Story in Brief
Anchored by the Chattahoochee River, the water of the Chattahoochee Valley is an economic, ecological, and recreational cornerstone of this community. Urban development and changing weather conditions have had a negative impact on this vital resource, making education and conservation efforts a primary goal for local governments and non-profits. UGA Extension has partnered with these entities to increase environmental awareness, provide education, and monitor and clean streams and rivers within the watershed. Muscogee County Extension provided workshops and educational materials to 1,267 homeowners and green industry professionals related to appropriate pesticide and fertilizer use, irrigation, and landscaping choices. Master Gardener Extension volunteers led hands-on educational programs in schools to explain point and non-point source pollution. Muscogee County Extension partnered with Columbus Water Works and Chattahoochee River Warden to produce a brochure on the importance and health of the Chattahoochee River. Help the Hooch Watershed Cleanup is a daylong festival sponsored by Keep Columbus Beautiful to educate the community and clean the watershed. Muscogee County Extension has served on the planning committee for this event since 2005. Over 8,000 youth and adults participated in Help the Hooch, removing over 100,000 pounds of trash from the Chattahoochee River watershed during the cleanup festival. For six years, Muscogee County Master Gardeners have conducted Georgia Adopt-A-Stream water quality monitoring on multiple streams in the area. Soil, water, insect, and plant disease tests are provided by Muscogee County Extension. These tests and accompanying education help homeowners and professionals make informed decisions about fertilizer and pesticide applications, reducing non-point source pollution. In 2016, 247 soil, water, insect, and plant disease samples were tested through the Muscogee County Extension office.