Coosa River Basin Initiative

Ban the Bag in Georgia

February 24, 2020

Senate Bill 280 would prohibit the distribution of single-use plastic bags by retail stores, with some exemptions (bags used for bulk foods, produce, newspaper, garments, dog waste, meat, etc.). The proposed bill could mean Georgia would be joining the ranks of eight other states across the country that have already banned the bags. It is not uncommon to see plastic bags on the side of the road or in our rivers. Jesse Demonbreun-Chapman, Riverkeeper and Executive Director of CRBI, believes…

2020 Legislative Tracker

February 13, 2020

Advocacy, Blog Posts

Georgia’s 2020 legislative session is in full swing and we want to keep you in the know on CRBI’s legislative priorities. You can keep up with the following bills as well as new legislation being introduced by following along with the bill tracker. HB 545: Attack On Rural Property Rights Position: Strongly OPPOSE If the lot next to your property was bought up with plans to be turned into a large scale, industrial chicken farm, would you want some say…

Soundtrack for “To Kingdom Come” lands for purchase and download

October 22, 2019

Education, Press Releases

To Kingdom Come (soundtrack) by Various Artists At our most recent screening of To Kingdom Come, a documentary about the challenging relationship between General Electric, Rome, & PCBs, we announced the release of this wonderful soundtrack featuring old and new bluegrass, folk, and blues tunes from local talent. All proceeds generated from the sale of this soundtrack come back to CRBI to continue promoting fishable, swimmable, drinkable water for all in the upper Coosa River basin. CLICK HERE to purchase…

Join Our Family of River Stewards

September 12, 2019

Blog Posts, Events, Press Releases, Restoration

September 1st marks the beginning of CRBI’s month long membership campaign. The goal for this campaign is to each 500 new or renewed membership by the end of September. When you make a donation to CRBI or you purchase a membership, you can take comfort in knowing that every bit of that money goes directly to support clean water in the Upper Coosa River basin. Did you know…– CRBI tests for bacteria at popular boat ramps in Rome and Cartersville…

Blue-green algae and what you should know

August 13, 2019

Blog Posts, Education, Lake Allatoona

In the wake of the recent news stories highlighting the dangers of the blue-green algae to both people and pets alike, it’s best to arm yourself with the facts. Blue-green algae is actually a naturally occurring group of bacteria, called cyanobacteria. However, the bacteria is more commonly referred to as blue-green algae due to its algae-like appearance. Blue-green algae is generally present in stagnant bodies of fresh water, such as ponds and lakes. Algal blooms occur more frequently during extended…

New Evidence Confirms Georgia Power Coal Ash Pits Slated for Cap in Place Submerged in Groundwater

August 8, 2019

Advocacy, Plant Hammond, Press Releases

These ponds collectively contain tens of millions of tons of coal ash – a byproduct of burning coal to generate electricity. Coal ash is loaded with a large number of toxins, carcinogens, and heavy metals that can migrate out of these ponds when exposed to water. “Georgia Power has already shown that excavation and removal is appropriate and feasible, including a recent decision to excavate additional sites that are substantially larger than any of these ponds in question,” said Jesse Demonbreun-Chapman,…

to protect, preserve, and restore one of North America’s most biologically diverse river systems

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