River Celebration Awards

Established in 2005, the River Celebration Awards are designed to celebrate the successes 
and dedicated efforts of river activists in Georgia.

Winners

2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005

 

2012 Georgia River Network River Celebration Awards 

Watershed Group of the Year – Ogeechee Riverkeeper  (Statesboro, GA / Ogeechee River Basin)

In May of 2011, the Ogeechee River was the site of largest fish kill in state history – where an estimated 33,000 fish died in a single weekend and 38,000 fish are estimated to have perished overall. The Ogeechee Riverkeeper had been on the case long before the fish kill occurred, taking action on citizen complaints for many years about suspicions that something was going terribly wrong on the Ogeechee near the industrial discharge of King America Finishing Co. textile plant in Dover, GA. Ultimately the fish kill began directly downstream of the factory’s discharge pipe.  Even when the state was slow to react to the fish kill and issue public health advisories, the Ogeechee Riverkeeper was there from Day 1, taking water and fish samples and sending them off to private labs for independent testing. They provided daily updates for the public and the press, and communicated with the EPD. Ultimately, it was determined that the factory had been discharging toxic substances into the Ogeechee River without the state’s knowledge or approval for over 5 years. When the state settled with factory with what many considered a relative “slap on the wrist,” the Ogeechee Riverkeeper took action on behalf of the people of the Ogeechee watershed impacted and outraged over the fish kill, years of pollution, and the injustice of the settlement. They organized public meetings, involved state elected officials, and ultimately took legal action. For their dedication to the Ogeechee River and for advocating for its health and the health of the communities and people that rely on the river, we award them the Watershed Group of the Year.
 

 

River Conservationist of the Year – Allison Hughes and Tara Muenz 

We would like to recognize Allison Hughes and Tara Muenz for their work in organizing the Adopt-A-Stream monitoring on Paddle Georgia each year. Paddle Georgia is a weeklong paddle down a different river each year for 350 participants.  
Georgia River Network is  really lucky to have AAS come and train teachers and participants in adopt a stream monitoring.  Tara and Allison
 spend many hours preparing for the event and have really long days during the the event to get everyone on the water, monitoring, off the river, 
and running samples. They are always the last to go to bed, and then they get up and do it all again the next day, all week. Adopt-A-Stream has been part of Paddle Georgia since 2006 when Harold Harbert and Allison started the monitoring program with us. Since then Adopt-A-Stream has taken nearly 500 samples and trained 126 volunteers. We appreciate all the work they put into the event as well as everything they do across the state. Allison Hughes, has served as a State Coordinator for Georgia Adopt-A-Stream since November 2005, with a year break in Samoa.  She enjoys sharing her love of the environment with citizens across the state through Adopt-A-Stream training workshops.  In her free time, she enjoys spending time in her family farm in Tucker, white water kayaking, working with Animal Action Rescue, Inc. and spending time with her husband Craig and their family.  Allison loves her job and working in partnership with Tara Muenz. She has attended four Paddle Georgia Trips:Etowah, Ocmulgee, Broad-Savannah, Oconee.

Tara Muenz is an aquatic biologist and environmental educator, and is currently a State Coordinator for a volunteer water quality monitoring program within the Environmental Protection Division of the Department of Natural Resources called Georgia Adopt-A-Stream.  She has lived all over Georgia working in Coastal Environments and the Longleaf Pine Ecosystem, studying sea turtles and Georgia's beautiful aquatic ecosystems. Her interests lie in community outreach and fostering stewardship of the earth, with a hope to make this world a healthier place for future generations. She also has a special passion for critters and in  working with citizens to share habitat that benefits all species on earth. She has been on Paddle GA since 2009.

