atlanta Watershed Alliance to clean up Proctor Creek (pictured right), one of the most environmentally impaired creeks in the metro Atlanta.   Click here to view an online photo album of the event.  Our next cleanup at Proctor Creek will be Saturday, December 5 - click here for details.

Also, on Saturday, November 7, UCR staff joined 350 other volunteers to cleanup West Point Lake.  The cove we tackled was filled with everything you can imagine - plastic and glass bottles, tennis balls, tires, and even a bowling ball, all amid styrofoam-riddled debris.  Our "Trash Queen," Bonny Putney, declared that it was of the worst examples of shoreline trash she's ever seen.

Want to help? Sign up as a volunteer here.

UCR Members Celebrate a Year of Accomplishments!

More than 150 UCR members gathered at our Annual Member Celebration on Sunday, November 8, for an evening of music, food and drink at the Chattahoochee Nature Center's beautiful LEED certified pavilion.  We were glad to bring in 35 new memberships (individuals and families) at the event.  Our Riverkeeper, Sally Bethea, gave guests an overview of UCR's accomplishments in the past year, and we honored special volunteers.

Thanks to the Watershed Project - Christopher Alan Yates, Will Boos, Tony Caporale, Tyler Herrin, and Jon Morrison - for providing great music, and thanks to SweetWater Brewing Company, Coca-Cola Enterprises, and Canyons Burger Company for providing refreshments. 

Click here to see an online photo gallery from the event.

It Will be Up to Atlanta's Next Mayor to Complete the Job of Sewer Rehab

As voters go to the polls in the city of Atlanta on for the runoff election for mayor on Tuesday, December 1, UCR reminds its members that eight short years ago, Atlanta’s aging sewer system was a disgrace to its citizens and to the state of Georgia. Click here for UCR's perspective on how Mayor Franklin and her administration have handled this monumental problem and what our next mayor needs to do. READ MORE

On Patrol: UCR Video Diary for November 3, 2009

Click here to view

View the latest video diary from UCR as Technical Programs Director Jason Ulseth surveys the river between South Cobb Drive and I-85 on November 3. See stream bank destruction caused by September’s flood and get an update on water quality monitoring. For more information and data on flooding, including maps, see http://ga.water.usgs.gov/.

Tri-State: UCR Advising Governor's Water Task Force

 

UCR is working with the Georgia Water Coaltion (GWC) to advise Governor Perdue's "Water Contingency Planning Task Force," which was convened after Judge Magnuson's ruling in the Tri-State Water Wars case this summer and charged with coming up with water supply solutions for Metro Atlanta. UCR recently provided Task Force staff with specific recommendations for water conservation and efficiency this week: Click here to download UCR's letter to the Task Force. 

Click here to read the GWC's Essential Steps to Ensure Sustainable Water Supply for Metro Atlanta.

UCR summarizes the current situation in the tri-state water dispute in our latest RiverCHAT.  Click here to read the cover story, "Judicial Ruling Forces Tri-State Water Issue," or click here to download a PDF version of our Fall 2009 newsletter. (Map courtesy of Southern Environmental Law Center)

Chattahoochee River Trip Blog!

 

Join writer David Hanson on his trip down the Chattahoochee river from mid-September through December, 2009 by checking out his blog: Chattahoochee, A Curious River Float (click here). UCR loaned Hanson a canoe for the ride, and UCR Board member Gary Gaines has joined in for part of the trip!