Panorama - Fall 2014

RIVER RETURNThe Chattahoochee Runs Wild Through the Heart of Columbus

panoramaGEORGIA CONSERVANCY • FALL 2014

2 | panorama fall 2014 | georgiaconservancy.org

Robert RamsayPresident

Leah BarnettAdvocacy Outreach Director

Melinda CorbettFinance Manager

Brian FosterCommunications Director

Ben FowlerStewardship Coordinator

Allie KellySenior Director of Projects

Shannon MayfieldLand Conservation Outreach Director

Johanna McCrehanUrban Designer

Clay MobleyCoastal Director

Katherine MooreSustainable Growth Program Manager

Jackie NunneleyDevelopment Manager

Lisa PatrickExecutive Assistant

Bryan SchroederSr. Dir. of Stewardship and Outreach

Alexis TorresMembership Director

Michael VinciquerraDevelopment Director

GEORGIA CONSERVANCY STAFF

FROM THE PRESIDENTBoard ChairGeorge N. Mori*, AtlantaSol America Energy

Dameron Black IV, AtlantaBen Franklin Academy

Gregory Blount, AtlantaTroutman Sanders

Roger Bowman, SavannahGulfstream

Charlie Covert, MiltonUPS

C. Edward Dobbs, AtlantaParker, Hudson, Rainer & Dobbs

Greg Euston, MariettaMcGraw Euston

Chris Hagler*, AtlantaErnst & Young

Jim Hartzfeld*, MariettaConsultant

Curtis Hertwig, Sandy SpringsRetired, U.S. Court of Appeals

Chet Hurwitz*, AtlantaRetired, Attorney

Joann Jones, AtlantaMcKenna Long & Aldridge

Jim Kibler*, AtlantaAGL Resources

Harriet Anderson Langford, LaGrangeRay C. Anderson Foundation

J. Lacey Lewis*, AtlantaCox Enterprises

Kirk Malmberg*, MariettaFederal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta

Leslie Mattingly*, St. Simons IslandPrivate Counsel Attorney

Charles McMillan, RoswellAEC, Inc.

Lane Moore, AtlantaRubicon Global

Randal Morris, White OakGeorgia Pacific

Ranse Partin, AtlantaConley Griggs Partin, LLC

Ira Pearl*, AtlantaMansfield Energy Partners

Geoff Pope, AtlantaPope & Howard P.C.

Christopher Reh, AtlantaCoca-Cola Company

Alex Robinson, AtlantaSunTrust Banks

Ron Shipman*, ThomsonGeorgia Power Company

Floyd W. Smith,* NewnanSouthwire Company

Markham Smith, AtlantaSmith Dalia Architects

Blake Sullivan, MaconSullivan Forestry Consultants

Chet Tisdale, AtlantaRetired Partner at King & Spalding

Monica Thornton, TyroneWomen In Technology

William E. Underwood III, AtlantaIronwood Insurance Services

Brent Beatty**, AtlantaMountain View Group

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

*Executive Committee Member**Ex Officio Member

On Tuesday, November 4th, citizens took to the polls to elect their leaders of choice and to vote on ballot initiatives that will influence their communities for years to come. In many locations across the country, constituencies were asked about land conservation and, specifically, how to fund the protection of critical habitat and parks within their borders. By the end of the day and after all the votes were tallied, it was clear that land conservation was an important and non-partisan issue to Americans from every corner of the country.

The feeling in the Southeast was no different. Our neighbors in beautiful Florida, a voting public often characterized as politically divided, came together to overwhelmingly support dedicated funding for conservation. 75% of voters in the Sunshine State voted “YES” to the Florida Water and Land Conservation Amendment, also known as Amendment One, supporting the dedication of nearly $1 billion every year for the next two decades to the protection of their state’s natural resources.

You may have noticed that voters in Georgia did not have the opportunity to support similar conservation funding at the ballot box this year. Our state currently lacks a dedicated funding mechanism for the conservation for priority lands, the stewardship of state parks and wildlife management areas, and the support of local parks and preserves.

Hard at work to change that is a coalition known as Georgia Legacy. Partner organizations the Georgia Conservancy, The Nature Conservancy, Park Pride, Trust for Public Land, The Conservation Fund, and Georgia Wildlife Federation want conservation on the ballot.

Georgia Legacy is working with lawmakers to pass legislation during the 2015 General Assembly that will allow the voices of Georgians to be heard during the next statewide election cycle. We believe that the support shown for conservation in Florida is not endemic to that state and would be replicated by Georgia voters if they were provided the chance.

How would Georgia Legacy be funded?Outdoor enthusiasts in Georgia are a driving force for both the environment and the economy. The sales of

outdoor recreation equipment in Georgia, which total more than $1 billion annually, indicate that our state has a thriving and active community that relies upon accessible land and waters to enjoy outdoor recreation. Four percent of the sales of such equipment are currently collected by the state as tax revenue. With the proposed Georgia Legacy Fund, those dollars must be used to support conservation and stewardship of state parks and wildlife management areas in Georgia – funds that equal approximately $43 million per year. Those who recreate outdoors will be directly investing in the conservation and stewardship of the resources that they require.

The Georgia Conservancy and our partners believe that the protection of our natural resources should not suffer during economic up-and-downs, and we believe that a dedicated and sustainable source of funding for land and water conservation will not only prove beneficial to our state’s environment, but also to our economy.

As stewards of this state’s natural resources, and for future generations, we believe that we have a moral imperative and an economic incentive to conserve our land and water for generations of Georgians to come – our Georgia Legacy.

Thank you,

georgiaconservancy.org | panorama fall 2014 | 3

CONTENTS

Ben Fowler has joined the Georgia Conservancy as our Stewardship Coordinator. He runs our ever-growing Stewardship Trips Program alongside Senior Director of Stewardship and Outreach Bryan Schroeder.

A native of Atlanta, Ben is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Asheville for studies in Spanish and biology. In Asheville, Ben worked for the University’s Outdoor Program as Head Trip Guide and Supervisor, leading trips across the Southeast.

In Atlanta, Ben was a lead guide/educator for Sure Foot Adventures and a guide/facilitator for Georgia Tech’s Leadership Challenge Course and Outdoor Recreation (ORGT). He is the owner and founder of Surepaw Dog Gear, LLC.

