News Release   

Contact: The Altamaha Riverkeeper             P.O. Box 2642, Darien, GA
Constance Riggins 912-437-8164 stewards@altamahariverkeeper.org

Commercial and recreational fishermen and other local citizens watched a decline in environmental quality and in 1999 they coalesced in Darien, Georgia to create the Altamaha Riverkeeper (ARK) a voice for protection of the state’s largest watershed.  From the beginning, the organization rooted its philosophy in a sense of public ownership of the Altamaha River Watershed made up of the Oconee, Ocmulgee, Ohoopee, and Altamaha Rivers.

ARK became the 26th Waterkeeper organization in the country and adopted the Waterkeeper’s aggressive philosophy; when government agencies fail to act, citizens can take action to use state and federal laws to bring lawsuits against polluters. The approach uses law to prohibit or reduce pollution on behalf of local communities.

Under the Public Trust Doctrine, the public owns America’s natural resources such as waterways and fisheries and no one has the right to use them in a way that will diminish their use and enjoyment by others. In a watershed with an exploding population, the belief in citizen’s inaliable rights and their entitlement to a clean environment has made for a busy nine years for the Altamaha Riverkeeper.

Altamaha Riverkeeper James Holland and Altamaha Coastkeeper Wendy Galan work nonstop to fight pollution, however problems continue in the watershed. Wildlife on the Oconee River near Dublin appears to be struggling. Lack of wildlife in the area, river sightings of sluggish alligators, deformed shorebirds, and fish caught with sores are alarming.

There are no answers yet as to the cause. According to Kevin Ferrell, the Oconee, Ocmulgee, Altamaha River Basis Assistant Branch Chief of EPD, the results of recent water samples in the Oconee are incomplete. “The water quality samplings so far do not point to anything in particular but we are waiting for more samplings.  The fish tissue analysis is going on at Auburn but the data is not back.”

The Altamaha Riverkeeper believes in a trusteeship obligation to preserve natural resource assets for future generations and will be conducting their own water analysis and testing in the Oconee.

To draw attention to the problems, the Altamaha Riverkeeper is holding its Annual Meeting on Saturday, August 2 in Dublin. Representative Dubose Porter, Minority Leader (HD143 D-Dublin), is the guest speaker.

The public is invited to celebrate and support the work to protect the health of the Oconee and the Altamaha River Watershed. If you are interested in attending the celebration, please contact ARK by July 25 to become a member and get details of the party.
912-437-8164 or email stewards@altamaharivekeeper.org.