From rushing rapids to meandering streams, Georgia’s last great rivers are among the state’s most beloved places. They serve as sources of clean drinking water, popular sites for fishing, camping and hiking, and home to a rich diversity of aquatic species.

But dirt, oil and runoff pollution from the rampant development of new homes and roads has put even the most pristine of these waters at risk.

Fortunately, Georgia has strong laws on the books that allow government officials to preserve and protect unspoiled waters.

We’re calling on the Board of Natural Resources to use these laws to extend immediate protections to priority rivers, including the headwaters of the Conasauga and Jacks Rivers in North Georgia.

We are leading a coalition including the Southern Environmental Law Center, Georgia River Network, the Conasauga River Alliance and others to convince the board that it’s better to protect our most pristine waters from pollution, rather than pulling together a plan to clean it up.