Erasure: DeKalb quietly renames Intrenchment Creek Park behind closed doors

DEKALB COUNTY'S ERASURE OF INTRENCHMENT CREEK PARK & INTRENCHMENT CREEK

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CEO Cochran-Johnson and DeKalb County leadership,

It has come to my attention that, despite recently declaring a "Shared Vision to Reimagine Intrenchment Creek Park", the office of CEO Cochran Johnson has renamed Intrenchment Creek Park (ICP, established in 2003) to "Michelle Obama Park” behind closed doors.

In a 6.24.2026 email from Director Chris Bass to a resident regarding both the Intrenchement Creek Park property and the Michelle Obama Park property (collectively referred to as "the property”), Director Bass states:

"...all planning for the property, now formally and collectively named Michelle Obama Park, was conducted with the understanding that it is a single, unified site.” — Chris Bass, DeKalb County Director of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Affairs

Renaming a public park behind closed doors 23 years after the land was publicly named, is an act of erasure. It is a political move to ensure that District 3 residents and ICP never receive proper master planning, that the land swap be forgotten, and ensures further confusion of the ongoing threat of Data Center development on traded away ICP land.

More than 20 years of neglect and short-sighted political decisions regarding ICP, including the CEO's nonpublic name change, have ignored the connection between environmental and public health, as well as the fact that Intrenchment Creek is a valuable public amenity to be protected.

The CEO's latest action will contribute to the continued recession of Intrenchment Creek from discourse, from the landscape, and from memory.

RENAMING DOES NOT REMOVE THE NEED FOR A MASTER PLAN

The recently cited 2020-2021 community engagement meetings did not reference any of the 136-acre ICP and were focused solely on plans for the land acquired from Ryan Millsap in the 2021 land exchange. ICP is not in any plan or Master Plan that has been approved by the Board of Commissioners. The unique greenspace Intrenchment Creek Park (ICP) provides is unlike any other park in DeKalb County, making the need for master planning most important.

Established in 2003 as an integral part of the county’s greenspace plans, ICP provides open space as well as ecological protection for the creek. But the park’s ecosystem needs investment and restoration. For example, stewardship efforts like invasive species removal would strengthen the fragile ecosystem while facilitating county-community trust and collaboration.

ICP can connect people to nature and restore ecological health, not further degrade it.

Open first, plan next. The park has been unnecessarily closed for four years. Residents deserve to explore and experience ICP before it changes again. Opening ICP as-is will allow people to connect to their public land – a healthy step towards healing and planning.

Open ICP now and begin the master planning for the largest Greenspace in District 3 DeKalb, Intrenchment Creek Park. District 3 neighborhoods deserve a community-led planning process just like any other District in the county.

Thank you.

Your name

Dear DeKalb: Open ICP as-is & initiate an ICP Master Plan

ASK DEKALB COUNTY TO:

#1 OPEN Intrenchment Creek Park AS-IS

The park has been unfairly closed for well over 3 years. Ask the CEO to open the park now and allow people to visit before land disturbance and changes are made.

Opening the park, not altering it, is the right step towards proper community engagement and planning.

#2 INITIATE MASTER PLANNING FOR ICP

There is no plan or Master Plan for ICP that has gone under community review or been approved by the Board of Commissioners. 40 acres of park land were traded away in 2021. All meetings held by the county in 2020 and 2021 focused solely on Michelle Obama Park, nothing about ICP.

Intrenchment Creek Park deserves a Master Plan just like any other park in DeKalb County!

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LCJohnson@dekalbcountyga.gov, ceo@dekalbcountyga.gov, cbass@dekalbcountyga.gov, pksinger@dekalbcountyga.gov, jvallo@dekalbcountyga.gov, zlwilliams@dekalbcountyga.gov, wsshelton@dekalbcountyga.gov, tgphilli@dekalbcountyga.gov, ecterry@dekalbcountyga.gov, kecato@dekalbcountyga.gov, rjpatrick@dekalbcountyga.gov, tmsmith1@dekalbcountyga.gov, mlspears@dekalbcountyga.gov, namassiah@dekalbcountyga.gov, latwaters@dekalbcountyga.gov, cjjohnson2@dekalbcountyga.gov, adbrooks@dekalbcountyga.gov, mdjohnson@dekalbcountyga.gov, dmccoy@dekalbcountyga.gov, labolton@dekalbcountyga.gov, lpzanders@dekalbcountyga.gov

SUBJECT: Open ICP as-is and start the Master Planning process

CEO Cochran-Johnson and DeKalb County leadership,

Intrenchment Creek Park (ICP) is unlike any other park in DeKalb County, which makes the need for master planning critical. The recently cited 2020-2021 community engagement meetings did not reference ICP and were focused solely on plans for Michelle Obama Park. ICP is not in any plan or Master Plan that has been approved by the Board of Commissioners.

