By Greg Bluestein
If environmental groups have their
way, Georgia's stretch of the
Conasauga
River could become the
first in the state that's afforded the highest level of protection provided by
the federal Clean Water Act.
A
petition filed by Environment Georgia and the Southern Environmental Law Center
asks the government to define the river as an "Outstanding National Resource
Water," a move that would make it the state's first to receive the
status.
"This is one step above and beyond,"
said Jennette Gayer, a policy advocate with Environment Georgia. "It's a pretty
wild area. And this just recognizes the fact that this is an amazing river and
deserves this designation."
The
river already is protected by 50-foot buffers because it's classified as a trout
stream. It's also designated as a Wild and Scenic River under state guidelines that prevent
dams and other types of construction.
The
higher level of protection would ban new sources of pollution, such as pipes,
from the designated segment. It would also ban any variations to the 50-foot
buffers and develop stormwater plans.
Gayer called it the "end all, be
all" of river protections.
"The Conasauga is really a great
example of when this designation should be used," said Brian Gist, a Southern
Environmental Law Center attorney. "It's ecologically important and it's
pristine. This is a tool that's available, and this is an excellent opportunity
to use that tool."
The
river, which stretches more than 90 miles from southeast Tennessee to northwest Georgia, is home
to more than 90 species of fish and 25 species of freshwater mussels. A dozen of
the species are federally designated as endangered or threatened
species.
The
river plays an important role in carpet-producing plants in the region, which
includes the city of Dalton, the so-called "Carpet Capital of the
World." According to the Conasauga River Alliance, the carpet industry uses
about 40 million gallons of water each day to create its
products.
The
petition was filed last month with the state's Environmental Protection
Division, which will open a public comment period and convene a public hearing.
The Department of Natural Resources is expected to discuss the issue in
September.
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