Altamaha

Winter 2007 Newsletter

The Altamaha Coastkeeper is now a reality, thanks to the support of ARK’smembers who gave generously to meet the Malcolm Fraser Foundation challengegrant. Over $50,000 in individual contributions affirmed citizen commitment toprotecting the entire Altamaha Watershed—from its headwaters of the Ocmulgee, theOconee, and the Ohoopee to its coastal estuary system in Glynn and McIntoshCounties.

As intense development proceeds throughout the watershed, citizens are takingincreased action to protect the natural resources that make this the best place to live,work, and play in Georgia. Please join in and support ARK’s efforts to protect waterquality for all of the watershed’s inhabitants.

Support for Watershed Protection Growing

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The Altamaha Riverkeeper was named the 2007 Watershed Group of theYear, the Georgia River Network’s (GRN) highest honor for watershedleadership. The award recognizes a group whose efforts create positive changefor a watershed, programs with significant results, and fostered growth andsustainability of the watershed community.

Accepting the award during the GRN’s annual conference in Milledgevillewere, left to right, James Holland, Altamaha Riverkeeper; Billie Jo Parker,Altamaha Coastkeeper; Deborah Sheppard, ARK Executive Director; Dana

Skelton, GRN; Constance Riggins, ARK Development Director and Neill Herring, ARK Board Member.

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How ARK Works: Assisting citizens with waterpollution problems, the Altamaha Riverkeeperinvestigates sites to stop pollution. ARK’s workincludes water testing, documentation, and followup reports to local, state, and federal regulatoryagencies to encourage the enforcement of waterquality laws. Through education, environmentaladvocacy, citizen action, negotiation, and ifnecessary, legal action, ARK finds solutions toprotect the health of our rivers and estuary.

The Altamaha Riverkeeper and its Altamaha Coastkeeper program areworking to protect and restore the habitat, water quality, and flow ofthe mighty Altamaha from its headwaters in the Oconee, Ocmulgee,and Ohoopee to its terminus at the Atlantic Coast.

The Altamaha Riverkeeper selected Billie Jo Parker as Coastkeeper to expandARK’s work to protect Georgia’s priceless estuary, coast, fisheries, and wildlife. Shebegan training with Riverkeeper James Holland in February and working togetherthey will increase ARK’s watershed protection. Parker will concentrate in the lowerAltamaha; Riverkeeper Holland will focus in the upper watershed where many ofthe problems begin.

Working with Holland, the Coastkeeper will investigate rapidly increasingrequests for assistance with pollution in the watershed’s coastal zone and work withregulatory agencies to enforce water quality laws. She will participate in policy-making meetings, encourage sound land use in development, and build advocacythrough environmental education. In addition to coastal monitoring, Parker willmake site visits, take photos and videos, and conduct water tests to document andstop pollution.

Billie Jo grew up fishing and boating with her father on the Altamaha inMcIntosh and Glynn Counties. She likes to kayak, sail, surf, and explore coastalregions, last year making the roundtrip sail to the Bahamas with her fiancé.Working as an environmental educator at the 4-H Center on Jekyll Island, Parkergained experience that will help her develop outreach activities to involve morepeople in the Coastkeeper program. We are excited to welcome her to ARK’s staffat this time when coastal development issues are gaining statewide attention.

Altamaha Coastkeeper Begins Work

Watershed Group of the Year

Altamaha Coastkeeper, Billie Jo Parker, documents

siltation in salt marsh

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More than 30 volunteers turned out on Saturday,November 4, 2006, to support the Altamaha Riverkeeper andThe Nature Conservancy’s efforts to conserve the lowerAltamaha River. By foot and by boat, volunteers took to theriver and its banks to remove 2,800 pounds of trash andwater hyacinth, a non-native invasive species that threatensthe natural balance of the river system by blockingwaterways, competing with native plants and reducingoxygen levels in the water.

Volunteers, including a group from the UnitarianUniversalists of Coastal Georgia, focused their efforts onfive key sites in McIntosh and Glynn Counties: ChampneyRiver Landing, Altamaha River Park, Darien Waterfront,Buffalo Swamp, and Fort Barrington.

The event was made possible through the generoussupport of First Georgia Hardware and Marine, DarienCommunications, Piggly Wiggly and Southeast AdventureOutfitters. In addition, Two-Way Fish Camp provided thefacility where the event was held, and the City of Dariendisposed of the collected trash and water hyacinth.

Altamaha RiverCleanUp

Special thanks to Mike Northrup for initiating a three-per-son clean up of Old Field Joyner on the Altamaha. Mike

found a nasty campsite when paddling the river andenlisted the assistance of Riverkeeper James Holland and

Mary Janaus to clean it up. We salute this effort andencourage others to follow Mike's lead to do somethingabout the problems you encounter when using the river.

By Constance RigginsFloods are the most damaging and costly natural

disasters in the United States, according to the FederalEmergency Management Agency. And many Georgiahomeowners, living in new homes constructed on convertedwetlands, are finding their homes are severely floodedduring even moderate rainfall.

Last November, the Altamaha Riverkeeper, GeorgiaWater Coalition, Georgia Watch, and other coastalconservation groups conducted an educational workshop,“Buy Dry Land.” The training, held at the University ofGeorgia Bamboo Farm and Coastal Gardens near RichmondHill, focused on the dangers of buying a home constructedon converted wetland property. Approximately thirtyhomebuyers, builders, and elected officials attended.

Buy Dry Land Information Before the 1970’s, over 40% of Georgia’s coastal area

was regularly-flooded seasonal wetlands. In the 70’s, muchof the land was drained and ditched to convert the area totemporarily dryer land for pine plantations. Now the pineplantations are being converted into housing developments toaccommodate population growth.

In Georgia’s ten county coastal region, the population isexpected to grow to about 844,000 over the next twodecades, a 50 % increase. Unfortunately, more homes arebeing built in drained and ditched wetlands.

Consumer BewareWetlands have “memory” and with merely a moderate

rain, property that appears dry in some seasons will revert towetlands – for days, even weeks.

