![]() ![]() Changing weather conditions have exacerbated water health issues. Five creeks in Muscogee County are on the EPD 303(d) list for not supporting their intended use. While the watershed plays an important role in the community, its health needs attention. And in recent years, the river has been a highly visible part of Columbus' tourism industry, which brought in over $340 million in 2016, including revenue from 45,000 customers to whitewater and zip-line outfitters. In addition to providing 100% of municipal drinking water, the watershed hosts many of the state's 62 threatened or endangered plant and animal species, including the red-cockaded woodpecker. This dense urban growth has simultaneously increased demand for drinking water and increase pollution entering waterways. In the last decade, the population of Columbus metropolitan area has grown to over 315,000. UGA Extension has partnered with these entities to increase environmental awareness, provide education, and monitor and clean streams and rivers within the watershed. Urban development and changing weather conditions have had a negative impact on this vital resource, making education and conservation efforts a primary goal for local governments and non-profits. It provides 100% of municipal drinking water for Columbus, and its main body, the Chattahoochee River, is the most heavily used water resource in Georgia. ![]() Anchored by the Chattahoochee River, the water of the Chattahoochee Valley is an economic, ecological, and recreational cornerstone of this community.
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