Ben has a keen passion for rock climbing, foreign cultures, wilderness ethics and primitive skills. He holds certifications as a Wilderness First Responder of WMI and American Red Cross Lifeguard, and he has participated in the American Canoe Association Level-4 Swiftwater Rescue Course.

Jackie Nunneley has joined the Georgia Conservancy as our Development Manager. Jackie leads the Conservancy’s grant research, writing and reporting function, and assists with special projects related to membership and the management of Conservancy events.

This is Jackie’s third time as a resident of Georgia, having also lived in Baltimore, Chicago and Los Angeles. A graduate of the University of Georgia, she also earned an MBA from Emory University.

Her background includes tax accounting, investment banking, business development and consulting. During her years in Chicago, Jackie was an active volunteer for Lake Forest Open Lands (LFOL) in both

educational services and fundraising and was a member of LFOL’s Associate Board. In recent years, Jackie has been a volunteer in both development and admissions at Eckerd College.

Jackie enjoys walking her dog by the Chattahoochee River, kayaking, snorkeling and watching bluebirds nest in her backyard.

14 LAND CONSERVATION From the Mountains to the Sea, by Pierre Howard

16 ADVOCACY

2015 Legislative Preview

17 COASTAL Okefenokee Wild: 40 Years of Wilderness

18 SUSTAINABLE GROWTH Stormwater + Urban Design Studio

19 GENERATION GREEN Next South 2015

5 CHATTAHOOCHEE UNKNOWN 6 Chattahoochee NOW Blueprints 7 Chattahoochee Sally 8 Mission Zero Corridor 9 The Grand Idea in Columbus, Georgia 12 The GRAND Columbus Whitewater Paddle 12 ecoBenefête 2014: River Return

FEATURES

DEPARTMENTS

Welcome to Our Newes t Board Members !Monica Thornton, Dr. Christopher Reh, Randal Morris, Ranse Partin and Alex Robinson have joined our Board of Trustees.

Monica Thornton currently serves as the Executive Director for Women in Technology (WIT), a nonprofit whose mission is to serve as passionate advocates for advancing girls and women in Georgia’s technology and business communities.

Dr. Christopher Reh is the Director for Safety and Environmental Sustainability at the Coca-Cola Company. He is responsible for Coca-Cola’s execution on water stewardship, climate and energy, pre-consumer and post-consumer waste recovery, and workplace safety commitments.

Ranse Partin is an attorney and founding partner of Conley Griggs Partin, LLC. He was recently named a “Super Lawyer” by Atlanta Magazine.

Randal Morris is the Senior Manager for Public Affairs at Georgia Pacific and resides in White Oak.

Alex Robinson is the Group Vice President for Strategic Supply Management for SunTrust Bank. She leads the development of the commodity strategies for enterprise wide consulting, training, and talent acquisition.

We are grateful to have their guidance and leadership!(On the cover: A raft guide looks on the Chattahoochee - from Whitewater Express)


JONES DAY ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP

PROTECTING AND EXPLORING GEORGIA SINCE 1967.

Don’t forget to use #THISISMYGA to tag your favorite places in Georgia!

The Winners of our Great (Insta)‘Grams of Georgia Photo Contest!

Waffles, pies, cheese and ice cream. Not a bad way to spend a Friday night. Add all-you-can-enjoy SweetWater Beer, Whynatte and Sailing to Denver to the mix and what do you have? FIRELIGHT.

On October 24, the Georgia Conservancy ventured to Atlanta’s SweetWater Brewing Company with 400 of our closest friends. This adventure was the second annual Firelight!

Firelight is a celebration of our Stewardship Trips Program and the evening brings together Conservancy members, trip participants and those interested in learning more about the work that our program does to protect and explore Georgia.

When not reuniting with old adventure buddies, meeting new faces, learning about Georgia’s hidden treasures or dancing the night away, Firelight guests had the chance to bid on some incredible silent auction items that ranged from vacations in every corner of the state, goods from our friends at Patagonia and Columbia, and artwork from some of Georgia’s best folk artists.

The Georgia Conservancy would like to thank Firelight presenting sponsors REI and Whitewater Express, as well as sponsors Kanga, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Patagonia, Jones Day, Bigfoot For Wildlands, Butler Wooten Cheeley and Peak, Jones and Kolb CPAs, and Delta Community Credit Union! Thank you to our food and drink sponsors Waffle House, Jake’s Ice Cream, Sweet Grass Dairy Cheese, Pie Shop, The Coca-Cola Company, Whynatte, Preserving Place and Decatur Package Store! Also, a huge thank you to our host committee!

GEORGIA: BETTER EXPLORED BY FIRELIGHT

VERDE: HONORING ROBBY ASTROVE

@atlantawaterfirestormEmery Creek

@kortniecolesJekyll Island

@km_smashBlood Mountain

@lydiacallyTybee Island

@dre_all_day_1225Ossabaw Island

IN BRIEF

On June 26 at the Biltmore in midtown Atlanta, Generation Green of the Georgia Conservancy honored Robby Astrove with the Longleaf Award.

Friends, family, colleagues and fans of Robby all joined in the celebration.

Robby is Park Ranger at Davidson - Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve and is a metro Atlanta leader in environmental education and local food and foraging initiatives. He is a dedicated volunteer with a number of local and state organizations whose focus is to conserve natural resources and provide environmental education.

Robby’s dedication to sustainability in metro Atlanta embody the spirit of the Longleaf Award.

Generation Green thanks our Verde! sponsors: MailChimp, AGL Resources, Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area Alliance, BB&J Family Dentistry, Novelis Inc., Cox Enterprises, Charles Schwab Inc., SolAmerica Energy, Patricia and Dave Rogers, Harriet and Phil Langford, Georgia Natural Resources Foundation, Monica Thornton, Leslie Mattingly, Chris and Bo Hagler, Lacey Lewis, Michael Mills, Martha Eskew & Chet Tisdale, Leslie and Ira Pearl, Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites, Plant Peddler, SweetWater Brewing Company, Avalon Catering, and Cafe Campesino Roastery & Coffee House.

If you haven’t joined “Ranger Robby” on a hike at Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Center, do so today!


FIVE STORIES FROM ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT, YET UNDER APPRECIATED, SECTIONS OF RIVER IN GEORGIA.

Photo taken on the Riverview Landing Paddle (8/2) by William Brawley

VERDE: HONORING ROBBY ASTROVE CHATTAHOOCHEE

UNKNOWN


The Georgia Conservancy is excited to announce a partnership with Chattahoochee NOW in an effort to realize the full potential of the Chattahoochee River in metro Atlanta.

