Flint hits endangered river list
A proposal to dam the Flint River has landed it in the number two spot in America’s Most Endangered Rivers 2009 edition.
American Rivers and its partners say a dam would waste massive amounts of taxpayer dollars, destroy fishing and boating opportunities and would not solve Georgia’s water needs.
The 150 mile long Flint River flows from the upper Piedmont region south of Atlanta to the wetlands of the coastal plain in the southwestern corner of the state. It runs along the western border of Pike County.
American Rivers and its partners called on Congress to oppose any legislation authorizing new water supply dams and encouraged local leaders to embrace cost-effective water efficiency measures as a proven water supply solution.
“Spending hundreds of millions of dollars to dam the Flint River simply doesn’t make sense when there are water efficiency options available that are far cheaper and would deliver faster results,” said Rebecca Wodder, president of American Rivers. “This dam building scheme is not the answer to modern Georgia’s water needs.”
“The Flint River is well-loved by anglers, boaters and Georgia’s families. Damming the Flint would destroy this treasure and would be a major step backward in the quest for responsible, sustainable water supplies,” said Mark Woodall of the Flint Riverkeeper.
The dam proposal was dusted off as the severe drought in north Georgia spurred a search for new water supplies to fuel continued growth in metro Atlanta. In 2008 the Georgia Legislature passed a bill to encourage construction of new water supply reservoirs. In November, the study of reservoir sites was issued to include two dams on the Flint and expanding current reservoirs on the river’s tributaries.
Metro Atlanta and other cities should embrace water efficiency as their first source of water supply instead of rushing to build expensive dams, American Rivers said. Water efficiency means using water more wisely – fixing leaks, replacing old appliances and fixtures and taking other common sense steps in homes, businesses and communities.
Metro Atlanta and Georgia as a whole should adopt water efficiency measures including consumption based water rates, water fixture retrofits when reselling older homes, simple, permanent outdoor watering rules, sub-metering on all new multi-family construction and increased financial incentives for water conservation, American Rivers advocates.
Water efficiency measures cost 45 cents to $250 per 1,000 gallons, while dams can cost $4,000 per 1,000 gallons. Dams cost even more when maintenance and operation costs are included. Water efficiency measures could yield between 130 and 210 million gallons per day, a 21% to 33% savings. This water savings could save metro Atlanta up to $700 million.
“This dam proposal represents 19th century thinking. Our state needs 21st century solutions like water efficiency to ensure our economy, environment and quality of life are healthy and thriving in the years to come,” said April Ingle of Georgia River Network.
The Flint is one of just a few rivers in the Southeast to still flow unimpeded for more than 200 miles. The river is used extensively by fishermen and boaters and many local economies depend on the Flint for tourism dollars.
Each year American Rivers solicits nominations from thousands of river groups, environmental organizations, outdoor clubs, local governments and taxpayer watchdogs for the America’s Most Endangered Rivers report. The report highlights rivers facing the most uncertain futures rather than those suffering from the worst chronic problems and presents alternatives to proposals that would damage rivers, identifies those who make the crucial decisions and points out opportunities for the public to take action on behalf of each listed river.
For information visit www.AmericanRivers.org/EndangeredRivers.
The 150 mile long Flint River flows from the upper Piedmont region south of Atlanta to the wetlands of the coastal plain in the southwestern corner of the state. It runs along the western border of Pike County.
American Rivers and its partners called on Congress to oppose any legislation authorizing new water supply dams and encouraged local leaders to embrace cost-effective water efficiency measures as a proven water supply solution.
“Spending hundreds of millions of dollars to dam the Flint River simply doesn’t make sense when there are water efficiency options available that are far cheaper and would deliver faster results,” said Rebecca Wodder, president of American Rivers. “This dam building scheme is not the answer to modern Georgia’s water needs.”
“The Flint River is well-loved by anglers, boaters and Georgia’s families. Damming the Flint would destroy this treasure and would be a major step backward in the quest for responsible, sustainable water supplies,” said Mark Woodall of the Flint Riverkeeper.
The dam proposal was dusted off as the severe drought in north Georgia spurred a search for new water supplies to fuel continued growth in metro Atlanta. In 2008 the Georgia Legislature passed a bill to encourage construction of new water supply reservoirs. In November, the study of reservoir sites was issued to include two dams on the Flint and expanding current reservoirs on the river’s tributaries.
Metro Atlanta and other cities should embrace water efficiency as their first source of water supply instead of rushing to build expensive dams, American Rivers said. Water efficiency means using water more wisely – fixing leaks, replacing old appliances and fixtures and taking other common sense steps in homes, businesses and communities.
Metro Atlanta and Georgia as a whole should adopt water efficiency measures including consumption based water rates, water fixture retrofits when reselling older homes, simple, permanent outdoor watering rules, sub-metering on all new multi-family construction and increased financial incentives for water conservation, American Rivers advocates.
Water efficiency measures cost 45 cents to $250 per 1,000 gallons, while dams can cost $4,000 per 1,000 gallons. Dams cost even more when maintenance and operation costs are included. Water efficiency measures could yield between 130 and 210 million gallons per day, a 21% to 33% savings. This water savings could save metro Atlanta up to $700 million.
“This dam proposal represents 19th century thinking. Our state needs 21st century solutions like water efficiency to ensure our economy, environment and quality of life are healthy and thriving in the years to come,” said April Ingle of Georgia River Network.
The Flint is one of just a few rivers in the Southeast to still flow unimpeded for more than 200 miles. The river is used extensively by fishermen and boaters and many local economies depend on the Flint for tourism dollars.
Each year American Rivers solicits nominations from thousands of river groups, environmental organizations, outdoor clubs, local governments and taxpayer watchdogs for the America’s Most Endangered Rivers report. The report highlights rivers facing the most uncertain futures rather than those suffering from the worst chronic problems and presents alternatives to proposals that would damage rivers, identifies those who make the crucial decisions and points out opportunities for the public to take action on behalf of each listed river.
For information visit www.AmericanRivers.org/EndangeredRivers.
As our surroundings flourished with growth,our water needs increased also.
We're here, lets deal with what's in front of us,a watershed is something we cannot afford to be without.
We are lucky to be in a less arid area ,and receive the rainfall amounts that we do get,a misstake would not be not to put some of that away for a less rainy day.
Our leaders have fallen far short in the community planning that involves needs such as these,further support of this antiquated path will surely fail us further down the river,we don't have paddles now for this fiasco.
Add some human misery,and the choice gets very clear.