River Basin Center: Upper Altamaha Initiative

map showing counties within the upper altamaha watershed The Upper Altamaha Initiative is a service learning course that provides a structured and supportive format for students to apply policy, design and ecological principles learned in the classroom to the real world of people and policy.

Mission Statement

To help protect the ecological integrity of the Oconee and Ocmulgee River Basins by working with stakeholders to reduce the impact of human activities on water quality and biodiversity.

Philosophy and History

The Upper Altamaha Initiative matches graduate students from the University of Georgia with community stakeholders facing specific environmental challenges. Students from law, ecology, environmental design, wildlife ecology, scientific illustration and agricultural engineering may participate in the course. Water quality and the protection and restoration of aquatic species through the best available science, design and policy concepts are key goals for this hands-on program. The course presents a holistic approach to land use planning from the perspectives of our interdisciplinary faculty and guest lecturers.

Goals

Provide an educational environment where students can apply skills learned in the traditional classroom to pressing community concerns and problems;
Provide an opportunity for students and faculty to work with other disciplines in integrated environmental decision-making and problem-solving, thus improving their ability to understand, communicate with, and influence other disciplines;
Increase awareness of the importance of addressing environmental issues proactively within the university community and the broader community;
Respond to community concerns and problems in the Upper Altamaha Basin;
Build capacity for service learning at the University of Georgia.

Visit Our Partners:

	Alliance for Quality Growth
	Center for Community Design & Preservation
	Georgia Museum of Natural History
	NARSAL

University of Georgia - Eugene P. Odum School of Ecology

UGA River Basin Center
110 Riverbend Road, Room 101
Athens, GA 30602-1510 USA
Phone: (706) 583-0463
Fax: (706) 583-0612

C. Ronald Carroll, Co-Director for Science - rcarroll@uga.edu
Laurie Fowler, Co-Director for Policy - lfowler@uga.edu

Map and Directions to the River Basin Center
For questions or comments about this web site email: bethgav@uga.edu