Clergy, scientists, local governments, and elected officials have spoken out for protecting the Okefenokee swamp from risky mining proposals. And now a poll of Georgia voters shows that they are in good company.

A clear majority (69 percent) of Georgians said that Georgia’s Governor should take “immediate action” to protect the Okefenokee swamp from risky mining proposals. “Across the state, from congregations in downtown Atlanta to the mountains to the coast, Georgians understand what’s at risk with proposals to mine near the Okefenokee,” said Codi Norred, Executive Director of GIPL. Last year GIPL released a letter signed by over 100 clergy asking local and federal leaders to protect the Okefenokee. “We have a spiritual imperative to protect this special place.”

Okefenokee Swamp and mine site

“God created the Okefenokee,” said Rev. Antwon Nixon, Mt. Carmel Baptist Church, Folkston and founder of Sowing Seeds Outside the Walls. “We can never get this special place back. I live just 10 miles away. And we need the help of everyone to protect it. It’s not a one person army. We have a duty to do our part and spread this heightened spiritual awareness to others.”

And nearly as many people (68 percent) think Georgia’s state Representatives and Senators should finish the job and pass legislation to permanently protect the Okefenokee from risky mining operations in the future. Earlier this year, bipartisan legislation to protect the Okefenokee was introduced in Georgia’s General Assembly. The bill failed to receive a vote.

“Valdosta’s Mayor, Council, and Citizens are united in supporting any and all level of protection for the awesome beauty and resource that is the Okefenokee,” said Scott James Matheson, Mayor of Valdosta, which passed a resolution in 2021 urging protection of the Okefenokee.

Heron, tree, grass, lily pads, river, 2019-12-07, 10:16:41, https://www.google.com/maps/@30.8349267,-82.3497586,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x0; Photo: John S. Quarterman

A majority of Georgians (53 percent) have been to the Okefenokee or plan to visit the National Wildlife Refuge in the future.

“I personally don’t think a mine belongs near the pristine Okefenokee Swamp,” said WWALS Watershed Coalition member John Melton of Fargo. “My relatives have always been there. They were keepers of the swamp to manage the swamp for the benefits of the inhabitants, the ecosystems, and the animals that thrive there. We’ve had forest rangers in the family, we’ve been there with the fires, and when it’s been flooded. A mine is a danger to ruin the ecosystem that we have so long held in trust, we, the stewards of that land.”

Mine site 2019-10-05; Photo: Wayne Morgan for WWALS on a Southwings flight

The Georgia Water Coalition has an easy way for Georgians to make their voice heard to protect the Okefenokee. Visit www.protectgeorgia.org/okefenokee to send a message to candidates for Governor and Lt Governor.

In early September, Mason-Dixon Polling of Jacksonville, FL conducted a poll of 625 registered Georgia voters on behalf of the Georgia Water Coalition. Full polling results are available on Georgia Water Coalition’s website: www.gawater.org/okefenokee-swamp

###

About the Georgia Water Coalition:

The Georgia Water Coalition (GWC) is a partnership of over 280 organizations, representing thousands of Georgians and encompassing conservation organizations, farmers, homeowners and lake associations, business owners, sportsmen’s clubs, professional associations, and religious groups. The GWC’s mission is to protect and care for Georgia’s surface water and groundwater resources, which are essential for sustaining economic prosperity, providing clean and abundant drinking water, preserving diverse aquatic habitats for wildlife and recreation, strengthening property values, and protecting the quality of life for current and future generations. Learn more here: https://www.gawater.org/

WWALS Watershed Coalition, Inc. (WWALS), is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational charity. WWALS advocates for conservation and stewardship of the surface waters and groundwater of the Suwannee River Basin and Estuary, in south Georgia and north Florida, among them the Withlacoochee, Willacoochee, Alapaha, Little, Santa Fe, and Suwannee River watersheds, through education, awareness, environmental monitoring, and citizen activities. Founded in June 2012, WWALS has board members from multiple counties in south Georgia and north Florida, and members from all over the Suwannee River Basin and from farther away. Since December 2016, John S. Quarterman is the Suwannee Riverkeeper®, which is a staff position and a project of WWALS as the member of Waterkeeper® Alliance for the Suwannee River Basin and Estuary.

Contact: John S. Quarterman, Suwannee Riverkeeper
WWALS Watershed Coalition, Inc.
229-242-0102, 850-290-2350
wwalswatershed@gmail.com
www.wwals.net

Short Link: