12 Reasons You Should Sign up for the SRWA Restoration Workshop!

Dear Members and Supporters: Below are 12 reasons I encourage you to attend River of Opportunity: Community-led Restoration of South River and the Pursuit of Environmental Justice on Saturday, June 9th, 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Clean water is the most important legacy from past generations and the most important legacy for future generations. Community involvement is vital to the restoration of South River. Almost every day, South River, DeKalb County’s most valuable and irreplaceable natural resource, continues to be polluted. Urban waterways, like South River, are rarely considered for restoration. South River’s physical location, south DeKalb County, coupled with its urban character lessens its chances of restoration. Restoration of South River can lead to heightened community environmental and political awareness and greater advocacy. Restoration holds the key to cleaner water in South River. Restoration is the catalyst that will eliminate the pollution that fouls South River and its tributaries. Community-led restoration will re-establish a sense of place, the positive connection the south DeKalb community had with its river before being overshadowed by the negative effects of pollution. 10. Community-led restoration moves the conversation from why the pollution occurred and has persisted to taking action to repair the damage and ensure that it does not happen again. 11. Community-led restoration of South River will change how the community uses and interacts with the river. 12. Community-led restoration will lead to preservation and sustained stewardship of South River. Be a part of the conversation! Register today at www.southriverga.org or southriverwatershedalliance.eventbrite.com. This is a FREE community-wide workshop. Thank you. For South River, Jackie Echols President     Workshop location: The Conference Center at Georgia Piedmont Technical College 495 N. Indian Creek Drive Clarkston, GA 30021

 

©2012 South River Watershed Alliance | PO Box 1341, Decatur, Georgia 30031

Water sweet Water…. How much is there, anyway?

Water sweet Water…. How much is there, anyway?

Find out from the link by clicking HERE!

Participate in Canoeathon for Paddle Georgia! Raise money to support river protection efforts and win great prizes!

Participate in the Canoeathon!   Dear Paddle Georgia Participants: It’s not too late!  With less than 35 days remaining until we embark on our Paddle Georgia journey, there is still plenty of time to sign up and participate in Paddle Georgia Canoe-A-Thon.  You will be raising money to support river protection efforts throughout Georgia and earning great prizes too.  We already have 33 Paddle Georgia participants signed up to participate in Canoe-A-Thon – will you sign up too?  It’s easy to do – just click the link below to get started.  Participants last year raised over $20,000 – if they can do it, you can too! This year, our goal is to raise $30,000 to support river protection programs throughout Georgia.  We are off to a great start, having already raised over $9,000 – and now all we need is your participation.  Go to  http://www.garivers.org/paddle_georgia/pgcanoeathon.html to learn how to get started, or you can go directly to the First Giving site and set up your very own fundraising page: http://www.firstgiving.com/garivers. Like a walk-a-thon, Paddle Georgia’s Canoe-a-Thon will raise money for Georgia River Network and Altamaha Riverkeeper. Each participant is asked to solicit donations on a per-mile basis or ask for flat donation amounts.  Canoe-A-Thon participants have the opportunity to win prizes including: • A new Old Town Saranac 146XT canoe • An Ocean Kayak Tetra 10 Sit-On-Top • July Braves Tickets • An overnight stay for two at the Len Foote Hike Inn • Gear from REI (Including paddle bags and PFDs) • Rain Barrels from The Rainbarrel Depot • And many more So what are you waiting for?  Sign up for Canoe-A-Thon today.  Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have questions; contact Davin at davin@garivers.org. Sponsors – Georgia Power, Hennessey Land Rover, Patagonia, Johnson Outdoors, Mohawk Carpet Foundation, The Outside World, Dock Supply, Cedar Creek RV & Outdoor Center, Stream Techs, Coca-Cola Refreshments, China Clay Producers Association, The Rain Barrel Depot Partners – Georgia Canoe Association, Altamaha Riverkeeper, Georgia Adopt-A-Stream, Project Wet, City of Darien, Altamaha River Partnership, Wayne County Board of Tourism Georgia River Network 126 South Milledge Ave. Suite E3, Athens, GA 30605 706-549-4508 http://www.garivers.org Click here to forward this email to a friend Become a Member Today – Join

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A Project of Georgia River Network-

4th Annual Savannah River Classic Fishing Tournament ~ Saturday May 12th, 2012

4th Annual Savannah River Classic Fishing Tournament

DATE:   Saturday May 12th, 2012 TIME:   Tournament begins at 6:00 am and anglers must reach the weigh-in line by 5:00pm LOCATION: old South Carolina Welcome Center on U.S. 301 REGISTRATION:  $75 per boat for 2 anglers (additional anglers may be added for $40 each).  Youth anglers may register for $20 each and will receive participation and catch prizes! Each anglers’ registration includes an event t-shirt and BBQ ticket.         Come out and spend the day on the Savannah River!        Founded in 2009, the Savannah River Classic Fishing Tournament was created to celebrate the fishing diversity in the Savannah River.     Annually, the tournament hosts anglers from all over the Lowcountry, as they come together to compete in a 1 day multi-species tournament.    All tournament proceeds are used to help fund river based projects.   For more information or to register please call (803) 584-7363.   Visit the Savannah River Classic Facebook Page.   Visit the SRK tournament web page.

