The Chattahoochee is calling—but before you grab your float and your six-pack, there are a few things you should know before jumping in.
Even though the river is cleaner than it used to be, this is still nature we’re talking about. Conditions can change quickly. And if you’re not paying attention, that leisurely float down the ’Hooch can turn into a bacterial bath or worse.
🧪 What’s Happening: The Chattahoochee National Park Conservancy is warning paddlers, waders and tube-flingers to check water quality before heading out. Why? Because E. coli levels can spike after heavy rain, making it a bad day to take an accidental gulp. The river’s flow and depth can also shift fast depending on water releases upstream. Translation: What was a lazy river in the morning might be a rollercoaster by noon.
📊 Take Action: Before you head to your favorite drop-in, check out BacteriAlert for real-time bacteria data. Yes, that’s a real thing. It’s a partnership between the U.S. Geological Survey and the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper. Just hit this link before you paddle, splash, or wade.
🛶 Why This Should Catch Your Attention: This is about more than whether you get a gross rash. Unsafe water conditions can send you or your kids to the ER. And it’s not just E. coli—you’ve got to factor in water speed and release schedules from Buford Dam. The river isn’t just some chill background to your Instagram story. It’s a living, moving body of water.
📅 Heads-Up for June 13: If you want to play it safe and still have a blast, join a guided trip. Paddle the Park is set for Friday, June 13, taking you from Morgan Falls to Powers Island with help from the pros at Nantahala Outdoor Center. New paddlers are welcome, and veterans won’t be bored. Get details and sign up here.
🌊 Get Smart About the River: There’s more safety info where that came from. Visit chattahoocheeparks.org for details on water flow, weather advisories and safety tips.
How to Read and Understand the News
Truth doesn’t bend because we dislike it.
Facts don’t vanish when they make us uncomfortable.
Events happen whether we accept them or not.
Good reporting challenges us. The press isn’t choosing sides — it’s relaying what official, verified sources say. Blaming reporters for bad news is like blaming a thermometer for a fever.
Americans have a history of misunderstanding simple things. In the 1980s, A&W rolled out a 1/3-pound burger to compete with McDonald’s Quarter Pounder. It failed because too many people thought 1/3 was smaller than 1/4. If we can botch basic math, we can certainly misread the news.
Before dismissing a story, ask yourself:
- What evidence backs this?
- Am I reacting to facts or feelings?
- What would change my mind?
- Am I just shooting the messenger?
And one more: Am I assuming bias just because I don’t like the story?
Smart news consumers seek truth, not comfort.
B.T. Clark
B.T. Clark is an award-winning journalist and the Publisher of The Georgia Sun. He has 25 years of experience in journalism and served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta for 15 years and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc. for 8 years. His work has appeared in several newspapers throughout the state including Neighbor Newspapers, The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal. He is a Georgia native and a fifth-generation Georgian.
