Chattahoochee Riverkeeper Inc

CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVERKEEPER, INC. THE RIVERKEEPER IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION WHOSE MISSION IS TO EDUCATE, ADVOCATE AND SECURE PROTECTION AND STEWARDSHIP OF THE CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER, INCLUDING ITS LAKES, TRIBUTARIES AND WATERSHED, IN ORDER TO RESTORE AND CONSERVE THEIR ECOLOGICAL HEALTH FOR THE PEOPLE AND WILDLIFE THAT DEPEND ON THE RIVER SYSTEM AND IN RECOGNITION OF THE IMPORTANT ECOSYSTEM FUNCTIONS PROVIDED THROUGHOUT THE REGION AND PLANET.

IN 2021, THE LARGEST PROGRAM AREA WAS WATER MONITORING, WHICH ENCOMPASSES OUR URBAN STREAM MONITORING AS WELL AS RIVER AND LAKE WATER QUALITY TESTING. THROUGH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WATER WATCH PROGRAM WE COLLECTED AND TESTED 4,648 WATER SAMPLES. WE FOUND AND STOPPED 13 SEWER SPILLS. WE ALSO COLLECTED AND PROCESSED 82 RIVER SAMPLES FOR BACTERIA POLLUTION IN THE CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER NATIONAL RECREATION AREA. CRK ALSO MONITORS COMPLIANCE WITH STORMWATER RULES AT VARIOUS INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES. IN 2021, WE INVESTIGATED 148 INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES USING A CUSTOM DEVELOPED MAPPING PROGRAM. WE ALSO ANSWERED AND RESPONDED TO 433 HOTLINE CALLS FROM THE PUBLIC.

IN 2021, THE SECOND LARGEST PROGRAM AREA WAS COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND STEWARDSHIP PROJECTS, WHICH INCLUDES OUR TRASH CLEANUPS AND RAIN BARREL WORKSHOPS. WE MOBILIZED 2,057 VOLUNTEERS TO REMOVE 63 TONS OF TRASH AND TIRES FROM THE WATERSHED, AND RECYCLED AN ADDITIONAL 4.9 TONS. ADDITIONALLY, WE DISTRIBUTED 216 RAIN BARRELS. AND TRAINED 15 INTERNS IN DEVELOPMENT, WATER QUALITY TESTING, AND LAW. WE ALSO ORGANIZED 138 PEOPLE ON KAYAKING AND CANOE TRIPS.

IN 2021, THE THIRD LARGEST PROGRAM AREA WAS OUR ADVOCACY WORK. WE WROTE AND DELIVERED 27 PUBLIC COMMENT LETTERS AND TESTIMONIES TO AGENCIES AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO PROTECT ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES. WE ALSO WON ONE LEGAL CASE RELATED TO DEFENDING A PERMIT FOR A COMBINED SEWER SYSTEM IN COLUMBUS, GEORGIA. WE HELD THREE TOWN HALL MEETINGS TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE HAZARDS OF COAL ASH WASTE STORAGE.