 

Volunteer of the Year – Poni Shannon (Greensboro, GA)

Poni retired in Greensboro GA about nine years ago with her husband Pat and 16 year old Lhasa, Buster.  After many years of working as an accountant, she now gets to spend her time volunteering, keeping up with 8 grandchildren, kayaking, and gardening.  She also spends three months a year RVing in state and national parks.  Poni has come on Paddle Georgia for several years in a row. Last year, Poni decided to forego the paddling  to give us a hand in camp, and we quickly realized we had a volunteer extraordinaire in our midst.  She's helpful, patient, observant, hard working, and a great problem solver.  Not only has she assisted us on the road, she has come into our office--driven an hour from her home in Greensboro--just to help us with mailings and event preparation.  For her dedication to Georgia’s rivers, we award her the Georgia River Network Volunteer of the Year award.

 

2011 Georgia River Network River Celebration Awards 

Watershed Group of the Year – Soque River Watershed Association  (Clarkesville, GA / Chattahoochee River Basin)

The Soque River Watershed Association, located in Clarkesville, Georgia, works to protect and restore the Soque River, which is contained entirely within Habersham County in Northeast Georgia. Since the mid-1990s, Habersham County has seen tremendous population growth, and while challenges facing the watershed still include agriculture, water supply and some industrial concerns, they now also include more urban types of issues such as non-point source pollution from housing developments and increasing impervious surfaces resulting from retai

l development. Primary activities of the Association include organization of a community watershed partnership, management of a federal 319 grant project to implement a watershed protection plan, coordination of a community greenway project and garden, and collaboration with local officials on conservation policy and planning improvements.

In 2010, along with grants from the U.S. EPA and other agencies and foundations, over 50 percent of the Soque River Watershed Association’s operating budget came from local sources of support. That shows incredible local support, and it's the secret to their success. In 2010 alone the Association:

• Constructed a 1/5 acre organic community garden on the Clarkesville Greenway.
• Installed 15+ cattle exclusion projects protecting 25,000 feet of streams.
• Constructed a 400-square-foot model rain garden in partnership with North Georgia Technical College.
• Hosted sustainability tours of grist mills, sustainable farms, a bike tour of the Greenway, and a Tour of Sustainable Streambanks for nearly 200 total attendees.
• Assisted Tallulah Falls in installing rain barrels on over half of all the town’s homes.
• Installed a 1,000-gallon cistern at Fairview Elementary for use in outdoor irrigation.
• Launched an online farmers market that so far has generated $27,000 in income for local farms.
• Designed a streambank restoration project for construction this spring.
• Partnered with the Board of Education to re-vegetate a school site for erosion control and stormwater infiltration.
• Drafted a grant that would build stormwater infiltration systems and a rainwater capture & reuse system for a soon-to-be-constructed county courthouse.

The Association also works in partnership with local government, agencies, scientists and organizations to coordinate the Soque River Watershed Partnership. The Partnership is a collaborative effort that works to better understand the sources and nature of pollution in the watershed, and has completed a comprehensive assessment of the Soque River system to identify pollution hotspots. The Partnership then implements water protection projects to decrease pollution sources, focusing on sediment, bacteria and stormwater. In photo: Justin Ellis, Teri Parker, Bill Gresham, Randy Moser, Duncan Hughes, John Bigelow, Doug Henry, Scarlett Fuller, Charle Statler, Walter Matlock

River Conservationist of the Year – Ben Emanuel (Athens, GA / Oconee Basin)

