Debranski & Associates

Lori Forrester, communications CCWSA, UERA Board Member, and head of the Adopt-A-Stream program, recertifies a group of citizen scientists at Lewis Park.

Photo courtesy of Sarah Brookshire

The Upper Etowah River Alliance coordinates and advocates for the construction of kayak/canoe launches and recreational river access so more locals can enjoy our beautiful river. Experience our rich natural environment from water level in a kayak or canoe.

Photo courtesy of Sarah Brookshire

Photo courtesy of Sarah Brookshire Groups working with Bud and Mary Freeman tirelessly sample fish found in the Etowah.

Photo courtesy of Sarah Brookshire

The UERA is partnering with Keep Cherokee uuu

Beautiful. Volunteers in both organizations have double the opportunities to keep our community clean. Members and volunteers of Keep Cherokee Beautiful pick up trash along the roadways to keep it out of storm sewers. If pollution can stay out of storm sewers, it won’t be affecting the river.

“We can stop pollution at its source,” says Laine.

Bud explains, “The Etowah is the biggest tributary to the Allatoona Reservoir, and the water quality needs to be maintained there.” Protecting the tributaries is key.

“Think of the river like it’s a tree with no leaves. There are a million branches, but if they are cut off, nothing is going into the trunk.”

It seems like a daunting task to protect such a large watershed, but the UERA makes it more manageable with tips, fun-filled events, and memberships that bring people together to make a big difference. The alliance is funded by donations, memberships, and grants. It also gets money from the Cherokee County and Cherokee County Water and Sewerage Authority.

The alliance is always accepting new members. Getting involved in the cause is as simple as joining. Memberships range from $15 to $50. It’s $15 for students, $25 for individuals, and $50 for a family.

People can also participate in river clean-up events. “It’s something you can do not only for the alliance, but also for your community,” explains Laine. Small acts can make a large impact on the river. Some events include kayaking or canoeing down the river or hiking along the banks to collect trash.

The alliance also offers educational classes, such as rain-barrel workshops.

Another exciting program locals can get involved in is the Adopt-A-Stream Program. It is a volunteer water-monitoring program wherein citizens learn how to test the water for chemical, bacterial, and biological aspects. Lori leads these excursions and trains volunteers on how to test water samples along the Etowah River properly. She also teaches a variety of other environmental educational courses. The alliance has forty-seven water-testing sites and fifteen teams working to protect the river. The alliance is seeking ten more organizations, neighborhoods, or companies that want to become an Adopt-A-Stream group.

Other ways individuals can make an impression is to be water aware. Take shorter showers, pick up litter when you are in or around the river or on the trails surrounding it. Be vigilant about sediment, and most importantly, if you see something that doesn’t look right, say something. UERA has a Who to Call list on its website under the Resources tab to help you find the correct department to call.

Using chemical pesticides and fertilizers in yards is another area of concern. Switching to natural substances will lower the amount of chemicals washed into the river. “They are all little things you can do, but if lots of people did it, we could make a big difference,” Bud says.

The alliance supports recreational use of the river. It wants people to love the river as much as members of the alliance do. Canoeing and kayaking on the river is fun, but if you are not a water person, many great trails wind in and around the rivers in our watershed. “We want recreational users. That is our purpose. We want fishing. We want people picnicking along the river. If they love it, then they’ll protect it. If we make them love it, get them on it, in it, and beside it, then they will have a vested personal interest in protecting it. It’s vital,” Laine explains. She is passionate about connecting people to the river and growing their passion for waterway .

In the near future the UERA hopes to have more than two hundred members and build four more launch sites on the Upper Etowah River, two of which would be in Cherokee County. Laine’s main goal as director is to keep the organization focused on its mission and to keep it relevant in the community, because of its importance.

Bud explains that we have made big strides compared to what the river used to be, “But there is still much more we

could do. People need to be involved, to keep it a vibrant place to be.”

Learn more about The Upper Etowah River Alliance and how you can get involved by visiting EtowahRiver.org.