SOUTH RIVER WATERSHED ALLIANCE
South River Check-in
South RIver in the City
Executive Director / Creative Director
Building a community participation system that turns river recreation into measurable evidence for environmental justice and long-term river restoration.
BIG IDEA
Increase river recreation and turn participation into evidence for increased state-level protection and restoration.
INSIGHT
The South River is an urban-origin river that begins near the Atlanta Airport and flows through majority BIPOC communities that have long experienced environmental neglect and pollution.
For over a century, industrial and sewage pollution was enabled and left unchecked by authorities. As a result, communities along the river developed a “culture of avoidance”, exacerbating the cycle.
In the last 20 years, water quality has improved dramatically, but public use of the river remained unmeasured — leaving the river and surrounding communities underrepresented in policy decisions affecting the environment.
CAMPAIGN
South River Check-in
In 2020, we created a check-in system to measure recreational use. Anyone visiting, hiking, biking, or paddling the river across its full 60-mile length could easily participate by visiting our Check-in page.
Over the course of two GA EPD triennial reviews, from 2020 to 2025, South River Check-in demonstrated a steady increase in public use of the river.
Check-in data was used to:
Demonstrate how the river is actually being used.
Strengthen the triennial application to the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GA EPD) for an upgrade of the river’s designated use from “Fishing” (default standard) to “Recreation”.
Connect people to their waterway.
Empower people through collective advocacy.
South River Check-in continues today, working in tandem with other SRWA programs and initiatives including development of the South River Water Trail, Beyond the Bridge (a highly-accessible paddling program which has introduced countless people to the river), and the organization’s Water Quality Monitoring Program in partnership with Georgia State University.
RESULTS
Historic Milestones for the River
In 2025, 40 navigable miles (two thirds of the river) were upgraded by GA EPD from Fishing (default standard) to Recreation — establishing higher water quality standards with no backsliding, and increased state-level regulatory enforcement. With more attention from the state, awareness and use of the river has continued to grow, creating the momentum needed for continual restoration into the river’s headwaters.
TIMELINE
In 2020, South River Check-in campaign launches.
In 2022, 13-miles of the river are upgraded to Recreation by GA EPD.
In 2025, the entire 40-mile navigable South River Water Trail is upgraded to Recreation.
CAMPAIGN EXPANSION
South River in the City
South River in the City is an initiative focused on increasing awareness and advocacy for the South River’s most vulnerable urban headwaters.
Expansion of the South River Water Trail for passive recreation upstream is underway with projects focused on the activation of urban parks throughout the watershed as a means of educating, empowering, and supporting communities along the river.