The focus of Chattahoochee NOW is to “catalyze the economic development and quality of life potential along a 53-mile corridor of the Chattahoochee River” from Peachtree Creek in Fulton County downstream to Chattahoochee Bend State Park in Coweta County. Through their efforts, Chattahoochee NOW envisions a sustainable corridor “where recreation, preservation, community and development are interconnected.”

Where does the Georgia Conservancy fit in?With our expertise in sustainable growth, stewardship trips

and service work, land conservation, and advocacy, the Georgia Conservancy will be a strong partner in furthering the mission of Chattahoochee NOW.

Our Sustainable Growth Program, with partners Georgia Tech College of Architecture, will utilize its nearly 20-year old Blueprints for Successful Communities planning process to provide a conditions analysis and preliminary recommendations identifying future preservation, recreation and development potential with an emphasis on rural character preservation and stormwater management. Such recommendations will consider the Chattahoochee NOW vision for the river, as well as what may be possible along the corridor.

“It speaks to the trusted Blueprints process that the Georgia Conservancy is viewed as a positive, transparent partner for

Chattahoochee NOW and the communities in this corridor,” says Georgia Conservancy Sustainable Growth Program Manager Katherine Moore. “This partnership presents a rare opportunity to make a thoughtful impact towards the stewardship of resources around this region-wide waterway.”

To highlight the current recreational opportunities present within the Chattahoochee NOW corridor, the Georgia Conservancy’s Stewardship and Trips Program introduced dozens of paddlers to the river in 2014. On August 2, the Georgia Conservancy, with REI, hosted a paddle and celebration on the Chattahoochee at Riverview Landing near Mableton. More than 70 participants, many of them on the Chattahoochee for the first time, explored an under utilized 11-mile section of river that flows under I-20 and past Six Flags. The Conservancy returned to the Chattahoochee on October 18 for its inaugural paddle at Chattahoochee Bend State Park in Coweta County.

By regenerating our riverfront as a place where community and nature can coexist, the Chattahoochee River corridor can offer multi-generational destinations for research, culture, agriculture and habitats that will thrive in conjunction with places to live, eat, shop and work. By making the river a destination, the Chattahoochee NOW partnership will differentiate the Atlanta region and create economic value for all jurisdictions.

I. CHATTAHOOCHEE NOW

You may have seen the Georgia Conservancy and our corporate and organizational partners hard at work in the Chattahoochee corridor in 2014. From the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area to West Point Lake, we have led teams on a variety of service projects.

• At the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, the Georgia Conservancy worked with employees from Alcoa, UPS, Ernst & Young, Aon and Westminster Schools to clean trails, repair drainage outlets and remove old fencing from the park.

• We were also busy to the south at Sweetwater Creek State Park. The Conservancy joined forces with employees at Dragon Con, Alcoa, Rubicon Global, Federal Home Loan Bank Atlanta and Ernst & Young on a variety of projects in the park that included trial maintenance, installing map kiosks and removing trash from both the lake and creek.

• In efforts to clean up illegal tire dumps across Georgia, the Georgia Conservancy and UPS hauled away more than 200 scrap tires from Chattahoochee Park in west Atlanta.

• Downstream at West Point Lake in Troup County, we were joined by employees from KIA Motor Manufacturing Company for a trash sweep on the lake and at Pyne Road Park.

Look for us and our partners in 2015 as we return to the Chattahoochee – both its waters and its parks – for more service projects and continuing awareness

of our Chattahoochee NOW efforts!

53-MILE STRETCH OF THE CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER

5 countiesCarroll, Cobb, Coweta, Douglas, Fulton

4 citiesAtlanta, Chattahoochee Hills,

Douglasville, Smyrna

rivernow.org

2015 GC TRIPSChattahoochee Paddle

at Riverview Landing 7/25

Chattahoochee Hills and Day Paddle 10/17

C H A T T A H O O C H E E S E R V I C E


Today, the water is dramatically

cleaner; there are riverfront state and local

parks; and property values have increased. A river

has been reborn.

The Chattahoochee Riverkeeper’s first and only Executive Director and Riverkeeper, Sally Bethea, is stepping down at the end of 2014 after 20 years on the job. Under her leadership, the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper (CRK) has helped to turn what was once a heavily polluted and abused river into one that is thriving as a corridor for recreation, education and cleaner drinking water. Though the job is far from complete, the extent and success of CRK’s work in its 20 years is obvious. The Georgia Conservancy is proud to have worked alongside CRK and Sally Bethea on many issues since its founding in 1994, and we look forward to advocating with them for a better Chattahoochee in the future.

Bryan: What has your greatest personal accomplishment been during your tenure as Executive Director of the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper?

Sally: I’m most proud of the fact that I have helped to create a powerful voice for the Chattahoochee River through an organization that will continue to thrive and grow for decades to come. Of course, CRK’s work will never be done. We aren’t as far from reaching our goals as we were when we started in 1994, but many daunting tasks remain.

I’m also proud of the fact that the CRK team has helped more than 100,000 people make personal connections with the river, its lakes and tributaries over the past 20 years – from stream monitoring volunteers, students onboard our floating classroom and trash cleanup crews to participants in our outings program, people contacting elected officials and student interns. B: What is your greatest cause of concern for the Chattahoochee River going forward?

S: Short-term thinking and selfishness still pollute our river and threaten our economic prosperity. Too many of our elected officials, particularly at the state level, cling to last-century thinking in terms of environmental protection and the economy – as do some business leaders who refuse to invest in sustainable practices.

My greatest concern for our rivers is that critical water policy decisions are being made by too many poorly-informed elected officials and a Georgia Board of Natural Resources that is made up of political insiders who have demonstrated that they are not committed to ensuring enough clean water for all communities in the state.

B: What is your greatest source of hope for the Chattahoochee River?

S: My greatest hope for the Chattahoochee is that the three states (Georgia, Alabama and Florida) which have fought for 25 years over the allocation of water in the river system will be able to come to an agreement that is based on facts and science and is fair to all users throughout the basin, especially during times of drought. B: Do you have a favorite section of the Chattahoochee River for paddling?