Established in 2003 as an integral part of the county’s greenspace plans, ICP provides open space as well as ecological protection for the creek. But the park’s ecosystem needs investment and restoration. For example, stewardship efforts like invasive species removal would strengthen the fragile ecosystem while facilitating county-community trust and collaboration.

ICP can connect people to nature and restore ecological health, not further degrade it.

ICP does not need planning or development before it is opened. In fact, new residents deserve to explore and experience it before it changes again. Opening ICP as-is will allow people to connect to the park – a healthy step towards planning.

Open ICP now and begin the master planning process that is long overdue. District 3 deserves a community-led planning process for ICP just like any other park in the county.

Thank you.

Your name

DeKalb County: Return ICP to the People

#1.

WRITE DEKALB DECISION MAKERS

Click to send the letter below OR write-your-own!

#2.

DEMAND A REAL TOWN HALL

5.12.26: FROM THE CEO TO DEKALB RESIDENTS

“Upon taking office in ‘25, I immediately authorized the necessary conversations to seek the buy back of the [swapped Intrenchment Creek Park] land and the county remains open and ready to move forward with acquisition at fair market value – with the approval of Mr. Millsap.”

- CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson

WE MUST HOLD THE CEO TRUE TO THIS STATEMENT!

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SAMPLE LETTER

DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson and Board of Commissioners:

On February 2, 2026 Superior Court Judge Stacey Hydrick issued a Mediation Order in the case concerning the land swap by DeKallb County (County) of 40 acres of Intrenchment Creek Park to Blackhall Studios, Ryan Millsap (Millsap). The deadline to mediate is May 30, 2026. The mediation process is the County’s last and best chance to return the park land to the people. 

After the land swap, Millsap promptly sold the movie studio business and kept the park land for himself. Now, Millsap is attempting to clear the title, which is incumbered by the land’s park status, through a Quiet Title Against the World (Quiet Title) action with the intent to sell the land to a data center developer. DeKalb County is complicit in Milsap’s action and any private development that may occur. This insult to taxpayers is only occurring because the County swapped public land that was restricted by deed to be used in perpetuity as park property (see the 2003 Deed on Intrenchment Creek Park).

The South River Watershed Alliance and no less than ten County residents have entered the Quiet Title action in opposition to Millsap. By law, anyone, including the County, can enter this action and mediation process.

You have stated that DeKalb is ready to move forward with purchasing the land from Millsap. What is your objection to entering mediation which would help achieve a fair and just outcome?

Now is the County’s chance to achieve a fair and just settlement for DeKalb’s citizens. Court-ordered mediation is the leverage needed to negotiate with Millsap and right this wrong — one that you voted for and now have an opportunity to fix.

As said in your own words at a Special Called PECS meeting on November 6, 2023:

“…At this point I am very disillusioned with the process. It is the only vote that I will sit here and say that, if I had the ability to rescind, I would.”

If the above-mentioned wrongs are not enough, the land swap continues to set a legal precedent that threatens public land county-wide.

Compounding the injustice, for well over three years, taxpayers have been denied use of Intrenchment Creek Park in its entirety under an Executive Order issued by former CEO Michael Thurmond. And for well over a year, it has been in your power to lift the order and reopen the park.

Please use the power of your office to return Intrenchment Creek Park, in its entirety, back to the citizens of DeKalb, lift the executive order, and reopen our beloved park. You have the ability and authority!

Thank you.

Your Name Here

____________________________________

Send this letter to CEO Cochran-Johnson today!

Op Ed: DeKalb County Can Right Egregious Wrong

DeKalb County's last chance to rightfully return public park land to the people is to participate in the Superior Court-ordered mediation process with Blackhall Studios.

The swap of 40-acres of Intrenchment Creek Park (ICP) to a private developer never should have happened. Currently, the park land is under threat of being developed as a data center.  Over the past five-plus years the swap issue has wound its way through Georgia’s court system.  This multi-year effort to protect and reclaim ICP has been spearheaded by South River Watershed Alliance and DeKalb residents, near and far, who are the rightful owners of ICP.  

On October 23, 2024, the Georgia Court of Appeals ruled that the complaint filed by South River Watershed Alliance in 2021 was barred due to sovereign immunity. Georgia law forbids a lawsuit in which two defendants are named one having sovereign immunity (DeKalb County) and the other a private entity (Blackhall Real Estate Phase II, LLC). The complaint was sent back to DeKalb County Superior Court, where the lawsuit was originally filed, instructing the judge in that lawsuit to vacate any decision made about the lawsuit and to dismiss it. 

In its remand order, the Court of Appeals did not address the merits or issues of fact related to the swap raised by South River Watershed Alliance and co-Plaintiffs. 