“Developers can dry out land by ditching, draining, andfilling but when the rains come the water has to gosomewhere,” said Deborah Sheppard, Executive Director ofthe Altamaha Riverkeeper. “As one property is drained, theone next door is flooded and the cycle of property damage

and environmental damage accelerates.”State officials estimate that 70% of Georgia’s flood plain

maps are twenty years or more behind the times. As a result,many homeowners are unaware of the flood potential andfail to purchase flood insurance until the damage is done.The homeowners realize only too late that their property liesin an unmapped, expanding flood plain. Compounding theproblem, according to the Georgia Emergency ManagementAgency, changing weather patterns create different rainfalltotals for some areas at the same time that overdevelopmentreduces the land’s natural ability to absorb water.

In many cases there are no legal requirements governingthe filling and building on freshwater wetlands.Additionally, there are no requirements for builders orrealtors to tell buyers that property was originally wetlands.It is up to buyers to determine if the home or land they areconsidering was originally dry land or wetlands. For a “BuyDry Land” educational handbook and a list of questions toask your builder or realtor about wetlands and flood proneareas visit www.BuyDryLand.org.

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The Altamaha Riverkeeper’s Seventh Annual Meeting

Buy Dry Land Campaign

ARK celebrations in Hawkinsville keep getting better. Thanks to the hospitalityof Mary Lynde and Bub Way, over 150 members of the Altamaha Riverkeeperenjoyed a great day on the Ocmulgee River last September. Over the last three years,the event at Way’s Landing has attracted a growing number of river supporters fromthroughout the watershed.

The party’s cuisine offered the best of upper and lower watershed delicacies:fried fish from the Ocmulgee and low-country boil with fresh shrimp and crabs.Adding to the fare were delicious homemade desserts and side dishes from ourguests’ favorite recipes. Topping off the afternoon was music by the Middle GeorgiaMountain Dulcimer Club and river cruises captained by Ed McDaniel.

It was a wonderful day in the watershed and an opportunity for the AltamahaRiverkeeper to thank all of its supporters. Sharing time on the river is a good way forus to remember why watershed protection is so important.

MULCH is defined by Webster’s as “a protectivecovering (as of sawdust, compost, or paper) spread or left onthe ground to reduce evaporation, maintain even soiltemperature, prevent erosion, control weeds, enrich the soil,or keep fruit (as strawberries) clean.” Apparently, Websternever imagined using whole live forests for this purpose. Infact, today in Louisiana, Florida, and yes, our own State ofGeorgia, whole stands of cypress, some hundreds of yearsold, are being chopped into pieces and marketed as mulchproducts such as “Cypress Gold.” There are several reasonswhy there is so much concern over this practice. If thethought of clear cutting these majestic forests for flowerbedsdoesn’t bother you, here are some facts from Louisiana andFlorida that may:

Many cypress forests do not regenerate after harvestingbecause of past alterations to water levels at these sites.Therefore, establishing the proper wetness for cypress seedgermination is difficult and rarely accomplished. In 2004, acommission studying this issue in Louisiana found that up to80 percent of harvested cypress stands will not regeneratebecause of altered water levels.

Before the 1990s, most mulch was produced frombyproducts of the paper and lumber industries. Now, becauseof exploding demand, timber companies are harvestingwhole cypress trees and forests and grinding them up formulch. In addition, scientists at the University of FloridaExtension Services say younger and younger trees are beingharvested – including those as small as a foot in diameter.

It has been shown that harvesting is outpacing thesupply of cypress in both Florida and Louisiana. InLouisiana, this harvesting has left coastal ecosystemsvulnerable to wind damage and flooding from storms.

In Florida, about 60 percent of all the mulch sold iscypress. There, thousands of acres of cypress are loggedevery year simply to produce mulch.

The Value of What We’re LosingCypress forests are beautiful treasures that are an

important part of our natural heritage. Cypress trees can liveup to 1500 years and can grow up to 150 feet tall and 25 feet

in girth. Cypress forests provide tremendous value to ourstate. Among other things, cypress wetlands providerecreation, critical fish and wildlife habitat, water storage,groundwater recharge, and pollution protection for ourwaters by filtering pollutants and excess nutrients. They alsosupport our economy through tourism and recreation. Inaddition, cypress forests help protect coastal communities byserving as a buffer against flood waters – an important factorduring storms.

We Need Your Help!ARK is working with Southern Environmental Law

Center to gather information on this problem in Georgia.Please send ARK as much information as you can on:• Locations of cypress mulch production plants.• Sites where cypress stands are being harvested or have

been harvested within the past five years.• Landowners who are planning to harvest their cypress

stands and are willing to participate in a scientificevaluation of the regeneration potential of their site. In addition to gathering important information about

cypress mulch production in coastal Georgia, we will betaking actions to minimize the negative impacts experiencedby other states. These actions include:• Supporting best management practices for logging

cypress that are sustainable and promote successfulregeneration.

• Contacting mulch suppliers and asking them not to carrycypress mulch products from non-sustainable sources.

• Educating consumers about the effects on our coast ofusing cypress mulch, and the importance of usingalternative products such as pine bark.

• Contacting major mulch users (such as public schools)and asking them to use sustainable alternatives tocypress mulch.

• Creating conservation incentives for private landownerswho own cypress stands.

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Cypress Forests: Is Part of Our Natural Heritage Going to Pieces?

WSB TV’s Ronnie Hoof next to cypress tree

To protect the salt marsh on Sea Island from destructionby fill dirt for residential swimming pools, the AltamahaRiverkeeper filed a Clean Water Act (CWA) lawsuit inDecember 2006.

This filing follows an earlier legal action in which ARKfiled a federal suit against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers(Corps) after the Corps issued a Nationwide Permit 18 to filla tidal area. In the suit, ARK argues that according toregulations a Nationwide Permit 18 cannot be used to fill ina tidal area in Georgia.

Sea Island, Georgia, known around the globe for itsexclusive five-star Cloister Resort, touts on its website thatSea Island “exists in a world of unspoiled natural splendor.”

The Altamaha Riverkeeper notes, “Sea Island’s naturalsplendor is now threatened as a local resident takes steps tobuild a bulkhead and fill a tidal area for the construction oftwo private swimming pools.”