S: I love to paddle the 25-mile section of the river from McIntosh Reserve in Carroll County to Franklin at

the headwaters of West Point Lake; there are islands, wildlife, shoals and, most importantly, a dramatically cleaner river. Two decades ago, it was not safe to use the Chattahoochee below Atlanta because of chronic sewage overflows from the city and other pollution. Today, the water is dramatically cleaner;

there are riverfront state and local parks; and property values have increased. A river has been reborn.

B: What’s your favorite part of Georgia, aside from the Chattahoochee River Basin, to explore?

S: I love to hike and explore the north Georgia mountains and look forward to doing more trekking after I retire from full-time “riverkeeping”.

B: Any memories from the beginning of your career and your time as an employee at The Georgia Conservancy?

S: My fondest memories of working with the Georgia Conservancy are helping lead its signature outings, especially to Little St. Simons and Sapelo islands on the coast.

Learn more about Sally Bethea and CRK at chattahoochee.org

II. CHATTAHOOCHEE SALLY

Georgia Conservancy Senior Director of Stewardship and Outreach Bryan Schroeder spoke with Sally Bethea about her career with the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper:

Photo of Sally Bethea courtesy of CRK


The theme of the Georgia Conservancy’s Mission Zero Blueprints for Successful Communities studio is to address one of the most

pervasive and impactful pieces of infrastructure in our society, and to determine what potential exists to transform the corridor to be less degrading on the environment. The studio will focus on the Ray C. Anderson Memorial Highway, from exits 2 to 18 on Interstate 85 in west Georgia.

This important travel corridor located in the Chattahoochee River watershed serves as Georgia’s gateway to the west, carrying over 20 million travelers annually. Additionally, the corridor is marketed to industry as a “logistics corridor” due to its ability to handle large amounts of truck traffic and its beneficial location for the import/export of goods.

The multifaceted potential of the Mission Zero Corridor to attract by demonstration and to catalyze change by inspiration was Ray Anderson’s soul and passion in life, and is the spirit and legacy that live on through the business and philanthropy of Interface and through the philanthropy of the Ray C. Anderson Foundation.

Essentially, the Mission Zero Corridor is our opportunity to show the world what is possible along a travel corridor, and to do well for west Georgia in the “doing” of the corridor by creating brand new economic development and tourism activities.

The first phase of our Mission Zero studio with the Georgia Tech College of Architecture will include an analysis of the existing conditions along the corridor. This effort will include examination of the corridor and its extents, as well as the comprehensive future visions outlined by the communities in the corridor: The City of West Point, The City of LaGrange and Troup County. Additional studies around innovative sustainable technologies and sustainable travel corridors will also be pursued in the first phase.

This studio will provide the action plan and preliminary

recommendations regarding the most suitable locations for future public and private development, as well as recommendations for managing existing infrastructure. Such recommendations will consider Ray’s vision for a zero impact Interface by 2020.

The Mission Zero Corridor has the potential to educate, inspire and demonstrate technologies, designs and management techniques that communities around the nation and world can utilize to reimagine transportation corridors more broadly – as corridors for renewable energy generation – for water capture – for carbon sequestration – for wildlife migration – and for purposes that we haven’t yet conceived.

The corridor will evolve over time. Its mission will undoubtedly attract participation from researchers, organizations, innovators, corporations, academics, engineers and designers from around the world who embrace the challenge to contribute their own innovation and design applications for transportation corridor stewardship and management. Its universal relevance – roads paved or not, single or Autobahn, crisscrossing the planet – offers a unique opportunity to improve the science and business of building, managing and maintaining highways, and the power to more quickly advance innovations and technologies that are currently considered radical into “industry standard.”

In addition to our work with Georgia Tech, the Georgia Conservancy is working alongside the Ray C. Anderson Foundation to speak with project stakeholders, ranging from local, state and federal officials to local business and civic leaders to internationally-recognized leaders in innovation and design.

Ray C. Anderson was the founder and chairman of Interface, Inc., one of the world’s largest manufacturers of modular carpet for commercial and residential applications. He was known in the environmental circles for his advanced and progressive stance on industrial ecology and sustainability. One of Ray’s last wishes was to establish a foundation that would perpetuate shared values and continue his legacy.

ENERGY PRODUCING BILLBOARDS

WATER PURIFICATION

WIND ENERGY

GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE

WILDFLOWER FIELDSORCHARDS

SOLAR ENERGY CAPTURE

The Ray C. Anderson Memorial Highway gives the unique opportunity to make things better for the future by re-imagining Interstate 85 into something more. Exits 2 through 18 through West Point and LaGrange in Troup County have been dedicated to Ray C. Anderson. The Georgia Conservancy is exploring the potential for a different approach to transit corridors and management. We want to think about roads not just as a means of travel, but as a way to showcase new innovations in sustainability. It’s about imagining how we can do better -- join us in this conversation!

RAY C. ANDERSON MEMORIAL HIGHWAY

WE STRIVED FOR SOMETHING MORE BEAUTIFUL?

KIA motorsmanufacturing

LaGrange-Callaway Airport

Interface Flor LLC

Georgia Welcome

Center

CITY OF WEST POINT

CITY OF LaGRANGE

West Point Lake

Chattahooch ee River

2

6

13

18

14

85

185

185

85

85

TROUP CO.

2 18EXITS TO

OUR HIGHWAYS AND ROADS DON’T HAVE TO LOOK LIKE THIS

To learn more about the Mission Zero Corridor and the Georgia Conservancy’s Blueprints for Successful Communities, please visit georgiaconservancy.org/missionzero or contact Sustainable Growth Program Manager Katherine Moore at [email protected].

The Ray C. Anderson Memorial Highway is sixteen miles of interstate in west Georgia that has the potential to be a cutting-edge demonstration of a sustainable corridor.

III. MISSION ZERO CORRIDOR


IV. THE GRAND IDEAIN COLUMBUS, GEORGIA

Photo taken at The Grand Columbus Whitewater Paddle by William Brawley


For more than one hundred years, the Eagle & Phenix and City Mills dams impeded the southerly flow of the Chattahoochee,

bringing its once mighty rush to a snail’s pace as it passed through Columbus. The rocky treasure that lay hidden below the calm waters was well known to those who understood the history of the city. The treacherous shoals of the Fall Line, the geologic formation that divides Georgia’s Piedmont and Coastal Plain regions, was the northernmost point of travel for vessels traveling the Chattahoochee and the perfect location for hydro-powered industry and inland markets. It made economic sense that cities like Columbus, Macon and Augusta laid their foundations at the Fall Line. Dams were built and mills were constructed. Where there was once a natural wonder at the heart of the Chattahoochee, there was now a thriving city.

