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Summary

Anchored by the Chattahoochee River, the water of the Chattahoochee Valley is an economic, ecological, and recreational cornerstone of this community. It provides 100% of municipal drinking water for Columbus, and its main body, the Chattahoochee River, is the most heavily used water resource in Georgia. 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.

Situation

In the last decade, the population of Columbus metropolitan area has grown to over 315,000. This dense urban growth has simultaneously increased demand for drinking water and increase pollution entering waterways. In addition to providing 100% of municipal drinking water, the watershed hosts many of the state's 62 threatened or endangered plant and animal species, including the red-cockaded woodpecker. And in recent years, the river has been a highly visible part of Columbus' tourism industry, which brought in over $340 million in 2016, including revenue from 45,000 customers to whitewater and zip-line outfitters. While the watershed plays an important role in the community, its health needs attention. Five creeks in Muscogee County are on the EPD 303(d) list for not supporting their intended use. Changing weather conditions have exacerbated water health issues. Columbus recorded its driest July in 115 years in 2016, putting additional stress on waterways. Flooding and flash floods, which struck three times in 2016, also caused a surge in the amount of non-point source pollution in the water.

Response

To improve the state of the Chattahoochee River watershed in the short and long term, UGA Extension partnered with local governments and non-profits to reach the community in a variety of ways. Muscogee County Extension provided workshops and educational materials to homeowners and green industry professionals related to appropriate pesticide and fertilizer use, irrigation, and landscaping choices. In addition to providing these resources to adults, Master Gardener Extension volunteers led hands-on educational programs in schools to explain point and non-point source pollution. This education addressed short-term problems like littering but also long-term issues like water conservation and erosion. 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. Three authors contributed to this media source which can be used for many years to come. 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. 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, thus reducing non-point source pollution. They also provide detailed information about stream and drinking water quality.

Impact

Eighty-one classroom training hours were provided to 1,267 homeowners on topics including pesticide and fertilizer application, landscaping, irrigation, and watershed health. Ten classroom training hours were provided to 22 landscape and agriculture professionals in these topics. 100% of participants in pesticide applicator test training were highly satisfied with the quality of the course, and one respondent commented that it was more effective than classes offered by other organizations. A variety of Master Gardener or agent-led programs reached 520 youth in the area on these topics focused on or related to watershed health. “From the Chattahoochee to the Tap,” a joint publication of Muscogee County Extension, Columbus Water Works, and Chattahoochee RiverWarden, was distributed by each organization to an estimated 67,000 citizens, including municipal water subscribers. 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. Muscogee County Master Gardeners volunteered 14 hours to monitor streams in the Chattahoochee River Watershed throughout the year. The data collected was entered into the Georgia Adopt-A-Stream program database. In 2016, 247 soil, water, insect, and plant disease samples were tested through the Muscogee County Extension office. This service generated approximately 275 office visits and 75 site visits.

State Issue

Other Programming

Details

  • Year: 2016
  • Geographic Scope: County
  • County: Muscogee
  • Program Areas:
    • Agriculture & Natural Resources

Author

  • Randle, Anne
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