Keeping the Chattahoochee: Reviving and Defending a Great Southern River

by Sally Sierer Bethea

Sally Sierer Bethea was one of the first women in America to become a “riverkeeper”―a vocal defender of a specific waterway who holds polluters accountable. In Keeping the Chattahoochee , she tells stories that range from joyous and funny to frustrating―even alarming―to illustrate what it takes to save an endangered river. Her tales are triggered by the regular walks she takes through a forest to the Chattahoochee over the course of a year, finding solace and kinship in nature.

For two decades, Bethea worked to restore the neglected Chattahoochee, which provides drinking water and recreation to millions of people, habitat for wildlife, and water for industries and farms as it cuts through the heart of the Deep South. Pairing natural and political history with reflective writing, she draws readers into her watershed and her memories. Bethea’s passion for the natural world―and for defending it with a strong, informed voice animates this instructive memoir. Offering lessons on how to fight for our fundamental right to clean water, Bethea and her colleagues take on powerful corporate and government polluters. They strengthen environmental policies and educate children, reviving the great river from a century of misuse.

Genres: Nature, Politics, Audiobook, Nonfiction, Memoir

232 pages, Hardcover

Published July 15, 2023

Reviews

[Chris Bertrand]

Enjoyed reading about an amazing Riverkeeper on my “home-river.” I enjoyed seeing familiar names and reading about familiar places. It makes me miss the Chattahoochee. It truly is a blessing to live next to a stream or river.

May the great Hooch flow clean! Long live Hooch nation.

[Mark Clegg · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is not often that we are treated to an ecological success story, but this is one. By sheer tenacity, investigative resourcefulness and an ability to reach across ideological boundaries, Sally Sierer Bethea and Chattahoochee Riverkeeper have engineered a remarkable turnaround story, transforming the noxious and septic Chattahoochee River in Atlanta into a recovering riparian artery that will supply clean drinking water, stunning biodiversity and a recreational joy for millions of people for generations to come. It did not come easy, and Bethea still bears the personal scars inflicted by patronizing and corrupt politicians, indifferent captains of industry and many members of the general public who continue to use the Chattahoochee as a convenient and anonymous trash and drainage ditch. Amid the well-founded environmental gloom disseminated on a daily basis, it is important that we are reminded that hard-won ecological gains are usually achieved at the local level by the tireless efforts from those like Bethea and Chattahoochee Riverkeepers.

[Kristina Sinclair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sally Bethea’s book is an engaging read for nature lovers and those concerned with our environment as she recounts stories of her fight as Riverkeeper to preserve and protect the Chattahoochee. Sally’s descriptions of her walks along the river make us want to slow down and take notice of the natural world.

[Jack Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

A joy to read this book outside by the waters that drain into the Chattahoochee. An invaluable collection of anecdotes to learn from as I continue to hike the string of pearls along the river.

[Jeff Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Environmental memoirs seem to be all the craze right now. “Keeping the Chattahoochee” is another entry in the subgenre. In this one, retired Riverkeeper, Sally Bethea, recounts her team’s (successful!) efforts at cleaning up and preserving the Chattahoochee River.

Each chapter starts with an introspective account of a walk through the woods. Then follows a short essay based on Bethea’s efforts.

Where this book succeeds: So much of ecology writing these days is (understandably!) gloom and doom. This, however, is a success story. That’s worth taking note of.

Where this book doesn’t succeed (for me): I was mistaken in what I thought this book would be. I expected it to be introspective essays related to the river. What it is is a nuts-and-bolts account of the all the political maneuverings of Bethea’s organization.

I do plan to use a portion of this book about the Chattahoochee water wars in my 8th grade Georgia Studies class next year!

[Jen G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pros:
• The author has done very important work to restore environmental health to the Chattahoochee River and was one of the first female riverkeepers in the country;
• The book contained nice nature writing, with scientific names for all the key species along in the river. I especially enjoyed that the author mentioned the evolutionary history of the flora and fauna.

Cons:
• There were very few mentions of environmental justice issues, even though those are of great importance in the Chattahoochee Rivershed;
• There were few mentions of other environmental groups in the area that played key roles, and in fact local activists were primarily portrayed in a negative light;
• Readers may be put off by the fact that the author states in the first page that her interest in environmental issues arose from her family’s vacationing to an exclusive Florida island;
• The back and forth in history was a bit hard to follow.

[Mel Brannen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Post-retirement musings by the first Riverkeeper of the Chattahoochee. From the Atlanta raw sewage dumps of the 1990’s to the wresting of water access the Upper Chattahoochee and opening the Water Corridor to public access; going toe-to-toe with Georgia Power lobbying for EPA rule enforcement and breaking into the old boy’s club of of Georgia politics/business to protect this vital waterway the many stories help recall the importance of a few good people to protect our natural resources from exploitation by a few powerful parties.

[Frederick Bingham · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this for the CFRW book club. It’s basically a memoir by a woman who was the Riverkeeper for the Chattahoochie River for many years. Her activism and tenacity helped to turn it from an open sewer and toxic waste transport system into a beautiful natural feature. Along the way she battled greedy politicians, developers, corporations and cities. It’s an inspiring tale which gives life the adage that one person can make a difference. I hope to be able to visit the Cattahoochie National Recreation Area someday.

[Martha Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who grew up recreating on the Palisades trail in Atlanta and now works in land conservation and water protection in the southern blue ridge, it was interesting and inspiring to read about (successful?) conservation and restoration in a highly urban area. I have a scientific background, but this book is easily digestible for all.

[Cathy Inabinet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful read by an amazing riverkeeper and writer!!

[Emma Highfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read about Sally’s and CRK’s tireless efforts to protect an important resource! Highly recommend.

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring book about a dedicated riverkeeper who fought tirelessly to preserve chatahoochee river in Georgia and details her trials and tribulations over the years with lessons learned.

[Madalyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good tidbits and made me appreciate the Chatahoochee more! Also I am glad I have a brita filter lol

[Emily Bragg · Rating 4 out of 5]

niche but delightful. would have liked more detail on the legal side of things

[Chuck McGrady · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not an unbiased review since I know the author, her partner (Neill), her two sons (Robert and Charles) and many of the people mentioned in the book. Sally were colleagues in the environmental community until I left Georgia in 1993, the year before she became the Riverkeeper.

With that said, I enjoyed the book. I enjoyed how she included a section on her wanderings thru lands bordering the Chattahoochee River while tying them to part of her larger story about the river and people---both good and bad---who have impacted the river. I agree with much of her observation about the Georgia Board of Natural Resources and its regulatory arm. My experiences with the Department mirrors Sally's experiences with them: the Department was all too quick to grant variances for a range of activities that didn't deserve variances.

I left Georgia in 1993 and fifteen years later found I'd been elected to NC House of Representatives. There are similarities between the legislature that Sally describes and the one in which I served. However, the governmental systems are not the same and the politics are different.

[Rain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed learning about the creeks and river in the Atlanta area, the function and history of the riverkeeper profession, and the history of Atlanta’s problematic stormwater and sewer systems.