But times change and industries evolve. The economic engine that was once fueled by the mighty power of the Chattahoochee had long left town. How could the river return to the heart of Columbus? It would take a grand idea: remove the dams.

Hidden underneath the tepid waters of downtown Columbus’ Chattahoochee was a powerful river. And once released, it was a river that possessed the potential to be a world-class location for year-round whitewater recreation, a river that could cradle and nourish restored aquatic habitat, and a river that could be the center of urban renewal and sustainable economic development.

In 2013, the dams came down. After a decades-long effort that touched the terms of five mayors,

city and civic leaders in Columbus unveiled the longest urban whitewater course in the world on the restored Chattahoochee River. The opening of the river corridor created one of the South’s great urban outdoor amenities and it is spurring economic development with the river and other natural areas as focal points.

Importantly, the dam removals also restored habitat critical for

rare and endangered species such as shoal spider lilies, shoal bass and a variety of freshwater mussels.

The dam removals and whitewater development have benefited both the environment and the local economy, representing precisely the type of balance the Georgia Conservancy has supported during its nearly 50 year history. At the intersection of outdoor recreation and sustainable development, people and the environment thrive.

A crucial player in the project from start to finish was Columbus citizen and businessman John Turner. Turner, chairman of the Chattahoochee River Restoration Committee, was the hub that connected the web of parties who were involved in transforming the Chattahoochee.

“I wish that I could claim ownership to the idea,” says John Turner. “Its origins go back to 1978. Joe Smith and Neal Wickham of [Columbus’] Wickham’s Outdoor World were the first to really understand what the river could be, and they really started the discussion about the dam removals. Joe was an experience river guide and knew the rapids were there and what they could bring.”

After consulting with Smith and gaining an understanding of the river’s true potential, John Turner took the grand idea and ran with it. He established the Chattahoochee River Restoration Committee and the team began their research and started making phone calls.

One of the true catalysts for the project, and a major source of confidence for the committee, came during a meeting with a feasibility study group comprised of experts from the U.S. Olympic Kayaking team. After visiting and studying the river, the team left the committee with some encouraging, if not surprising, words – “the whitewater events in the Olympics could have been here.” That declaration alone energized a project that was never 100% certain of success.

To get the financial backing, it was an easy project for Turner and the Chattahoochee River Restoration Committee to sell. From outdoor recreation enthusiasts and businesses to environmental groups and



river advocates to local companies and developers – they all saw the benefits in a restored Chattahoochee. Those private interests would eventually help to fund 56% of the 24.4 million dollar project. Public funds, though often entangled in red tape, were also available to see the restoration project forward. The city of Columbus, the Army Corps of Engineers and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration provided the rest of the funding, as they all had a vested interest in the dam removals and a healthier Chattahoochee.

The permitting required didn’t come as easy. The project was located in two states, there was federal funding involved, historic preservation groups had to sign-off and environmental regulations had to be followed.

And the actual down in the dirt and down in water work required to complete the project was downright formidable. The work was done in a river, and a large one at that. Unforeseen hazards, unstable footing and the potential for destructive flooding all posed threats to the removal of the dams, the clearing of debris and the forming of showcase rapids like CutBait.

“Nothing was ever a guarantee,” says Turner, “but the final project exceeded all expectations. For every one person that gets on the river and runs the rapids, there are 10 people there along the river to watch. The Chattahoochee is by far the biggest attraction in Columbus. A couple years ago, we didn’t even know we had a river.”

The whitewater course in Columbus is now a premier destination, not only for world-class whitewater kayakers and rafters, but for tourists seeking a great city with wonderful natural amenities.

Due in large part to generous financial support from the Columbus-based Mildred Miller Fort Foundation, the Georgia Conservancy’s robust statewide stewardship trips program expanded to Columbus, and in 2012, before the demolition of the dams had begun, it hosted a flatwater paddle from downtown Columbus to Uchee Creek at Fort Benning. During the paddle and at an after-paddle mixer in Uptown, the Conservancy and John Turner gave paddlers a glimpse into what was in-store for the Chattahoochee.

The Conservancy returned to Columbus and a completed whitewater course in 2013 – first, for a summertime whitewater adventure, and second, in December for a chilly polar bear paddle.

In 2014, with our partners, Whitewater Express and Uptown Columbus, the Georgia Conservancy hosted more than 1,100 Chattahoochee River rafters on a hot and wet August day. [Read more about The Grand Columbus Whitewater Paddle on the following page].

“The leadership and community collaboration that was required to complete a project of this magnitude was incredible,” says Georgia Conservancy President Robert Ramsay. “Communities across Georgia should pause and give notice to the positive and sustainable transformation of Columbus. The restoration of the Chattahoochee to its free-flowing rapids and the revitalization of a once-abandoned section of the city has shown that celebrating our natural wonders, even in an urban center, is good for the environment and it is good for the economy.”

Look for the Georgia Conservancy and thousands of others to be out on the rapidly running Chattahoochee in Columbus for years to come. A true victory for the environment and the economy, the restoration of the river and the urban renewal that followed in its wake has awakened a whole region to the gem that is Columbus.

COLUMBUS, GEORGIA


Columbus Whitewater Course Map


V. CELEBRATING COLUMBUS

The GRAND and ecoBenefête

THE GRAND WHITEWATER PADDLE

On August 9, to kick-off the Georgia Conservancy’s celebration of Columbus and the opening of the world-class whitewater course on the newly free-flowing Chattahoochee, our Stewardship Trips Program hosted the largest ever paddling event on this stretch of the river. The Grand Columbus Whitewater Paddle, as it was dubbed, certainly lived up to our plans to put 1,000 paddlers and rafters on the water in day. By day’s end, more than 1,100 people had shot the 2-mile stretch of rapids with our partners Whitewater Express.

The celebration on the water extended past the banks of the Chattahoochee and into Uptown Columbus for an after-paddle party. Though treacherous rains and winds put a damper on the evening’s events at Woodruff Park and forced the revelers to seek shelter, the party soldiered on at the Whitewater Express headquarters. Paddlers and party-goers were soothed by the sounds

of Conservancy favorite, Sailing to Denver, and quenched their thirst with beer from SweetWater Brewing Company.

