On April 17th, SRWA President Echols and University of California, Santa Barbara, students Erin Clem and Daniela Robles presented at the 2024 National Environmental Justice Conference and Training Program in Washington, D.C..
Below find Clem and Robles’ case study and the “Advancing EJ” presentation describing how SRWA has leveraged Georgia Environmental Protection Division’s Triennial Review and designated use standards to improve water quality.
SRWA Opening Statement
National Environmental Justice Conference
April 17, 2024 // Washington, D. C.
The Upper South River Watershed is an environmental justice community where more than 450,000 Black, marginalized, and other vulnerable people of color live.
In 2010, violating 50-years of Clean Water Act (CWA) history and legal precedent, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) negotiated a federal CWA consent decree with DeKalb County that does not contain a deadline or date certain to stop sewage spills into the South River in south DeKalb County. Additionally, and again breaking with precedent, the DeKalb County consent decree created “priority” and “non-priority” areas. Most of the “non-priority” areas are also located in predominately Black south DeKalb County.
In 2011, SRWA launched two flagship programs in support of improving water quality in the river through recreation – Beyond the Bridge kayak/canoe paddles, and the South River Water Trail, an initiative in partnership with downstream municipalities to provide safe and legal access to the river. I learned later, upon discovering the Triennial review process, that recreational use is the only way to improve water quality and elevate water quality standards in Georgia’s waterways.
In 2019, during a random internet search, I happened across information about the Triennial review. The process, how it works, and why it is so important are outlined in the Clean Water Act. When coupled with stream restoration; specifically recreational use, the Triennial review process can be for others, as it was for SRWA, an effective tool for revitalizing environmental justice communities.
Currently, the single most destructive threat to water quality in south DeKalb County is the failure of the 2010 DeKalb County consent decree to stop sewage spills into the South River and surrounding communities.
It will be difficult and likely impossible to overcome this unprecedented injustice. However, the Triennial review process and its recreational use mandate provides the best opportunity to improve water quality but the responsibility and burden is blatantly unfair.
We remain hopeful, through opportunities like this one to highlight this issue, and with continued focus on this environmental injustice, EPA will be compelled to revisit the DeKalb County consent decree and this issue and right this wrong!
Jacqueline Echols, PhD
Board President, SRWA