CRBI To Hold Conasauga River Paddle
The Coosa River Basin Initiative’s Gordon County-based chapter organization, the New Echota Rivers Alliance (NERA), will host a canoe/kayak trip down the Conasauga River In Whitfield County May 10. This four hour paddle will take participants down part of what is considered one of the most biologically diverse rivers in North America.
The Conasauga has receive much attention during the last few months because of the discovery of perfluorootanoic acids, or PFOAs, in the river and in the drinking water of the City of Dalton.
PFOAs, chemicals used to create stain resistant carpet, though currently unregulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), have been linked to health risk in humans. CRBI in Rome recently signed on to a letter from the United Steelworkers to EPA and Georgia’s Environmental Protection Division calling on the environmental regulators to monitor PFOAs in the Conasauga.
“NERA and CRBI are concerned about this issue, especially considering the special nature of the Conasauga River,” said Joe Cook, CRBI Executive Director & Riverkeeper. “The river host 90 different fish species and 25 species of freshwater mussels. It is a real biological treasure trove. This is a chance for citizens to see what is at stake on the Conasauga River.”
Participants will meet at the Beaverdale Superette on GA Hwy. 2 at 10:00 A.M. The trip is free to NERA and CRBI members. Membership dues are $35 and participants can join online at www.coosa.org. Canoe rentals are available for $32.
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