Without question, the Intrenchment Creek Park 2003 Vesting Deed, with DeKalb County as Grantee, provides “both the Blank Foundation and members of the public that use the Park” shall have the right to take any action necessary at law or equity to enforce the Use Restriction that it shall be used in perpetuity as park property.  

The Vesting Deed seeks specific performance of contract in Equity. The principal of Equitable Relief keeps a party from alleging a fact or acting in a certain way, then attempting to claim something in opposition to that fact or action. The land swap between DeKalb County and Blackhall Real Estate Phase II, LLC (“Blackhall”) demonstrates such an attempt. Furthermore, the principal of Equitable Relief, with respect to a contract in equity, prohibits an individual or entity from reneging on representations he/she/it promised in the contract when such reneging would cause anyone relying on those representations to be harmed or endure a detriment or erosion of his/ her interests as a result of that reliance. The lands swap between DeKalb County and Blackhall also harms and erodes (as it is a detriment to) the rights of park users to both enjoy that property at least for as long as they live and defend that right for as long as they live and use the park. 

There are no provisions in the Vesting Deed that supports the land swap. After an owner dedicates land to public use either expressly or by actions and the land is used by the public for such a length of time that accommodation of the public or private rights may be materially affected by interruption of the right to use such land, the owner may not afterwards appropriate the land to private purposes. (GA Code § 44-5-230 (2024) – Dedication of land to public use). 

Currently, there is an attempt underway by Blackhall to “quiet” or eliminate all claims and clear the title to ICP through Quiet Title Against the World proceedings. A critical aspect of the quiet title process, as ordered by the Superior Court judge, is mediation which provides the opportunity and establishes ground rules for achieving a fair and equitable settlement that could result in reversal of the land swap and return ICP to the County’s citizens. However, the County’s active participation in the mediation process, with the goal of returning ICP to its rightful owners, is essential. Moreover, participation provides the opportunity for the County’s current administration to right an egregious wrong, inherited from the previous administration, that made the swap possible.  

Jacqueline Echols, PhD
Board President, South River Watershed Alliance

September, 2020: Stop the Swap protesters convene at the now closed and demolished South River PATH Trailhead at ICP.

A Georgia state-protected Box Turtle. ICP provides important wildlife habitat, waterway protection, pollution and flood mitigation.

Call to Action: You can challenge Millsap's ownership of Intrenchment Creek Park

Ryan Millsap (Blackhall Studios) entered a Quiet Title Action (QTA) in 2025 in attempt to clear the title on the swapped park land and sell it. As of January 8th, any member of the public who used the park can enter the QTA, thereby challenging Millsap's claim to the land! DEADLINE: Monday, February 23rd.

• • •

HOW TO TAKE ACTION: The below instructions are available via PDF HERE.

>> Sign the Affidavit: DOWNLOAD THE AFFIDAVIT HERE
It is 12 pages. Your signature may be printed or e-signed on the last page. Include the date and your address (optional). Note that you will need a signed Affidavit in PDF format for e-Filing.

• • •

>> e-File your Affidavit with the DeKalb Superior Court Clerk
Begin by registering for an Individual Account with eFileGA. Check your email to Activate Account. Sign in and add a Payment Method (filling will cost $25 and change).

3-STEP INSTRUCTIONS for e-FILING:

Step #1 - Add yourself as a party to the case

• Go to Home/Dashboard, Click “Start Filing”

• Choose “File ino Existing Case”

• Location: “DeKalb County - Superior Court”

• Case # 25CV4669

• Search - This page should load:

• Actions (upper right) > File into Case

• Case Info page: Click “Parties” (bottom right)

• Parties page: Click “Add More”

• Add yourself as a Party:

• Type: Defendant

• Choose: I am this party

• Attorney info: “Pro Se” (self-represented) or enter the name of your attorney

• Save - Now your name should be listed as a defendant!

Step #2 - e-Filing with the DeKalb Superior Court Clerk

• On the Parties page: Click “Filings” (bottom right)

• Filings page: Add Filing

• Filing Type: Choose “eFile Only”

• Filing Code: Choose from dropdown “Response in Opposition”

• Filing Description: Response in Opposition to Quiet Title Action Case #25CV4669

• Client Reference #: (leave blank unless you have a lawyer who’d like to enter a ref #)

• Comments: Leave blank or suggested: “The uploaded PDF document is an affidavit in response signed by me, [your name]. If this filing is not accepted, please advise as to what information is insufficient and/or incorrect. Thank you.”

• Upload your Signed Affidavit (make sure your pdf is not locked)

• Save

• Skip to Fees

• Party Responsible for Fees: Choose Your Name

• Calculate Fees

• Summary (bottom right) - Review to ensure all info is correct

• Submit!

