 I Sea Green
By
Ian Adelman
Water pollution and water policy:
what’s the difference?
When we think about protecting our marine
environment, we turn our back to most of the state and look seaward,
toward the salt marshes, oyster rakes and live bottom habitats. But
we can’t forget that the waterways we enjoy for boating, fishing,
surfing and sailing are dependent on what happens upstream. I mean
this in the literal sense: by nature of being on the coast, we are
downstream of all of Georgia’s polluters and water withdrawers. They
determine the quantity and quality of the water that flows past our
docks and thus the health of our creeks, marshes, bays and ocean.
But let’s not stop at the literal. We often have our backs turned to
the deliberations, lobbying, and deal-making that happens under the
Gold Dome in Atlanta, which is a major determinate of our waterside
life.
Right now, the halls of the capitol are buzzing with
lobbyists and our elected officials, and they’re in the middle of a
legislative session where key water issues may be decided. Whether
we notice it or not, the Lowcountry is a political battleground when
it comes to these water quality debates. On one side is the desire
for economic development – our ports, housing developments, and new
businesses – and on the other side is the push for conservation of
the most expansive salt marsh ecosystem left on the East Coast. The
list of potential debates is endless: the deepening of the harbor
and expansion of the port, the expansion of Plant Vogtle on the
Savannah River, a proposed coal power plant on the Ogeechee River,
salt water intrusion, the Olin factory, new waste water treatment
facilities, storm water runoff, leaky septic tanks …
Every year the legislature takes up some of these
issues, but for most of us it’s impossible to keep up with all of
the policies, regulations and laws that pertain to our waterways.
For just that reason, Clean Coast (www.cleancoast.org),
the Center for a Sustainable Coast (www.sustainablecoast.org)
and Coastal Group: Georgia Sierra Club (www.georgia.sierraclub.org/coastal)
are organizing and sponsoring a Coastal Issues Forum. The free and
open to the public event is titled “Air, Fire, Earth, Water: Vital
Elements of Comprehensive Water Policy,” and will be held on April
10 in Richmond Hill. More details at the end of the column.
“We want people to get a clearer and deeper
understanding of environmental issues,” said Clean Coast president
Karen Grainey. “We see the forum as an opportunity for people to go
beyond the headlines of the issues. Some issues, especially when
they deal with public policy, can be too complicated to understand
from a newspaper article alone.”
This will be the fifth forum the groups have
organized. It originally started as a type of retreat to inform
members of the participating groups but, Grainey said, “we learned
it was such an important event that we wanted to open it to the
wider public to give more people a better understanding” of what is
happening across the state. The forum is designed to cater to any
interested citizens, not just to people that consider themselves
environmental experts or scientists. There will be presentations
from at least four different speakers that will address sea level
rise, clean energy, green infrastructure, the state water planning
process, and a few more topics.
Do you know what “interbasin water transfers” are?
The status of the “tri-state water wars” and the state water plan?
Saltwater intrusion? These are all water policy issues that will
impact our coast. If we don’t get involved, the future of the
Lowcountry will be decided in Atlanta in the interests of the
highest bidder. The Coastal Issues Forum is an opportunity to get
informed so you can speak up for the preservation of our coast. If
you want to do more, join one of the many organizations on our coast
whose interest and goals align with yours. Or check out the Georgia
Conservation Voters website (www.gavoters.com)
and see what our legislature is up to. Once you are informed, become
an active citizen by talking up the issues with your friends or
telling your state legislators that a healthy coast is necessary for
your way of life.
The forum will be held April 10 at the John W.
Stevens Wetlands Education Center, Richmond Hill. The event is free
and open to the public.
Ian Adelman is a Massachusetts native with an endless
curiosity for what’s happening in our world. Send him questions,
comments, or a push in the right direction. Email:
adelman19@gmail.com.
|
