Altamaha RIVERKEEPER
N E W S L E T T E R
P.O. Box 2642
Darien, Georgia 31305
Telephone 912-437-8164
Fax 912-437-8765
Altamaha The Altamaha RIVERKEEPER is working to protect and restore the habitat, water quality,
Riverkeeper and flow of the mighty Altamaha - from its headwaters in the Oconee, the Ocmulgee, and the
The King of Fishes:
Sturgeon 1955
by Constance Riggins
These old photographs were sent to the
Altamaha Riverkeeper by Doug Denton from
Decatur, Georgia. He wanted to know if stur-
geon still existed as large as the ones pictured.
The photographs belonged to Denton’s neigh-
bor, Walter Morgan. To trace down the back-
ground on the photos, I talked with Mr.
Morgan who told me his grandfather, Judge
V.S. Morgan and a group of other men pur-
chased land in McIntosh County in the
1930’s, located 18 miles upriver from Darien,
on the Altamaha River. They built a fishing
and hunting club and named it Fort
Barrington after the nearby historic fort, built
by the British in the 1750’s.
Morgan said, the caretaker of the Fort
Barrington Club, Charlie O’Quinn, fished for
sturgeon every summer. O’Quinn netted the
sturgeon, cut them into steaks, barreled them
up, and shipped them to New York for 50
cents a pound. That was an exorbitant amount
of money during the time of World War II.
O’Quinn did not fool with the caviar. The
Steve Fox and Rob DeVries with
Atlantic Sturgeon.

Summer 2005
Website: Altamahariverkeeper.org
Email: stewards@altamahariverkeeper.org
Ohoopee to its terminus at the Atlantic Coast.
Please recycle... pass this on to a friend!
These photos, taken July of 1955, picture
Walter Potts and Nell Phillips with V. S.
Morgan Jr. sitting.
sturgeon steaks were also considered a delica-
cy. Morgon says “ We had many family vaca-
tions at the Fort Barrington Club on the river.
Sturgeon 2005
“The sturgeon population in Georgia may
be the largest left in the world. It is doing bet-
ter that anyone expected.” That is the prelim-
inary prediction of a study by Douglas
Peterson, Professor of Fisheries at the
Warnell School of Forest Resources at UGA.
The study is evaluating the status of the short-
nose and Atlantic sturgeon in the Altamaha
River from the ocean to the lower Oconee and
Ocmulgee Rivers. The study began in the
spring of 2003 and will go through next sum-
mer. Peterson says he is encouraged because
®
Rubye Parr Morgan and
Herndon Morgan Sr.
We were always proud to pose for pictures
with the giant fish.”
The question from Doug Denton “Do
sturgeons this big still exist?” and these pho-
tos spurred the following article: The King of
Fishes, Sturgeon 2005. At the time, just
across the street from ARK’s office,
University of Georgia students were netting
and tagging fish in the Darien River for the
largest study in Georgia on the sturgeon pop-
ulation.
his preliminary results show a much larger
population of both species than previously
predicted. Prior 1993 studies indicated there
were only about 466 of the federally endan-
gered shortnose sturgeon left in Georgia’s
waters. The current study shows the popula-
tion is at least 10 times higher
The shortnose sturgeon is federally pro-
tected as a threatened species under the
Endangered Species Act and has been since
the act was passed in 1973. The shortnose
CONTINUED ON PAGE 8
 Settlers Bluff Development
Pays Civil Penalty
by Deborah Sheppard
On May 2, 2005, Georgia Department of
Natural Resources Environmental Protection
Division (EPD) Director Dr. Carol Couch
signed a Consent Order requiring Settlers
Bluff, Inc. to pay $10,000 in compromise and
settlement of allegations that the developers
violated the Georgia Water Control Act
(GWCA). The Act provides that any person
violating any provision of the act shall be
liable to the State of Georgia for a civil penal-
ty.
Before construction began on the project,
Settlers Bluff submitted the required Notice
of Intent (NOI) to comply with EPD provi-
sions of the General Permit. The NOI certi-
fied the Erosion, Sedimentation and Pollution
Control (ESPC) Plan was prepared and would
be implemented in accordance with the
requirements of the General Permit and that
the receiving waters of the Darien River
would be monitored in accordance with the
ESPC plan.
According to the Consent Decree, Settlers
Bluff maintains it contracted with and dele-
gated to Liberty Construction Company the
construction of the project including compli-
ance with all regulations of EPD. Settlers
Bluff maintains the Liberty Construction
Company employee who was in charge of
supervising such compliance was assigned to
a different job but the construction company
did not appoint a replacement person to mon-
itor compliance with the regulations, nor did
they notify Settlers Bluff, Inc. of the change.
After receiving reports of problems at the
Settlers Bluff site, EPD conducted an inspec-
tion on March 1, 2005. They found major
land disturbing activities in the buffer occur-
ring without a variance from the EPD. They
also found inadequate installation and main-
tenance of erosion and sedimentation control
measures required to protect waters of the
State of Georgia. EPD alleged and docu-
mented that Settlers Bluff failed to implement
the ESPC Plan on March 1, 2005 by:
• Failing to install Type C silt fencing
along the entire border
• Encroaching on the established 25 foot
buffer resulting in an un-permitted land dis-
turbance in the buffer
• Pumping sediment laden water directly
from the site into the buffer area and directly
Altamaha RIVERKEEPER ®
into waters of the state
• Failing to install a temporary depression
for sediment storage according to the ESPC
plan
EPD alleged that the Best Management
Practices (BMPs) for erosion and sediment
control required by the general permit were
not implemented, installed, and maintained.
They documented:
• Silt fence installed but removed or
damaged beyond the point of function
• Storm water being pumped directly off
the site into the buffer area without the prop-
er precautions being taken to protect waters
of the state
• Soil stockpiled on the site with no sta-
bilization, temporary cover, or sediment bar-
riers
EPD also alleged that Settlers Bluff failed
to maintain accurate records as required by
the General Permit and failed to perform the
daily and weekly inspections for at least three
months prior to the March 1, 2005 inspection.
Settlers Bluff was sent a Notice of
Violation on March 2, 2005. They responded
by indicating their desire to cooperate with
EPD in a mutual effort to ensure that the
waters of the State of Georgia are protected
and agreed to comply with the terms and con-
ditions of the consent order without the
necessity of litigation.
Settlers Bluff agreed to:
1) Take all reasonable steps to insure that
the ESPC Plan for the site including all
required storm water discharge monitoring
and sampling is properly implemented and
sediments are effectively prevented from
moving off the site and into waters of the
state.
2) Designate a qualified person to record
daily site inspections and daily rainfall data as
required by the General Permit.
3) Designate a design professional in
accordance with the general permit.
4) Require a design professional to con-
duct monthly site assessment inspections to
assess the effectiveness of BMPs and activi-
ties to control sediments from leaving the site.
This assessment will include a written inspec-
tion report to address any recommendations
for improvements, changes, or additions
needed to keep the site in compliance with the
ESPC plan, the General Permit, and recom-
mended BMPs. The inspection report shall be
submitted to Settlers Bluff and EPD after
each monthly inspection. Monthly inspec-
tions shall continue until the design profes-
sional certifies the site to be stabilized or EPD
acknowledges in writing that the inspections
may be discontinued.
5) Submit as built ESPC Plan for the site
to include any amended delineation of State
waters or stream buffers, an amended plan for
construction of the storm water management
features on the site, any additional erosion
and sedimentation control features necessary
to prevent the movement of sediments from
the site to state waters and addressing the

