President Joe Biden has granted $90 million in federal funds to protect the Chattahoochee River system.
Biden signed the legislation last week as a part of the congressional reauthorization of the Water Resources and Development Act. The U.S Army Corps of Engineers will work with local partners to improve water quality and restore ecosystems along the river that supplies more than 70% of metro Atlanta’s drinking water.
The waterway is also a source of farmers, generates power through hydroelectric dams, and fuels the economy- in 2019 the National Park Service reported visitors to the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area added more than $200 million to the metro region’s economy, supporting more than 2,000 local jobs.
Despite the state’s dependence on the river for drinking water, more than 1,000 miles of the Chattahoochee watershed do not meet water quality standards, posing potential health risks to humans and wildlife.
“This exciting new program will improve water quality, protect essential public works, and restore ecosystems along the river, which supplies much of our state’s drinking water,” said U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, who introduced the bill into the Senate along with Sen. Raphael Warnock.