Background When residents got word of planned construction in the

marsh near their home, they called the Altamaha Riverkeeper(ARK). Upon investigation, Altamaha Riverkeeper JamesHolland documented evidence that classified the area as tidalwaters of the United States. Holland says, “The propertycontains visible signs of tides such as high water marks andfresh duckweed washed in by the tides. I advised theneighbors the area should be protected under the CleanWater Act and to contact the Corps.”

When the Corps representative visited, he said the sitewas declared non-tidal by the Corps and they had granted theproperty owner a Nationwide Permit 18 to allow theconstruction of swimming pools. Nationwide Permits areused by the Corps to streamline and expedite the waitingtime for a permit.

From May through October 2006, Holland monitoredthe site and during spring tides, he photographed anddocumented tidewater entering the area. Using a dip net,Holland documented the presence of blue crabs, shrimp,

silver mullet, and salt-water eel in the pools. He also tookvideos capturing visual evidence of blue crabs foraging inthe pool and a school of 200-300 mullet swimming in thewater.

Environmental attorney Don Stack presented the Corpswith the evidence illustrating that the area contained tidalpools. However, the Corps stated they would not acceptdocumentation gathered by Holland, because in their opinionhe was not an expert. Later, after conducting a review ofselected portions of the evidence presented by the AltamahaRiverkeeper, the Corps agreed the area was tidal butattributed the tidal influence to a rain event.

Before taking legal action against the Corps, ARKbrought in two more experts, a hydrologist and a biologist,who documented and confirmed the area was flooded bytides and therefore not eligible to receive a NationwidePermit 18.

In an attempt to avert the marsh fill authorized by theCorps, ARK also provided the Coastal Resources Division(CRD) with the documentation demonstrating the tidalnature of the site. If CRD determines an area is tidal, it canquestion the use of a Nationwide Permit 18; however, CRDtook no action.

Judge Dudley H. Bowen Jr. of the United States DistrictCourt, Southern District, accepted the Corps’ reportdeclaring the area non-tidal. However, the information didnot include the subsequent additional evidence provided byARK proving the area was tidal. The judge refused tocontinue a temporary restraining order issued earlier byanother federal judge.

Construction material arrived on site in early Decemberand a bulkhead was built to prevent the tidal waters frominterfering with the construction of the swimming pools.Deborah Sheppard, Executive Director of the AltamahaRiverkeeper and its Altamaha Coastkeeper program says,“This action to divert tidal waters provides more proof thatthe area in question is tidal. DNR’s Coastal ResourcesDivision and the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers are failingmiserably in their duty to protect the salt marsh fromencroachment by human activities. As a result of the failureto properly review and evaluate the tidal status of this site,the publicly owned salt marsh is once again compromisedfor private gain.”

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Sea Island Tidal Pools CouldTurn into Swimming Pools

Destruction of Sea Island tidal pool sparks lawsuit

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Cathead Creek flows into the Darien River just aboveDarien. It is a cherished destination for people who come toexperience its wild nature and rich abundant wildlife. Manypeople who travel from the upper watershed on extendedtrips take Cathead Creek into Darien as the final leg of theirjourney from the Piedmont to the Sea. Visitors and localscanoe, hunt, fish, watch birds, and enjoy the undevelopednature of this portion of the river. Cathead Creek is one ofthe last places left in the United States to experience a tidalriver and estuary system and feel the wildness that onceexisted in our great river system. It provides habitat to anumber of federal and state protected species including theWest Indian manatee, shortnose sturgeon, bald eagle andwood stork.

The lower Altamaha’s Cathead Creek and the DarienRiver now face unprecedented threats from developers intenton building condominiums and townhouses on the uplandportions of the rivers. Proposed developments, marketed asexclusive second homes, threaten to alter the character anduse of Cathead Creek. A proposed series of massive docks toaccommodate large and fast motorboats will further sacrificethe area’s wild and scenic nature.

Coastal development mistakes of the past few yearsseem to be attracting more developers bent on putting moreand bigger buildings close to the water. Plans have beenpresented to the public for five riverfront condominium/townhome developments on Cathead and the Darien River withadditional properties being marketed and considered forsimilar developments.

The marketing of developments advertising deepwaterdock space even before seeking or gaining the necessarypermits is becoming common. Indigo Harbor, adevelopment proposed for Cathead Creek’s highest bluff, isseeking approval for 250 – 290 homes on 18.5 acres. Thereal estate ads boast 1000-feet of year round deepwater dockspace even though there has been no local, state, or federaldock approval.

Repeating Past Mistakes After years of controversy, touted as the economic

engine that would drive downtown development, Darien’swaterfront is now marred by Settler’s Bluff condominiums.

Begun 5 years ago, now only four units are occupied outof the 42 unit development. The docks that developersstated were needed to support the project’s economicviability are currently in use by two sailboats and manybirds. This totally unjustified dock system is apparently notenough to interest people in occupying the development.ARK shares the feelings of visitors and residents who cringe,knowing we lost our view of the river to almost emptycondominiums built on wetlands. (See past ARK newslettersand website.)

Cathead Landing: Another Eco-FriendlyDevelopment?

Upstream from Settler’s Bluff, preparation for CatheadLanding’s River Houses began in 2006 by uprooting allvegetation and importing truckloads of fill dirt to reengineerthe landscape and squeeze in 45 river homes on a tract ofless than seven-acres. The Darien News reported in October2005 that at the city council meeting, the developer toldcouncil members his “eco-friendly” development would takeevery measure to save the oak trees on the property and pavethe way for green friendly developers in Darien. That wasjustification for requesting variances to allow more unitsbuilt closer together.

Photos taken by ARK from the air illustrate CatheadLanding’s commitment to tree protection. All trees and othervegetation were cleared from the site to create a blank slateon which to build. Now this development presents a bigugly scar from the river. It will soon become a sea of three-story structures packed tightly together and looming over thesurrounding landscape and river.

Cathead Landing has requested a Coastal Marshland

Taking Cathead Creek for Private Profit

CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

Oyster shells reveal evidence of Native American occupationon the future site of Indigo Harbor development. The

majestic coastal bluff erodes naturally as Cathead Creekwinds its way toward the Darien River. The developers plan

deep water docks for the area.