“We dreamed big and it worked,” said Conservancy Senior Director of Stewardship and Outreach Bryan Schroeder. “Six months ago, we didn’t think we could do it, but we kept promoting and word got around about the whitewater in Columbus. Our numbers kept getting bigger. Hats off to our partners Uptown Columbus and Whitewater Express.”We would like to extend thanks to The Grand hosts

PricewaterhouseCoopers and TSYS, to our presenters Whitewater Express (and their awesome guides) and

Uptown Columbus, and to our sponsors SweetWater Brewing Company, Atlanta Hawks, Aflac, Hatcher Stubbs Land

Hollis & Rothschild LLP, and Seaboard Advisors, Inc.!

Learn more at: georgiaconservancy.org/thegrand

ecoBENEFÊTE: RIVER RETURN

To continue our 2014 recognition of Columbus, more than 300 friends and sustainability and business leaders gathered at ecoBenefête, the Georgia Conservancy’s annual gala, on September 26, to recognize the civic leadership of Columbus as the Conservancy’s 2014 Distinguished Conservationists.

ecoBenefête celebrated all those who played a role in recapturing the natural beauty and splendor of the Chattahoochee River as it runs through downtown Columbus. John Turner, chairman of the Chattahoochee River Restoration Committee, accepted the award on behalf of Columbus.

The Distinguished Conservationist award honors the remarkable achievements of great Georgians who improve our lives through the protection of the environment. The Columbus whitewater project and its supporters embody the spirit of that award.

“The removal of the Eagle and Phenix and City Mills dams in

Columbus is one of the most important efforts ever undertaken in Georgia to improve the health of a river system,” said former Lieutenant Governor and former Georgia Conservancy President Pierre Howard. “When I was Lieutenant Governor, I learned first-hand that Columbus has visionary political and business leadership. Because of that leadership and the laser-like focus of John Turner and his committee, the dam removal is a reality. As a result, the Chattahoochee River and the local economy will be the big winners.”

The removal of the dams not only restored habitat that is critical to imperiled and threatened species, but it also gave way to the restoration and redevelopment of Columbus’ urban core, promoting the kind of walkable sustainable growth that we have advocated for everyday.

The evening was filled with wonderful food and drink, as well as music from our friends, Sailing To Denver and City Mouse.

Learn more at: georgiaconservancy.org/ecobenefete

Photos taken at the Grand and ecoBenefete by Will Brawley


THANK YOU!Scott Bridge Company, Inc.

Yum & Ross ArnoldSolAmerica EnergyJane & Greg Blount

Donna & David BrownDelta Community Credit Union

Jamestown PropertiesLinda & Cody Laird

Marie MoshellJohn Irby

TSYSBradley Orion Turner

Gardner TurnerJohn Thompson Turner, Jr.

William B. TurnerJo Veal

Stephanie & Rob Benfield


LAND CONSERVATION

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal noted that the world’s population of animals has decreased by more than 50% in the

last 40 years. The causes are mostly the result of the activities of man, and only man can reverse the trend. The Georgia Conservancy recognizes that the main cause of animal extinction and death is habitat destruction.

As President of the Georgia Conservancy at the time, I knew that land conservation was in our DNA, and we had to get back to our roots. For those reasons, we started a land conservation program in 2010 that has worked with landowners across Georgia to permanently preserve their land. In doing so, we have protected habitat for flora and fauna while also protecting important water resources and helping to stem global climate change. In four years, the Georgia Conservancy has played a key role in preserving over 25,000 acres of Georgia land with high biodiversity. It is a record to celebrate! Here are a few of my favorite preservation stories:

The Georgia Mountains

A family in Athens owns a 100-acre tract in Fannin County along the Toccoa River just south of Lake Blue Ridge. It borders the Chattahoochee National Forest and is covered in pristine old-growth forest that harbors numerous species of rare plants and animals. The land also protects water quality in the Toccoa River, a primary trout stream. Because it was their late father’s wish, the family wanted to

preserve the land in perpetuity and give up their development rights, although the tract was worth millions of dollars for second home development. The cost of placing the conservation easement on the land was over $10,000, a burden that the family could not bear, but Georgia Conservancy members stepped up after an online appeal and provided all necessary funding to get the deal closed. No development will ever disturb it and no tree will ever be cut. The land will remain untouched forever.

The Georgia Piedmont

No region of Georgia has less land preserved than the beautiful Georgia Piedmont that stretches from the foothills of the Georgia Mountains to the Fall Line, which runs from Columbus to Macon to Augusta, like a belt across the middle of the state. The Callaway family of LaGrange owns Blue Springs, a 984-acre Piedmont tract in Harris County along the Pine Mountain Ridge adjacent to the 10,000-acre Callaway Reserve Forest with connectivity to the 9,049-acre Franklin Delano Roosevelt State Park and a 298-acre Pine Mountain tract preserved by the Georgia Conservancy in 2011. The family asked the Conservancy to assist them in placing a permanent conservation easement on Blue Springs in order to preserve its rare natural features that include an extensive montane longleaf pine/hardwood forest, a peat bog, a high quality Piedmont bay swamp and mesic hardwood ravine forest, and the famous Blue Springs that to Thompson Island.

FROM THE MOUNTAINS TO THE SEA by Pierre Howard

Photo taken at the Toccoa River tract by Giff Beaton


the headwaters of Mulberry Creek, named as a high priority stream by the U.S. Geological Survey as a tributary of the Chattahoochee River. The Conservancy worked with the family and the easement holder, the Georgia Forestry Commission, to get the land protected in perpetuity.

The Georgia Coast

Our Georgia coast has a greater array of plants and animals than any other region of Georgia. It is also one of the places where biodiversity faces its greatest threat from development. Clay Mobley, Georgia Conservancy Coastal Director, was contacted by the Thompson family who owned a 19-acre island in Ebenezer Creek in Effingham County near the county seat of Springfield. The Thompsons wanted to donate the island to a conservation organization, and they hoped that the Conservancy could accept the donation. Although the Conservancy does not presently hold land, we knew that preserving Thompson Island, a wonderland of old growth cypress and gum tupelo, where Prothonotary Warblers build their nests, was the chance of a lifetime. Clay personally lobbied Springfield Mayor Barty Alderman and the members of the City Council of Springfield to accept the donation of the island, which now had restrictions that forbid the harvesting of timber or the construction of structures, from the Conservancy.

