What's Up In the Coosa Basin?

Learn what's happening in the Upper Coosa River Basin. Read the latest issue of CRBI's Mainstream newsletter published March 7, 2008.

Interbasin Transfer Legislation Stripped in Senate Natural Resources Committee

On March 27, the Senate Natural Resources Committee stripped a measure regulating interbasin transfers from a key piece of water legislation. HB 1226, which included an interbasin transfer amendment introduced by Rep. Debbie Buckner in the House Natural Resources Committee, passed the House by a 166-3 vote March 4. Unfortunately, the Senate committee stripped the amendment from HB 1226, a bill designed to fast-track reservoir construction in Georgia. Committee Chairman, Sen. Ross Tolleson, cited concerns about pre-empting the State Water Plan passed earlier this session, saying that watershed assessments should be completed first.

Meanwhile, Tolleson and the committee ignored the fact that HB 1226 puts reservoir planning well ahead of watershed assessments included as part of the State Water Plan. HB 1226 requires state agencies to produce a list of potential reservoir sites by Oct. 1, 2008.

The interbasin transfer amendment was essentially the same langauge that was included in the State Water Plan. Including it in legislation would result in the langauge becoming law. The State Water Plan must rely on Georgia's Department of Natural Resources Board adopting interbasin transfer policy included in the State Water Plan as rules and regulations.

CRBI is currently working with legislators to revive this amendment in the Senate to insure that interbasin transfer regulations are implemented NOW, rather than waiting for a point somewhere in the future when these regulations may or may not be adopted by the DNR Board. 

To contact your legislator visit the Georgia General Assembly website: http://www.legis.state.ga.us/

The full text of HB 1226 can be viewed at http://www.legis.ga.gov/legis/2007_08/sum/hb1226.htm

This information posted 3-27-08.

Alabama, Georgia, Florida Water Talks Fail Again

Federal courts to decide fate

A March 1 deadline for Alabama, Georgia and Florida to reach a water sharing agreement for the waters of the has passed, meaning that the long-standing conflict over the waters of the Chattahoochee and Coosa river systems will ultimately be decided by federal courts. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is currently working on updating the interim water sharing plan agreed upon by the states last November.

Earlier this year, a federal court ruled against Georgia in a decision that nulifies an agreement reached between Georgia and the Corps of Engineers to reallocate water in the Chattahoochee River's Lake Lanier for water supplies in Metro Atlanta. This decision, which will likely be appealed by Georgia, essentially dismantles Metro Atlanta's long-term water supply plan which depended upon reallocation of water in Lake Lanier.

This information posted 3-04-08

Fish Fry Serves Up Funds

Some 35 CRBI volunteers served up more than 1400 catfish filets and hushpuppies during the 6th Annual CRBI-Northwest Georgia Credit Union Fish Fry held Nov. 3 in Rome. More than 700 people dined on the meal of catfish, hushpuppies, cole slaw and cheese grits. The annual fundraiser generated more than $10,000 for CRBI's efforts to protect the most biologically diverse river basin in North America and the 14 federally protected aquatic species that call the river basin home. CRBI thanks its lead sponsor, Northwest Georgia Credit Union as well as the Montessori School of Rome, One World Sustainable, Southern Pride Catfish and Southeastern Mills for their contributions to the annual event.

Boat Takes Maiden Voyage

"Arnemetia," CRBI's new water monitoring patrol boat made its maiden voyage on the Coosa, Etowah and Oostanaula rivers May 9. The boat was officially donated and dedicated at WATERFEST VII on May 5.

Yamaha Marine Group in Kennesaw, GA donated the 18-foot tunnel-hull johnboat manufactured by G3 Boats and powered by a Yamaha 65 horsepower, four-stroke, jet motor earlier this year.

CRBI member, Melanie Bemis, won the boat naming contest with her submission, "Arnemetia," beating out more than 50 other entries. Arnemetia is derived from Celtic mythology where, Arnmetia, the goddess of springs, wells and fountains, was worshipped as a water goddess. Melanie receives a CRBI/Yamaha prize package for her winning entry.

$500,000 Settlement Reached with Canton Developer

On June 22, CRBI reached an agreement with Sembler Atlanta, developers of Canton Marketplace in Canton, Ga that will result in the protection of critical habitat for federally protected fish species in the Upper Etowah River Basin. The agreement comes after six months of legal wrangling resulting from CRBI's appeal of state and federal envrionmental permits issued for the 98-acre retail development. Sembler agreed to pay $500,000 to the Mountain Conservation Trust of Georgia to purchase riparian property that will protect habitat for the Cherokee, Etowah and Amber darters. Sembler also agreed to reduce impacts to streams on the development site at Ga. 20 and I-575 by 25 percent. For more information, click here.

About Us

Coosa River Basin Initiative, the Upper Coosa Riverkeeper, is a 501c3 grassroots, environmental organization based in Rome, Georgia. Our mission is to inform and empower citizens so that they may become involved in the process of creating a cleaner, healthier, more economically viable Coosa River Basin. Please see our list of news and upcoming events to the left of this page.

A member of the international Waterkeeper Alliance, the Georgia Water Coalition and Alabama Rivers Alliance, we work in four program areas: advocacy, education, water monitoring and restoration.

We keep watch over the streams, land and air of our river basin which covers more than 5,000 square miles of land, from Southeastern Tennessee and North Central Georgia to Weiss Dam in Northeast Alabama. Funded through private grants, membership dues, special event fundraisers and donations, we are the voice for the environment in Northwest Georgia and Northeast Alabama.