Cathead Landing construction site

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The Altamaha Riverkeeper (ARK) is opposing theproperty clearing for a subdivision and a proposed 70-acrelake on County Line Road in Bleckley and Pulaski Countynear Hawkinsville. The development area, called Bush’sMills, contains wetlands from what was a former pond withold growth cypress. According to area residents, as themajor logging operation began, dynamiting of a beaver damwas used to drain the pond on the property.

The land clearing operation for the new subdivision,called Royal Palms 2, is illegal according to ARK because ithas not gone through the Federal Clean Water Act Section“404” permitting process. In a letter to the U.S. Army Corps

of Engineers (USACOE ) on November 29th, 2006, ARKsays the clearing is not part of a normal established ongoingforestry activity and questions why the land clearing is notgoing through the permitting process that is required beforeharvesting trees from a water body.

Altamaha Riverkeeper James Holland inspected the sitefollowing up on a citizen complaint involving improperforestry practices. Holland discovered major problems thatviolate guidelines, mandated by the Clean Water Act, forharvesting timber.

Bush’s Mill Pond is located near and drains into theOcmulgee River below Hawkinsville. “If people get awaywith logging this pristine waterfowl habitat for newdevelopment and are able to dig an open water lake beforesecuring all federal and state permits, it is a travesty. ARKor anyone interested in protecting the environment cannotcondone this activity. ARK believes it is illegal withoutpermits,” says Altamaha Riverkeeper Holland.

In the letter to the Corps, ARK says, “We request theUSACOE commence an investigation of this site. ARK alsorequests the USACOE disallow for a minimum of 2-3 yearsany structure on this site that creates a lake. We believe weare justified in making this request in order for the cypress toresume growth and regenerate new sprouts. If Bush’s Millsis allowed to be filled with water before the regeneration ofnew cypress growth, the characteristics of this ancient bodyof water will be lost forever.”

Legality of New Bleckley County Subdivision Questioned by Altamaha Riverkeeper

Protection Committee (CMPC) permit to build 42 boat slipsfor private recreational use, making this the largest marinaproject proposed to date on Cathead Creek.

The marina proposal continues the practice initiated atSettler’s Bluff of claiming a development needs excessivedocks because all its residents need boat slips to make theproject feasible. In reality, developers are increasing theirprofits for lots that are not adjacent to the river byadvertising they will have deepwater access and boat slipsfor all residents.

Three other projects are seeking rezoning and approvalon either side of Cathead Landing. Each new project willbring similar requests for more new boat slips in CatheadCreek. If these boat docks are permitted, the existing usesand recreational value of this river system will be largelydiminished.

Cathead Landing’s developers are asking the CMPC togrant a permit that would forever change the character andfunction of a major local resource and tourist destination inorder to market full-time water access to its part-timeresidents. The consideration of alternatives to this project

Cathead Creek... CONTINUED from page 7

fails to include any analysis of on-site boat storage, use ofpublic dock space at Settler’s bluff, boat sharing, orestimates of the real needs for water access.

ARK needs your support and involvement to protect ourrivers and estuary for all its users. ARK’s advocacy and theinvolvement of our members are the main forces standingbetween senseless destruction of our priceless resources forshort term profits for a few. Please get involved in theseissues and donate generously to protect coastal resources.

By Constance RigginsWhen I began work at the Altamaha Riverkeeper, I did not

know James Holland. This is the man I met.

James began his research into the biology of fish, crab,oysters, and shrimp when as a professional crabber hisharvests spiraled from 1500 pounds to less than 200 poundsdaily. He and many crabbers lost their livelihoods. Hollandlearned the devastating effects that water pollution andincreasing salinity had on marine life from talking withscientists, professors, naturalists, and fishermen. When Jamesbecame the Altamaha Riverkeeper, he became knowledgeableon water quality laws to protect and prevent the impairmentand destruction of the Altamaha Watershed.

A dedicated defender of Georgia’s rivers, James Hollandworks continuously. Trained young by the U.S. Marine Corps,he approaches his job with authority and brings the strength oftotal commitment to the skills he has developed. Making sitevisits, conducting water tests, taking thousands of photosdocumenting pollution, and communicating with regulatoryagencies, James fights to protect water quality in the AltamahaWatershed. Using his intensive field-based approach, Jamesworks with local, state, and federal regulators to find solutionsto enforce environmental laws and reduce water pollution.

Holland relentlessly monitors the river system and has nofear confronting polluting industries, cites, and governmentswith illegal discharges. His fight for the environment inspirescitizens to become knowledgeable and vocal advocates for theprotection of Georgia’s water resources, critical to the state’seconomic and ecological future. The man I am beginning to know.

James has both a realistic and optimistic vision for thefuture. His voice quakes when he hears about fish kills. He isheartbroken when he witnesses wetland destruction. He fearssoon the small springs and creeks we know will become bareskeletons of what they once were or join the long list ofwonderful things that no longer exist. He hates the destructionof trees and wild animals for no reason. Every case ofpollution James discovers is the worst, most destructive, andstupidest thing he ever saw and he will stop it; he won’t takeno for an answer. His environmental presentations to childrenand young people give him great satisfaction. Using livecrabs, mussels, and shells, his lessons illustrate why a healthywatershed is important and everyone understands. Jamesenjoys catching, cooking, and eating fish and he is good at all.James never takes a day off unless it is to go fishing; however,even then many outings turn up more work. It is just as wellbecause he would rather be working to protect our watershedthan doing anything else in the world. I will probably never really fully know James Holland.

However, I do know James sees magnificent beauty in ourwatershed and loves the wildlife he encounters there. Andwith each picture of a creature, flower, or bird that he takesand shares, I get to know James a little better.

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With a contribution of $250 or more, you will receive our newnote card collection of Wildlife in the Altamaha photographed by

Riverkeeper James Holland. They illustrate 10 reasons yourdonations to the Altamaha Riverkeeper are so important.

Who is James Holland?