Ben Emanuel is the Oconee River Project Director for the Altamaha Riverkeeper, and works part-time for Georgia River Network as an Administrative Assistant.  Ben also serves on the local Greenway Commission in Athens and previously covered many environmental issues in his job at Flagpole Magazine.  Ben blogs for Georgia River Network on water issues in the news and is a go-to man on water issues. Ben’s leadership skills were put into action when Athens’ Trail Creek was severely damaged in late July of 2010. Toxic runoff from a fire at J&J Chemical Company in Athens flowed into the creek's headwaters along with firefighting water from a massive fire. Electric blue color in the stream persisted for days on end, while toxic chemicals like formaldehyde and para-dichlorobenzene caused an extensive fish kill and then persisted for weeks.  Ben coordinated community groups, neighbors, concerned citizens and local elected officials into a cohesive and quick grassroots response to the spill. He served as a liaison between the local community and government officials about spill response and remediation efforts, and also helped bring key UGA researchers into the loop on response, facilitating conversations between GA EPD staff and UGA researchers that helped remediation actions happen sooner. He advocated strenuously with the Environmental Protection Division for measures to reduce the toxic chemical load flowing in Trail Creek through neighborhoods and parks in the weeks after the spill, and with local and state officials for a full examination of the failures of response. Because state and local authorities' response to this catastrophic chemical spill was lacking, Ben’s work on improving information flow to the public, encouraging remediation on the ground, and demanding accountability from public authorities has led into a role of leading discussion statewide around the problems with the Emergency Response section of Georgia EPD. Ben plans to participate in the formation of a new Local Emergency Planning Committee in Athens-Clarke that will, hopefully, help prevent similar circumstances from occurring in the future. The Trail Creek story was named the top local news story for the Athens Banner-Herald in 2010. In addition to follow-up work on this incident, Ben is leading an effort to improve water efficiency in restaurants and bars in Athens. 

Volunteer of the Year – Patty Berkovitz (Sandy Springs, GA / Chattahoochee Basin)

Patty exemplifies a commitment to hands-on, grassroots activism on behalf of environmental and water issues. She has worked with a cross-section of the community – young, old, professionals and politicians – always on well-reasoned goals. She was a cofounder of the Long Island Creek Watershed Preservation Association and president of the group for many years, giving not only time but personal funds to support the organization. When the City of Sandy Springs was incorporated, the organization's focus was broadened to include all the watersheds in Sandy Springs, not just Long Island Creek. The Watershed Alliance of Sandy Springs is now active across the City, working with schools and other conservation groups to preserve and restore Sandy Springs’ urban environment. Patty was the initial President of the Alliance and is now its Secretary. She is a delegate to the Sandy Springs Council of Neighborhoods and handles its environmental affairs portfolio.  Patty regularly attends city zoning and planning meetings, and is at city council meetings often enough almost to be considered an unofficial member of the council.

Volunteer of the Year – Chris Manganiello (Athens, GA)

Starting in the fall of 2009, Chris Manganiello has provided invaluable volunteer help to Georgia River Network and Georgia’s river protection movement. Chris brings extraordinary knowledge of, and passion for, river issues, policy directions, and the importance of history to GRN’s work of advocating for strong protections for Georgia’s rivers. Chris’ credentials are quite impressive: he recently completed his Ph.D. with Honors at the University of Georgia. His Ph.D. focused on U.S., Environmental, and World History, and his dissertation was entitled: “Dam Crazy with Wild Consequences: Artificial Lakes and Natural Rivers in the American South, 1845-1990.”

Chris has contributed to Georgia River Network’s advocacy efforts by providing an important academic and historical perspective to the way that we approach and analyze water policy issues. He has lent this expertise as we’ve addressed and responded to critical statewide issues over the last year and half:

• Judge Paul Magnuson’s ruling in July of 2009 that Metro Atlanta had three years to negotiate a water-sharing agreement with Alabama and Florida before losing nearly all of its access to Lake Lanier.
• The water-supply proposals of Governor Sonny Perdue’s Water Contingency Task Force.
• The 2010 Georgia Water Stewardship Act.
• Proposals for new reservoirs.
• Efforts to enact strong protections on interbasin transfers of water in Georgia.

A key piece of this work was co-founding our Georgia Water Wire blog, where Chris provides an informed look at water-related topics in the news – along with a deeper examination and historical perspective on what’s really going with the water issues that Georgia grapples with.

Besides lending his intellect, Chris also is generous in lending a helping hand. In 2010 he volunteered for all seven days of Paddle Georgia – serving as trip historian, first aid provider, boat hauler, and boat portage porter. He is also involved in local water issues in Athens as a volunteer board member with the Upper Oconee Watershed Network, where he was a key part in the community grassroots team that responded to a massive chemical spill into Trail Creek in the summer of 2010. 