2
remediation of any stream buffer encroach-
ment indicated by on-site field survey work.
6) Ensure that storm water discharge sam-
pling is completed during the next one-half
inch rainfall event after the order with the
results to be submitted to EPD.
7) Pay $10,000 in compromise and settle-
ment of the allegations referenced above.
The Consent order does not relieve
Settlers Bluff of any obligations or require-
ments of permits and laws nor does it waive
the EPD’s right to take action for violations
not referenced here. It does not require
Settlers Bluff to admit the alleged violations
nor does it constitute any finding, determina-
tion or adjudication of a violation of state
laws, rules, standards or requirements, nor
does it constitute a finding or adjudication of
liability to third party. It shall be deemed sat-
isfied and terminated upon full, complete and
timely performance of each and every condi-
tion set forth in the order.
At press time, EPD reports indicate that
Settlers Bluff is now in compliance with the
terms of the Consent Order. The EPD files
reveal that a fine of $10,000 was paid by
Liberty Construction Company.
The full consent order is posted on ARK’s
website at www.altamahariverkeeper.org
under Advocacy/Coastal Marshes/Darien
waterfront or Rivernews/Altamaha/Darien
waterfront.
EPD maintains a web page listing
Enforcement/Consent Orders. To search
for consent orders on line click into:
http://www.ganet.org/dnr/environ/ and
click into Enforcement on the left menu.
You can view summaries of enforcement
orders by date and county & order com-
plete copies by phone.

Water Dependent Condos Get Wet Feet

The once magnificent view of the Darien
River is being replaced with a view of the
Settlers Bluff Condos as the structures contin-
ue to rise from the pool of rainwater and
stormwater runoff. The last two buildings are
being constructed on the wetland fill site that
was originally filled under a permit for a pub-
lic marina, boat storage facility, and parking.
Before construction began, truckloads of fill
dirt were spread on the site but they were not
enough to elevate the site from wetland to dry
land.
By definition, wetlands are in low places
and perform the valuable ecological function
of holding and filtering water. The water
retaining properties of this filled wetland site
are increased due to its location downhill
from the City of Darien. Before the project
began, some local people warned city offi-
cials that heavy rains and resulting run off
would settle on the site before entering the
river. ARK also made an effort to point out
the flooding and run-off problems associated
with locating a high-density development on
the site. Problems with the construction proj-
ect are now resulting in degradation of water
quality from silt laden storm water run off
washing into the Darien River and a loss of
scenic values for the community and its visi-
tors.
Background: The US Army Corps of
Engineers (Corps) granted a permit modifica-
tion to Settlers Bluff on March 3, 2003 to
allow for the construction of two condomini-
um units within .15 acres of previously
authorized fill.
Settlers Bluff requested this modification
in October 2002 stating in their project justi-
fication: “While the location of the site is
good, having adjacent marshes, the City of
Darien and the Darien River within walking
distance, the site is extremely tight in terms
having enough land to develop enough units
to sell plus required parking to justify the eco- existed for residential development that
nomics of the project. In addition, not having avoided the use of filled wetlands for non-
the ability to utilize the .4 acre permitted fill water dependent uses.
area would mean the loss of 2 condominium The SELC letter stated: In evaluating the
buildings and the 24 units which would stop modification request, the Corps must weigh
the project from being developed and the benefits of the project in addressing the
decrease the proposed tourism revenue that needs and welfare of the people against rea-
the City of Darien is expecting from the pro- sonably foreseeable detriments. In this case,
posed joint venture project. Marketing results the proposed modification would change the
indicate that the access to the adjacent project from a public, full-service marina to a
Darien River clearly is the amenity that private condominium complex. This change
makes the economics of the proposed project removes the public need found for the origi-
justified for the developers. In addition, not nal project. The specific findings of public
having access to the adjacent Darien River interest by the Corps in evaluating the origi-
for the condominium owners/guests, the nal permit application for the project stated
developers would not be able to sell the units that “the marina will serve the fishing and
at the price necessary to cover their cost plus boating needs of the public; including marine
a reasonable profit which clearly makes this repair and maintenance.” In the current pro-
project a water dependent activity.” posal, none of these public benefits exist.
In a November 2002 letter, at the request CONTINUED ON PAGE 14
of ARK and
others, the
Southern
Environmental
Law Center
(SELC) pre-
sented exten-
sive comments
urging the
Corps to deny
the modifica-
tion request.
We argued that
the use of the
marsh fill site
for residential
condominiums
could not be
justified since
the project was
not water Settlers Bluff is having trouble staying out of water. This
dependent and photo was taken in April 2005 as the workers attempt
that alternatives to construct the foundations for two building.

3 Altamaha RIVERKEEPER ®
 It’s Your Right to Know
Jim Wooten and Cynthia Tucker of the Atlanta Journal Constitution present
James Holland with 2005 Citizen Hero Award.
Georgia Environmental Action Network
Seeks Email Activists
By Julie Stuart
Want to be heard on important conser-
vation issues? Want to make a real differ-
ence? Then join the Georgia Environmental
Action Network (GEAN).
Are you looking for an easy way to tell
your elected officials and decision-makers
that they can do a better job of protecting
the environment? Then sign up for GEAN
at this website: www.protectgeorgia.net.
By signing up you will also find out who
your legislators are - if you don’t know
already.
GEAN is a collaborative effort among
environmental and conservation organiza-
tions throughout the state to educate and
mobilize their memberships utilizing a
state-of-the-art electronic action alert sys-
tem. As an email activist, you will receive
an email alerting you of an issue that we
need you to take action on. What’s great
about GEAN is that it automatically match-
es activists to their voting districts, includes
the activist’s contact information and deliv-
Altamaha RIVERKEEPER ®
ers each letter to the activist’s own elected
officials – all with one mouse click!
Some of the environmental successes
attributed to GEAN over the last few years
include:
- Defeating a proposal by the EPA to
allow partially treated sewage to be
dumped in Georgia’s waterways
- Protecting the “stay rule” that gives
citizens the right to question certain devel-
opments that would have a negative impact
on their community
- Defeating a bill that would have
allowed water permit trading, essentially
privatizing Georgia’s drinking water
- Defeating a bill that would have
allowed piping of 50% of Georgia’s
streams
Currently there are over 2,000 activists
in Georgia subscribed to GEAN but we
really need to increase our numbers to be
even more effective. Sign yourself up,
recruit family members, friends and col-
leagues and especially think about recruit-
When the Atlanta Journal Constitution
and the Georgia First Amendment
Foundation chose its 2005 Citizen Heroes,
Altamaha Riverkeeper James Holland was
among them. The heroes were selected for
their effective use of Georgia’s Open
Records Laws. Better known as the
Sunshine Laws, the laws were signed into
effect in 1972 by Governor Jimmy Carter
and mandate the public has a right to see,
inspect, and copy all public records.
Holland says the open records act guar-
antees access to critical information in
order to fight polluters and to make devel-
opers and government comply with clean
water laws.
ARK agrees with Attorney General
Thurbert E. Baker who says, “I strongly
believe the government operates best when
it operates openly… citizens must also be
ever vigilant in assuring that their rights in
this area are observed by those who serve
in their behalf.”
For more information on Georgia’s
Sunshine Laws you may refer to the
Georgia First Amendment Foundation
website: www.gfaf.org.
ing folks you know who live in rural areas.
Just a few emails to a legislator can really
make a difference when it comes time for
them to vote.
GEAN is a great system that provides
the conservation community with a power-
ful means for getting a collaborative mes-
sage out to elected officials, administrative
decision makers, and leaders in big busi-
ness and industry. We encourage you to
join and be a part of this grassroots network
of environmentalists and conservationist
across the state. Together we can make our
voice heard.
GEAN is comprised of the following
participating organizations: Altamaha
Riverkeeper, Center for a Sustainable
Coast, Coosa River Basin Initiative,
Georgia Conservation Voters, Georgia
Forest Watch, Georgia River Network,
Georgia Water Coalition, Sierra Club -
Georgia Chapter, Southern Alliance for
Clean Energy, The Georgia Conservancy,
and Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper.