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“Conservation through aviation” is the motto of South Wings, a non-profit con-servation organization that provides skilled pilots and aerial education to enhanceconservation efforts across the Southeast. The Ashville, North Carolina basedgroup provides flights for non-profit groups like ARK at no cost.

South Wings Director Taylor Barnhill explains their service “ By looking atthe earth from a bird’s eye view, we are struck by the beauty & devastation of ourenvironment. Working with our flight partners, conservation & communitygroups, we provide professional piloting skills and documentation of the impactof humankind’s activities on earth. Through the information we gather, weeducate community leaders, policy-makers, and the media, and collect scientificdata on the globally significant ecosystems of the Southeast.”

The Altamaha Riverkeeper thanks South Wings and its team of experts andpilots including Barnhill, Caroline Douglas, Darwin Jones, and others whochoose to remain anonymous for providing a great service to our organization and others.

In the past ten weeks, by flying with South Wings, the Altamaha Riverkeeper has identified major problems in our greatwatershed. We have included photos from these flights throughout this newsletter.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words... Especially from a Bird’s Eye View

ARK Thanks Darwin Jones of Southwings forgiving us a bird’s eye view of the watershed

Development in forested wetland near Eulonia in McIntosh County

32-acre clear cut in Wilkinson County on the Oconee RiverNew development threatens this well spring 10 miles down

river from Dublin on the Oconee River

Wetland development in Glynn County - Buffalo River headwaters were logged and are now being

filled for residential development

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Together We Will Protect OurBeautiful WatershedWays to Support the Altamaha Riverkeeper

As a member of the Altamaha Riverkeeper, you are apart of a watershed movement to protect and restore thehabitat, water quality, and flow of the mighty Altamaha fromits headwaters in the Oconee, Ocmulgee, and Ohoopee to itsterminus at the Atlantic Coast.• In addition to using the enclosed envelope there are

several ways to make giving easy. All donations are taxdeductable.

• Go to our website and make a contribution online atwww.altamahariverkeeper.org.

• Take Advantage of the Altamaha Riverkeeper’s MonthlyGiving Plan

• Enjoy the convenience of an automatic monthly transferfrom your personal checking or savings accounts for themonthly contribution you prefer.

• Consider making a Major Gift or Bequest to theAltamaha Riverkeeper through a planned gift, you canleave a lasting legacy and help future generationsprotect and restore the Altamaha River Watershed.

Gifts of StockYou can now donate stock to Altamaha Riverkeeper!

Many individuals who have highly appreciated stockpositions find it advantageous to donate those positionswithout paying the taxes. Its very simple and only takes afew minutes of your time. Krull & Company, a socially andenvironmentally responsible financial services firm, helps uswith the process. For more information, please contact PeteKrull at 912-289-4212 or pkrull@krullandcompany.com.

Become a Corporate Guardian of Clean WaterYour company can become a Corporate Guardian of

Clean Water and support a community-based approach toriver conservation by contributing $1,000 or more to theAltamaha Riverkeeper.

Give a gift membership to the ARK in honor ofor in memory of your friends and family

A thank you note will be sent to the person recognizingthe gift from you and your donation will be listed in theAltamaha Riverkeeper newsletter. In addition to supporting aclean watershed, members receive all mailings, invitations,and environmental updates.

For information on these giving options, please contactour office. However you contribute, thank you. Weappreciate your support.

Sign up with ARK’s email action list ARK sends regular email alerts on a variety of topics to

update our members on current actions. If you want toknow more about our activities, please sign up for the emailalert list by including your email address with your nextdonation or contacting the office and asking to be placed onthe list.

Communicate with your elected officials Contact your county voter registrar for contact

information on your local elected officials. You can alsolocate information about state officials by checking ARK’swebsite or going directly to:www.sos.state.ga.us/misc/districts.htm.

Help ARK reach outVolunteer to staff literature tables and events throughout

the watershed. Call or send us an email and we will get youset up.

Get Involved Today

Additional wildlife photos byJames Holland and informa-tion on ARK's work can befound on ARK's website at

www.altamahariverkeeper.org

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Hike the Bartram TrailSaturday, May 19, 2007 at 10:00 p.m. until

approximately 2 p.m. This event is offered for benefactorswho have contributed $500 or more in 2007.

Explore the trail of William Bartram, America’s firstenvironmental writer and pioneer naturalist in the area nearwhere he discovered the Franklinia alatamaha and thefevertree. In an approximate 3-5 mile hike, guided by NeillHerring an environmental lobbyist and AltamahaRiverkeeper board member, you will see a variety of bioticplant communities and some of the largest cypress we haveever found. The trip will include a walk down the face ofthe very last bluff on the south side of the Altamaha and ashort trek across the flood plain forest of cypress, tupelo, andpaper birch. Across the river from Smith Island, you willsee the site of Fort Barrington where the 1750 British fortonce stood as defense against the Spanish and Indian attacksfrom Florida. We will provide a picnic lunch afterwards.Reservations required by May 7.

Meet the Coastkeeper in McIntosh CountyMark your calendars for Saturday, May 5, 2007 at 2:00

p.m. Meet the new Coastkeeper, learn about ARK’sprotection work, and what you can do to help. Join us for amembership celebration at Delta Plantation and enjoy anafternoon cookout on the Julienton River. We needvolunteers for this event. Details to follow.

Earth Day Film: THE NEXT INDUSTRIALREVOLUTION

Wednesday, April 18, 2007, Noon, Darien’s Ida HiltonPublic Library

A 55-minute film that communicates the work andvision of two leaders in a growing movement to transformthe relationship between commerce and nature. The filminspires people to: reconsider their current efforts for theenvironment, reinvent their businesses and institutions towork with nature, and redefine themselves as consumers.

The Georgia Department of Transportation continues toinstall faulty Best Management Practice at the LumberCity Bridge crossing the Ocmulgee. Pictured here on

November 30, 2006 Altamaha Riverkeeper JamesHolland in an erosion gully created by storm water from

the project site. The rare Altamaha Spinymussel andthe federally protected shortnose sturgeon have beenfound just downstream from this site. Both can be

negatively impacted by excess sediment that has beenleaving this site for months.