 

2010 Georgia River Network River Celebration Awards

Volunteer of the Year - Lee Becker (Athens and Oconee County, GA / Oconee Basin)

Since its founding in 1992, CRBI’s advocacy, education, restoration and water monitoring programs have helped improve water quality in the Coosa River Basin and have helped citizens better understand water resource issues. The organization’s major accomplishments include:

• Winning a half-million dollar settlement against a developer for Clean Water Act violations that is being used to conserve natural lands along the rivers and provide public access for fishing, boating, and paddling.

• Winning a lawsuit requiring the EPA to set limits on the amount of pollution allowed to enter already-polluted waterways.

• Stopping a plan to “transfer” metro Atlanta sewage to the Coosa River Basin by working successfully with state legislators to force metro Atlanta communities to rethink their growth strategies.

• Stopping a hot water discharge on Smith-Cabin Creek in Floyd County by Temple-Inland Paperboard & Packaging.

• Training hundreds of citizens to monitor rivers and creeks throughout their river basin. Trends in water quality are noted and any unusual findings are researched to ensure no illegal activities are affecting water quality.

• Teaching hundreds of the children about water pollution control and water protection in classrooms.

• Getting hundreds of local people out on their rivers through their regular guided river trips.

• Celebrating and raising needed funds at their many events including an annual fish fry, adventure race, community WaterFest, and River Revelry celebration.

• Educating thousands of Coosa River Basin citizens in civic meetings, public forums, workshops, print and broadcast media, website, blog, and in their quarterly newsletter.

• Working alongside fellow river, environmental, and conservation groups to advocate for strong statewide protections for our waterways.

• Their fight continues as they work to stop transfers of water from their river basin, floodplain development, and a proposed reservoir on Shoal Creek - a tributary to the Etowah River in Dawson Forest.

2009 Georgia River Network River Celebration Awards

Volunteer of the Year - Jim Butler, Paul Deloach & Mark Woodall

Thanks to the leadership of Mark Woodall, Paul Deloach and Jim Butler, the Flint Riverkeeper was officially formed and licensed by the national Waterkeeper Alliance to protect and preserve the Flint. Together, they organized local communities to create an organization to protect the Flint against current threats brought about by the drought and proposals to dam the river. Mark Woodall is a lobbyist for the Sierra Club and lives in Woodland, GA, where he has a tree farm. Paul Deloach of Andersonville is a Business Development Manager for Pellicano Construction and a famous cave diver. Jim Butler is a lawyer with the firm Butler, Wooten & Fryhofer, LLP, in Columbus.

Conservationist of the Year - Neill Herring

Neill has been lobbying in the Georgia General Assembly since the 1980’s and is currently a lobbyist for Sierra Club and Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper. With his vast knowledge of environmental issues and experience working with legislators, Neill is a tremendous resource for the environmental community. His dedication, insights and tenacity have helped to protect our rivers countless times.

Watershed Group of the Year - Chattooga Conservancy

The Chattooga Conservancy was founded in 1991 by a small group of activists and was one of the first watershed protection groups in the eastern United States. Their initial work was instrumental in causing a major reduction in intensive timber harvesting and road-building on national forest lands in the watershed. Throughout their history and today, they can be credited with major accomplishments and actions that effectively serve to protect the Chattooga River.