4
 ARK Thanks Board Members for an
Evening at the Pond House
No one noticed the winter cold when we visited the lovely Trapnell
Pond House in Metter. The house conveyed the feeling that many a
happy get together had graced its walls. One could sense that lots of
fresh fish had been caught out of the pond and enjoyed by many sun-
burned bathing suit clad guests.
The home created a relaxed and gracious atmosphere for the party
on the night when several ARK Board members invited friends, fami-
ly, and associates to learn more about the Altamaha Riverkeeper. Upon
arrival, guests enjoyed a warm welcome and a delicious fare of
steamed oysters, home made chili, and grilled pimento cheese sand-
wiches.
The Altamaha Riverkeeper talked about his work protecting the
Altamaha Watershed and the four rivers, the Altamaha, Ocmulgee,
Oconee, and Ohoopee that made up the river system. Many guests
learned for the first time about the threats facing our watershed and
what the Altamaha Riverkeeper was doing to help. ARK gained a lot
Party guests at oyster table.
of needed support that night, thanks to the Board members who gave
the party and to the many guests who became members. A good time
was had by all and good work to protect the Altamaha River Watershed
will become of it. Special thanks to Rubye Trapnell Becker and ARK
Board Members Ann Trapnell, Marilyn Lanier, and Len Hauss for
hosting the party.

ARK ALERTS: Left: ARK staff and

Are you on the ARK
email alert list?
ARK provides an email alert serv-
ice to our members to share informa-
tion and encourage participation in
ongoing advocacy for clean water.
ARK’s alerts keep you informed,
include meeting announcements, news
articles, calls to action and encourage-
ment to participate in decisions that
influence water quality in our water-
shed. You may sign up when you
renew your membership or just email
ARK at stewards@altamahariverkeep-
er.org and ask to be included on the
alert list.
board enjoy the party.
James Holland,
Constance Riggins,
Len Hauss,
Marilyn Lanier, and
Ann Trapnell.
Fun and Fund Raising with a Mission
Georgia’s unprecedented growth and
development is increasing water quality
problems throughout our watershed. Urban
sprawl and unchecked development is lead-
ing to the destruction of forested wetlands,
streams and buffers, coastal marshes, and
estuary systems.
ARK is working harder than ever to
resolve pollution problems by improving
environmental enforcement, increasing cit-
izen involvement, and visiting more sites.
In over 600 site investigations, thousands
of photographs documenting pollution, and
hundreds of letters to regulatory agencies,
the Altamaha Riverkeeper is promoting the
enforcement of laws and regulations to pro-
tect water quality. When government agen-
cies fail to correct pollution problems in the
river system, a community, or a backyard,
the Altamaha Riverkeeper is helping citi-
zens take action to get laws enforced to
protect public resources.
We need your help.
We are seeking members to sponsor and
host fund raising parties for our organiza-
tion. Invite your friends, associates, neigh-
bors, and family to learn what the Altamaha
Riverkeeper is doing to protect our water-
shed.
At the occasion, ARK will give a slide
presentation, share our mission, field activ-
ities, and hopefully increase membership
support. The get-together can be a BBQ,
fish fry, cocktail party, or whatever fund
raising event you are willing to sponsor.
Our goal is to generate resources to support
continued progress in our work Please call
Constance at ARK and let’s discuss your
party idea.

5 Altamaha RIVERKEEPER ®
 Erosion Detectives Get the Dirt Out
By Constance Riggins
The major cause of impaired water
quality in Georgia’s streams, rivers, and
lakes is stormwater runoff. That is one of
the lessons participants learned at recent
Get the Dirt Out workshops held by the
Altamaha Riverkeeper in Brunswick and
Watkinsville.
Get the Dirt Out workshops are being
held throughout the state as part of an
ongoing effort by watershed protection
groups to determine the most effective
means to stem the tide of silt-laden runoff
from construction sites. Erosion and sedi-
mentation (E & S) from these sites pollute
our sources of drinking water, degrade
waterways, harm aquatic life, and cause
private property damage.
Initiated by the Upper Chattahoochee
Riverkeeper with assistance from the
Georgia Center for Law in the Public
Interest, Get the Dirt Out classes provide
volunteers with training and materials to
evaluate sites for E&S controls. The class
covers information on how to recognize
problems at construction sites, identifying
who is responsible for enforcement, and
reporting the issue to the appropriate agen-
cies.
Participants in the workshops also
receive training on using site journals and
report cards to document E & S problems.
By utilizing evaluation forms
and photographs, volunteers
can document sites and report
them to their local permit issu-
ing authority or the
Environmental Protection
Department’s (EPD) District
Office. The evaluation also
includes using enforcement
logs to evaluate government
follow up action. Later, infor-
mation gathered from statewide
participants will be analyzed to
investigate the effectiveness of
the General Permit.
The U.S. Environmental Coastal residents learn how to detect and document
Protection Agency (EPA) erosion problems
developed the National
Pollutant Discharge Elimination System the time the observations are made check if
General Permit (NPDES) for storm water there is a trail of sand or mud leaving the
discharge from construction sites to protect site.
the nation’s streams from stormwater Holland says, “Activism is very impor-
runoff. Georgia adopted the General Permit tant. We need citizen help to enforce the
in 2003 to provide federal guidelines for controls that exist to avoid erosion.”
construction permits based on the Clean Citizens are getting results; in May
Water Act. 2005, a Cobb County jury charged the
Riverkeeper James Holland explains largest fine in a Georgia storm water pollu-
there are a number of ways to determine if tion case. A developer was directed to pay
a development is in compliance with its two schoolteachers $2.35 million dollars
General Permit. A site can be checked to for piping dirt runoff from his construction
see if muddy water is running off during or site into their yards. The verdict shows it is
after a rainfall event. If it is not raining at not cheap to break the law.

South Georgia River Conservation Groups

Sweep State Awards
by Constance Riggins
The Georgia River Network’s top three
awards in the state and a flood of recogni-
tion went to South Georgia Conservation
groups.
The recipients of the First Annual
River Celebration Awards were:
Altamaha Riverkeeper’s James Holland
the for River Conservationist of the Year
Canoochee Riverkeeper for Watershed
Group of the Year and
Satilla Riverkeeper ‘s Gloria Taylor for
Volunteer of the Year.
The Georgia River Network is a
statewide nonprofit environmental organi-
zation dedicated to the conservation of
Georgia’s waters. It presented the awards
honoring the successes and dedicated
efforts of river activists in Georgia at their
2005 Conference held in Milledgeville in
Altamaha RIVERKEEPER ®
February.
The ARK staff feels that with hundreds
of Georgian’s working in water conserva-
tion, these awards are quite an honor for the
South Georgia Riverkeeper groups. We all
work very hard to protect our natural
resources but water pollution and water
scarcities are increasing. In South Georgia,
we are located downstream from major
metropolitan areas and when you add this
pressure to rapid development on the coast,
it creates more pollution and a phenomenal
stress on the environment. In the past,
most people have considered water an
inalienable right, not one controlled by
political and economic influence. Now we
recognize water as a precious resource and
we are fighting to maintain a healthy sup-
ply of it.
We have plenty of work ahead and
need your help to keep our voice heard.
Please report any pollution problems
you see to the government agencies respon-
sible for protecting our resources and to the
water conservation group nearest you. If
you do not know whom to call, a list of
contacts for pollution problems is listed on
the Altamaha Riverkeeper website. A list
of all water conservation groups in the
state and contact numbers is also available
on Georgia River Network’s site:
www.garivers.org.