Step #3 - Send your affidavit to Millsap’s attorney

• The last required action is that you serve Millsap’s attorneys.

• Wait until you get a confirmation email from eFileGA that your filing is accepted. Should take less than 24 hrs. 

• Acceptance email will include a link to DOWNLOAD DOCUMENT. This is your official file-stamped copy!

• Email your file-stamped copy to:

• SSullivan@burr.com, lguarnotta@burr.com

You are done!
Thank you for challenging the land swap with SRWA.

If your filing is rejected, please troubleshoot with the clerk’s office and review the above instructions to double check each step. If you still have trouble after this, call 706-254-9526. Please be prepared to log into your eFileGA account and hop on Zoom so that we can attempt to assist you.

Little Fish, Big News

South River Fish Passage & Habitat Restoration

An ongoing initiative in partnership with The Nature Conservancy in Georgia.

Restoring safe passage for fish and paddlers at Snapping Shoals Dam has been a priority for SRWA since the launch of our recreational programming and development of the South River Water Trail. Reconnecting these riverine corridors is critical to establishing resilient ecological communities in the face of climate change. Indeed, it is of state and regional significance particularly in an increasingly urban landscape.

The highlight of our anniversary celebration this year is the announcement of a new, major project and next-level partnership with The Nature Conservancy (TNC). Together we will amplify efforts to restore flow and aquatic habitat with benefits to all communities of the South River Watershed – the people and the aquatic wildlife. Several native species of migratory fish, like American Shad, Robust Redhorse, and the American Eel (see below) once utilized the river corridor from the ocean up to the smallest headwater streams of Georgia’s inland river systems – including the upper Ocmulgee and the South River. These fish play an important role in both coastal and freshwater ecosystems, however, the fish are blocked by dams like Juliette and Lloyd Shoals dams on the Ocmulgee, and Snapping Shoals Dam on the South River.

Enter TNC in Georgia. As part of their whole systems approach to watershed conservation, TNC has identified the South River watershed as a priority headwater for the restoration and protection of the greater Altamaha River Basin. With about 60,000 acres of the South River watershed directly impacting aquatic and terrestrial resiliency from headwaters to coast, it represents opportunities to restore habitat and biodiversity, improve water quality and quantity, increase recreational opportunities, and support public safety.

This work is just beginning and is sure to be an exciting new chapter for SRWA and the South River. Please consider sponsoring our annual fundraiser, 25 in 25’, and join us in celebration of our river’s important role in restoring native fish habitat in Georgia!

Snapping Shoals Dam, owned by Henry County, is a low-head dam and the only dam on the South River.
Image credit: Alan Cressler

NATIVE FISH SPECIES: POTENTIAL FLOW & HABITAT RESTORATION, MIGRATION & RE-POPULATION

Robust Redhorse, Moxostoma robustum

The Robust Redhorse is a state-endangered suckerfish native to the southern Atlantic slope, both in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain rivers of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. It is a potamodromous species, meaning that it undertakes long migrations, in some cases up to 62 miles within freshwater rivers, from the low-lying and low-gradient Coastal Plain ecoregion to its spawning grounds on gravel bars near shoals in the upland and higher-gradient Piedmont ecoregion. The species requires clean gravel bars on which to spawn and unimpeded migration routes to complete its life cycle. Source

The robust redhorse historically occurred in river drainages, from the Altamaha in Georgia northward to the Pee Dee of North and South Carolina. Currently a small population persists in a stretch of the Oconee River from Milledgeville south to just above Dublin, Georgia. Additional small populations of unknown size persist in the Savannah River below New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam, Georgia / South Carolina, and the Pee Dee River, North and South Carolina. The robust redhorse has been re-introduced into the Broad River, a tributary of the Savannah River, and the Ogeechee and Ocmulgee rivers in Georgia, and has also been introduced into large tributaries in the Santee River drainage in South Carolina. Source

THREAT: Blocked migration routes and habitat loss due to altered flow, dams, sedimentation, erosion, and pollution

Image license
Image credit Brian Gratwicke

American Eel, Anguilla rostrata

The American eel is the only species of freshwater eel found in North America. It once made up over a quarter of the total fish found in many Atlantic coastal streams. Indeed, the eel is a valuable food source for larger fish and fish-eating birds, as well as people. Eels are catadromous, meaning they primarily live in rivers and estuaries, but migrate out to the ocean - the Sargasso Sea, to spawn. American eels are an elongated fish, with fairly small fins. They use their whole body to swim in undulating motions. Source

The species is now federally managed by the National Marine Fisheries Section of NOAA and has become a focus of fish passage efforts. GADNR began tracking the American Eel in 2021 to help provide quality and up to date data to inform the need for additional eel passage at such barriers as hydropower dams. Source

THREAT: Blocked migration routes and habitat loss due to altered flow, dams, sedimentation, erosion, and pollution

Image license
Image credit Erickson Smith

American shad, Alosa sapidissima

American shad is an anadromous, migratory species found along the Atlantic coast of North America from Newfoundland to Florida. They spend most of their lives in the Atlantic Ocean. When it is time to spawn, they return to the freshwater rivers where they hatched.