2008 Georgia River Network River Celebration Awards

Volunteer of the Year - Bonny Putney

Bonny Putney, Buford, GA. Known as the “Trash Queen”, Bonny is a tireless and enthusiastic advocate for Georgia’s rivers and lakes. She is instrumental in getting citizens involved in cleaning up Georgia’s waterways through her work organizing clean ups on Lake Lanier and the Chattahoochee River and serving as a board member for Rivers Alive. Bonny has spent most of her life caring about and helping the environment. If there is a trash cleanup, a paddling trip or any other river event in the area, you can expect to find Bonny Putney in charge or helping out. With a corporate background in handling hazardous waste materials, Bonny naturally gravitated towards community clean-up projects. Her first experience with large citizen events was helping develop and run the “Fall and Spring into Recycling” Campaign in the 1990s. For the past six years, she has been a board member of Rivers Alive, Georgia’s annual volunteer waterway cleanup event. Bonny helped Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper organize six cleanups last year. With help from 40 volunteers over two weekends, the group removed 350 pounds of trash from the Chattahoochee between Highway 115 Bridge and Belton Bridge, including tires, chairs and the usual cans and plastic bottles. Bonny says that cleaning up trash gives her an immediate sense of gratification as she helps to turn a littered eyesore into a beautiful vista. She participates in Georgia River Network’s “Paddle Georgia” each year and also writes an article for the Georgia Canoe Association called “Trash Talk.” She has had photographs published in various lake magazines and newspapers, and she likes to take trash and transform it into art and yard projects. The river community is appreciative to have an individual like Bonny Putney mobilizing volunteers and translating her passion for rivers into tangible, visible results for many of Georgia’s waterways.

Conservationist of the Year - Frank Sagona

Frank Sagona, Varnell, GA. Frank is the Director of the Conasauga River Alliance. His leadership in the restoration and preservation of the watershed, as well as his commitment to the education of those within its boundaries, has had significant results for the Conasauga River, a locally and nationally significant resource that hosts more than 90 species of fish and 25 species of freshwater mussels. The Conasauga River Alliance achieved several milestones in 2007, the 10th anniversary of the organization. These include “on-the-ground” fixes, extensive press coverage of Alliance activities, an increase in sponsorship members, helping fund and distribute more than 650 copies of the new “Field Guide to Fishes of the Conasauga River System”, implementing a successful golf tournament fund raiser in September, and increased membership. Frank is involved with several grants that fund work in the watershed. More than $2.3 million in cash and in-kind contributions will be invested in water quality improvements in the Conasauga by the Alliance and the Limestone Valley RC & D to address polluted runoff over a 12 year period. Under Frank’s leadership, the Alliance completed the first phase of a restoration project at the historic and popular Varnell Springs. The site is now used as an outdoor classroom for area elementary classes and school groups to observe the water quality and aquatic life of north Georgia limestone springs. Greg Jones, President of the Conasausga River Alliance, says of Frank, "Frank Sagona is a dependable individual, whose hard work and dedication to the Conasauga River watershed is evident through his words, and even more so through his actions. His tireless efforts in the restoration and preservation of the watershed, as well as, his commitment to the education of those within its boundaries are to be commended."

Watershed Group of the Year - High Falls Towaliga Watershed Alliance

High Falls Towaliga Watershed Alliance, Jackson, Ga. The High Falls Towaliga Watershed Alliance is a citizen-based group working to identify and resolve environmental issues; to improve and protect High Falls Lake and its watershed; to interact with local, state and federal agencies to preserve High Falls Lake and its environs; to promote fellowship, education and communication; and to improve the quality of life for members and area residents. The Alliance is run by a 13 member, volunteer, executive board. With a budget of $3000, 160 members, and community involvement in five counties, the alliance continues to grow in numbers and its role in protecting the watershed. Activities include participation in the Adopt A Lake Program for High Falls Lake and park and river cleanups on the Towaliga River and High Falls Road. They also organize local activities such as a 4th of July boat parade. The Alliance works with all local governments and state representatives. They worked tirelessly with the Lamar County officials to defeat a C&D landfill proposed for the watershed. They also succeeded in getting a new sewer line to local residents, blocking zoning to allow an apartment complex on the shore of the Towaliga River, and were able to resolve a land dispute about the High Falls Lake shoreline. They have even had the time to isolate the cause of Fecal Coliform in lake water to failing septic tanks. The watershed encompasses 200 square miles and is part of the Ocmulgee River basin.

Sally Bethea River Champion Award - Sally Bethea

This is a new award established as a lifetime achievement award in honor of Sally’s leadership in protecting Georgia’s water resources and in celebration of Georgia River Network’s ten year anniversary. This award will be given every ten years.