6
 Volunteer to Keep Your Landing or
Stretch of River Clean
By Deborah Sheppard
Summer is a great time to enjoy the
creeks, streams, and rivers that make up the
Altamaha watershed. Unfortunately, when
you visit your favorite waterway you are
likely to find trash, abandoned boats, and
household debris. Trash enters our water-
ways through storm drains, dumping on
riverbanks, and direct dumping. Most peo-
ple admit they don’t like a trashy environ-
ment but few people are willing to clean it
up and wait for somebody else to take care
of it.
Fortunately, some people in our water-
shed, like Darien commercial fisherman
Darrell Gale, work against this public nui-
sance and set an example for all of us. Gale
recently pulled a 25-foot boat out of the
Darien River proving that individuals can
do something to keep the rivers clean.
Making the river safer for other boaters
brings Gale a lot of satisfaction but he has
also learned the pitfalls of doing his part to
clean up the waterways. In May 2005,
using his shrimp boat, the Alligator, Gale
hauled the abandoned boat to the city’s
public boat landing. Then he learned the
difficulty and expense of disposing of
abandoned boats. Since the owner of the
boat could not be readily identified, the city
had the boat taken to a holding place until
they could identify the owner and make
them responsible for illegally abandoning
the boat in a public waterway. Gale also
collects the trash that gets tangled in his
nets and disposes of it properly. If more of
us took the time to dispose of the debris we
encounter, our marine animals, rivers, and
estuary would benefit.
One of ARK’s founders, the late
Carolyn Hodges loved to share the
Altamaha with her friends and guests at
Open Gates Bed & Breakfast. Her inform-
ative and memorable tours of the lower
Altamaha introduced hundreds of people to
our mysterious and magnificent river sys-
tem. No matter who her passengers were,
when she spotted trash, everyone had to
help to get it out of the river. Let’s renew
Carolyn’s commitment to keep the
Altamaha free of unsightly trash.
The State of Georgia’s Adopt A Stream
Program organizes Rivers Alive each fall to
bring statewide attention to the efforts of
hundreds of individual citizens who work

7
to clean up their local waterways. You can need to get started in this most basic effort.
learn more about their program, set up your At some landings there are no garbage cans
own local clean up, and be a part of this fall or the containers are too small and not emp-
campaign. They have tips on organizing tied regularly. Garbage piles up around the
cleanups and lists of cleanups around the cans and animals tear it apart and spread it
state on their website out, creating a trashy environment. If citi-
www.riversalive.org. zens make the effort, they can be very
ARK and other groups will sponsor effective in working with and prompting
clean ups as part of Rivers Alive this fall. local governments to improve mainte-
Friends of the Ohoopee and the Macon nance.
based Wilderness Society sponsor clean ARK needs your help to identify addi-
ups annually. The Savannah based Clean tional strategies for addressing the problem
Coast also sponsors monthly clean up trips of trash in our rivers and landings. We
to barrier islands and coastal locations. would like to coordinate an effort to devel-
ARK member Dot Moss participates in the op a year round “Adopt a Landing” pro-
coast-wide clean ups and thinks ARK gram throughout the watershed. Please
should organize a clean up in the watershed volunteer to check your favorite landing,
every month. We agree, but lack the waterfront park, or stretch of river to clean
resources needed to organize regular up and monitor garbage pick up. Other vol-
cleanups. If you would like to become an unteers are needed to coordinate these
ARK volunteer to organize citizens in dif- efforts, provide for clean up supplies, or
ferent locations throughout the watershed seek donations for supplies-such as plastic
for river clean ups, please give us a call. bags, gloves, etc.
If you want to make a regular personal
commitment, please consider identifying a
specific place for you and a group of
friends and associates to clean up and keep
clean. ARK would like to create a network
of volunteers to monitor and clean up the
public landings on a monthly basis. We
ARK will work with our members to learn more about using local and state laws
to prevent littering and dumping in our rivers. If you want to get involved, contact
ARK indicating:
Landing you wish to adopt:
Location _________________________________________________________
(River/County/NearestTown):_________________________________________
Who owns/ manages the landing? _____________________________________
Resources needed to get started: ______________________________________
Facilities at that location _____________________________________________
_____ I will coordinate local or regional clean up efforts.
_____ I will donate money to support these efforts.
_____ I will donate supplies and/ or food and water for clean ups
_____ I want to contribute in other ways. Please list below.
Even if you don’t want to make a regular commitment, on your next visit to the
river, at least take a pair of gloves and a plastic bag to pick up any trash you find.
The rivers need our help. Please pass on a ‘don’t trash our river’ attitude and help
discourage others from littering too.
Altamaha RIVERKEEPER ®
Sturgeon 2005
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
On the white sand of the bottom
Lay the monster Mishe-Nahma,
Lay the sturgeon, King of Fishes;
Through his gills he breathed the water,
With his fins he fanned and winnowed,
With his tail, he swept the sandfloor.
There he lay in all his armor…
“Take my bait,” cried Hiawatha...
“Take my bait, O King of Fishes!”
From Hiawatha
a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
sturgeon’s average weight is 8-12 pounds.
The Atlantic sturgeon is listed as a candidate
for threatened under the National Endangered
Species Act, although the fishery for this
species was not banned until 1998. The
Atlantic sturgeon typically weighs between
100 to 300 pounds. Both species have been
known to live for over 60 years.
Some species (27 species world wide) of
these passive, slow-moving bottom feeders
can live more than a century. Dating from the
time of the dinosaurs, sturgeons lack scales,
instead having ridged bony plates along their
back called scutes. They also lack teeth and
feed using their rubbery protrusible lips like
hoses to vacuum up mollusks, worms, and
other food from the mud. The Atlantic stur-
geon is “anadromous” meaning it spawns in
the rivers but spends the majority of its life in
coastal waters at the mouth of rivers ranging
from Canada to Florida. The shortnose is con-
Rob DeVries and Steve Fox weigh
Atlantic Sturgeon.
Altamaha RIVERKEEPER ®
Darrell Gale, Constance Riggins, Steve Fox, and Rob DeVries with Atlantic Sturgeon.
sidered “amphidromous” meaning it com-
pletes its entire life cycle within the river and
estuary.
Sturgeons, including both shortnose and
Atlantic, were slaughtered for their eggs (roe)
during a craze for caviar during the late
1800’s. They were caught primarily by com-
mercial fishermen using large gill nets and
were particularly vulnerable because they
congregate in high densities in their spawning
areas at predictable times each year. They are
also extremely vulnerable to gill nets because
their sharp scutes are easily entangled in these
nets.
The fish were also used commercially.
Isinglass, a gelatin made from the inner lining
of the surgeon’s air bladder was used to clar-
ify wine, cement pottery, stiffen cloth, thick-
en jams and jellies, and provide waterproof-
ing. Sturgeon skins were tanned for leather, as
well. Not only was sturgeon over fished, its
decline was exacerbated because it is slow to
mature and only spawns every two to six
years. Since the ban on Atlantic sturgeon fish-
ing, virtually all caviar production has shifted
to Russia, which is now decimating its stur-
geon population in the Caspian Sea.
For the past two years, in conjunction
with Peterson’s study, graduate student, Rob
DeVries, has been collecting information on
the life history and population dynamics of
both Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon by net-
ting, tagging, and tracking the fish in the
Altamaha River, near Darien. DeVries is
doing the work as part of his Masters Degree
in the world-renowned fisheries program at
UGA’s Warnell School of Forest Resources.
The Endangered Species Act was envi-
sioned as a law to protect species
believed to be on the brink of extinction.
When the law was enacted, there were
109 species listed for protection. Today,
there are roughly 1,300 on the list, with
250 species considered as
“Candidates” for listing, and nearly
4,000 species designated as “Species of
Concern.”
The netting process consists of stretching a
heavy-duty mesh net, 100-200 feet long,
across the river. One end of the net is tied to
shore while the other end is anchored in the
river. The bottom of the net is weighted to the
bottom with the top of the net extending up
through the water to within about 2–3 feet of
the surface. DeVries and his coworkers check
the net for sturgeon four times daily, at each
change of the tide. To monitor the migration
movements of the large Atlantic sturgeon,
DeVries attaches a small radio transmitter to
the back of several adult fish before releasing
them. He also clips a small section of the pec-
toral fin from each fish captured to determine
the age of the fish. A similar process is used
to study the movements and preferred habitat
of shortnose sturgeon.
Rob says “sightings of the local sea mon-
ster, the Altamahaha, were probably Atlantic
sturgeon. The largest Atlantic we caught was
282 pounds and 8 feet long. When the fish
mate they resemble a submerged dragon, yet
they can jump completely out of the water.”
Local fishermen tell stories about how the