Upcoming Events

Rayonier's discharge smells rancid and darkens theAltamaha from Jesup downstream many miles. ARK

continues to work with Rayonier to resolve this problem andwe remain hopeful they will identify and implement a

solution shortly. In the meantime we are asking people tocontact ARK if they have experienced negative effects of the

discharge while using the Altamaha in this area.

A plume of polluting wastewater leaves Rayonier and entersthe Altamaha River at Jesup

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In Memory OfWilliam W. Bryan, Jr. (Bill) by John, Mary Lane & Bryan Sullivan

Winton C. Harris by Emily and Jonathan HarrisJ.C. Hadden, Sr. by Mary and JC Hadden, Jr.

Walter E. Borden III by Margaret BordenDr. Peter O. Holliday, Jr. by Jack and Barbara Jenkins

Rosalyn Wells by Polly PorterHugh E. Cromartie, Jr. by Polly Porter

Hugh E. Cromartie, Jr. by Mr. and Mrs. E. Kay Stafford, Jr.Dr. C. E. Patton by Robert Fudge

Dr. C. E. Patton by Mrs. Hazel Patton

In Honor OfWendell Berryhill by Pierre Howard

Deborah Sheppard and Children by Cate Morrill & Harvey MeisnerDeborah Sheppard by Peter Paluch and Judy Holley

Bud and Niki Queen by Eva PersonsAlan, Ann and Campbell Singer by Kelly Cowley

Lt. Gov. Pierre Howard by Dr. and Mrs. N. Tyrus IveyAll ARK Workers and Volunteers by Greg and Sally Mathis

Mr. and Mrs. George U. Strosnider, Mr. and Mrs. Merle A. Bessey,Mr. and Mrs. Al Bilotti, Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Peterson, Mr.

and Mrs. Josh Chamberlain, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Nance, Mr. andMrs. Blake Henry, Ms. Laura Lamattina and Mr. Sam Vollen

by Janice & Larry LamattinaDebbie and Kevin McIntyre, Cindy and Mike Robinson

by Daniel Hankins and Ashley Winkler

Gift Memberships Clifton E. Fanning from Honey Fanning

Ann Singer from Charlotte EasonElbern and Jeff Lowery from Hazel Lowery

Amy and Andy Broderick from Helen MeadorsBruce Sparrow from Ernest and Nellie Sparrow

Paul Griffin and Linda Lamb from Michael and Pamela BrowningRicky and Stephnie Hargrove, Mitch and Peggy Clem, Charlie and

Brenda Parr,Kalby Weston, Jack and Sherry Jones,Al and DaleGilbert from Eddie and Jo Hargrove

Josh Frost lived in Bonaire,Georgia, where he enjoyed theoutdoors, hunting, and fishing. Wewere saddened to hear of his death fromhis mother Beth Collins, who hashonored Altamaha Riverkeeper byrequesting donations in his memory bemade to ARK.

As a child Josh was an ardent nature lover and couldidentify almost every plant in the family’s wooded yard.While he complained about his mother’s avid birdwatching, especially while the two were golfing, he wasknown to stop mid-sentence to point out and identify abird flying nearby.

Josh attended Houston County High School followedby Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. For severalyears, he collected water samples for River Watch, awater-monitoring program sponsored by MercerUniversity.

Josh loved the Ocmulgee River and Oaky WoodsSwamp, spending many happy times there. Gifts made in Josh’s memory: Lindsay and Marie Holliday, Robert and CarolynHargrove, Chet Strunk, Donald and Jeanne Farquhar,Charles and Dee Neal, Jessie Moinuddin, Robert and EliseGray, Robert and Earline Cole, The Wonderful Women ofMacon Book Group: Elise Gray, Gena Courtney, VickyTraylor, Betsy Lerner, Harriet Jardine, Diane Lewis,Bonnie Pope, Joan Harris, Jane Donahue, June Bryant

In Memoriam: Josh Frost 1981-2006

Aiken Island, Glynn County - These silt fences are in thetidal zone because the Coastal Resources Division allowed the

developer to rely on an 18 year old marsh jurisdiction line.Donations to the ARK Legal Fund will be used to address

problems like this one when the state refuses to take appropri-ate action to control the negative impacts of development.

Legal Fund Seeks Matching FundsIncreased growth and development throughout our

watershed and estuary system continue to destroy vitalnatural resources and degrade water quality. ARK seeks toresolve water quality problems by working with electedofficials and regulatory agencies, but in cases where theregulatory agencies refuse to act, we will take action to rallythe public and if necessary, resort to legal action.

The ARK Legal Fund was established in 2006 with agoal of securing $100,000 to underwrite the costs of legalactions. An anonymous donor has given a $20,000 matchingseed grant to initiate fundraising for this fund. Pleaseconsider a generous donation to help ARK meet the matchand increase our ability to respond to problems with legalactions when necessary. For more information about ARK’slegal work and the legal fund contact ARK’s staff.

Altamaha15

Thanks to our supportersJanice and Larry LamattinaJanis and Cesar RodriguezJay St. VincentJD and Linda DanielsJean and John WilstermanJeannine and Rundle CookJeff and Carolyn RaderJennifer Reisch and Jim

Chapman Jenny MathisJerry KicklighterJim Gilbert, Jr.Jim ReichardJimmy ButtimerJimmy HarrellJoan LardinJoanne SharpeJoe and Jane FulcherJoe and Jane MangumJoe DurrettJoel and Vicki BremanJohn and Judi CecilJohn and Lane MitchellJohn BakerJohn BerryhillJohn BranchJohn HudsonJohn KrausJohn LinkJohn WegnerJoni WoolfJoe and Nita MalbasaJoshua KightJoyce MurllessJoycelyn YoungJulie MayfieldKaren and Don StewartKaren BernheimerKatharine MountcastleKelly CowleyKelly JordanKen BushKen NeuhartKen SuttlesKeta DavenportKevin and Deborah McIntyreKitty Kellogg and Ed LawKurt EbersbachLarry and Rita KohseLaura ChenaultLaurens County Sportsman ClubLaurie HawksLee MinorLewis and Pam Shropshire