This fall, the State of Georgia purchased a 200-acre pristine cypress swamp tract close to Thompson Island called Ebenezer Crossing. The

Conservancy played a key role in the preservation of Ebenezer Crossing by securing private funding from a generous donor to serve as matching money to federal and state grants. Without the private money in the deal, it would not have gone forward.

Georgia is a state blessed with very high biodiversity, and we have a special responsibility to protect it. We have many conservation partners that do important conservation work. In truth, most conservation projects are joint efforts.

While we take pride in our accomplishments, we will always keep our eyes looking ahead to the next conservation victory. We will also remember that without the support of our members, we could do nothing.

Learn more at: www.georgiaconservancy.org/land

Former Georgia Lt. Governor Pierre Howard served as Georgia Conservancy President from 2009 to July 2014. He remains crucial to the Conservancy’s Land Conservation Initiative as a Senior Advisor.

Photo taken at the Blue Springs tract by Brian Foster Photo taken at the Thompson Island by Fuller Callaway


Learn more at: www.georgiaconservancy.org/advocacy

ADVOCACY

UNDER THE GOLD DOME: 2015 LEGISLATIVE PREVIEWGEORGIA LEGACY >>> In the 10 years since the last state land conservation fund was created, Georgia has seen recession, severe drought and new questions regarding how to best conserve our land and water as populations continue to grow.

To conserve Georgia’s precious natural resources – its people, jobs, land and water – through a sustainable source of funding for land and water conservation, the Georgia Conservancy, along with The Nature Conservancy, Trust for Public Land, Georgia Wildlife Federation, the Conservation Fund and Park Pride, joined forces in 2010 as a coalition named Georgia Legacy.

The Georgia Legacy coalition is proposing to dedicate existing sales tax revenue collected from the sale of outdoor recreation equipment through a constitutional amendment. These funds would be placed in the Georgia Legacy Program and used for priority land acquisition, stewardship of state parks and wildlife management areas, and funding for local parks and trails.

This fall, a joint study committee of the Georgia House and Senate met to discuss the future of Georgia Legacy legislation and is charged with creating a report on findings and legislative recommendations by the end of 2014.

COASTAL ASR >>> During the 2014 Legislative Session, State Senator William Ligon (R-Brunswick) introduced a bill that sought to place a permanent moratorium on coastal aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) - an underground water storage option that is being studied as an alternative for drinking water supply on the coast because of saltwater intrusion in existing wells. This bill would have banned ASR projects that would inject and store surface water in the Floridan aquifer in coastal counties.

Two of three study committees, chaired by State Senator Ross Tollenson (R-Perry), have met to look further into ASR. The final

meeting will convene before the end of 2014, after which the committee will produce a report of legislative recommendations.

The Georgia Conservancy is working to ensure that a moratorium on coastal ASR is in place so that the state can further test the ASR technology before potentially contaminating the water supply.

MARSH BUFFERS >>> On Earth Day, April 22, 2014, Georgia Environmental Protection Division Director Jud Turner issued a directive that changes the rules for determining marsh buffers along the Georgia coast. The effect of this new directive can be simply stated: it will permit more development that encroaches on Georgia marshes, resulting in irreparable damage.

The Georgia Conservancy has begun discussing the issue with legislative leaders, and there is strong interest in working toward a solution. We will work with our environmental partners, legislators and Georgia EPD to agree on legislation for the 2015 session of the General Assembly that will finally give our coastal marshes the protection that they must have.

EV TAX CREDITS >>> During the 2014 Legislative Session, House Bill 257, sponsored by Representative Chuck Martin, would have eliminated the $5,000 tax credit for electric vehicles bought or leased in the state. The tax credit, which was introduced in 1998, has been influential in introducing electric and other low emission vehicles to Georgia’s roadways. As a result, Atlanta was one of the nation’s top markets for electric vehicle sales in 2013.

If passed, the bill would have eliminated the tax credits starting April 1, 2014. This bill did not come up for a vote at the end of the session and any revision of the EV tax credits will have to be taken up in the 2015 session as a new bill. The Georgia Conservancy is tirelessly advocating for EV tax credits to continue in Georgia.

Photo taken in the Cohutta Wilderness by Phuc Dao


OKEFENOKEE WILD: FORTY YEARS OF WILDERNESS

COASTAL GEORGIA

OUR FOCUS ON THE COAST www.georgiaconservancy.org/coast

Sea Level Rise The Georgia Conservancy’s Sustainable Growth program has longed worked to employ sustainability as a foundation to community stability and resilience. Since 2012, through three Blueprints for Successful Communities studios, the Conservancy has examined the issue of sea level rise with an eye towards supporting coastal community resiliency by researching issues of vulnerable populations, economic impacts and potential adaptation scenarios.

Cumberland IslandSince our founding in 1967, the protection of Cumberland Island has been at the forefront of our efforts to be stewards our most precious natural places. In 2014, we have continued our dedication to this incredible island through our annual service weekend and alternative spring break program; our advocacy at the local, state and federal levels; and our relationship with the National Park Service.

Oyster Roast 2015Save the date! Join the Georgia Conservancy on March 7 on Whitemarsh Island in Savannah for our annual Oyster Roast! The celebration of all-things-coastal brings together Georgia Conservancy supporters from across the state to enjoy local oysters, clams and music, as well as beer from Atlanta’s SweetWater Brewing Company!

www.georgiaconservancy.org/oysterroast

Forty years ago this fall, the earth trembled with delight. On October 1, 1974, the Okefenokee Swamp, also known as the

“Land of Trembling Earth,” was provided permanent protection as a National Wilderness Area by Congress and President Gerald Ford. Under wilderness designation, the highest form of protection provided to federal lands, the Okefenokee could slowly return to its natural state of tannin-stained waters, fire-scorched forest and resurrected prairie without the threat of future development or degradation. The bill that ushered in this new standard of conservation, House Resolution 6395, was championed by the Georgia Conservancy and successfully pushed through Congress by U.S. Representatives Bill Stuckey of Eastman, Georgia and Bo Ginn of Savannah.

The designation of nearly 344,000 acres of the Okefenokee as wilderness largely restricted human influence in the swamp and allowed for wildfires to burn and periodically renew the land as nature had intended. It also significantly reduced the misuse of habitat, either from the government or outside parties.