8
huge fish have jumped right into their boats
almost capsizing their craft.
The current study is being conducted in
collaboration with the Georgia Department of
Natural Resources and according to Peterson,
it is the one of most thorough studies of a
sturgeon population ever conducted in
Georgia. He says the study is evaluating the
status of the shortnose and Atlantic sturgeon
in the Altamaha because fishery scientists are
concerned about world-wide declines in stur-
geon that have continued throughout the past
century. Peterson hopes the study results will
provide up to date information to help protect
the population.
It is good to know that the species that
existed since the Cretaceous period, more
than 120 million years ago, is alive and well
in Georgia.
Update on Wilkinson County
by Constance Riggins
After an investigation of a controversial
500-acre site of damaged forested wetlands
in Wilkinson County, the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
says the state needs to pursue changes to its
guidelines for Best Management Practices
(commonly referred to as BMPs) for log-
ging in wetlands and river sloughs.
BMPs are described in Georgia’s Best
Management Practices For Forestry as “the
most appropriate or applicable forest prac-
tices or activities to attain a silvicutural (the
trees or forests of a region) goal while pro-
tecting the chemical, physical, and biologi-
cal integrity of the state’s waters.”
The Altamaha Riverkeeper has been
working for years to secure enforcement of
Georgia’s voluntary forestry BMPs by doc-
umenting site problems, alerting the
Georgia Forestry Commission, and the
EPA, who visited the site several times over
the last year and an half.
In our Winter/Spring 2004 newsletter,
the front-page story “Logging Nightmare
in Wilkinson County” described the site in
the Oconee River flood plain that prompted
this action by EPA. The story began on
New Years Day 2004, when a property
owner called the Altamaha Riverkeeper for
help. The landowner had purchased the
property so his family could enjoy it for
hunting and fishing. Thompson
Hardwoods timber-company retained the
harvesting rights. In the landowner’s opin-

9
Steve Fox and Brian White with 220 lb. Atlantic Sturgeon. (Photo by Rob DeVries)
ion, during the process of timber
cutting, Thompson Hardwoods
ruined the property and completely
devastated his land. The company
also cut all the trees out of the
sloughs.
In a recent letter to ARK, dated
April 2005, Thomas Wellborn,
EPA, Chief Wetlands, Coastal and
Nonpoint Source Branch, wrote
that to correct the problems on the
Wilkinson County site Thompson
Hardwoods agreed to remove
Deep rutting caused by logging
debris, restore the original contour
of the crossing locations, fill in
ruts, and install appropriate
turnouts.
The letter says to Riverkeeper
Holland “You have identified a dif-
ficult and fundamental issue:
should timber companies such as
Thompson Hardwoods be permit-
ted to clear-cut sloughs.”
It has been a hard fought battle,
but the issues raised by ARK’s
work on the Wilkinson site are
resulting in a re-examination of the Logging debris used to create road
state’s guidelines for timbering in blocks flow
forested wetlands. This takes us a step clos- ging regulations. He and the Altamaha
er to a victory for protecting water quality Riverkeeper agree that BMP’s should
in Georgia. become law instead of a voluntary practice.
One of the property owners of the The EPA letter, photos, and background
Wilkinson County tract says the EPA has on the Wilkinson County site are on ARK’s
addressed some of his concerns but he website at www.altamahariverkeeper.org
wants more radical changes to Georgia log- under Advocacy/Forested Wetlands.
Altamaha RIVERKEEPER ®
 The 2005 Georgia General Assembly:
NOT AS BAD AS IT COULD HAVE BEEN
By Neill Herring
For the first time since the federal
troops left Georgia after Reconstruction,
both houses of the General Assembly had
Republican majorities. This change made a
major difference in some public policies
but had less effect on environmental and
conservation issues than in many other
areas. Georgia’s natural resources have
been a bi-partisan matter for many years.
Without the support of both Republicans
and Democrats of good will, Georgia’s
environment will be quickly sacrificed for
the quick buck. Conservation is at a point
now where it is the majority view in
Georgia politics and candidates are learn-
ing they must reflect that sentiment if they
wish to remain in office.
Since the 2005 legislature was elected
from new legislative districts drawn by a
federal court in the middle of the 2004 ses-
sion, a record number of new legislators
appeared this time. What soon became
apparent about the new members was the
relatively high level of environmental con-
sciousness they exhibited relative to their
predecessors. From a Georgia House that
was very friendly to developers and pol-
luters, a much more natural resources con-
scious body has emerged, as shown by very
close votes on sensitive issues. Even with
the relatively good news of the election of
environmentally friendly legislators, an
existing leadership remains very much a
product of the “old times.”
Two bills of note for the Altamaha
River illustrate the difficulties and oppor-
tunities the 2005 legislature presented.
Both bills came from the State Senate,
which had been the place where environ-
mental problems created in the House were
fixed in the past. However, the Senate’s
Republican leaders had two years to gain
experience at running their chamber, while
the new House leaders were still finding
their way into power. These bills came
from leaders and both were anti-environ-
mental. The two bills were passed at the
same time as well, one attracting much
more attention that the other allowing the
second to move “under the radar,” to a sig-
nificant extent.
The measure that drew the most atten-
tion was SB 190, which would have done
away with the right of neighbors to have a
meaningful appeal right against environ-
Altamaha RIVERKEEPER ®
mental permits that affected their property
values. Under current law, when a permit
is appealed, no work on the proposed proj-
ect can go forward until the administrative
court completes the permit appeal. That
case can go on to a Superior Court and that
judge can also “stay” the work while the
matter is heard.
SB 190, sponsored by Sen. Ross
Tolleson of Houston County, Chairman of
the Natural Resources Committee, would
have allowed permitted projects to begin
development while the appeals process
went forward. In many cases, like landfills
or power plants, the environmental damage
and negative effect on neighboring proper-
ty would occur even if the appeal “won” in
court because under SB 90 the project
would have already begun. Sen. Pres. Pro
Tem Eric Johnson had introduced this same
measure in 2004. Johnson signed the
Tolleson bill, which differed from his own
in that the 2005 version specifically exclud-
ed coastal marshland and beach construc-
tion permits. Johnson is currently
employed as an architect by a coastal
developer and probably did not wish to deal
with conflict of interest questions that
might arise.
SB 190 passed the Senate by a narrow
margin of only four votes and went to the
House where the “stay” period on construc-
tion activity was extended to 60 days (the
Sen. had taken an amendment to make it
last 30 days.) That version was about to be
amended to a longer, even indefinite period
on the House floor, when a new rule was
invoked prohibiting amendments. That
meant that environmentalists from all over
GA were contacting their legislators and
telling them to just vote “No” on the bill.
By the middle of the day that the bill was
considered, it was apparent that the propo-
nents did not have enough votes to pass it,
so they had to agree to an amendment that
stretches the time for consideration out to
well over 100 days, at a minimum.
The other Altamaha bill, SB 283, was
by Sen. John Bulloch of Thomas County,
who was actually working closely with his
co-sponsor Sen. Tommie Williams. The
bill legalizes, as a “demonstration project,”
dragging “deadhead” logs out of the
Altamaha and Flint Rivers. This is an utter-
ly needless activity, which requires state
employees to assist salvage loggers, so, in
the words of Sen. Jeff Chapman of
Brunswick, “rich people can have nice
floors.” The disruption to the bottoms of
the rivers and aquatic life has already been
studied by the state, which recommended
that such work not occur. This bill passed
the Senate easily late one night after all the
Democrats had walked out. It passed the
House only when the Speaker cast a tie-
breaking vote in favor of it.
What was doubly disturbing about these
two bills was the fact that they were spon-
sored by Senators Johnson, Williams, and
Tolleson who are supposed to represent the
Altamaha basin. Plainly, advocates of the
River have their political work cut out for
them. Sen. Williams has since become the
Senate Majority Leader making him
Number 2 after Eric Johnson in the hierar-
chy.
Other bills of interest had outcomes
that were not so bad for the environment.
These bills showed that some of our new
legislators are quite sensitive to the natural
environment and the fact its protection
assures protection of property values.
SB 5 would have allowed local govern-
ments to condemn property of private citi-
zens for the purpose of conveying it to
developers. Public outcry against this
lousy idea was so intense its sponsors with-
drew the bill before it even got a hearing in
committee.
SB 26 declares that waste meat render-
ing plants cannot be found to be “nui-
sances, public or private”, plants like the
Griffin Industries, a facility in Dublin that
converts animal waste into ingredients for
cattle feed and dry pet food. Griffin
Industries plead guilty to a Clean Water Act
case and was fined $50,000 in 2004 for dis-
charging fuel oil through a designated
storm water outfall into Bay Branch Creek,
which flows into the Oconee River.
Anti-environmental Senator Casey
Cagle, who is running for Lt. Governor
apparently at the behest of the Poultry
Industry, offered this bill. This bill is now
in a subcommittee of the House Judiciary
Committee where it should sit forever.
SB 122 renews the fee of $1 per tire to
cover the cost of disposing of used tires.
The charge will be in effect for three years
while a plan is devised to make sure that
this money, like other environmental fees,
is used for the purpose for which it was col-