Sally Bethea is Riverkeeper, Director, and Founder of the Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper. She served on the Department of Natural Resources Board, has been listed several years as one of Georgia Trend’s “100 Most Influential Georgians”, and is cofounder of the Georgia Water Coalition. Sally has been a friend and role model to each of Georgia’s waterkeeper groups and to many others in Georgia’s conservation community. Her ability of “speaking truth to power” characterizes Sally’s 25 plus-year career of effectively advocating for Georgia’s swamps, streams, rivers, lakes, and marshes. Sally is an important, statewide voice for water planning, and a strong advocate of watershed groups outside of her own. She spearheaded the effort that led to the “Atlanta Sewer Lawsuit”, a victory that is still unfolding in terms of clean water in the Chattahoochee. This and her many other efforts have paved the way for other Riverkeeper groups in Georgia, and officials take notice when a watershed group comes to the table.

2007 Georgia River Network River Celebration Awards

Volunteer of the Year - Diane Minick

Diane Minick, from Canton, GA. Diane became the chair of Upper Etowah River Alliance (UERA) in 2004, and has since invested commendable amounts of time and energy into bringing renewed energy and focus to this important watershed organization. She has been partly responsible for bringing over $500,000 in grant money to the Etowah watershed, and is just as passionate about helping with the educational aspects of UERA’s mission, leading programs for children and adults on raingardens, stormwater pollution and water quality. Diane was a teacher for a number of years, and now operates a business which installs raingardens, stormwater management systems, and other Low Impact Design techniques. Diane has inspired countless people to get involved in river conservation through her work with Adopt-a-Stream, UERA, and the Georgia Women Flyfishers Association.

Conservationist of the Year - Chandra Brown

Chandra Brown of Metter, GA, is the Executive Director and Riverkeeper of Ogeechee-Canoochee Riverkeeper. Chandra is an exemplary organizer and champion for her watershed, as well as all of coastal Georgia. Chandra has served as a leader to OCRK as they have evolved and become an increasingly stronger and more sustainable organization. She has been instrumental in building a coalition of groups that serves to protect coastal water resources. Described by her colleagues as properly aggressive and thoroughly professional, Chandra has made many trips to Atlanta to speak on behalf of the resource and communities. Chandra is a team player and an active member of the Georgia Water Coalition. With limited resources, Chandra works on many issues including groundwater protection, mercury and the “Buy Dry Land” campaign.

Watershed Group of the Year (Staffed) - Altamaha Riverkeeper

Altamaha Riverkeeper (ARK) was organized in 1999 by a couple of crabbers who were watching their livelihood fail, and in less than a decade, has accomplished more for the protection of the Altahmaha watershed than anyone—even the founding members—thought possible. Through the tireless efforts of founder and Riverkeeper James Holland and Executive Director Deborah Sheppard, ARK’s presence on the Altamaha, Ocmulgee and Oconee Rivers has had such a large impact in the watershed that business is conducted differently as a result. Some politicians, loggers, business people and landowners even seek the advice of ARK before beginning activities that could breach water quality laws. ARK has become widely known and respected in a community to which environmental organizations were completely foreign in 1999. Now, in addition to doing outreach, education and monitoring, ARK has become a major resource for citizens in twenty counties to report water quality violations—especially regarding erosion and inadequate stream buffers—and to help citizens identify problems with local industry, wastewater treatment facilities, sources of agricultural runoff, and major development sites. ARK also works with environmental attorneys and the Southern Environmental Law Center to prosecute criminal polluting, and in every case it has brought before a federal judge has been won.

Watershed Group of the Year (All Volunteer)- Broad River Watershed Association

Broad River Watershed Association (BRWA) has been very active in the past year. Based out of Danielsville, Georgia, and founded in 1991, BRWA has brought the river to its community over the years, and has lately begun to increase citizen involvement through creating a watershed monitoring program. Two representatives in the organization have achieved Adopt-A-Stream Trainer Status, and are using it to lead visual, chemical and biological monitoring workshops with community members. BRWA plans to gain baseline water quality data for the watershed to determine sites that need further investigation, and is involving youth in the project by sampling a creek in the Broad River watershed with a local middle school class each month. Through this effort, the students are learning about what combination of biological and chemical ingredients make a river healthy, and what it takes to be good watershed stewards.

