Protesters to Block Chattahoochee River's Release in Buford, Georgia

An in-water protest is planned for Saturday, October 27, at the Boat Ramp at the base of the Buford dam on the Chattahoochee River in Buford, Georgia. The organizers hope to stop the Army Corps of Engineers from releasing 3 billion gallons of drinking water from the state. Georgia is currently under a drought that, according to some experts, is leaving 85 counties in the state with about 80 days of drinking water. Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue has declared a state of emergency and is asking President Bush for a federal disaster designation.

The protest, organized by Dam_Mad_Dad, is in response to the Army Corps of Engineers scheduled release of 3 billion gallons of drinking water from the Chattahoochee River to support endangered and non-endangered species downstream. According to the press release from Dam_Mad_Dad, "Atlanta has been good to us, and she's bleeding to death, because we have children here who rely on us to protect them, because our livelihood is at stake..."

Dam_Mad_Dad's appeal is direct and displays an inordinate degree of rationality. He understands the need for people to participate, understands that it may not work, and offers some tips for spending what may be a long amount time in the water including:

* The Chattahoochee's average temperature is about 40 degrees

* This will be a very cold protest

* Wear a life jacket

* Bring canoes, kayaks, and other floatation devices

* Towels and Trail mix is a good idea, being sober is mandatory

Dam_Mad_Dad also acknowledges that this type of protest is both risky and possibly illegal. "We're not sure what Federal laws we may be violating, or weather [SIC] or not they will decide to generate with us in the way. The outcome of this event may be anything but romantic. It was this type of action that allowed the mussels in Florida, as opposed to your children, to win our reserve of drinking water again at the rate of 3 billion gallons a day."