Join Our Mailing List! SAVANNAH RIVERKEEPER INC. P.O. Box 14908 Augusta, Georgia 30919 (877) SRK-7711 (Toll Free) (706) 826-8991 (Augusta) (912) 228-5158 (Savannah) info@savannahriverkeeper.org www.savannahriverkeeper.org

Join CRBI for Pig Paddle 2012 Sunday, May 20 2-8 p.m.

Pig Paddle & Party Set for Sunday, May 20 Buy Tickets While They Last featuring… 6-Mile Paddle Trip on Etowah River Barbecue Dinner from Johnny Mitchell’s Smokehouse at the home of Todd & Dale Carroll Beer from Coors & Miller Lite Wine from Old Havana Cigar Co. Kayak Raffle Courtesy of Cedar Creek Park & River City Bank Live Auction Purchase your Tickets Now Online (only 75 tickets will be sold) $75 per person/$130 per couple Ticket price includes a year’s membership in CRBI, barbecue dinner, beverages, boat rental for paddle, a raffle ticket to win the new kayak and shuttle services for paddle trip. Don’t miss this opportunity to see one of the most picturesque sections of the Etowah River in Floyd County, including Reynolds Bend and numerous Native American fish weirs. Purchase tickets NOW! OTHER UPCOMING PADDLING OPPORTUNITIES… May 12–13 miles on Armuchee Creek & Oostanaula River June 2–7 miles on the Chattooga River Near Trion June 9–10 miles on the Etowah River near Euharlee Learn more about these trips and register to participate. Coosa River Basin Initiative 408 Broad St. Rome, GA 30161 706-232-2724 www.coosa.org

WEBINAR: “Water Trail Accessibility: Assessing and Creating More Accessible Facilities and Programs”

http://www.americantrailsstore.org/items/webinar-waterAccess.html

Mike Passo, Elakah Expeditions

Thank you for your interest in our webinar “Water Trail Accessibility: Assessing and Creating More Accessible Facilities and Programs.”

 

A part of the American Trails Advancing Trails Webinar Series, “Water Trail Accessibility: Assessing and Creating More Accessible Facilities and Programs” is designed to help water trail managers and outfitters improve opportunities for people of all backgrounds and abilities to enjoy water trails. The webinar includes a 75 minute review of adaptive program principles, principles of assessing existing water trails to provide critical information to all users, how to create water trails out of urban streams, and real life examples and case studies of water trail challenges.

 

 

 

 

Date: Thursday, May 24
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. Pacific / 1:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. Eastern
Cost: $25 members / $45 nonmembers

 

Presenters:

Mike Passo, Owner & Operator, Elakah Expedition LLC and American Trails Board Member (bio)

Bob Searns, Principal, The Greenway Team and Chair of the Board of Directors, American Trails (bio)

 

American Trails Member Discount

 
As an added membership benefit, American Trails members will receive a discounted rate! You can join now by visiting the American Trails website. Or you can also click the “Keep Shopping” button when you click on the $25 webinar button below and add an American Trails Membership to your online store order.

 

WEBINAR: “Water Trail Accessibility: Assessing and Creating
More Accessible Facilities and Programs”

 

STEPS TO TO REGISTER AND PAY FOR THE WEBINAR
STEP 1: PAY FOR THE WEBINAR by clickingone of the ORDER buttons below. You can also purchase an American Trails membership through the store — just click the “Keep Shopping” link when you see your shopping cart.
STEP 2: While in our store, if the person attending the webinar and their email will be different than the billing name please include the attendee’s full name and email address in the COMMENTS section.
STEP 3: You’re done! The attendee’s email address will receive a separate confirmation email from GoToWebinar containing information about joining the Webinar.

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) are being discovered in our Nation’s waters! Take advantage of our Nations Drug Take-Back Day…

Is your medicine cabinet filled with expired drugs or medications you no longer use? Are you trying to figure out how to be responsible and dispose of them properly?

Well fear not, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has scheduled another National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day which will take place on Saturday, April 28, 2012, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Click here to find the Collection Site nearest you.

This is a great opportunity for those who missed the previous events, or who have subsequently accumulated unwanted, unused prescription drugs, to safely dispose of those medications.

Click here to find out other ways to dispose of medications!

Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products as Pollutants (PPCPs) refers, in general, to any product used by individuals for personal health or cosmetic reasons or used by agribusiness to enhance growth or health of livestock. PPCPs comprise a diverse collection of thousands of chemical substances, including prescription and over-the-counter therapeutic drugs, veterinary drugs, fragrances, and cosmetics.