The Anadromous Fish Conservation Act authorizes the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) to work with states and other non-federal partners to restore and enhance depleted populations of valuable migratory fishes, like the American shad, and their habitats. Source

THREAT: Blocked migration routes and habitat loss due to altered flow, dams, sedimentation, erosion, and pollution

Image license
Image credit Philadelphia Water Department, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Atlanta's Combined Sewer Overflow Facility on Intrenchment Creek

WHAT IS A COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOW FACILITY (CSO)?

Understanding Atlanta’s sewage pollution requires understanding how a Combined Sewer System (CSS) works. Watch this PBS Video on CSS to learn more.

WATCH: PBS Video on Combined Sewers

The headwaters of Intrenchment Creek, the South River’s largest urban tributary, start in downtown Atlanta, winding southeast through once thriving African American communities at the heart of the city. These communities experience persistent flooding, combined sewer spills, and CSO overflow events that negatively impact the environment and quality of life for residents of the Peoplestown, Summerhill, Mechanicsville, and other southeast Atlanta communities.

ATLANTA’S CUSTER AVE CSO FACILITY ON INTRENCHMENT CREEK

The Custer Avenue CSO (780 Custer Ave SE/855 Sloan Cir SE) was built in the mid ‘80s as part of the East Area Combined Sewer System (CSS), along with the East Area Intrenchment Creek Water Quality Control Facility (WQCF), which collects both stormwater runoff and sanitary sewage in a single set of pipes. The CSO functions by diverting combined stormwater and sewage to a treatment plant. During rain events, CSO overflow events enter into Intrenchment Creek. This has led to historic and ongoing violations of the Clean Water Act, contributing to water degradation and ecological harm.

How the CSO facility overflows, degrades water quality, and violates the Clean Water Act: Overflows are a designed feature of older combined sewer systems to prevent backups into homes and businesses during major storm events. The discharge of raw or partially treated sewage during CSO events significantly degrades the water quality of Intrenchment Creek. Atlanta has a long history of violations related to its combined sewer system, including the Custer Avenue facility, resulting in federal oversight via it’s 1998 Consent Decree.

Learn more about the Custer Ave CSO

• • •

THE FLOODING & POLLUTING OF SE ATLANTA NEIGHBORHOODS

Peoplestown flood event, 2022. Image credit: Rough Draft Atlanta

Perry Holloway at his flooded residence on South Avenue, 2019. Image credit: Curtis Compton

Atlanta’s incoming Director of Watershed, Greg Eyerly, addresses concerned citizens. Peoplestown, June 2025.

Peoplestown Flooding: Who Pays, Who Benefits

In the wake of the Atlanta Braves’ exodus (2016) and the purchase of the stadium and associated parking lots by Georgia State University and developer Carter USA, the City of Atlanta has failed miserably in its responsibility to require these and other upstream landowners, namely, Atlanta Public Schools, to effectively manage development and re-development stormwater impacts that are the source of combined sewage flooding in the Peoplestown community.      

Atlanta’s “solution”? Custer Avenue Capacity Relief Multi-Benefit Project
A proposed park, dubbed by residents as the Peoplestown “Poop Park”, retrofitted to accommodate a 20-million-gallon vault to hold untreated sewage and stormwater under a grass lawn is Atlanta’s so-called solution. The proposed project is as offensive as the name, negatively impacting all measures of community well-being – quality of life, environmental health, and economic security.

Based on calculations for the sewer-shed, a 2,700 Million Gallons per Day (MGD) treatment capacity at the Custer Ave facility would substantially reduce Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) events at the facility. The proposed vault will hold 12-24 million gallons, a fraction of the quantity needed to meaningfully reduce or eliminate community flooding, downstream flooding, or CSO events.

The 12 to 24-million-gallon combined sewage vault, now estimated to cost $156,519,692, more than a two-fold increase over the original estimate of $72,000,000, is currently under construction in Peoplestown. The vault will not stop combined sewage from inundating surrounding homes, yards, and streets. It will not stop violations of the city’s federal Clean Water Act permit at the Custer Avenue Combined Sewage Overflow Facility. It will ensure that combined sewage flooding become a permanent source of community degradation.