2006 Georgia River Network River Celebration Awards

Volunteer of the Year - Bud Queen

Bud Queen has been described as a man with his hand out, not to receive, but to give. He currently serves as board member and chairman of the water quality committee for the High Falls Lake Association. He has served as president, vice-president and board member of the Georgia Wilderness Society, a member of the Monroe County Greenspace Committee and a member of the RiversAlive Advisory Board. He was winner of the Georgia Wilderness Society’s 2003 Gene Espy award for Environmental Stewardship. He continues to offer his service and years of experience, knowledge and skill to a number of organizations, projects and community events. This includes volunteering his time at every arising opportunity if not already discovering ways to develop the opportunities themselves. Bud is a natural leader and his compassionate and outgoing personality makes him the perfect candidate for teaching others how to take a more active role in the pursuit of a cleaner, healthier world. In 2005, he helped the Butts County Henderson Middle School environmental program with the adoption and monitoring of a local stream. He collects water samples from many lakes and rivers within the region and is the only Adopt-A-Stream certified Chemical trainer in the Upper-Middle Ocmulgee watershed, passing on his expertise so that others may become certified monitors. Bud is an inspiration to others working to protect Georgia’s rivers.

Conservationist of the Year - Ann Bergstrom, Executive Director of Chattahoochee Nature Center

Ann Bergstrom, Director of the Chattahoochee Nature Center for almost 6 years, has provided exemplary leadership and dedication to working for the Chattahoochee River. She is known for her vision, innovative strategies, collaborative work, and desire to be part of the solution. Her tireless commitment has motivated and inspired her staff, volunteers and board. She has built a team that is focused on educating the public about the river and its importance and has spent many hours herself advocating for the river. Under her leadership, the center has undergone a significant transformation that could only have been made possible with the right combination of determination, efficiency and enthusiasm. As an educational resource, the Chattahoochee Nature Center has expanded its public outreach and grown its membership to more than 2,000 families. To accommodate this new popularity, the Center is gathering capital for a new building that will allow for new programs related to protection of our watersheds. With Ann’s resourcefulness and leadership, this goal will undoubtedly be realized.

Watershed Group of the Year - Upper Oconee Watershed Network

The Upper Oconee Watershed Network (UOWN) is an Athens-based, non-profit organization run by a 20-member, all volunteer Board of Directors working to protect the Oconee River through a variety of activities focused on encouraging public awareness and involvement. UOWN has played a major role in the education of local citizens about water quality issues in the Upper Oconee River watershed. UOWN has always worked hard to establish strong partnerships other groups and local officials to solve problems and enable citizens to participate in water quality monitoring. UOWN has an active monitoring program that has existed for over seven years. UOWN is responsible for monitoring the slow recovery of Hunnicutt Creek after a major oil spill that left it significantly polluted. In 2004, through careful monitoring and surveillance, UOWN volunteers helped locate an overflowing sewer that had been leaking into Trail Creek. Working in cooperation with Athens Clarke County, the sewer was repaired and bacteria levels quickly decreased in the stream. Also, following the 2004 UOWN River Rendezvous event, it was observed that a stream sample from one site at the Botanical Garden of Georgia had an anomalously high level of dissolved nitrate. Follow up studies conducted by UOWN volunteers revealed that the pattern of contamination in the stream and it’s tributaries revealed the likely cause to be one or more nearby agricultural farms operated by the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences of the University of Georgia. Since the disclosure of this problem, UOWN volunteers have worked with the University to further examine the problem. UOWN continues to watch over the Oconee River and its watershed to ensure protection of water quality.

 

2005 Georgia River Network River Celebration Awards
 

Volunteer of the Year - Gloria Taylor of Save Our Satilla

Conservationist of the Year - James Holland, Altamaha Riverkeeper

Watershed Group of the Year - Canoochee Riverkeeper

Award of Special Merit - Etowah Habitat Conservation Plan