Blog - Coosa River Basin Initiative

Weekly Bacterial Monitoring Results

Green: 0-126 cfu/100mLconsidered safe for recreational use by the state of GeorgiaYellow: +126-235 cfu/100mLmoderate risk of illnessRed: +235 cfu/100mLhigh risk ...
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2019 Riverkeeper Award Winners

On March 28th, CRBI hosted their Riverkeeper Awards and Annual Meeting at the Courtyard Rome Riverwalk to celebrate the accomplishments ...
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Riverkeeper Awards and Annual Meeting

CRBI would like to invite everyone to join us for our Riverkeeper Awards and Annual Meeting, March 28th from 6 ...
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2019 Triennial Review

The Environmental Protection Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources recently conducted the opening hearing of the 2019 Triennial ...
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The Replacement Rule threatens Clean Water

For 50 years, the Clean Water Act has protected families and communities by preventing unchecked and unlimited pollution from contaminating ...
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Georgia Power announces plan to close Plant Hammond

Georgia Power announced on Thursday, January 31, 2019, their plans for the decertification of Plant Hammond, a coal-fired power plant ...
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PUBLIC SCREENING OF TO KINGDOM COME

CRBI, Georgia Highlands College, and the Berry College Environmental Studies program have teamed up to co-sponsor a special screening of ...
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CRBI Welcomes New Outreach Coordinator

Recent Berry College graduate Ashley Ray joined the Coosa River Basin Initiative (CRBI) staff as Outreach Coordinator earlier this month ...
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Coal Ash Pond Problems at Hammond and Bowen

Coal Ash is the byproduct of burning coal to generate electricity. It also contains several toxic, harmful substances that are ...
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CRBI Receives Grant from Community Foundation for Water Testing

We are proud to be among the 2018 Grantees of the Community Foundation of Greater Rome. Their support will allow ...
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Georgia textile mill agrees to stop PFAS pollution

May 11, 2023

Advocacy, Press Releases

Coosa River Basin Initiative, SELC reach resolution to protect downstream communities ROME, Ga. — In a victory for the health of Georgia’s Chattooga River, Alabama’s Weiss Lake, and downstream communities, a major textile mill in northwest Georgia has committed to permanently cease the use of PFAS and take action to reduce water pollution. Located on the Chattooga River, the textile mill discharged wastewater polluted with per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to the municipal wastewater treatment plant in Trion, Georgia. Because…

Rome News Tribune Article Covers Beginning Stages of CRBI’s PFAS chemical testing

March 17, 2023

Coverage, Water Monitoring

Rome News Tribune published an article that gives a great overview of CRBI’s plans for a multi-year study to determine the extent of PFAS contamination in Northwest Georgia and Northeast Alabama. While it is clear that many of the waterways in our watershed are contaminated by PFAS chemicals from upstream manufacturers, the extent of the contamination is yet to be verified. We will be collaborating with Coosa Riverkeeper in Alabama to test sites and Cyclopure, a company in California to…

State Level Regulations Will Impact PFAS Usage

February 24, 2023

Advocacy, Blog Posts

In the summer of 2022 the EPA released new health advisories (HAs) for a chemical group known as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). These chemicals are widespread in the environment since they have been commonly used in manufacturing since the 1940s. They are used in the production of everyday items particularly carpet and textiles, non-stick cookware, food packaging, firefighting foam, aerospace, automotive production, construction materials, and electronics. The health advisory comes after mounting scientific evidence is proving that PFAS…

What Keeps Our Rivers Strong? Mussels!

August 10, 2022

Education, Restoration

In the streams and rivers of Northwest Georgia resides an unassuming but powerful champion of freshwaters. These heroes come in many shapes and sizes, can live up to 100 years in the right conditions, and go by many names including Oval Pigtoe, Rayed Pink Fatmucket, and Little Spectaclecase. They clean up the rivers, provide food to wildlife, and create safe habitats for aquatic critters. If you grew up along the rivers and creeks of North America you’ve almost certainly met…

EPA Releases New Health Advisories for PFAS in Drinking Water. What Does it Mean for Your Health?

June 29, 2022

Blog Posts, Water Monitoring

On June 15th, 2022 the EPA released new health advisories (HAs) for a chemical group known as PFAS. The EPA’s health advisories are used by municipalities as guidelines for how to keep our drinking water safe and free from harmful chemicals and contaminants. Using the most current scientific evidence, they make recommendations for the best ways municipalities can protect public health. The group of manufactured chemicals in question, PFAS, has been under scrutiny for a number of years as research…

CRBI, Harbin, Hardy Promote Safe Summer Recreation With the Launch of ‘Swim Guide’

May 24, 2022

Press Releases, Water Monitoring

Beginning Memorial Day weekend and running through Labor Day, CRBI will collect bacterial water samples at 30 popular recreation sites in the upper Coosa River basin. Weekly reports on E.coli levels will help everyone enjoying our waterways to stay informed while they stay active. This vast project expansion is made possible by the generous support of Harbin Clinic and Hardy Realty. “Spending time on our rivers provides ample benefits to our overall well-being,” explains Harbin Clinic psychologist and CRBI Board…