The Chattahoochee River Conservancy

What We Can Do To Help Keep Her Safe For All.

By Natalie Downey

The Chattahoochee River and her tributaries flow throughout our city, crisscrossing the land as she weaves her mysterious patterns. Oblivious to social status or income brackets, the river flows through ghettos and gated communities alike, offering the same opportunity to all.

Where there is a river, there is endless potential.

Looking Over a Wintered River

The Chattahoochee River, Columbus, Ga

Some say the Chattahoochee River is the life of Columbus, and I wholeheartedly agree. From our drinking water to your bathwater, what pours out is from the Chattahoochee River. In addition, people from all over the world enjoy the river’s warm waters and whitewater course for recreation and relaxation, from kayaking to fishing.

A river is one of the greatest commodities in a place, but when those waters are compromised, it affects not just the local community, but all waters south of the community as well. An unhealthy watershed is a problem that can take years to solve, causing a ripple effect of consequences for more than just the city’s water, as the watershed plays an important part in the entire ecosystem, hosting important wildlife and plants, and balancing flood control.

With an understanding of the importance of advocating for a thriving watershed, The Chattahoochee River Conservancy was formed as what it is today in 2010. The CRC is a nonprofit environmental organization based out of Columbus that exists for the mission of protecting the Chattahoochee River. Using education, advocacy, and science, the CRC actively works to connect the river and the community while leading programs aimed at remediating the issues with our local waterway and creating a sustainable future for the river.

Programs are carefully planned and implemented by CRC staff, and funding is provided through grants from private foundations as well as donations from the local community. Volunteer opportunities and educational outreach programs give people young and old opportunities to get involved in the work and play an active role in protecting the river.

People love to spend time near the river, but often don't realize the negative effect mankind can have on a natural resource. Litter is one of the biggest issues CRC faces.

Litter in ditches, creeks, and areas near the water will be blown or washed into the water during heavy wind and rain. Plastic can leach potentially toxic chemicals, compromising water quality and presenting a threat to wildlife. For example, CRC often sees cases of birds, turtles, and other wildlife entangled in fishing line, often with a fatal outcome. In 2020, CRC began its fishing line recycling program to address the issue of improperly discarded fishing line, and currently has 19 fishing line recycling stations at popular fishing sites for convenient recycling.

Community cleanups are another practical way CRC is addressing the litter issue in the Columbus area. Volunteers join CRC in local parks and public places such as the Riverwalk to remove trash from the area. In 2021, CRC and volunteers removed a total of 3.5 tons of trash from public areas in Columbus. Cleanups are a great way for families, coworkers, neighbors, and church groups to get involved and make the city better.

While trash cleanups are a practical solution to the litter problem, CRC also leads educational outreach programs in schools and with local youth groups to raise awareness about the negative impact littering has on the environment. In addition, CRC is working to provide people opportunities to connect with the river, so that they will be more inclined to appreciate it and become a part of the solution. One of their annual programs is called Swim Guide, a water quality monitoring program where they collect samples weekly from 17 sites from Lake Harding down to Eufaula, test for E.coli levels, and process and publish the results. The public can access the results on CRC’s Facebook and Instagram pages, to stay aware of the state of the water in these areas and feel confident recreating in the watershed.

One of the most popular programs CRC is leading is the shoal lily restoration program. A rare species that is only native in three states, the shoal lily has faced near extinction on the local stretch of the Chattahoochee River due to man-made structures and an altered state of the watershed. When two dams were removed from the river several years ago, it returned to a more natural state that gave the shoal lily an opportunity to once again thrive in Columbus.

In 2021, CRC planted over 2000 shoal lilies on the whitewater stretch of the river, and the program is ongoing, with more planting happening this year.

To be able to reintroduce a native plant species to the river is an unforgettable opportunity. Not many generations will be able to say they watched this specific work unfold, but we are seeing it evolve right in front of our eyes as we spot new blooms each year. CRC has worked together with Whitewater Express and Nearly Native Nursery on this restoration program, and has been thrilled with its success.

It’s not enough to just hope for a healthy river. As a community, we must take the responsibility to see to it that our river is protected and kept in as natural and healthy a state as possible. This doesn’t just benefit us today, when we can confidently enjoy the waters of the river, but it benefits future generations of humans and wildlife alike.

To support the work of the CRC, visit chattriver.org and find Chattahoochee River Conservancy on Facebook and Instagram.