Lillian JenkinsLinda Lamb and Paul GriffinLindsay and Marie HollidayLisa PerrinLucy and Edgar ShawLucy MercuriLynne BayensMac and Brenda RawsonMaggie ChesnuttManjunath Gokare, Esq.Marilyn KempMarion Moore, Jr.Mark Turpen and Oh SoonShropshireMartin SmithMary Ellen and Dick WilsonMary Jane DixonMary Lou ForsythMary Lynn and Edmund DukesMelaver, Inc.Melissa Pope ScottMichael and Benita MuthMichael and Pamela BrowningMichael and Rose OzakiMick AllenMilton HopkinsMolly MartinMr. and Mrs. David Berryhill, Sr.Mr. and Mrs. Charles BullMr. and Mrs. M. A. Carlton, Jr.Nancy ThomasonNathan PottsNeal PriestNeill and Mac HerringNellie SparrowNick and Peg ShoreyOgden DoremusJohnny and Sheila ParkerPatricia KellyPatrick CramerPaul and Brenda KordzikowskiPaul and Jane ChristianPaul and Rene KanePaul CowleyPaul CushingPaul SykesPayson and Sara SullivanPhil and Jan FortunePhilip and Judy BatesR. Don LewisRalph and Ann HemphillRandal WalkerRandy HallRebecca Bell

REM/Sarah PetitRichard and Carol HatcherRichard GeorgeRichard MadrayRichard SasserRobert and Jane CookRoger and Susan MathewsRon and Jennifer KneibRon and Willene FrostRose BrantleyRoy and Sarah MaloneRuskin CheekRussell and Jane JacobsRussell ToalRusty QuartermanRuthanna and Bill BostSam WaySara Taylor and Skip SlocumSarah and Wilson BarmeyerSaundra and Cliff AltekruseScott CunninghamSheryl RentzSkip and Harriotte McDannaldSoutheast Adventure OutfittersStack & AssociatesStan and Maryann SmithStanley and Melba DanielStephen D EzelleStephen HoytSteven BattleSue and Ed SpeirSusan KiddSusan Majette MurphySuzanne WilliamsSybil’s Family RestaurantTaylor and Marie SchoettleTed and Monnie OdomThe McReynolds FamilyFoundationThomas and Kim TylerThomas BlackThomas Fassuliotis and GingerLoweryThomas Lowndes, Jr.Timothy ParkerTom and Paula HoytTommy ThompsonTommy WallaceToni and Jimmy McCook Train FoundationTroy and Paula WinebargerVenetia ButlerVirginia and Harold HicksW. Douglas Skelton, M.D.

W. Glenn Thomas, Jr.Walt and Bertha DavisWalt DavisWalter OgdenWalton and Tina HarrisWalton and Becky WoodWard and Chris MilnerWayne McDanielWendell and Jeannie MeadowsDavid and Helen WennerWhit Perrin Wright and Russell

WrightWiiliam A. Parker, Jr.William EisenhauerWilliam HardenWilliam M. Lester, Jr.Zeke Gilmore and Diane Sayers

ThanksTO OUR SUPPORTING

FOUNDATIONSGilbert and Idalko Butler

FoundationMalcolm Fraser Foundation

Sapelo FoundationSavannah Presbytery—

MK Pentecost Ecology FundTrinity Presbytery

The Turner FoundationCharles Stewart Mott Foundation

Patagonia AtlantaDNR Non-game Wildlife

Education/Watchable WildlifeProgram

The Norcross Wildlife Fundation

Thanks to ARK volun-teers Walt and Becky

Woods pictured here col-lecting water samples

from a tributary toTobesofkee Creek in

Monroe County. Waltand Becky attend and participate in Houston County

public meetings to advocate for protection of waterresources. Working closely with Altamaha RiverkeeperJames Holland, the Woods keep ARK abreast of impor-tant developments in their area and support our work

with time and donations. Please join them in becominginvolved where you live to protect our watershed.

Allen Dubose, pictured here documenting pollution atBrunswick's Academy Creek waste water plant,

provides technical assistance with computers, photography, and documentation to ARK.

We are saddened to note thepassing of ARK members

John Kraus, BronCleveland, Walter Bordenand Milton Hopkins andoffer our sympathies to

their families and friends.

Altamaha15

Thanks to our supportersJanice and Larry LamattinaJanis and Cesar RodriguezJay St. VincentJD and Linda DanielsJean and John WilstermanJeannine and Rundle CookJeff and Carolyn RaderJennifer Reisch and Jim

Chapman Jenny MathisJerry KicklighterJim Gilbert, Jr.Jim ReichardJimmy ButtimerJimmy HarrellJoan LardinJoanne SharpeJoe and Jane FulcherJoe and Jane MangumJoe DurrettJoel and Vicki BremanJohn and Judi CecilJohn and Lane MitchellJohn BakerJohn BerryhillJohn BranchJohn HudsonJohn KrausJohn LinkJohn WegnerJoni WoolfJoe and Nita MalbasaJoshua KightJoyce MurllessJoycelyn YoungJulie MayfieldKaren and Don StewartKaren BernheimerKatharine MountcastleKelly CowleyKelly JordanKen BushKen NeuhartKen SuttlesKeta DavenportKevin and Deborah McIntyreKitty Kellogg and Ed LawKurt EbersbachLarry and Rita KohseLaura ChenaultLaurens County Sportsman ClubLaurie HawksLee MinorLewis and Pam Shropshire

Lillian JenkinsLinda Lamb and Paul GriffinLindsay and Marie HollidayLisa PerrinLucy and Edgar ShawLucy MercuriLynne BayensMac and Brenda RawsonMaggie ChesnuttManjunath Gokare, Esq.Marilyn KempMarion Moore, Jr.Mark Turpen and Oh SoonShropshireMartin SmithMary Ellen and Dick WilsonMary Jane DixonMary Lou ForsythMary Lynn and Edmund DukesMelaver, Inc.Melissa Pope ScottMichael and Benita MuthMichael and Pamela BrowningMichael and Rose OzakiMick AllenMilton HopkinsMolly MartinMr. and Mrs. David Berryhill, Sr.Mr. and Mrs. Charles BullMr. and Mrs. M. A. Carlton, Jr.Nancy ThomasonNathan PottsNeal PriestNeill and Mac HerringNellie SparrowNick and Peg ShoreyOgden DoremusJohnny and Sheila ParkerPatricia KellyPatrick CramerPaul and Brenda KordzikowskiPaul and Jane ChristianPaul and Rene KanePaul CowleyPaul CushingPaul SykesPayson and Sara SullivanPhil and Jan FortunePhilip and Judy BatesR. Don LewisRalph and Ann HemphillRandal WalkerRandy HallRebecca Bell