10
lected. In the Senate Natural Resources
Committee, the bill picked up an ugly
amendment that would have repealed the
law regulating how many landfills can be
built in a single location. The opposition of
Sen. Chapman persuaded Sen. Jim
Whitehead, the bill’s sponsor, to arrange
for the removal of the offensive amend-
ment.
HB 218 was sponsored by yet another
coastal legislator, Ronnie Stephens of
Garden City, on behalf of the Dept of
Economic Development, which used to be
called the Dept. of Industry, Trade, and
Tourism. The newly renamed department
is under the direction of Craig Lesser, a for-
mer Georgia Power man. He is a dedicated
“smokestack chaser,” who equates the
increased electric power loads from indus-
trial and commercial development with
progress. The ability of the natural envi-
ronment to carry the new loads he is pro-
moting is not a matter that concerns Mr.
Lesser. This bill would allow “programs of
economic development” to be kept secret
from the taxpayers who pay for them.
HB 218 passed the House, even though
a good number of Altamaha area legislators
voted against it. It stalled in the Senate and
failed to pass winding up “tabled.” An
effort is being mounted by the DED to
revive the bill, claiming that other states are
using Georgia’s Open Records laws to
unfairly compete for new businesses. The
argument is being made despite the fact
that Georgia has grown more rapidly in the
last decade than at any time in its history, a
rate surpassing competing southern states.
Members and friends of the Altamaha
Riverkeeper should contact their legislators
and urge the House members to make sure
that the Rendering Plant bill, SB 26, stay in
the Judiciary Committee. No property
owner should be denied the right to go to
court to stop someone from stinking up the
neighborhood. They should also tell their
Senators that when taxpayers’ money is
being used to recruit businesses, there is no
good reason to keep those uses secret from
the public. HB 218 should stay “on the
table.”
Additional information on the status of
bills as well as contact information for leg-
islators is available at
www.legis.state.ga.us.

Georgia’s Riverkeepers
James Holland
Altamaha Riverkeeper
P.O. Box 2642
Darien, Georgia 31305
912-437-8164
www.altamahariverkeeper.org
stewards@altamahariverkeeper.org

Chandra Brown
Canoochee Riverkeeper
PO Box 263
Swainsboro, GA 30401
478-289-6523
Toll-Free Pollution Reporting:
877-261-8021
www.canoocheeriverkeeper.org
keeper@canoocheeriverkeeper.org

Joe Cook
Coosa Riverkeeper
Coosa River Basin Initiative
408 Broad Street
Rome, GA 30161
706-232-2724
Georgia’s Riverkeepers gather to discuss strategies and enjoy the Satilla River. Left to
www.coosa.org right, James Holland, Sally Bethea, Chandra Brown, Gordon Rogers and Frank Carl.
jcook@coosa.org

Gordon Rogers Frank Carl Sally Bethea

Satilla Riverkeeper Savannah Riverkeeper Upper Chattahoochee
P. O. Box 159 1226 River Ridge Road Riverkeeper
Waynesville, GA 31566 Augusta, GA 30909 916 Joseph E. Lowery Blvd.
912-778-3126 706-364-5253 Suite 3
toll free:866-472-8452 www.savannahriverkeeper.org Atlanta, GA 30318
www.satillariverkeeper.org Frank.Carl@savannahriverkeeper.org 404-352-9828/11
riverkeeper@satillariverkeeper.org www.chattahoochee.org
sbethea@ucriverkeeper.org

