Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint stakeholders honored by Georgia Water Coalition

ALBANY — Georgia’s leading water protection coalition recognized 13 “water heroes” during its annual Clean 13 celebration during ceremonies in Atlanta recently.

At the event, the Georgia Water Coalition honored individuals, businesses, nonprofit organizations and government entities “that have made significant efforts to protect Georgia’s water” and were recognized in the coalition’s annual Clean 13 report released in September.

Among the groups honored at the event were Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint stakeholders.

“Since the passage of the Clean Water Act in 1972, we’ve seen Georgia’s waterways become cleaner and healthier, but there’s still much that needs to be done,” Gil Rogers, director of the Georgia office of the Southern Environmental Law Center, who presided over the the event, said. “Those recognized in our Clean 13 report are setting new standards to protect, preserve and restore Georgia’s rivers, lakes, streams and coastal waters.

“It’s partners like these that are putting to work the ideas and policies that the Water Coalition and its members promote year ‘round.”

The event generated more than $40,000 for GWC water protection efforts.

Also honored at the Water Coalition’s gathering were the cities of Augusta, Savannah and Columbia County; the Clayton County Water Authority; the Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority; Glynn Environmental Coalition; Interface; Jenna Jambeck of the University of Georgia; Rep. Jon Burns, R-Newington; the Lodge on Little St. Simons Island; Riverview Farms; Southwire; C.M. Stripling Irrigation Research Park, and the University of Georgia Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources.

Officials said the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint stakeholders received a nod from the GWC for producing a sustainable water management plan for the river basins that provides a roadmap for resolving the nearly three-decade-old water dispute involving Georgia, Alabama and Florida.

The C.M. Stripling Irrigation Research Park, located in Camilla and managed by UGA, won accolades for its work with farmers to encourage them to adopt water-efficient irrigation practices that keep more water in Georgia’s rivers for wildlife, recreation and downstream communities.

Burns, the Georgia House of Representatives majority leader, was recognized for his support of legislation protecting Georgia’s water and land as well as the property rights of all Georgians, including the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Act adopted during the 2018 General Assembly.

The GWC is a consortium of more than 250 conservation and environmental organizations, hunting and fishing groups, businesses and faith-based organizations that have worked to protect Georgia’s water since 2002.

File Photo