Resources

Guides, news, and tools for protecting the Upper Etowah River — for landowners, paddlers, teachers, and curious neighbors.

Latest from the Blog

Carved Beside the Water: Native Rock Art on the Upper Etowah
A study of north Georgia petroglyphs finds that nearly all of them sit beside water. One of the most unusual is carved just above a creek in our watershed.
5 min read Read More
Get Outside With UERA This Fall: Hikes and Weekend Events
Cool mornings, bare trees, and long views: late fall is one of the best times to be outside in north Georgia. Here's where to find UERA this November and December.
3 min read Read More
What Happens to Rain on Your Property? A Homeowner’s Guide
Rain that runs off roofs, driveways and lawns carries pollution to local creeks. Here are some simple steps homeowners can take to slow runoff and protect the Upper Etowah.
4 min read Read More

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River Resources

Organizations, guides, and agencies that help protect the Upper Etowah and the land around it.

Organizations in the Etowah Watershed

Limestone Valley RC&D — Conservation programs and grants for landowners and communities in Northwest Georgia
The Nature Conservancy in Georgia — Protecting lands and waters across the state, including the rare fish of the Etowah

Stream Mitigation

Stream Mitigation: Benefits to Private Landowners (PDF) — How preserving or restoring stream habitat on your property can benefit you and the river

Environmentally Sensitive Design and Low Impact Development

Low Impact Development Center — Research and guidance on managing stormwater close to where rain falls
Georgia Native Plant Society — Native plants for rain gardens, landscapes, and stream buffers

Restoration

Wildland Hydrology — Natural channel design and stream restoration training
Aquascape — Rainwater harvesting and water features
Sotir & Associates — Soil bioengineering for streambank and slope stabilization
Biohabitats — Ecological restoration, conservation planning, and regenerative design

Recreation

Appalachian Outfitters — Canoe, kayak, and tube trips on the Etowah and Chestatee rivers

Government Agencies

EPA: Etowah Watershed — Water data and information for the Etowah watershed
EPA: Enforcement & Compliance History Online (ECHO) — Look up permits and compliance records for facilities near you
Georgia Department of Natural Resources — State parks, wildlife, fisheries, and environmental protection

Need to report a problem or reach the right agency? See Who to Call.

Become a Stream Monitor

Georgia Adopt-A-Stream, a program of Georgia EPD, trains volunteers to check the health of their local creeks and rivers. Monitors learn to test water chemistry and bacteria and to survey the insects and other creatures living in the stream, then share their results in a statewide database that helps spot problems early.

UERA volunteers monitor streams across the Upper Etowah using Adopt-A-Stream methods. Join us, and we’ll help you get trained and certified.

Monitor with UERA Visit Georgia Adopt-A-Stream

Environmental Education Resources

Georgia offers a wealth of conservation and environmental education resources for teachers, students, and families.

Lesson Plans and Curriculum Guides

EE in Georgia — Lesson plans aligned to state standards, grants, contests, an events calendar, and a directory of environmental education providers
Project WILD — Hands-on wildlife curricula for K–12, plus Growing Up WILD (ages 3–7) and Flying WILD (birds), from Georgia DNR
Georgia Association of Conservation Districts — Lessons and activities on soil, water, forestry, and wildlife, built around Georgia standards
Georgia EPD Outreach & Education — Water education programs, including Project WET, Adopt-A-Stream, and Rivers Alive

Teacher Workshops

Teacher Conservation Workshop — A five-day summer forestry and environmental education workshop with certifications in Project Learning Tree, Project WET, and Project WILD
Project Learning Tree — Forestry-focused activities from early childhood through high school

Programs for Students

Natural Resources Conservation Workshop — A summer program for rising 10th–12th graders on wildlife, forestry, soil, and water, with college and career exploration
Georgia Envirothon — A team competition for students on soils, aquatic ecology, forestry, wildlife, and current environmental issues
Georgia Adopt-A-Stream and Rivers Alive — Student water monitoring and the annual statewide waterway cleanup

Field Trips and Nature Centers

Georgia DNR runs regional education centers that host school field trips and public programs, including:

Arrowhead Environmental Education Center — Northwest Georgia
Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center — Central Georgia
Go Fish Education Center — Perry
Smithgall Woods State Park — Northeast Georgia

Closer to home, Atlanta Parent keeps a list of kid-friendly nature centers around metro Atlanta.

Teachers: UERA brings hands-on river lessons to classrooms and the outdoors. Learn about our education programs.

Need Help Now?

Report a Problem
See pollution, a spill, or muddy runoff? Tell us and we’ll follow up.
Who to Call
The right county and state contacts for erosion, spills, and stream buffers.
FAQs
Answers about the river, membership, and giving.

A photo of Mary Sorensen and her husband standing by the Grand Canyon.

Mary Sorensen Environmental Love Scholarship

A memorial scholarship in remembrance of an incredible civil servant, an environmentalist, and a lover of all things.

Give to the Scholarship

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