The Flint River is among the top 12 dirty dozen worst rivers in 2011. The Flint River basin was sucked dry last year when the Georgia Environment Protection Division (EPD) allowed too many water withdrawals for Atlanta. The Georgia Water Coalition (GWC) reported the worst offenses against Georgia's water due to an underfunded EPD and the political will to enforce the environmental protection laws. The eleven other dirty dozen worst rivers are: The pollution in the Ogeechee River that went undetected by the EPD for five years. Rayonier pulp mill destroyed the Altamaha River's fisheries. The Savannah River's costly harbor dredging wrecked its estuary. The Chattahoochee River's critical minimum flow was neglected in Atlanta. Unnecessary reservoirs threaten Shoal and Flat Creek's downstream communities. An unnecessary new coal plant was permitted on the Oconee and Ogeeche Rivers. Docks in Georgia's tidal wetlands spoiled the “Marshes of Glynn.” Four decades of ditches dried out South Georgia's wetlands. A waste disposal “farm” fouls the Broad River. Fish are dying at Brier and Commissioner Creek in kaolin mine country. The Coosa River's coal-fired power plant's heated and withdrawal water discharge threatens the health of the river.
The Altamaha Riverkeeper (ARK) is working with the GWC to make healthy water a priority for all of Georgia during the 2012 40-day General Assembly session. Please contact your state senator and representative to ask them to enforce the laws intended to protect our water, land, air and people.
