River Health

The Chattahoochee River corridor currently supports ecological functions such as flood regulation, water filtration, habitat provision, and carbon sequestration. The River supports two distinct ecological areas – a highly-managed artificial cold-water zone, where trout thrive, and a naturally occurring warm-water zone that supports native species, such as shoal bass.

Yet the Chattahoochee continues to suffer from the upstream impacts of urbanization, including reduced water quality, elevated temperatures, sedimentation, and modified water flows. While water quality is improving, due to changes in development practices and investments in the Metropolitan Atlanta’s water management infrastructure, challenges remain. Many of the River’s tributaries, which are important to the health of the main river, are currently classified as impaired and face development pressure in their watersheds.

The Greenway Study should identify opportunities for restoration of critical tributaries and key habitats along the River that could improve water quality, enhance ecological function, and positively contribute to the human use and enjoyment of the Greenway.