Studies have shown that pharmaceuticals are present in our nation’s waterbodies. Further research suggests that certain drugs may cause ecological harm. Read on….  http://www.epa.gov/ppcp/

Environmental Concerns

Despite the safety reasons for flushing drugs, some people are questioning the practice because of concerns about trace levels of drug residues found in surface water, such as rivers and lakes, and in some community drinking water supplies. However, the main way drug residues enter water systems is by people taking medications and then naturally passing them through their bodies, says Raanan Bloom, Ph.D., an environmental assessment expert in FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “Most drugs are not completely absorbed or metabolized by the body, and enter the environment after passing through waste water treatment plants.” Read on…  http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm101653.htm

Joe Cook’s account of the Paddle Georgia 2012 Scouting trip featured in SIERRA CUB Magazine article. ACT: Watershed Moments – May/June 2012

ACT: Watershed Moments – May/June 2012 – Sierra Magazine – Sierra Club.

ACT: Watershed Moments – May/June 2012 – Sierra Magazine – Sierra Club.

James Holland’s new book, “Altamaha, A River and Its Keeper”-is OUT!

Get ready for James Holland’s new book, “Altamaha, A River and Its Keeper”- with over 230 photographs and elegant prose by Janisse Ray and Dorinda G. Dallmeyer.

Mark your calendar for the book launch, reception, reading, and book signing at historic Ashantilly in Darien on June 30 at 2:00. James, Janisse, and Dorinda will autograph books in a benefit for the Altamaha Riverkeeper.

$50 includes a book and wine and cheese reception. Reception only is $20. Please RSVP by calling ARK at 912-437-8164 or emailing cor@altamahariverkeeper.org

Chattahoochee RiverWarden Event Updates!

Here are a few updates to our April e-letter that we want to communicate to you.Please feel free to contact us at (706) 649-2326 or criverwarden@gmail.com for future topics or issues you would enjoy reading about in our newsletters. Date Change for Shoal Spider Lily Viewing!The rare and threatened Shoal Spider Lily is blooming earlier this year due to warm weather. The viewing schedule has changed and the site is now open, April 20-22, April 27-29 and May 4-6 from 9 AM to 6 PM. To get there, head north from Columbus on I-185 and take exit 25 then turn left.  At the four-way stop by Hunter’s Pub, go straight on Hwy 103 toward West Point.  Follow the road until you see the sign on the right side of the road indicating you have arrived. If you reach the industrial park, you have gone too far. Mark this on your calendar as an event not to miss!If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office at 706-649-2326.  Please try to carpool as parking is limited.  Wild and Scenic Film Festival Update!NEW FILM FEATURING COMMUNITY LEADERS JOHN TURNER, BILLY TURNER AND CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVERWARDEN TO BE SCREENED AT WILD & SCENIC FILM FESTIVAL.The Chattahoochee: Re-Imagine our River.The new 22-minute film brings together 15 voices from environmental groups, government agencies and the private sector-including Columbus leaders John Turner, Billy Turner and Roger Martin.  It gives viewers the opportunity to learn about statewaide initiatives that are keeping our river healty while providing access and programs for our citizens.  The film will create an appreciation of the river, an understanding of the importance of water as a non-renewable resource, and the impact human activity has in and around the Chattahoochee River. What:     Wild & Scenic Film Festival Where:   CSU’s Oxbow Meadows              3535 South Lumpkin Road, Columbus, GA When:    Earth Day, Sunday, April 22, 2012              Gates open at 6 PM, Films begin at 8 PM Cost:      $5 for adults, $2 for students The Chattahoochee RiverWarden, CSU’s Oxbow Meadows and the Columbus Film Society have joined forces to bring the juried, award-winning Wild & Scenic Film Festival to Columbus for Earth Day. Bring a picnic to Oxbow Meadows at 6 PM and enjoy movies under the stars shown on a 35-foot outdoor screen. Admission is $5 for adults, $2 for students, and all proceeds will be used for the development of a water quality education program at Oxbow Meadows. To make this event even more exciting, we are a registered site for The Nature Conservancy’s Picnic for the Planet, a Guinness World Record®attempt for the most people picnicking in 24 hours. From Columbus, Georgia to Melbourne, Australia, the world will unite to celebrate Earth Day with good food and great company. Bring your dinner to Oxbow because everyone with a meal will be counted for the record attempt. Help us show the world that Columbus wants to make the Earth a better place! Now the largest of its kind, the Wild & Scenic Film Festival combines stellar filmmaking, beautiful cinematography and first-rate storytelling to inspire viewers to restore the Earth and its communities. A variety of short films will be shown that are appropriate for all ages. Watch young Chilean kayakers navigate the Rio Baker in Los Escualos; marvel at a surfer’s-eye-view of a wave in Dark Side of the Lens, crawl through unexplored caves in Into Darkness; and see what one person can do to save a river in Marion Stoddart: Work of 1000. “The care of rivers is not a question of rivers, but of the human heart.” Tanaka Shozo