This project is the path of least resistance. Unlike wealthy and politically connected upstream businesses and property owners, that rightfully should be a part of the solution, the residents of Peoplestown are virtually powerless to stop this destructive project. Peoplestown deserves the same community enhancing equitable and just solution the city provided Old Fourth Ward and Vine City residents. It is not to late to do the right thing. Consider writing Atlanta leadership and see SRWA's letter to Judge Thomas Thrash.

In 2020, the Intrenchment Creek One Water Task Force produced a report – Advancing Equity and Addressing Flooding and Combined Sewer Spills in the Heart of Atlanta detailing what real solutions could look like.

For more information and to get involved, go to IntrenchmentATL.com and contact: IntrenchmentATL@gmail.com, Contact@intrenchmentatl.com

DeKalb notifies EPA: County will miss 2027 consent decree deadline, EPA requests status conference

"In particular, the County says it will miss the December 2027 deadline to construct wet-weather storage projects that are needed in the Snapfinger Basin to eliminate sewage overflows called Sanitary Sewer Overflows ("SOs") at 14 Priority Fix List ("PFL") locations in South DeKalb County."

So, even the "priority" areas in south DeKalb will not be fixed. Dig into the EPA status request and declarations including proposed "solutions" to sewage debacle and costs with major implications for the environment and water/sewer rates.

Below c/o @katdos and @unbelievabledekalbwaterbills:

Former CEO Thurmond alerted EPA on the *last possible day* of his tenure - December 31st, 2024, that Dekalb would FAIL to meet the consent decree deadline for repairing sewer pipes. Even with splitting the county into "priority" and "non-priority" areas, county decision makers failed to repair the "priority" list they curated themselves.

According to a local environmental attorney quoted in the Decaturish article, the county "underestimated the amount of sewer work needed by 50 percent" and "most puzzling is the county citing environmental justice concerns for its own failure to reduce pollution in the most overburdened communities."

Dig into the EPA status request and declarations including proposed "solutions" to the debacle with major implications for the environment and water/sewer rates.

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"Priority" areas are in orange. "Non priority" areas, as defined by the consent decree, have no deadline for sewer and water pipe repair and make up 69% of the county. Much of the non priority areas are in south DeKalb where the percentage of minority population is over 90% (blue) and where the most sewage spills and largest volume of spills occur.

Entire navigable South River Water Trail now designated for recreation

In October of 2024, twenty-seven miles of river, from Honey Creek upstream to Panola Shoals, were approved for recreational use by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division. The 13-mile section from Honey Creek downstream to Lake Jackson was upgraded to recreational use in 2021.

This historical feat means that the entire 40-mile navigable length of the river will benefit from higher water quality standards and protections that must be enforced by GA EPD. Backtracking is not allowed!

The achievement is directly due to YOUR recreation on the river and the tenacity of SRWA and our partners as we continue to improve recreational access. For all those who have paddled, volunteered, or checked-in on the river, we cannot commend or thank you enough!

DOWLOAD THE GEORGIA RIVER GUIDE APP

Looking for more in-depth attributes of the navigable South River Water Trail? We recommend downloading the Georgia River Guide mobile app and search South River Water Trail!. Created by Georgia River Network, the app is available for free on the App Store and Google Play.

Headwater Restoration: Remediation plan for the Tift hazardous waste site successfully negotiated

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY GROUP, FORWARD TOGETHER EAST POINT, SRWA HAS SUCCESSFULLY NEGOTIATED A REMEDIATION PLAN WITH GA EPD FOR THE “TIFT” HAZARDOUS WASTE SITE THAT HAS CONTAMINATED THE HEADWATER FOR OVER 30 YEARS

After decades of waiting, action to remediate the “Tift” site in the headwater of the South River in East Point, GA are underway.  The major sticking point in negotiations has been cost.  Specifically, whether GlenSprings Holdings, the named principal responsible party (PRP), would be responsible for redressing contamination on two of the three properties that collectively make up the Tift site. To break the deadlock, at the encouragement of SRWA, the state has agreed to use funds from the Georgia Hazardous Waste Trust Fund (Trust Fund) to pay for cleanup of the two properties not owned by the PRP. The Trust Fund was created in 2004 for this purpose.  A remediation plan is being developed by GlenSprings for submission to GA EPD by November 30, 2024.  

To maximize improvement of water quality in the river’s headwaters, owners of the defunct General Chemical Company site in East Point, currently under a voluntary enforcement order, is meeting with GA EPD in early December to discuss moving ahead more expeditiously with remediation of the only other hazardous waste site impacting the river.

South River in the City: Connecting communities to their urban river

South River in the City’s flagship project is the extension of the South River Water Trail into metro Atlanta – from Panola Shoals all the way upstream to the headwater in East Point. Via passive recreation, this non-navigable portion of the South River Water Trail will offer recreation, environmental, and community benefits along the entire length of the river.

