Uncategorized - GA-ACT

AFS To Update National Dam Removal Policy

March 4, 2020

In a new column, Patrick Shirey, Resource Policy Committee Chair for The American Fisheries Society, issues a call for volunteers to assist in drafting a new policy statement for the society on dam removals. Shirey notes the state of much of America’s aging dam infrastructure, the current pace of removals, and recent increases in the state of knowledge on the topic of dam effects and post-removal restoration. The new policy statement is expressly targeted at decisionmakers, he says, concluding, “Our…

GA Senate Panel Approves New Dam Regulations

February 11, 2020

ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia could soon loosen safety standards for dams that sit above newly built homes, under a proposal unanimously passed by a state Senate committee. Senate Bill 319 would allow for homes and other inhabitable structures to be built in a dam’s inundation zone — the area that would be flooded if the dam fails — without causing the dam to be recategorized and required to meet higher safety standards. The structures would have to be built to…

SRK: Dam safety stakes are just too high

February 5, 2020

The Savannah Riverkeeper writes in a recent Op-Ed in the Augusta Chronicle about the risk of dam failures to public safety in the Savannah River Basin in Georgia and Florida. See the full piece here: https://www.augustachronicle.com/news/20200129/dam-safety-stakes-are-just-too-high

One year after dam removal, benefits reported

October 3, 2019

WGAU – Athens News & Weather, October 2, 2019 The cranes and earth movers are gone. So is the concrete and rusted rebar. Now all that’s left is the gentle sound of water lapping the edges of the Middle Oconee River where once it poured over White Dam. And that is just how it should be. “This has allowed me to bring people to the Middle Oconee and showcase it as it should be seen,” said Oconee Joe, a local…

From The Fisheries Blog: Dam Removal on the Chattahoochee

September 16, 2019

The Fisheries Blog was started in 2011 by a group of scientists who are professional fisheries scientists by day and communicators of scientific information by night. In a recent post, they speak to Henry Jackson, the executive director of the Chattahoochee River Conservancy, about Georgia Power’s surrender of two FERC licenses for low-head dams on the middle Chattahoochee.

Panel focused on Aquatic Connectivity at 2019 Georgia Environmental Conference

August 27, 2019

GA-ACT members Sara Gottlieb and Jay Shelton were joined by Robin Armetta of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on a panel organized by Stephen Bailey and Glenn Martin of Pond & Co. titled Resilience, Restoration and Re-connectivity at the 14th annual Georgia Environmental Conference Aug 21-23 on Jekyll Island. Sara spoke about the challenge of addressing aquatic connectivity statewide, highlighting the GA-ACT strategies aimed at increasing capacity for barrier removals, streamlining the regulatory process, and inventorying culverts in priority…

Next World Fish Migration Day: May 16, 2020

August 15, 2019

Connecting fish, rivers and people World Fish Migration Day is a one day global celebration to create awareness on the importance of free flowing rivers and migratory fish. Everyone is welcome to join in on this celebration and organize their own event! This time, we are celebrating our love for fishes and rivers…love flows! Can we count on you? Visit the website to learn more: https://www.worldfishmigrationday.com/

Georgia Power readies to remove Langdale, Riverview and Crow Hop Dams along Chattahoochee

December 21, 2018

Warnell named “Clean Water Hero” by Georgia Water Coalition for White Dam removal

September 9, 2018

Leading Water Protection Coalition Announces Clean Water Heroes in 2018 Clean 13 Report In July 2018, students and faculty at the University of Georgia’s Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources witnessed the demolition of a long-standing and iconic structure in the midst of their 840-acre Whitehall Forest outdoor classroom and research area…all in the name of restoring a river. With assistance from multiple partners, the Warnell School oversaw the modification of White Dam, an obsolete hydro-power dam built in 1911,…

Workers begin modification of White Dam

July 16, 2018