Another day of cold and rain in St. Marys, and I get to stay indoors again and report to you some more stuff about our River. For those of you who fell asleep reading my last post, I do apologize. As many of you pointed out, it was quite a tedious read, i.e. history, science, corporate dealings, government regulation, etc. I am generally not a detail person but continue to learn that the detail sometimes is critical to a better understanding of the existing and impeding threats to our River. After all, as my wife so aptly points out, the devil is in the detail. So...please bear with me.
As a follow up to the e coli bacteria test results and septic system issues in Browntown, last night's BBQ dinner sponsored by the St. Marys River Management Committee was a resounding success. The goal was to educate the local community on the e coli test results and septic system failures in their neighborhood, the potential health threats to their community and the River, and to inform them about the availability of resources to help deal with septic system failures. Expecting maybe 40 people on what was forecast to be a rainy, cold night in the outdoor picnic pavilion, more than 70 folks showed up to eat BBQ and hear what the SMRMC members, UGA River Basin officials, and the County/District Public Health Department representative had to say. A lively discussion followed indicating that those present learned far more than they knew about septic system problems and related health issues to their river and sources of fresh water. Many of these folks have been born and raised on the River and are avid fishermen enjoying the sport and eating the fish from the River. So...many voiced concern. Approximately 20 signed up for more information.To early to tell, but hopefully this will translate into action.
Something else...and, you are not going to believe this. A proposal for our neighboring Satilla River by Southern Ionics, a private corporation intent on removing more natural resource from the Satilla River basin, which, incidently, shares our St. Marys River basin upstream. Already number 8 on the GA River Coalition's 12 dirtiest GA rivers of 2012, the Satilla will be home to a six story, floating zircon mining operation. Yes, you heard correctly, a six story, 72 foot high, floating industrial barge designed to move about the river, mine for and remove zircon from the sand deposits in the basin, and refine for industrial uses.
As my friend says, "you gotta be freakin' kidding me". This is like right out of Star Wars. It's almost unbelievable, if it were not for a history of commercial enterprises removing natural resources from the planet and returning (dumping) its byproducts (industrial waste) back into our fragile ecosystem. Not to get too technical, but the process of refining zircon requires the use of chlorine and the waste must be stored in holding ponds too toxic to return the river. So...what happens to the land, most assuredly somewhere in the river basin, where these holding ponds are located? ...another super toxic waste site in the making. Help!!!
Fortunately, Clay Montague, Interim Satilla Riverkeeper with considerable experience in ecology management, the Southern Environmental Law Center, and GA DNR is on top of this project, along with Southern Ionic which as excellent reputation for environmental sensitivity and mitigation. Our job is to monitor their progress and to hold their feet to the fire, as may be necessary.
A common thread to many of the threats mentioned about, is just another example of the human species taking from the planet for its own use and returning the left over waste to our fragile ecosystem poisoning our land and fresh water sources for all of nature. I had the opportunity to enjoy a sunset paddle on the Okefenokee Swamp several weeks ago. A pristine, one of a kind, wilderness that serves as the head waters of the St. Marys and Suwanee Rivers and is fortunately managed by the National Park Service and off limits to commercial development. A fun thing to do is carry a flash light for the return trip and shine the light into the dark night of the swamp as one quietly paddles home. The red eyes of the gators and white eyes of the frogs and spiders and other creatures of the swamp are peering at us and seeming to say, we are watching you.
By the way, the St. Marys River is not on the list of the 12 dirtiest rivers of Georgia for 2012 recently published by Georgia Water Coalition. http://www.equities.com/news/headline-story?dt=2012-11-15&val=716893&cat=material Congratulations! Our committment must be to keep it that way.
Something else...and, you are not going to believe this. A proposal for our neighboring Satilla River by Southern Ionics, a private corporation intent on removing more natural resource from the Satilla River basin, which, incidently, shares our St. Marys River basin upstream. Already number 8 on the GA River Coalition's 12 dirtiest GA rivers of 2012, the Satilla will be home to a six story, floating zircon mining operation. Yes, you heard correctly, a six story, 72 foot high, floating industrial barge designed to move about the river, mine for and remove zircon from the sand deposits in the basin, and refine for industrial uses.
As my friend says, "you gotta be freakin' kidding me". This is like right out of Star Wars. It's almost unbelievable, if it were not for a history of commercial enterprises removing natural resources from the planet and returning (dumping) its byproducts (industrial waste) back into our fragile ecosystem. Not to get too technical, but the process of refining zircon requires the use of chlorine and the waste must be stored in holding ponds too toxic to return the river. So...what happens to the land, most assuredly somewhere in the river basin, where these holding ponds are located? ...another super toxic waste site in the making. Help!!!
Fortunately, Clay Montague, Interim Satilla Riverkeeper with considerable experience in ecology management, the Southern Environmental Law Center, and GA DNR is on top of this project, along with Southern Ionic which as excellent reputation for environmental sensitivity and mitigation. Our job is to monitor their progress and to hold their feet to the fire, as may be necessary.
A common thread to many of the threats mentioned about, is just another example of the human species taking from the planet for its own use and returning the left over waste to our fragile ecosystem poisoning our land and fresh water sources for all of nature. I had the opportunity to enjoy a sunset paddle on the Okefenokee Swamp several weeks ago. A pristine, one of a kind, wilderness that serves as the head waters of the St. Marys and Suwanee Rivers and is fortunately managed by the National Park Service and off limits to commercial development. A fun thing to do is carry a flash light for the return trip and shine the light into the dark night of the swamp as one quietly paddles home. The red eyes of the gators and white eyes of the frogs and spiders and other creatures of the swamp are peering at us and seeming to say, we are watching you.
By the way, the St. Marys River is not on the list of the 12 dirtiest rivers of Georgia for 2012 recently published by Georgia Water Coalition. http://www.equities.com/news/headline-story?dt=2012-11-15&val=716893&cat=material Congratulations! Our committment must be to keep it that way.
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