Hans Neuhauser, Executive Director of the Georgia Conservancy Coastal Office from 1972 to 1992, met with Congressman Stuckey and Senator Herman Talmadge in 1973 to advocate for the Okefenokee’s wilderness designation, and he later testified before the Senate in support of House Resolution 6395.

“It is truly remarkable,” Neuhauser testified, “that one of this nation’s most outstanding wilderness areas still remains without the protection of the Wilderness Act of 1964.”

In addition to meetings in Washington and testimonies before congressional committees, the Georgia Conservancy was active in and around the Okefenokee gathering support for the wilderness designation.

“The Georgia Conservancy was crucial in getting the swamp protected,” said Rep. Stuckey. “They held a lot of public meetings around the Okefenokee. It was a great help in making the public aware of the positive protection that wilderness designation would give.”

Today, the Okefenokee Wilderness is one of the wildest places in America and remains one of the most remote locations in all of the Southeast. Our efforts to see the Okefenokee permanently protected didn’t end with its wilderness designation in 1974. It continues to be at the forefront of our advocacy and stewardship efforts, whether they be in Washington, Atlanta, Folkston or on Billy’s Island.

On behalf of the Okefenokee Wilderness, the Georgia Conservancy thanks its members who advocated for protection of the swamp, Congressmen Bill Stuckey and the late Bo Ginn for championing the necessary legislation, the local citizens who understood the historic importance of wilderness designation, and fellow conservation organizations who lobbied before Congress and in townhalls. The Okefenokee would not be without our combined efforts.

Full story at: www.georgiaconservancy.org/advocacy/okefenokee

Photo taken at the Okefenokee Wilderness by Phuc Dao


The Atlanta flood of 2009 should be a wake up call for municipalities across the state. In a matter of minutes, rain water swelled retention basins, sewers, creeks and rivers, eventually leading to the overflow of millions of cubic yards of surface runoff water into streets, backyards and structures. The devastating effects of the flash flood could have been mitigated through an increased focus on changes to runoff velocities and volumes, and proper urban growth planning.

To meet this challenge in design, the Georgia Conservancy’s Blueprints for Successful Communities, in partnership with graduate students from the College of Architecture at Georgia Tech, examined four different sites along the Atlanta Beltline corridor (Ansley Mall - Peachtree Creek; Bobby Jones Golf Course - Peachtree and Clear Creeks; University Ave - McDaniel Branch; and Boone Blvd. at Simpson Street - Procter Creek) and contrasted their development with existing drainage ordinances which focus on controlling peak rates of runoff with more holistic, low impact development policies that could be adopted and implemented to great benefit to the community.

Each site has particular and varying struggles managing water, creating opportunities for creative site design to address these challenges. The studio involved multiple site visits, presentations, collected information and maps, hydrological analysis, and calculations to help develop a set of draft recommendations for consideration. These recommendations are supported by technical advisors and form the basis of the final report that was issued this summer.

Learn more at: georgiaconservancy.org/blueprints/stormwater

#1 Every project – public or private, no matter how large or how small, must begin with an understanding of its associated drainage basins. For urban design – watersheds always come first!!

#2 The location of a project in its watershed shapes both urban design and stormwater decisions. For urban design, site-based solutions are the wrong approach. Stormwater policies and regulations must recognize this fact.

#3 High performance site design for urban design and stormwater can combine greenways as incentives for revitalization and new development.

#4 Urban design and stormwater management must be the responsibility of private developers and not limited to local stormwater ordinances. Owners/developers must look to the long term to enable today’s decisions to share better stormwater solutions in the future.

#5 Urban design can MANAGE stormwater when flooding cannot be eliminated. Combine retention and detention in greenways, swap land out of flood plains and create new development opportunities.

STORMWATER + URBAN DESIGN STUDIOFIVE LESSONS

Conclusions from the Design+Research Project

(Image below: A vacant lot in the Pittsburgh neighborhood converted to a stormwater mini-park)

SUSTAINABLE GROWTH

BLUEPRINTS turns 20 in 2015!

Check back soon for details on events, classes and

more!

20


www.NextSouthATL.com

WHERE THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS

SAVE THE DATEFriday, February 27, 2015

Generation Green and the Georgia Conservancy present the largest conference in the Southeast dedicated to inspiring and empowering future leaders seeking careers in

sustainability and corporate responsibility.

FOR STUDENTS AND YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

MEET CONSCIOUS CAREERS

CONFERENCE & CAREER FAIR

THE BILTMORE

$20 full-day conference*

#nextsouthatl

Atlanta, Georgia

www.NextSouthATL.com

*includes breakfast and lunch. Price increases Jan. 1.

Participating companies include: AGL Resources, Brown-Forman, Chipotle, Coca-Cola, Cox Enterprises, Emerald Cities, Ernst & Young, Mansfield Clean Energy Partners, Mohawk Industries, Novelis, Red Hare Brewing, Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance, SolAmerica Energy, UPS, White Oak Pastures, Whole Foods. **New companies and presenters joining each week!

REGISTER TODAY


TOP 10 TRIPS FOR 2015

Photo of Laura Buckmaster taken on the Flint River by Phuc Dao

01.30 Cabretta / Blackbeard Island Adventure

02.21 Satilla River Day Paddle

03.20 Altamaha River to Sea Paddle

05.15 Augusta Canal Paddle

06.05 Conasauga Snorkel Adventure

06.26 Lower Flint Paddle at Rocky Bend Park

07.10 Len Foote Hike Inn Service Weekend

08.08 The GRAND Columbus Whitewater Paddle

09.12 Flint River Family Adventure

11.06 Ocmulgee Water Trail Paddle

All trips are open for registration!georgiaconservancy.org/trips

Headquarters817 West Peachtree Street, Suite 200Atlanta, GA [email protected]

Coastal Office428 Bull Street, Suite 210 Savannah, GA 31401 [email protected]

**Georgia Conservancy members

receive a 10% to 20% discount on

our Stewardship Trips!

Become a member TODAY!

georgiaconservancy.org/membership

# t h i s i s m y g a

COVER PHOTO BY WHITEWATER EXPRESSPRINTING PROVIDED BY THE FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK OF ATLANTA

@gaconservancy PROTECTING AND EXPLORING GEORGIA SINCE 1967.

Panorama - Fall 2014

Documents

land conservation amendment

atlantaretired partner

anderson foundationj

florida water

beautiful florida

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christopher reh