2023 had its ups and downs. Every year presents challenges to restoration and protection of the South River, but our strategy remains effective and steadfast. Together, we are moving in the right direction. Check out some highlights and ongoing efforts into 2024!

South River Water Trail

Improving Access. Increasing Recreation.

SRWA has been dedicated to the development of the South River Water Trail for more than 12 years. Thanks to partnerships and investments made by City of Stonecrest, Rockdale County, and Henry County, public access continues to improve – and more people than ever are exploring the river! See below for the status of each trailhead.

Interested in exploring or more in-depth water trail attributes? We recommend downloading the Georgia River Guide mobile app created by Georgia River Network. It's available for free on the App Store and Google Play.

Note: Some trailheads on the Ga River Guide app are named differently than on our map. Please reach out with any questions. As the water trail progresses, we are working with all partners to establish and maintain consistency.

#1 Panola Shoals

Parking and PATH access remain, however access to the beach is currently closed due to extreme erosion of the riverbank. City of Stonecrest leadership remains committed to the costly restoration of Panola Shoals as the “Gateway” to the water trail. We hope work will begin in '24.

#2 Everett Park

Parking improvements, new soft trails and plantings, and access ramp/boat launch due to be completed July 2024.

#3 Lorraine Park

Put-in/take-out boat launch in progress. Projected completion Q1 2024. Trailhead includes parking, public restrooms, PATH access, gazebo, picnic tables and playground.

#4 River's Bend Park

Completed Q4 2023! Trailhead includes parking, trash recepticals, and paved trail to the beach for safe put-in/take-out.

#5 Bultlers Bridge Park

Henry County plans to create a 43-acre park to include approximately 2.4 miles of trail and boardwalk, put-in/take-out boat launch, and wildlife viewing platforms. Project will perform a priority 1 stream restoration that will restore the loss of connectivity with the floodplain, and reduce erosion and sedimentation. Learn more.

#6 Highway 81 Bridge

SRWA and Henry County are committed to water trail progress near Snapping Shoals dam on the river at Highway 81. This site is expected to be developed into a trailhead but no plans exist at this time.

#7 Georgia Power

This site is expected to be developed into a trailhead but no plans exist at this time.

Water Quality Monitoring Program

We want to give a special shout out to our 2023 Georgia State University GeoScience student interns - Anabele Adjei, Joell Ashcraft, Naurica Encarnacion, and Therese Kelly. Interns received first-hand experience collecting and testing water samples from fourteen sites for water quality contamination and violations throughout the South River watershed. Tracking sources of pollution last year included reporting consistently high E.coli counts in an unnamed tributary at Springside Drive to Atlanta’s Department of Watershed Management. The source was tracked all the way upstream to the City of Hapeville.



Your eyes, ears, and voice play a critical role in protecting the watershed!

Year One:

Bandalong Trash Trap Working Hard

In March of 2023 a the long-awaited Bandalog Trash Trap, manufactured by Stormwater Systems, was installed on the river adjacent to Snapfinger Wastewater Treatment Plant. The Bandalong has removed 16 tons of trash and debris, mainly plastic bottles and broken Styrofoam.

Effectively managing the trash pollution problem that plagues the river and its tributaries is beyond the capability of a single trap, but the Bandalong is certainly earning its keep!



Trash & Tire Cleanups Rake in Impressive Numbers

Periodic land and water cleanups are an inevitable reality of caring for an urban watershed. Always a memorable and rewarding experience – our annual Rivers Alive Trash & Tire Roundup was held October 13th and 14th.

Legal Review

Greenspace Protection = People Protection



2023 was a tough year for greenspaces in the upper South River watershed. The general absence of fairness and impartiality at all levels - legislative, executive, and judicial - undermine the equity due to all citizens. The stakes have never been higher and SRWA remains resolute in our commitment.

Intrenchment Creek Park Legal Challenge

December 29, 2023 - The decision issued by State Superior Court Judge Stacey Hydrick refused to stop the unprecedented “land swap” of ICP by DeKalb County to Ryan Milsap (Blackhall Studios). This ruling establishes the precedent of trading public land for private gain and continues the pattern of devaluing environmental health in predominantly Black south DeKalb County for the financial benefit of private development.

SRWA and plaintiffs are reviewing the decision to determine the best course of action.

• • •

Three legal challenges that could decide the fate of the police training facility remain in play:

Let the People Decide Voter Referendum

The right of Atlanta's citizens to decide the fate of the police training facility (aka Cop City) through a voter referendum, was argued in federal court before the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals on December 14th. The court's decision is pending.

Irreparable Harm to Intrenchment Creek

In violation of the Clean Water Act and GA Water Quality Control Act, sediment from the police training facility development is choking the life from Intrenchment Creek (IC). This disregard for the law is the basis of two ongoing legal challenges filed initially in federal court August 2023 and state court July 2023. A temporary injunction hearing was held in federal court November 15th to stop construction at the site until the case is heard in its entirety. The appeal of a State Administrative Law judge's claim that no harm is being done to IC was appealed December 29th. Decisions in both cases are pending.

Ensuring Title VI Civil Rights:

Equal Protection Under the Law for DeKalb Communities

Citizens living near the police training facility construction site are being denied equal protection under the law guaranteed by Title VI of the 964 Civil Rights Act. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is allowing this injustice to take place. On October 31, 2023, SRWA filed an administrative complaint with EPA describing, in detail, the basis of the claim citing both intentional and unintentional discrimination. The agency has 180 from the date the complaint was filed to investigate and respond to the complaint.

Awards, Accolades & an Astonishing Number of Interviews

Jackie Echols and South River Win Big

In 2023, Board President Jacqueline Echols was name a 2023 Garden & Gun Champion of Conservation. Just a few weeks prior, she was awarded Urban Conservationist of the Year by the Georgia Association of Conservation Districts.

Clockwise from top left:

Jackie receives the GACD Urban Conservationist award in Savannah.

Jackie leads the way on a SRWA guided paddle.

The AJC covers Jackie after a year of countless media inquires and publications regarding the South River and the South River Forest.

Jackie is interviewed by Rose Scott, host of WABE's Closer Look, at a Patagonia event.

Our super soft cotton tee is screen-printed locally at Saucebox. The design, by Hank Hershey and Margaret Spalding, features wildlife of the South River including the threateded Altamaha Shiner, Great Blue Heron, Southern Pearly Eye butterfly, Swainson's Warbler, and River Cane – Georgia's only indigenous species of bamboo.

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