ARK welcomes Ben Emanuel as Oconee Projects Coordinator

Improvements in water conservation and efficiency are critical for meeting Georgia's water needs while keeping enough water in our rivers to sustain ecosystems. In November, Oconee Projects Coordinator Ben Emanuel began work on a project designed to promote increased water
efficiency in Athens' commercial sector.

Ben will also be building support for ARK's work throughout the Oconee River watershed, and has begun coordinating activity on pressing issues such as the planned Hard Labor Creek reservoir in the Apalachee basin, where officials have discussed a water sale into metro Atlanta.

Demonstrating the water gains that can be achieved through efficiency is just one way to show how metro Atlanta can solve its water crisis without turning to expensive, unsustainable solutions that could damage communities and ecosystems across the state.

Ben can be reached at .

Below are recent articles and a letter to the editor from Ben illustrating some of the issues facing the Oconee River.

November 20, 2009
Keep water meetings open to the public
Ben Emanuel of Athens, the Oconee Projects Coordinator

November 18, 2009
Ben Emanuel: Water meetings should be open
Ben Emanuel | Athens Banner-Herald

November 15, 2009
Editorial: Another reason to be skeptical of water group
Athens Banner-Herald

October 7, 2009
Water talks, water talks everywhere
Dan Chapman | The Atlanta Journal-Constitution