SRWA has recently broken ground on the project in partnership with the Atlanta Regional Commission and American Rivers. Expanding the water trail will focus on investing in public parks in the watershed, as well as potential new land protection, and connecting people to the watershed through passive recreation. As it has proven downstream, the water trail has the power to build a stronger relationship between people and the river by providing benefits such as recreation, place-making and community building, collective advocacy, and stronger regulatory standards.

Fighting for equitable water access & environmental protection

Read the full article here.

Tell DeKalb Commissioners: Protect Water & Water Affordability

In DeKalb County, Georgia, the Dekalb Water Watch coalition is organizing against exorbitant water bills, shutoffs, and sanitary sewage pollution. This crisis has disproportionately affected Black residents, residents with disabilities, and families, according to recent research by the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.

Join Dekalb Water Watch and let the Board of Commissioners know that you demand fair and equitable treatment of all residents. Sign your name, follow the Facebook Group, and learn more here.

3-story fertilized mulch fire causes major contamination, fish kill on the South River

9.6.2024 South River at Forrest Park Rd runs black with soot and toxic runoff. Dissolved Oxygen levels cannot support aquatic life.

Mulch accumulates heat. Paired with very little rain in the area for weeks, the pile spontaneously combusted.

9.8.24 Dead minnow, South River at Constitution Lakes. Credit: Peter Peteet

9.9.24 South River at Intrenchment Creek. Credit: SRWA

9.9.24 Crayfish, South River at Bouldercrest Rd, approx 5 river miles downstream of the fire. Credit: Therese Kelly

9.9.24 Dead Sunfish (Bream), South River at Bouldercrest Rd. Credit: Therese Kelly

SRWA Files Complaint on Atlanta's Comprehensive Development Plan

June 10, 2024 // A COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDER COMPLAINT was submitted to the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) and Georgia Department of Community Affairs outlining numerous and ongoing violations of the Comprehensive Development Planning process by the City of Atlanta. In short, the City failed to disclose or involve the public of its omission of the 300-acre former Prison Farm parcel (from the South River Forest/Park) in its Comprehensive Development Plan.

On June 12th, SRWA and partners held a press conference outside an Atlanta CDP “Plan A” public meeting in Inman Park. Watch the conference on our social pages @southriverga.

YOU CAN SIGN THE COMPLAINT
Any individual, group, organization, business or other entity in the state of Georgia can sign. Your support helps demonstrate the breadth of communities excluded from Atlanta’s decision to lease 300 acres of public land to the Atlanta Police Foundation.

Please consider emailing ARC’s Director, Anna Roach, directly at aroach@atlantaregional.org. Tell her ARC must enforce its own public engagement process!

Thank you.

Advancing Environmental Justice: Leveraging the Triennial Review to Improve Water Quality

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

SRWA Files Administrative Complaint as Atlanta Seeks to Permanently Shut Down USGS Monitoring Site on Intrenchment Creek

Act Now!

Sign SRWA’s ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT to USGS and help keep the one and only crititcal water quality monitoring station on Intrenchment Creek! Your letter will automatically send to decision makers Holly Weyers, USGS SE Regional Director, and David Applegate, National Director.

QUICK OVERVIEW

Before City of Atlanta convinced USGS to shut down, the Water Quality Monitoring Station on Intrenchment Creek at Constitution Road collected data critical to ensuring that point-source sewage pollution from City of Atlanta’s Combined Sewage Overflow Facilities were not exceeding permitted limits on Intrenchment Creek. Downstream, when the creek joins the South River, the water bodies combine making any data collected from USGS’ suggested new location (a mile downstream on the South River) completely irrelevant to monitoring the pollution coming directly from City of Atlanta facilities on Intrenchment Creek. Sign the letter now!

Read: OUR PRESS RELEASE

Read: USGS’ Proposal to City of Atlanta (to move the station from Intrenchment Creek to 1+ mile downstream on the South River)

USGS Water Quality Monitoring Station on Intrenchment Creek at Constitution Road before it was dismantled. Sign the letter now!

National and Local Democracy and Legal Experts Debunk Misconceptions, Urge Passing Atlanta Democracy Protection Ordinance

Download or read the letter (or see below).

Ordinance by Councilmember Bakhtiari Codifying Procedures Governing the Acceptance, Review, and Validation of Petitions Pursuant to Populist-Led Referendum

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2023 Year in Review

2023 Year in Review e-newsletter

SE Atlanta: Major Deforestation & Mining Threat

forest Bordering the River Permitted for Mining

TAKE ACTION NOW!

Write City Planning Commissioner Jahnee Prince & City Arborist David Zaparanick.

KEY MESSAGES:
Enforce the Atlanta Tree Protection Ordinance.
Enforce City Code Sec. 6-25.001 requiring public notice, a hearing, a ZRB recommendation and decision by City Council.

