A Conversation with MillerCoors Grant Finalist-West Atlanta Watershed Alliance

RN: We’re talking today with Darryl Haddock from the West Atlanta Watershed Alliance. How does your proposed project align with your organization’s mission?

WAWA: The mission of the West Atlanta Watershed Alliance is to improve the quality of life in the West Atlanta Watershed by protecting, preserving, and restoring our community’s natural resources. This includes preventing illegal dumping, protecting local waters, and educating the community about the how our environment affects our quality of life. Our project is consistent with this mission.

RN: Please describe your proposed project for the MillerCoors River Network grant

WAWA: We’re working with major partners to educate West Atlanta residents about water conservation, water quality, and other measures to improve our watershed. This grant will help WAWA keep pace with a fast moving partnership, coordinate community education activities, promote residential rainwater capture and conservation programs, develop a green infrastructure demonstration project, and continue watershed restoration projects: stream monitoring, cleanups, and stream stabilization.

RN: How will your proposed project make an impact on water quality, conservation and awareness of water issues in your community?

WAWA: This proposal focuses on drinking water source protection, riparian habitat restoration, and water efficiency in the Proctor Creek and Utoy Creek basins.

Our advocacy for these issues has attracted major partners for the restoration of the 1,042 acre Proctor Creek headwaters which includes the Greater Vine City neighborhoods, among Atlanta’s poorest communities. Partners include: Park Pride, The Conservation Fund, City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management, students from local Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Fulton County, EPA and other State and Federal agencies.

Through this collaboration we will significantly address stressors to metro Atlanta’s water quality and in turn the quality of the Chattahoochee River Watershed.

RN: Why do you think people should vote for your organization’s proposed project?

WAWA: We’re a small but dedicated organization that seeks to address major problems in our community. The Chattahoochee Watershed has the smallest storage capacity in acres per person in the country and has been impaired by water coming from its urban tributaries (including Proctor Creek). Our activities impact one of the southeast’s fastest growing demographics.

Access to water by poor and under-served communities could be a critical issue as metro Atlanta continues to grow. We seek to prevent discriminatory practices that impair water quality and potentially limit equitable distribution. Access to healthy streams and green space improve quality of life and public health.

RN: Thanks Darryl for all you’re doing to help your fellow Atlantians!

Find out more about West Atlanta Watershed Alliance on their website

View project summaries from the MillerCoors-River Network Watershed Protection Grant competition and cast your vote today!