REM/Sarah PetitRichard and Carol HatcherRichard GeorgeRichard MadrayRichard SasserRobert and Jane CookRoger and Susan MathewsRon and Jennifer KneibRon and Willene FrostRose BrantleyRoy and Sarah MaloneRuskin CheekRussell and Jane JacobsRussell ToalRusty QuartermanRuthanna and Bill BostSam WaySara Taylor and Skip SlocumSarah and Wilson BarmeyerSaundra and Cliff AltekruseScott CunninghamSheryl RentzSkip and Harriotte McDannaldSoutheast Adventure OutfittersStack & AssociatesStan and Maryann SmithStanley and Melba DanielStephen D EzelleStephen HoytSteven BattleSue and Ed SpeirSusan KiddSusan Majette MurphySuzanne WilliamsSybil’s Family RestaurantTaylor and Marie SchoettleTed and Monnie OdomThe McReynolds FamilyFoundationThomas and Kim TylerThomas BlackThomas Fassuliotis and GingerLoweryThomas Lowndes, Jr.Timothy ParkerTom and Paula HoytTommy ThompsonTommy WallaceToni and Jimmy McCook Train FoundationTroy and Paula WinebargerVenetia ButlerVirginia and Harold HicksW. Douglas Skelton, M.D.

W. Glenn Thomas, Jr.Walt and Bertha DavisWalt DavisWalter OgdenWalton and Tina HarrisWalton and Becky WoodWard and Chris MilnerWayne McDanielWendell and Jeannie MeadowsDavid and Helen WennerWhit Perrin Wright and Russell

WrightWiiliam A. Parker, Jr.William EisenhauerWilliam HardenWilliam M. Lester, Jr.Zeke Gilmore and Diane Sayers

ThanksTO OUR SUPPORTING

FOUNDATIONSGilbert and Idalko Butler

FoundationMalcolm Fraser Foundation

Sapelo FoundationSavannah Presbytery—

MK Pentecost Ecology FundTrinity Presbytery

The Turner FoundationCharles Stewart Mott Foundation

Patagonia AtlantaDNR Non-game Wildlife

Education/Watchable WildlifeProgram

The Norcross Wildlife Fundation

Thanks to ARK volun-teers Walt and Becky

Woods pictured here col-lecting water samples

from a tributary toTobesofkee Creek in

Monroe County. Waltand Becky attend and participate in Houston County

public meetings to advocate for protection of waterresources. Working closely with Altamaha RiverkeeperJames Holland, the Woods keep ARK abreast of impor-tant developments in their area and support our work

with time and donations. Please join them in becominginvolved where you live to protect our watershed.

Allen Dubose, pictured here documenting pollution atBrunswick's Academy Creek waste water plant,

provides technical assistance with computers, photography, and documentation to ARK.

We are saddened to note thepassing of ARK members

John Kraus, BronCleveland, Walter Bordenand Milton Hopkins andoffer our sympathies to

their families and friends.

Board of Directors

Tracey Adams, VidaliaBruce Berryhill, CochranRobert DeWitt, DarienWright Gres, BaxleyKyla Hastie, AthensLen Hauss, ReidsvilleNeill Herring, JesupJames Holland, BrunswickChristi Lambert, DarienMarilyn Lanier, CobbtownRichard Madray, JesupJohn Pasto, CochranCarl Poppell, DarienAnn Trapnell, MetterMary Ellen Wilson, Eastman

AltamahaPRSRT STD

US POSTAGE

PAIDPERMIT #15DARIEN, GA

Where is the Watershed and why is it important?

The Altamaha River Watershedis Georgia’s largest, covering 14,000square miles. Beginning near Atlantaand Athens, in the foothills of theAppalachian Mountains, the watersystem sends one hundred thousandgallons of fresh water a second to theAtlantic Ocean. Once it reaches thecoast, the watershed creates one ofthe most productive estuaries in thecountry.

Georgia’s coast is less than ahundred miles long, but it containsone third of the salt marsh on theUnited States’ Eastern coast. Thewatershed’s rivers, small creeks, andstreams feed the bountiful estuarineecosystem that provides the nurserygrounds for commercially andrecreationally valuable fish and foodfor thousands of migratory birds.

More than 120 species of rare orendangered plants and animals livein the Altamaha River Watershed -the largest documented cluster ofglobally imperiled plants andanimals of any watershed in Georgia.

Thousands of residents dependon the Altamaha River Watershed forrecreation, food, and drinking water.

P.O. Box 2642Darien, Georgia 31305(912) 437-8164www.altamahariverkeeper.org

RETURN ADDRESS REQUESTED

Staff

Debbi DavisAdministrative Tech

James HollandAltamaha Riverkeeper

Billie Jo ParkerAltamaha Coastkeeper

Constance RigginsDevelopment Director

Deborah SheppardExecutive Director

Support for Watershed...CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

This Great Blue Heron was photographed in the Darien River, a tributary of thelower Altamaha River near Darien. Found throughout the Altamaha Watershed,North America’s largest heron inspires us with an elegant vivid reminder of the vitalimportance of protecting Georgia’s largest watershed. This beautiful creature andthousands of others like him depend on us to protect river swamps, bottom lands,and estuaries from careless destruction. Working together, we can protect theseresources for current and future generations.

Your membership contributions allow us to keep working for our watershed. Your membership expiration date is listed on your mailing label. Please send your tax deductible donation today.

In Memory of Milton Newton Hopkins, October 4, 1926 - March 5, 2007.Naturalist, birdwatcher, farmer and ecologist, Hopkins loved the Altamaha and the Great Blue Heron.