Governor Announces Water Legislation

On February 3, Governor Perdue announced the Georgia Water Stewardship Act of 2010, a bill which he said will reduce wasteful loss and include incentives for increasing water supply and decreasing demand.

Highlights of the legislation are requirements to conduct standardized water loss audits, use high-efficiency toilets in new construction, and install individual water meters in new multi-family developments—all of which would become effective in 2012. Water conservation measures related to outdoor watering and agriculture are voluntary and there are no benchmarks or metrics in the bill to ensure that specific water reduction targets are met.

UCR is working with the Georgia Water Coalition to evaluate the proposed legislation and provide testimony to ensure that what is ultimately passed contains the strongest conservation measures possible. Hearings on this bill are expected to begin the week of February 8 at the State Capitol. To stay informed about this and other legislation that affects Georgia's environment, signup to receive action alerts from the Georgia Environmental Action Network.

Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival -

March 7!

Tickets on sale now!

Join UCR, Georgia River Network, and Georgia ForestWatch as we bring you the best of the Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival on Tour on Sunday, March 7, at the Tara Theater in Atlanta. Doors open at 1:00 p.m., and the total three-hour program (with one planned intermission) begins at 2:00 p.m. with selected films to inspire, educate, and activate citizens for creating a better world

Click here for more information on this event.

Cash for Clunkers for Applicances - Begins Feb. 12

 

Almost $9 million in rebates will be available to Georgia residents beginning February 12 for those replacing certain existing appliances with new, ENERGY STAR qualified appliances. Go to www.GeorgiaRebate.com to find out more. The rebates are available under The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 will be given on a first come, first serve basis. And remember: saving energy saves water!

Environmental Legislative Breakfast – Feb. 16

 

The annual Environmental Legislative Breakfast is an opportunity for the environmental community to gather near the beginning of the session, and it serves as a forum to discuss priorities for the year. The 2010 event, held by Georgia Conservation Voters, takes place Tuesday morning, February 16, from 7:30 – 9:00 a.m. at the Georgia Railroad Freight Depot. RSVP by February 9. Click here for more information.

Tri-State: Governors Meet and Declare Progress, But Will Keep Negotiations Secret

 

The governors of Georgia, Alabama, and Florida met in mid-December, for the first time since last summer’s judicial ruling on the tri-state issue, and have agreed to continue to meet to work out a water-sharing agreement for presentation to the three state legislatures for approval in 2010. At the same time the states have received a judge's approval to keep their negotiations confidential. UCR is pleased that the states are finally talking; however, we believe that the secrecy in the negotiations may undermine the protection of our strained water resources.

READ MORE about the tri-state water wars, including UCR’s common sense solutions to this conflict. (Map courtesy of Southern Environmental Law Center)

Sign Petition to Protect Georgia’s Waterways Today!

Georgia is home to more than 70,000 miles of rivers and streams, but with a population of 9.8 million people, these abundant water resources are being strained. This is especially true in Metro Atlanta, where half of the state’s residents are located.

Some believe that the abundant water resources of Georgia’s smaller cities should be piped to the capital city to support that region’s continued economic growth. This process is usually referred to as “interbasin transfer” because water is moved from one river basin to another and not returned. Such transfers could significantly impact the economic future of Georgia’s smaller communities and threaten the natural heritage of our state.

Georgia needs to regulate interbasin transfers to protect our rivers and ensure the fair allocation of water for everyone. If you agree and/or would like to know more, please see: www.nowatergrabs.com.

Georgia River Network Annual Conference -

Feb 19-20!

 

Join river enthusiasts and environmentalists from around the state in Jekyll Island, February 19-20, for “A River Runs Through It: Our Stories & Our Work from Headwaters to Sea” - the 10th Annual Georgia River Network Annual Conference. Early Registration Deadline: February 1, 2010; Scholarship Application Deadline: January 15, 2010. Click here for details and to register.

Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper is a sponsor for this event.