Despite its humble origins near the Atlanta airport, the
Flint River is undeniably one of the South's most precious natural resources. Generations have enjoyed the river as a resource to water communities, farms and industry alike, but also as an opportunity to experience the natural world through hunting, fishing, swimming and paddling. With 220 undammed river miles, the Flint is one of only 40 rivers left in the United States that flow for more than 200 miles unimpeded. Recent legislative efforts to dam a 50-mile stretch of the Flint to create a supply reservoir for Atlanta’s burgeoning water crisis have earned the Flint River the #2 spot on the list of Top Ten Most Endangered Rivers, published by American Rivers. To learn more about this story you can read about the top 10 most endangered rivers in America on CNN.com.

Revered as one of the most ecologically diverse river basins in the Southeast, the Flint River is also at risk from pollution; absorbing stormwater, agricultural and industrial runoff as it flows south out of the heart of Atlanta. As part of the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint (ACF) river system, the Flint is entangled in the "tri-state water wars" in which Georgia, Florida and Alabama are struggling to determine water usage rights as Atlanta continues to grow beyond its resources.

The mission of the Flint Riverkeeper® (FRk) is to restore and preserve the habitat, water quality, and flow of the Flint River for the benefit of current and future generations and dependent wildlife. FRk is a full-licensed member of the Waterkeeper Alliance and participates in the Georgia Water Coalition.

Introducing "Flint" – new film celebrating Georgia’s Flint River

American Rivers and Flint Riverkeeper are excited to give you a new film, “Flint” that celebrates the beauty of Georgia’s Flint River.

You can view the film here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wuhm8mHdx_4

“Flint” weaves together the river connections of three local people:

Robin McInvale: Robin's husband used to take her to the Upper Flint on fishing dates. Four decades later the couple retreats to their riverside cabin most weekends to canoe and fish the waters they know as well as they know each other, introducing their grandchildren to their love of the Flint.

Jimmy Miller: Jimmy grew up fishing the lower Flint's shoals and diving its freshwater springs. He has traveled the world and currently works stints on a schooner in the Atlantic and Caribbean, spending his off-time in a simple riverside cabin, and on the river, south of Albany's Radium Springs.

Paul DeLoach: Paul is a pioneer among cave divers worldwide. He knows and loves the waters of the Flint River basin well, both above and below the surface, mapping the underground intricacies of the springs in most portions of the Floridan Aquifer in Georgia and Florida. One of the founders of Flint Riverkeeper, for decades he has been a leader in exploring and conserving the Flint’s waters.

How you can help:

Share the YouTube link above on social media with the hashtag #WeAreRivers

You can also promote the web page www.AmericanRivers.org/Flint which will feature the film, along with an action the public can take to help restore the river.

Take Action:

Representative Lynn Smith, the powerful chair of the House Natural Resources and Environment Committee, is in a position to move SB 36 forward. Please send her a letter urging her to move the bill. Representative Smith’s contact information can be found here.

SB 36 Fact Sheet can be viewed here.

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