Dog

Dog River Reservoir

Representatives of the Georgia Canoeing Association and the Friends of the Dog River Reservoir ('FDRR') met with the Douglasville-Douglas County Water and Sewer Authority ('WSA') regarding various issues of public access relating to the Dog River Reservoir. This meeting occurred in the face of increasing tensions between the WSA and the GCA and FDRR arising due to a month-long campaign by the GCA and the FDRR to muster support in Douglas County and Greater Metro Atlanta Area supporting a change of the WSA's policies prohibiting paddlers from traversing the Dog River Reservoir to take out after paddling the Dog River.

The GCA and FDRR have learned that a local fisherman led a successful campaign in 1993 to prevent the Reservoir from becoming a State Park. This gentleman and his constituency are apparently the driving force behind WSA's strict policies prohibiting out-of-county residents from any access to the Reservoir unless accompanied by a Douglas County resident.

Representatives of the WSA, the GCA and the FDRR met with this local fisherman for two hours on Thursday, March 9, 1995. After the meeting, approximately 25 people attended a WSA Board meeting to voice concerns about the WSA's exclusionary policies. The board graciously allowed each representative group to make a short statement. At the conclusion of the board meeting, GCA and FDRR representative believed that the WSA would approve a plan to provide permits to boaters. A week later the Board summarily rejected the idea.

During the week following the board meeting, local newspapers in Douglas County became interested in these events and wrote stories, one of which supported the WSA and a second of which supported FDRR. Since that time, there has been a fire storm of angry letters to the papers, most of which have been highly critical of the policies of the WSA.

Despite early signs of cooperation, the WSA appears to be deeply entrenched in its position. Both sides seem to be preparing for litigation. No negotiations are in progress at this time. The GCA is requesting information from the WSA and is contemplating filing a lawsuit.

Text adapted from article in May/June 1995 issue of the AWA Journal.