Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper - Keeping Watch Over Our Water Supply

The picture below is of Lake Sidney Lanier, a man-made lake in North Georgia that is the main water source for more than 3 million residents of Atlanta and the outlying suburbs (not to mention parts of Alabama and Florida). This picture was take during the 1980's when the water level was at capacity.

The next photo was taken of the same section of the lake in October of 2007. What was once a quiet swimming cove is quickly becoming a meadow.

While lack of rainfall is the immediate problem, the underlying culprit is more profound: a water supply that cannot keep pace with a rapidly expanding population. Lake Lanier was constructed in the 1950's at the headwaters of the Chattahoochee and Chestatee Rivers to prevent flooding. The Buford Dam which holds back the waters and forms the lake has produced more than 96 million dollars in electricity since the plant went on line in the late 1950's.

Currently Georgia, Alabama and Florida are locked in a battle over this dwindling water source. Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper is helping to lead the way to resolution and responsible use. The advocacy group sponsors events on the river to raise awareness about the problems of overuse.

Since 1994, UCR has reached tens of thousands of school-aged children through their Riverkeeper Youth Programs to promote an ethic of stewardship of rivers, lakes and streams. Students have gained a greater appreciation of their natural surroundings and have become more knowledgeable about water resources by participating in these programs.

The UCR serves as a watchdog organization to ensure that water conservation legislation is foremost in the state government's mind. The group sponsors river and lake cleanups and a floating classroom (glass bottom boat) that's educated more than 10,000 students about the importance of clean water and environmental stewardship.

I'd like to say thank you to Riverkeeper. This story has personal significance for me because I grew up on the banks of Lake Lanier and my grandfather's homestead lies beneath its waters at Holiday Marina in Buford, GA. North Georgia is facing a serious problem of water depletion. I applaud the Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper for working so hard to preserve this resource for generations to come.

UCR's website is filled with helpful information and programs for people who live in this area. Georgia residents use 10 percent more water per capita than the national average. If you are part of this community, please read the water saving tips and ways to help compiled by the UCR.