11 Altamaha RIVERKEEPER ®
 Emerging Issues of Concern
165 Mile Gas Pipeline
Proposed to Cross Through
Georgia’s Coastal Counties: The
Southern Natural Gas Company proposes
to expand its existing interstate natural gas
pipeline system from a point near Port
Wentworth, Chatham County to a point
interconnecting with Florida Gas
Transmission’s system in Clay County
Florida near Jacksonville. The proposed
pipeline will cut a 95-foot wide swath
down Georgia’s coast, bisecting forested
wetlands, river systems, and private proper-
ty. The pipeline will take natural gas from
the Elba Island facility near Savannah to
Jacksonville. The project will impact the
Georgia coast by crossing all our major
rivers and destroying wetlands. It will
increase potential for environmental degra-
dation and create unnecessary exposure to
other risks for the purpose of providing
energy to Florida. The Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (FERC) held hear-
ings in March to “scope” the issues to be
addressed in their Environmental Impact
Assessment. Information on the project is
available on their website at
www.cypresspipeline.com. ARK has
posted the county maps of the proposed
pipeline and other information at
www.altamahariverkeeper.org under
River News/Altamaha.
Rule Making Initiated on Bill
to Allow Harvest of Submerged
Logs in the Altamaha: The Georgia
Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
has initiated a proceeding to establish rules
for the commercial harvest of submerged
logs in the Altamaha and Flint Rivers.
ARK and others strongly oppose mining
the river for sunken logs that are now part
of the river bottom. Concerns include the
disturbance of existing habitat for game
fishes, mussels, endangered species, and
impact on overall river structure and water
quality. A 2003 DNR Taskforce studied the
issue and recommended against the com-
mercial harvest of the timber based on
environmental, economic, historic, and
legal factors.
The bill directs DNR to establish a pro-
gram to allow recovery of sunken logs from
these two rivers through January 1, 2008.
The bill includes certain provisions such as
annual permits for recovery of deadhead
logs from an exclusive two-mile section of
river, a $10,000 permit fee, additional fees
to be determined by the DNR Board, and a
Altamaha RIVERKEEPER ®
$50,000 bond for damages. The
DNR is authorized to develop
other provisions for the protection
of public interests including public
safety and water quality, wildlife
and wildlife habitat, commercial
and recreational fisheries, state and
federal threatened and endangered
species, land use, effects on stream
bank property, protection of public
boat landings or other public
assets, the preservation and protec-
tion of other submerged cultural
resources, and other similar issues. Another citizen report leads to the discovery of more
DNR Wildlife Resources foam and unprocessed sewage at Dublin wastewater
Division (WRD) will hold open discharge pipe. For updates on Rayonier, SP
house scoping meetings to devel- Newsprint, and the City of Dublin, check out ARK’s
op regulations and a program for website at www.altamahariverkeeper.org.
harvest of submerged logs from
the Flint and Altamaha rivers to give inter-
ested persons an opportunity to provide
input to DNR. These meetings will be held
at the Bainbridge High School cafeteria in
Bainbridge on June 22, 2005, and in the
Polytechnical Center (room 435) at the
Altamaha Technical College in Jesup on
June 23, 2005. Persons may come anytime
between 5:00 and 8:00 p.m. on these dates.
The second round of meetings will be held
July 27 at the Bainbridge High School cafe-
teria and on July 28 at the Altamaha
Technical College in Jesup at 7:00 p.m.
DNR personnel will present draft regula-
tions and program proposals developed
from suggestions at the June meetings and
provide a forum for additional comments
and suggestions on the log removal pro-
gram. Please get involved and protect the
resources of the Altamaha River. See
ARK’s website for the Submerged Timber
Task Force Report and updates on the rule-
making. DNR action on the rulemaking is
expected in December.
CRD Forms Community
Docks and Marinas Stakeholder
Committee: A stakeholders process to
examine the permitting practices for mari-
nas and community docks has been initiat-
ed by the Coastal Resources Division
(CRD) at the request of the Coastal
Marshlands Protection Committee
(CMPC).
CRD is engaging the University of
Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of
Government to facilitate a stakeholder
group assembled by the Department. The
group will assist in the development of
draft standards for permitting marinas and
community docks for presentation and rec-
ommendation to the CMPC. Additional
information on this process is available at
www.crd.dnr.state.ga.us. ARK will post
meeting dates and locations as they become
available under Advocacy/Coastal
Marshes. The next meeting is set for June
30, 1:30 p.m. at the Coastal Electric
Membership Cooperative in Midway.
The general timeline for this process is
as follows:
May to November – Monthly stake-
holder meetings and work sessions
Mid-December – Present draft stan-
dards/rules to the Committee
January 2006 – Solicit additional pub-
lic comments on the standards via two town
hall meetings
February 2006 – Reconvene stake-
holders to consider public comments and
make any revisions necessary
March 2006 – Final stakeholder recom-
mendations presented to the Committee
and possibly forwarded to the DNR Board,
as appropriate
Georgia Water Coalition
(GWC): ARK is a partner in GWC’s work
to ensure that water is managed fairly for
all Georgians. The Coalition is a group of
individuals and organizations working to
ensure the waters of the state continue to
belong to the people of the state. GWC’s
website includes current information on
statewide water planning, the Sound
Science Initiative for Groundwater use and
more. Check it out at
www.georgiawater.org and consider get-
ting your local civic or community group
involved.


12
 Get Informed and Get Involved!
It takes all of us working together to protect the Altamaha watershed. Please take time to communicate with your elected officials and state
agencies about your concerns. Working together, we can improve water quality in our watershed.
REPORT POLLUTION Altamaha Riverkeeper of the Res: 770-368-8114 Member-At-Large
PROBLEMS complaint so we can follow up. Fax: 404-656-4729 Phyllis T. Johnson Secretary
Who Do You Call? Also contact the Altamaha 87 Bill Thompson Road
The Altamaha Riverkeeper Riverkeeper if you do not know Seventh District Hazlehurst, GA 31539
encourages you to report any whom to call or you are not William A. “Bill” Carruth Res: 912-375-9865
environmental problems that you successful at getting help with P. O. Box 423 Fax: 404-656-4729
observe. Your report creates a your problem or you are Hiram, GA 30141
record and should initiate a rapid uncomfortable making a report. Bus: 770-445-3224 Member-At-Large
response so the agency in charge Fax: 404-656-4729 Sally S. Bethea
can determine and stop the cause Summer’s a great time 3 Puritan Mill
Eighth District 916 Joseph Lowery Blvd
of the problem, evaluate any to communicate with
damages and reduce any nega- Warren C. Budd, Jr. Atlanta, GA 30318
your elected Natural P.O. Box 1723 Bus: 404-352-9828
tive effects. Here is a list of tele-
Resources officials! Newnan, GA 30264 Fax: 404-656-4729
phone numbers for reporting
For your convenience in con- Res: 770-251-3630
problems.
tacting the Board of Natural Fax: 404-656-4729 Member-At-Large
Resources to provide input on Glenn E. Taylor
Call your Georgia DNR
any DNR issue of interest, the Ninth District 1080 Donald L. Hollowell
Environmental
following may be helpful: James M. “Jamie” Reynolds, III Pkwy.,NW
Protection Department (EPD)
Regional Office for the following 2561 Lake Oconee Parkway Atlanta, GA 30318
BOARD FAX NUMBER: Greensboro, GA 30642 Bus: 404-894-7940
problems: erosion & sedimenta-
404-656-4729 Bus: 706-453-2397 Fax: 404-656-4729
tion, stream buffer concerns, trash
dumping in a stream, sewer over- Fax: 404-656-4729
BOARD E-MAIL ADDRESS: COASTAL MARSHLAND
flows, fuel, oil or other toxic spills,
dnrboard@dnr.state.ga.us Tenth District PROTECTION
fish kills -
James A. “Jim” Walters
Brunswick: 912-264-7284
First District
COMMITTEE
Albany: 229-430-4144 P. O. Box 2935
Loyce W. Turner Chairman (Committee member name
Augusta: 706-792-7744 Gainesville, GA 30503
608 Howellbrook Drive here)
Athens: 706-549-4508 Bus: 770-534-1094
Valdosta, GA 31602 GA DNR, Coastal Resources
Macon: 478-751-6612 Fax: 404-656-4729
Res: 229-244-1501 Division
Fax: 404-656-4729 One Conservation Way, Suite 300
Call the Atlanta EPD Eleventh District
Brunswick, GA 31520-8687
Emergency Response Team: Ralph W. Callaway
Second District 912-264-7218: ph# to leave mes-
1-800-241-4113 for after hours P. O. Box 2000
Cader B.Cox, III sage; 912-262-3143 fax
emergencies, such as sewage Pine Mountain, GA 31822
11991 Riverview Road Bus: 706-663-5085
spills, fuel, oil or toxic materials MEMBERS
Camilla, GA 31730 Fax: 404-656-4729
spills Chairman Commissioner
Bus: 229-294-4904
Fax: 404-656-4729 Noel Holcomb
For problems or complaints Twelfth District
2 MLK Jr. Drive SE, Suite 1252 E
about wetlands, regulatory or Mabel C. Jenkins
Third District Atlanta, GA 30334
wetland permits, call the 1012 Highway 23 N.
Earl D. Barrs 404-656-3500 ph#
U.S.Army Corps of Engineers: Millen, GA 30442-4226
149 Lamar Street 912-656-0770 fax
1-800-448-2402. Bus: 478-982-4196
Macon, GA 31204 Fax: 404-656-4729
Bus: 478-741-8742 Dr. Clark Alexander
For salt marsh complaints or (Chatham County)
Fax: 404-656-4729 Thirteenth District
wetland problems, call the
Coastal Resources Division Robert J. “Bob” Rutland
Fourth District Henry Williams, Jr.
(CRD) such as filling, ditching, 160 Clairemont Avenue, Ste. 200
James W. “Jim” Tysinger (Camden County)
construction in a wetland, dump- Decatur, GA 30030
3781 Watkins Place, N. E. Bus: 404-370-4202
ing. Brunswick: Brad Ganes, Leslie D. Mattingly
Atlanta, GA 30319 Fax: 404-656-4729
Ecology Section, 912-264-7218, (Glynn County)
Res: 770-457-2375
or e-mail
Fax: 404-656-4729 Coastal District
brad_gane@dnr.state.ga.us Richard D. Eckburg
Jenny Lynn Bradley
Fifth District (Chatham County)
Forestry complaints, call The 1 Sylvan Island Rd.
Thomas W. Wheeler, Jr. 912-437-8164
Georgia Forestry Commission Savannah, GA 31404-5028
P. O. Box 957209 Res: 912-354-3260
in Macon: 1-800-GA-TREES for
Duluth, GA 30095 Fax: 404-656-4729
problems such as erosion and
Bus: 770-476-4801
sedimentation, road construction
Fax: 404-656-4729
Altamaha RIVERKEEPER
causing dirt to go into a stream, Member-At-Large
P.O. Box 2642
removing a buffer, cutting trees Walter A. Hudson Vice Chairman
Sixth District 6934 West Broad Street Darien, Georgia 31305
right to a stream bank. 912-437-8164
Sara S. Clark Douglasville, GA 30134
230 Dapplegate Way Bus: 770-942-5641 www.altamahariverkeeper.org
Once you notify the proper stewards@altamahariverkeeper.org
Alpharetta, GA 30022 Fax: 404-656-4729
agency, please advise the

