From local development plans to state water laws, CRBI is an advocate for fishable, swimmable, & drinkable water in the upper Coosa River basin & across the state.
In the classroom and on the water, we connect people with their local rivers, mountains, and forests while educating about wildlife, history, & current issues.
We train citizen scientists to become the eyes and ears of their own local waterways. Monitoring data and citizen concerns help direct our focus to streams that need help.
Each year, CRBI removes tens of thousands of pounds of trash through clean-ups while working to restore vegetated stream banks that fight erosion and sediment pollution.
Written By: Liz Spencer I love the water. Oceans, rivers, seas, lakes, ponds, puddles. I’ll jump into them all. By my personal history (i.e. almost drowning in a pond and getting seasick a… lot), this shouldn’t be the case. But the unmistakable beauty of our earth’s water systems… there is nothing else like it. It is pure, majestic, and absolutely breathtaking. And the best of them all? Rivers. In September of 2015 I joined DePaul University’s Club Rowing Team, and…
April 1, 2020 2020 Upper Coosa Kayak Paintball League Do you play paintball? Do you kayak? Have you ever thought it would be fun to combine the two? You are not alone! Coosa River Basin Initiative wants to make your kayak paintball league dreams come true. Unfortunately, we had to postpone sign-up for the league this season due to social distancing requirements. Although we are disappointed, we want to put our members’ safety first. We also believe this will be…
ACTIVITIES Merlin App – Take a walk outside and see many different bird species you are able to identify with this avian ID app. Fizzy Pots – Not just for St. Patrick’s Day, this easy baking soda and vinegar experiment is sure to keep the kids entertained. Crystal Snowflakes – Learn a fun lesson about the formation of crystals while making your own snowflake. The end product is sure to dazzle and you’ll have a sweet keepsake to remember your time spent together. How Do Leaves Breathe? –…
Watch as the Georgia Senate unanimously approves HR 164 – a constitutional amendment that will allow the General Assembly to dedicate environmental trust funds. The House of Representatives passed the measure last week. These funds, created in the mid-90s, are intended to pay for the cleanup of illegal tire dumps and hazardous waste sites. Unfortunately, lawmakers have raided these funds for years to pay for other parts of the budget, to the tune of more than $200 million. Next up,…
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…
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…
