Welcome to CRBI
River Revelry--Biodiversity Bash Aug. 21!
CRBI funds used to preserve 469 acre Amicalola Creek tract
Using funds secured through a CRBI-GreenLaw appeal of environmental permits issued for a major retail development in Canton, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources purchased a 469-acre tract of land adjacent to Amicalola Creek in Dawson County.
The purchase preserves some two miles of Amicalola and its tributaries, protecting water quality and habitat for the federally protected Cherokee, Etowah and amber darters.
The Nature Conservancy, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the State of Georgia, Lyndhurst Foundation, Dobbs Foundation, Woodruff Foundation and Georgia Mountain Conservation Trust pooled resources with other donors to secure the $3.3 million needed to preserve the tract.
The Georgia Mountain Conservation Trust contributed $150,000 from the $500,000 settlement that CRBI and GreenLaw secured through litigation with the Sembler Co., developers of Canton Marketplace. Click here for additional information.
Looking out for Rome's Central Park
The Rome GA community is excited about the announcement that a Publix Supermarket will be coming to town, and CRBI is pleased that the company chose the Hight Homes property on which to build. A recent news article reported that Publix was deciding between two building sites: the Hight Homes property and the Burwell Creek wetlands. CRBI is pleased with the company's decision, as CRBI supports redevelopment of the Hight Homes area.
The Burwell Creek wetlands are on Riverside Parkway opposite Ridge Ferry Park. Development of this site would involve the destruction of four acres of wetlands, filling of nearly 50 acres of floodplain and the relocation of half a mile of Burwell Creek. Until recently, this property was to become part of Rome's Central Park. CRBI opposes development of this property.
CRBI will maintain continued vigilance of the area that was once set aside to become Rome's Central Park, hoping to ensure that these important wetlands are not destroyed.
Click here to learn more about the Burwell Creek property.
Armuchee Wins Storm Drain Stencil Contest
Congratulations to Armuchee Elementary School and student James Sines who won our CRBI--Rome Braves Storm Drain Stencil Competition. James' stencil design received more votes than entries from Darlington School, Berry Elementary & Middle School and East Central Elementary.
The design, featuring the phrase "Don't Dump the Junk," will be used to stencil storm drains around State Mutual Stadium in August. The stencils will serve as a reminder that litter and other pollutants discarded on the ground, streets and in parking lots wash to storm drains which carry water to our rivers and streams.
Thanks to all the dozens of students who submitted designs, Rome Braves and our CRBI volunteers who manned the voting station at Rome Braves games throughout May.
A Summer of Paddling Fun
This summer, join CRBI for a guided paddle trip down one of our rivers or make your own adventure through CRBI's canoe/kayak rental program. Canoe & kayak rentals are available any time and shuttle service and rentals are available every Saturday, Sunday and holiday for trips on the Etowah River in Rome and Euharlee. Check out our guided trip paddle schedule, our self-guided paddle trip schedule and our rental services. Have a great time this summer exploring our rivers and support CRBI while you're out there!
Governor, legislative leaders Block Efforts to Adopt Interbasin Transfer Legislation
Despite the support of nearly half of Georgia's legislators, the River Basin Protection Act of 2010 failed to get a hearing in the Senate or House Natural Resources committees as Gov. Sonny Perdue and his legislative leadership blocked efforts to push the bill through the General Assembly.
CRBI and the Georgia Water Coalition continue to pursue protections for downstream communities in Georgia and in neighboring states through the adoption of interbasin transfer regulations. Learn more about this issue.
In the meantime, please visit http://www.nowatergrabs.com/ to sign the Georgia Water Coalition's online petition. Don't let Metro Atlanta pipe water (and jobs) across the state.
Dawson Forest Dam Threatens Etowah
Dawson Forest Reservoir Proposal: A 2,000-acre reservoir proposal could mean the piping of 100 million gallons of the Etowah a day to Metro Atlanta. The public-private dam-building partnership would involve the sale of the 10,000-acre Dawson Forest Wildlife Management Area by the City of Atlanta. A dam would be constructed on Shoal Creek, an Etowah tributary holding federally protected fish species. Once completed, the reservoir would hold water pumped from the Etowah River. A pipeline would be constructed to move this water from Dawson County and the Etowah River Basin to Metro Atlanta and the Chattahoochee River Basin. Learn more.
