Protect

PRIORITY ISSUES

Georgia River Network supports the priority issues of the Georgia Water Coalition as well as other important issues facing rivers. Georgia River Network is focused on:

Protect the Okefenokee Swamp!

See below for information on: Okefenokee Named Most Endangered River; Twin Pines Mine and Comments to the Corps of Engineers; Facts about the Okefenokee Swamp; Save the Swamp Campaign; News Articles; Paddle the Okefenokee and St Marys.
Say NO To Okefenokee Swamp Titanium Mine! The Okefenokee Swamp, one of Georgia’s seven natural wonders, the largest blackwater swamp in North America, and a wetland of international importance, is threatened by a proposed titanium mine. Twin Pines Minerals, LLC, an Alabama mining company with a poor track record of environmental stewardship, has asked federal and state authorities permission to operate a 898-acre heavy mineral sand mine next to the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. This…

State Office of Outdoor Recreation

We would like to see Georgia establish a State Office of Outdoor Recreation. Each year, outdoor recreation contributes $12.3 billion to Georgia’s economy. The sixteen states with dedicated offices have often seen that number grow significantly, all the while improving quality of life for residents, increasing equitable access to recreation, promoting outdoor educational opportunities, and ensuring a healthier environment. Promoting and enhancing the state's outdoor recreation economy will benefit all residents and can particularly support rural communities that are gateways to outdoor recreation locations and opportunities. CLICK HERE TO ASK YOUR LEGISLATOR TO SUPPORT SENATE BILL 619 TO ESTABLISH AN OFFICE OF THE OUTDOORS IN GEORGIA! [pdf-embedder...

Help Upgrade Water Quality Standards on Water Trails – Triennial Review

Georgia River Network believes all water trails should have water quality standards that protect their RECREATIONAL USE! Help us work toward this goal by taking part in the Georgia Environmental Protection Division's (EPD) Triennial Review Process. Please complete GRN's recreation survey, collect documentation, and submit a comment letter to EPD. Help Ensure Water Quality Standards Protect the Rivers Where You Recreate Georgia River Network helps people experience the beauty of our state’s rivers and become involved in river protection. If you have fallen in love with a river and want to help increase protections for the rivers where you swim, paddle and recreate, we need your help now with making sure these rivers have appropriate water quality standards....

STATE COMPREHENSIVE OUTDOOR RECREATION PLAN

Why does the draft SCORP need your public comment? Outdoor recreation plays an important role in promoting economic growth, public health and strong social structures. The draft SCORP recognizes these important benefits of outdoor recreation; however, we strongly advocate for one addition – identifying a position or agency with cross-jurisdictional authority to steward and implement the SCORP. Successful implementation of the SCORP and realization of the economic, social and health benefits that outdoor recreation provides will require cooperation and collaboration across and within multiple levels of public and private institutions. Successful coordination cannot be the part-time work of one agency. Act now to ask DNR to identify a position or...

Trust Fund Honesty

Georgia River Network worked closely with the Georgia Water Coalition for over 15 years to finally get the Georgia General Assembly to adopt a resolution that should restore the trust in Georgia’s environmental trust funds. When you purchase new tires for your car or dump a load of trash at your local landfill, you pay a fee to the state that is supposed to be used for environmental cleanups around the state. But over the years more than $200 million that has been collected from us has been diverted to pay for other things, meaning that toxic sites and illegal tire dumps remain to pollute our water and spoil local communities. In November 2021 we finally succeeded as a constitutional amendment to restore the trust in our environmental trust funds was passed...