13 Altamaha RIVERKEEPER ®
 We Thank You for Your Support
The Altamaha Riverkeeper is a non-
profit organization and all of our funding
comes from membership, business, and
foundation support. We thank you and ask
for your continued generous donations that
allow ARK to keep working for you.
Our foundation supporters consider
constituent support as an important way to
judge the impact and value of our work.
Your donations - large and small – are crit-
ical to our ability to secure the foundation
grants needed to continue our operations.
Our watershed and workload are huge. We
aggressively pursue citizen complaints and
take action on pollution problems through-

Bobby Kennedy and James Holland at the Annual Waterkeeper Alliance conference held
June 8-11, 2005 in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania.

out our watershed. always, we appreciate your support at all

Bobby Kennedy receives ARK’s First
Edition Note Cards from James.
Condos
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3
With your help we are making progress
in protecting water quality. If you like what
you see in this newsletter, please use the
enclosed envelope to send your tax-
deductible donation to ARK.
The Mott Foundation has committed an
additional $10,000 in funding if we can
match it with donations at or above the
$1,000 level from 10 individuals who have
never given at this level. Thanks to the
generous support of our members, we are
almost there but need several more dona-
tions to make the match. Please consider
helping us meet this challenge. And
levels.
Special benefits for contributors at the
$1,000 level are a river excursion with the
Riverkeeper and three of your friends. Your
tour includes a picnic and an Altamaha
Riverkeeper T-shirt. In addition, you will
receive a set of our first edition note cards
with nature photos by our Riverkeeper
James Holland, a beautiful collection of ten
different images capturing the beauty of
our watershed inhabitants. Contributions
of $250 or more will receive the first edi-
tion note cards.
Please make a donation today.

A marina was permitted for the site in

l990 but the Corps even denied a request
from the City of Darien to put a picnic shel-
ter on the site. The Corps said the picnic shel-
ter did not meet the standards for a “water
dependent use” which is required by the
Clean Water Act for building on a filled wet-
land site. The former wetland area was filled
under the permit for marina parking, which
did meet the water dependent use clause.
A dozen years later, the lure of economic
development created a questionable project
built on soggy ground. Perhaps the project
will serve as a reminder that wetlands hold
water even when they are filled with dirt and
should be avoided for construction projects.
Other information on this project is avail- Our thanks to Bub and Mary Lynde Way for hosting the
able in past ARK newsletters and on the ARK Altamaha Riverkeeper’s annual meeting in Hawkinsville.
website at www.altamahariverkeeper.org.

Altamaha RIVERKEEPER ®

14
Please support the Altamaha Riverkeeper’s work to protect the Altamaha River and watershed - from
its headwaters in the Ocmulgee, Oconee, and Ohoopee Rivers to its terminus at the Atlantic Coast. Special Thanks to the Following
Your donation will help to keep the rivers healthy for all of us.
Members and Friends
( ) $40 Family/Dual ( ) $100 Sponsor ( ) $30 Individual ( ) $150 Protector Rubye Becker
( ) $250 Friend ( ) $500 Benefactor ( ) $1,000+ Guardian Wyndell Berryhill
( ) $15 Student/Senior Citizen/Volunteer ( ) Other amount_______________ Doris and Don Cohrs
Rob DeVries
Your Name:_______________________________________________________________________ Phil Fortune
Steve Fox
Address:_________________________________________________________________________ Darrell Gale
City:_________________________________________ State:__________ Zip:_________________ Darwin Gale
Winn Gale
Phone:_____________________(H) _____________________(W) ______________________(Fax) Len Hauss
Fred Hooks
Email:__________________________________________________________ (Please print clearly) Tommy Kappler
( ) Please include me in the Altamaha Riverkeeper Action e-mail list. Marilyn Lanier
Ellie Legg
Please accept $__________ as a gift membership for: Name_________________________________ Douglas Peterson
Ann Trapnell
Address__________________________________________________________________________ Bub and Mary Lynde Way
____In memory of a loved one ____In honor of a special person or loved one John Milner
____Please make my donation anonymous. Taylor Barnhill
Southwings
With a donation of of $250 or more, you will receive a first edition set of note cards with nature Thanks to our attorneys
photographs taken by the Altamaha Riverkeeper. Don Stack, Stack and Associates,
With a donation of of $150 or more, you will receive an Altamaha Riverkeeper T-shirt. Justine Thompson, Jennifer Pennington,
Please indicate your size. Size: __M __L __XL and Rick Watson, Georgia Center for Law
in the Public Interest, Chris DeScherer, Jim
Please make membership and donations payable to the Altamaha Riverkeeper, Inc. The Altamaha Grode, Ciannat Howett, Southern
Riverkeeper organization is a 501 © 3 organization and all donations are fully tax deductible. Please Environmental Law Center, Mary Maclean
return this form with your donation to Altamaha Riverkeeper, Inc., P.O. Box 2642, Darien, Georgia Asbill and students, Turner Environmental
31305. Website: www.AltamahaRiverkeeper.org. Law Clinic
Thank you!! Your support is very important to us.

ing label. Please send your tax deductible donation today.

watershed. Your membership expiration date is listed on your mail-
Deborah Sheppard, Executive Director
Your membership contributions help us to keep working for our Constance Riggins, Development Director
James Holland, Altamaha Riverkeeper
Debbi Davis, Administrative Tech
Staff
Mary Ellen Wilson, Eastman
Ann Trapnell, Metter
Janisse Ray, Baxley
Carl Poppell, Darien
Richard Madray, Jesup
Marilyn Lanier, Cobbtown
Christi Lambert, Darien
James Holland, Brunswick
Neill Herring, Jesup
Len Hauss, Reidsville
Kyla Hastie, Athens
Wright Gres, Baxley
Robert DeWitt, Darien
Bruce Berryhill, Cochran
Tracey Adams, Vidalia
Board Members
Altamaha Riverkeeper

Riverkeeper
Altamaha
RETURN ADDRESS REQUESTED

DARIEN, GA Darien, Georgia 31305

PERMIT #15
PAID P.O. Box 2642
US POSTAGE Altamaha RIVERKEEPER ®
PRSRT STD