A Shared Partner Success

This month we'd like to shine a light on an issue that a number of our Partner groups have taken on with passion and vigor: sediment pollution from construction site runoff.

In 2005, Georgia’s Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper (UCR) created the Get the Dirt Out program to tackle the problem of stormwater runoff flowing from construction sites into their rivers. UCR has trained hundreds of citizens, local officials, developers and engineers through a two-hour Get the Dirt Out workshop to teach Georgians how to identify and report sediment control violations. The Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper has since been joined by Altamaha Riverkeeper, Coosa River Basin Initiative, Flint Riverkeeper, Georgia River Network, Georgia Wildlife Federation, Ogeechee Canoochee Riverkeeper, Satilla Riverkeeper, Savannah Riverkeeper and Sierra Club in providing trainings on how to Get the Dirt Out.

In 2007 the Upper Neuse Riverkeeper (NC), then under Dean Naujoks' leadership, created the Muddy Water Watch project based on Georgia’s Get the Dirt Out model. Since then, all of the NC Riverkeepers in conjunction with Southern Environmental Law Center, Conservation Council for NC and NC Conservation Network have partnered to address North Carolina's number one water pollution problem. Many have been trained by the Muddy Water Watch program, including state and local E&S inspectors, elected officials, developers and citizens. This model citizen training program has gained such interest it is being adopted by the Riverkeeper programs in Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Alabama.

Over the years, River Network has supported these programs and their lead organizations in a number of ways. In 2005, River Network recognized Alice Champagne, the UCR staff member who created Get the Dirt Out, as a National River Hero. River Network also funded the Muddy Water Watch program in its infancy through two regrants, and has assisted the Neuse River Foundation by providing consulting support for the creation of a Strategic Plan and by helping train their newly hired development staff. In 2005, our staff helped train some of the future North Carolina Muddy Water Watch trainers on stormwater permits, and we worked directly with Georgia River Network staff on their version of the Get the Dirt Out training. For several years, we have been able to provide organizational support and guidance and advice on stormwater permitting advocacy in the Southeast thanks to support from the C.S. Mott Foundation.

River Network is also pleased to announce that Dean Naujoks, who played a major role in the establishment of the Muddy Water Watch program, has been selected by a panel of his peers as a 2009 National River Hero. He and four other Heroes will be recognized at the 10th National River Rally in Baltimore, MD from May 29-June 2.

Congratulations to all who are working to reduce sediment pollution of our great rivers and streams. River Network continues to support you and cheer you on!