Unanswered Questions:
Did the Atlanta law department make the decision that a Special Use Permit isn’t necessary?  If not, then who?
Why is Atlanta City Code Sec. 6-25.001 not being implemented or followed?

Suggested subject line: 2811 Forrest Park Rd: Enforce Tree Ordinance & City Code 6-25.001

A surface mining permit was issued to 2811 Forrest Park Road by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) on 12.19.2019. The site is now actively being mined and is located at the confluence of a major tributary and the South River. It is adjacent to South Atlanta High School and across the street from the Lake Charlotte Nature Preserve.

The permit allows the extraction of clay from 55 acres on the site which is zoned I-2 Heavy Industrial. Zoning is the only criteria used to determine if surface mining is allowable.

Status update according to City of Atlanta Arborist Department:

The Stop Work Order has been lifted/removed by the Arborist Dept and mining operations have resumed.  The mining operation can continue to operate without the necessary Special Use Permit until such time the City’s law department decides whether a permit is needed.

City Code Sec. 6-25.001 is applicable to this site. It states under Intent: Classes of special permits "special use permits (including extraction or removal of sand, gravel, topsoil, clay, dirt…) require public notice, a hearing, a ZRB recommendation, and are decided by City Council."

Unanswered Questions:

• Did the Atlanta law department make the decision that a Special Use Permit isn’t necessary?  If not, then who?

• Why is Atlanta City Code Sec. 6-25.001 not being implemented or followed?

Additional Details:

1. Initial surface mining permit disturbs 55-acres.  Request to disturb an additional 19-acres submitted.

2. No permits have been issued by the City, although state approval does not exempt adherence to local ordinances.

3. Law Department is reviewing to determine if the mining permit from Georgia EPD is exempt from following the tree ordinance.   

4. No recompense has been assessed or collected by the Atlanta Arborist Department.

5. No Reclamation Plan provided or approved for the site.  

Hold ARC accountable to the South River Forest plan!

Atlanta Mayor Commandeers South River Forest Vision

CALL TO ACTION:

Email ARC Director Anna Roach: aroach@atlantaregional.org
Sample letter below.

SUMMARY:

Over a one-year period (January-December) 2022, the Atlanta Regional Commission planned and conducted a community engagement process throughout south and southeast Atlanta in support of the South River Forest vision. South River Watershed Alliance served on the Project Management Team. From the process the ARC produced the South River Forest Community Development Action Plan. 

ARC’s role throughout the study process was “to serve as the facilitator and convener, to create an inclusive and engaging process, and to outline consensus-based recommendations for the City of Atlanta and Dekalb County to act upon.” 

“In addition to a community engagement and preliminary findings summary, this document includes a series of recommendations by which the South River Forest area may be protected, connected, and activated. A suggested timeframe, responsible party(ies), and potential funding source(s) is specified for each recommendation. “

Instead of implementing the will of citizen residents, Mayor Dickens is now promoting his own Task Force and agenda for creating a police training facility centered on the South River Forest vision. Addressing environmental disparities to the extent envisioned in the SRF Community Development Action Plan (CDAP) has never been contemplated or even attempted by the City of Atlanta. Successful achievement of the goals and aspirations of the SRF CDAP as voiced by the residents of the area depends upon ARC’s continued active unbiased and uncensored involvement going forward. And not mired in the mayor’s contrived attempt to usurp a legitimate community process to further his own political agenda.

SAMPLE LETTER:

Subject line: Mayor's Task Force UNDERMINES South River Forest plan & ARC’s Report

Director Roach:

Please do not let the Mayor’s office commandeer the South River Forest Plan. South River communities deserve environmental justice and real investment just like Chattahoochee River communities receive.

Mayor Dickens' Task Force is conflating Cop City with conservation! His actions are out of integrity with ARC’s plan and public input. The South River Forest plan is a conservation area that includes the entire Prison Farm property as protected greenspace – representing the heart of the forest.

Further, ARC’s process clearly demonstrated that environmental justice is a #1 concern among hundreds of area residents and made it crystal clear that the “need to protect the South River Forest is increasingly urgent”.

The lease of 300 acres and development of 85-acres at the Prison Farm are incompatible with the SRF Plan. In fact, Atlanta cannot even meet the greenspace requirements of its own lease legislation. Planting trees or buying land will not make the Training Center development compatible or acceptable.

City of Atlanta has never attempted to invest in southeast Atlanta or address environmental disparities as envisioned in the SRF Plan. Achieving the goals and aspirations of residents depends heavily upon ARC’s ongoing unbiased and uncensored involvement. Please champion the integrity of the SRF CDAP that so many residents and stakeholders already participated in.

Sincerely,
Your name