Southeastern United States

Hi, hello and welcome to a web page that is taking a look at some of the water problems we are having in the southeastern part of this country. On this page you will find information pertaining to many rivers that have been polluted. These rivers have also been targeted for different clean up projects that you could very easily take part in. These groups and organizations all need a lot of help. And even if you can not give your time to them there are still things you can do to help. The most important of which is NOT LITTERING. You could also write letters to your statesmen or to the government. Please take the time to do something, the state of our drinking water depends on it.

Alabama
Florida
Georgia
South Carolina
Help

Alabama

Cahaba River Basin Project
The Cahaba River is approximately 190 miles long from its beggining in St. Clair County to where it connects with the Alabama River in Dallas County.
Here's what is going wrong:

increased chemical level in the water
high bacterial levels which inhabit recreational activities
toxics such as metals insecticides, and herbicides are present in the water
poor water quality
poor health of the fish inhabiting the river
There are many different groups and companies working on the problems above. It is also up to you not to litter and to recycle as much as possible.
Contact:
Mary Kay Lynch
U.S. EPA Region IV
345 Courtland Street, NE
Atlanta, GA 30365
(404)347-3555, ext.6607

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Florida

Indian River Lagoon:


The Indian river lagoon takes up about a third of Florida's east coast. The Indian River Lagoon basin spans about 2280 square miles and consists of three major watersheds.
Some problems that are being addressed in this area are:
 Storm water runoff

Undesirable freshwater discharges

Loss of seagrass beds

Loss of emergent wetlands

There are three main groups that are Organizing the clean up project, Marine Resources Council of East Central Florida, State of Florida, and St. Johns River Water Management district. I am sure that if you are interested in helping out in anyway, these organizations would really appriciate it. This problem puts us all at risk. The water quality will affect businesses, commercial fishing, local citizens, and recreational activities such as swimming, boating and fishing. So this is a problem that you face everyday, when you come in contact with water, that many of us are not aware of. The more we all know, the more we can all help.
To help futher contact: Drew Kendall
U.S. EPA Region IV
345 Courtland Street, NE
Atlanta, GA 30365
(404) 347-3555, ext. 2060
Fax: (404) 347-1797

Florida Keys Wetlands Advance Identification Prodjects


The Keys project is focused on 65,000 acres of land in the Keys archipelago from North Key Largo to Key West.
This study is being performed to discover the effects of numerous small-scale wetland fills. The biggest problem is the loss of the habitats of endangered species. This means that several animal species has been put in danger because of our irresponsible actoins.
Contact Dr. Peter Kalla
U.S. EPA, Region IV
WMD-WOWB-WPS-WPU
345 Courtland Street, NE
Atlanta, Georgia 30365
(404) 347-3871 ext. 6508
Fax: (404) 347-1798


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Georgia

Central Dougherty Plain Wetlands

This is a 400,000 arce area around Albany, Georgia, Baker, Calhoun, Dougherty, Lee and Terrell counties.
Major problems:
Urban growth
Unpermitted filling of wetlands
Water quality and water quantity are two big issues in these areas
These problems affect land owners, land developers, envirnomental groups, real estate agents, government agencies, hunters and foresters.
Contact:
Veronica Fasselt.
U.S. EPA Region IV
345 Courtland street, NE
Atlana, GA 30365
(404) 347-3871 ext. 6509
FAX: (404) 347-1798

West Chatham County Wetlands

This is a 45,000 acre area of land northwest of Savannah Georgia.
The major problem is the exurban expansion of Savannah into flatwoods wetlands.
This affects residents, local developers, property owners, political leaders, and environmental activists.
Contact:
Dr. Peter Kalla
U.S. EPA Region IV
WMD-WOWB-WPS-WPU
345 Courtland Street,NE
Atlanta GA 30365
(404)347-3871 ext. 6508
FAX: (404)347-1798 E-mail: kalla.peter@epamail.epa.gov
other problems in florida: goto:

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http://www.epa.gov/ecoplaces/part2/region4/site11.html http://www.epa.gov/ecoplaces/part2/region4/site24.html

South Carolina

Hi out there in South Carolina. I've got something to tell you about. It is about a big watershed located in parts of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia that needs some help getting a little cleaner. It is part of the Savannah River Basin and affects all three states water. The Savannah River begins in the Blue Ridge Mountains in N. Carolina and Georgia and flows into the Atlantic Ocean. The river basin is a 25,900-square-kilometer/10,000-square-mile watershed that is in need of some helping hands.

And yes some people are trying to help. The U.S. EPA has organized and initiated a water clean up act that is just beggining so there is still time for you to help out. People always need extra help on projects as big as these.

These are the major environmental problems that could affect you daily:

Salinity in estuart impacts on public/private drinking water.
Negative water quality impacts on public drinking water supplies
Commerical shipping impacts on the harbor water quality
Urban storm drain run off
Impaired fisheries due to poor water quality

There are a whole bunch of different organizations that are investing time, people, and/or money, into cleaning up this watershed. If you are part of these companies, or just want to help, I'm sure that they would be more than willing to help get you involved.
And last of all here is someone that you can contact with your concerns and issues:

Meredith Anderson
U.S. EPA Region IV
345 Courtland Street, NE
Atlanta, Georgia 30365
(404) 347-2126, ext. 6581
FAX: (404) 347-3269

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Help

Hello to the people who care enough to be reading this page. The fact is guys, we are causeing major problems on our planet and there are things we can do about it! It is extremely important for us not to litter.

Let me tell you why: Whenever you buy something it comes packaged in all sorts of plastic and paper. When you unwrap the thing you bought and you throw the wrapper on the ground. The wind blows it around for a while and it winds up in a brook, river, lake or pond. OR

Your wrapper sits on the ground for a while and then it rains. Well, either way, your wrapper has made it to a source of water. This is bad for a number of reasons. First the dies, ink, and glue all get absorbed into the water. The water flows into our rivers, our drinking water, other animals homes and the ocean. Many many animals are dieing due to the chemicals in the water. Second, plastics do not disintigrate very easily. Many animals eat lots of plastic and starve to death. The plastic fills up their stomach but can not be disolved, and the animal doesn't eat regular food. It becomes malnourished, or starves until it dies.

The thing that we do not realize is that we, just you and just me can start a change. You are an example where ever you go. When you go out make sure that you never litter. If someone your with litters, pick it up and throw it away. Do not get upset if they ask you what you think your doing. Your picking up litter and doing the right thing. After a while your friends will learn not to litter. Set examples for people. If you are a ciggerette smoker, please do not throw the butts on the ground. When it rains on them many chemicals are released into the water. Put the ciggerett out and then throw it in the trash. Or tear the cherry off and put the filter in the trash or your back pocket. And I know that there are millions of people littering their butts, but if they see you walk down the street and dispose of your butt properly, then they may begin to do it to.
You can also e-mail the President, the Senate, Congress, or your local representivies.
You can talk to people or write to your newspaper.
Look at renewable energy sources. We create a lot of air pollution and other waste through the production of the energy,electricity, that we use. Solar power, wind power, and biomass are a few ways that we can reduse the amount of waste and still produce sufficient energy to run a home or business.



Recycle

Recycle

Recycle

AND MOST OF ALL-DO NOT LITTER-PLEASE

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