Watershed UGA
A town/gown stream restoration and protection initiative aimed at engaging the campus community in sustainability through watersheds. We want to create a social infrastructure that facilitates the use of the UGA campus as a living laboratory while promoting experiential learning, research, and public service and outreach.
A project of the River Basin Center and the Office of Sustainability in collaboration with partners across campus and the community.
Contact US
If you have questions, please send an email to watershed@uga.edu.
Join our mailing list!
Please send your name and email to watershed@uga.edu to get email updates on Watershed UGA. Please note if you are a student, a member of the community, or a faculty member in the email.
Events
Post-Gameday Cleanup
Sunday, September 24 9:00 AM
Tanyard Creek - beside Tate Student Center.
In conjunction with Greening Forward, there will be a stream cleanup on Sunday, September 24th to remove trash and debris from gameday traffic/tailgating from campus watersheds. Trash bags, gloves, and grabbers will be provided, but volunteers should wear appropriate working clothes which could get wet/dirty. Close toed shoes are recommended. As it is likely to be hot outside, please bring your own reusable water bottle to drink from.
UGA Green Cup Kickoff Tailgate
Sunday, September 24 6:30 PM
Hill Hall Entrance
Come help kickoff the 9th annual Green Cup Challenge! Learn more about the competition, grab some food and free swag, and meet other residents from your community!
Chew Crew Cleanup
Monday, September 25 5:00 PM
Driftmier Woods by the Engineering Building and University Village Complex B
The Chew Crew is having a work day at their Driftmier Woods site and needs volunteers to help clean up and clear out invasives while hanging out with goats!
Rivers Alive: Athens, GA
Saturday, September 30 8:00 AM
Sandy Creek Nature Center
Athens area residents wade into local rivers, lakes and streams as part of the continuing statewide campaign to clean and preserve over 70,000 miles of Georgia’s rivers and streams. The effort is part of Rivers Alive, a joint program of the Environmental Protection Division Outreach Education Programs and the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation.
Chew Crew's Botany Blitz
Saturday, September 30 9:30 AM
Tanyard Creek and Driftmier Chew Crew Sites
Join the UGA Chew Crew as we prepare for the arrival of our beloved goats! On Saturday, September 30th, and Sunday, October 1st, we will be taking inventory of the plants growing in the paddock around Tanyard Creek. (Because we want everyone to know how neat neature is!) This is a great educational opportunity for those looking to immerse themselves in the world of ecology, vegetation sampling, and plant identification. No prior experience or scientific knowledge is necessary, but you will be able to walk away from this event with the enviable ability to tell all of your friends abour invasive species and point out native plants! (You can tell its an apsen because of the way it is!) AND HOW NEAT IS THAT?
AND AS IF THAT ISN'T CONVINCING, IT'S GOING TO BE SUPER FUN BECAUSE BOTANY= A BLAST!
Water Smart Rain Gardens Workshop
Wednesday, October 04 5:30 PM
Athens-Clarke County Library 2025 Baxter St
Join Athens-Clarke County Stormwater for a Water Smart Rain Gardens Workshop on Wednesday, October 4th from 5:30 to 6:30pm at the ACC Library (Meeting Room C).
This informative and engaging workshop will cover an introduction to rain gardens and provide the tools necessary to begin designing and building your own rain garden. This workshop is brought to you by the ACC Extension Office and the ACC Stormwater Management Program.
Serving Hearts & Diversity - Lily Branch Cleanup
Sunday, October 08 1:00 PM
Joe Frank Harris Dining Hall
Join the Serving Hearts & Diversity campus organization for a cleanup of Lily Branch on October 8th at 1pm. Cleanup materials will be provided to volunteers. Please bring your own reusable water bottle and wear appropriate clothing for a stream cleanup. Closed toed shoes are highly encouraged.
Chew Crew Tanyard Creak Cleanup
Monday, October 09 5:00 PM
Tanyard Creek Chew Crew Site beside Hull St Parking Deck
The Chew Crew is having a work day at their Tanyard Creek site and needs volunteers to help clean up and clear out invasives to prepare for the goats.
Bring bug spray, and wear clothes you can get dirty (i.e. jeans, t-shirts, closed toed shoes). Come out and lend a hand at Tanyard Creek.
Chew Crew Driftmier Woods Workday
Tuesday, October 17 5:00 PM
Driftmier Woods by the Engineering Building and University Village Complex B
The Chew Crew is having a work day at their Driftmier Woods site and needs volunteers to help clean up and clear out invasives to prepare for the goats.
Bring bug spray, and wear clothes you can get dirty (i.e. jeans, t-shirts, closed toed shoes). Come out and lend a hand at Driftmier.
Watch our Introductory Video
Stories
Floating Wetlands on Lake Herrick
Sarah Hensey, an undergraduate student, along with Aaron Trimble, Cody Matteson, and Jordan Noell Francis received a $5000 UGA Sustainability grant to design and install floating wetlands in Lake Herrick.
H.B. Stroud Elementary Community Problem Solving Team
The H.B. Stroud Elementary Community Problem Solving Team traveled to Wisconsin to compete at the International Future Problem Solving Program competition following their First Place win in the state of Georgia. The team was awarded Second Place in the Junior Division at the Wisconsin conference for their amazing work to improve watershed health on their campus.
Volunteers help repair trails behind Stroud Elementary
Stroud Elementary School was awarded the 5 Star EPA Grant with help from Watershed UGA for use in the Stroud Elementary School Creekside Trail Restoration and Education Project. The project intends to restore a 3/4 mile creek-side trail, 4,500 ft of riparian habitat, and 48 acres of forest to improve water quality and aquatic/terrestrial habitat at Trail Creek. Additionally, with this grant, three outdoor classrooms will be created to provide educational opportunities to Stroud Elementary students and the nearby community. These classrooms will host associated curricula in water quality monitoring and protection, plant and animal life and its interaction with the watershed, the function of wetlands, and educational and career opportunities in the field of environmental protection.
Poster for the Athens GreenFest Awards 2017
Athens Clarke-County Stormwater Announces Watershed UGA for their Annual Stormwater Steward Award.
Each year, the Athens-Clarke County Stormwater Management Program presents the Stormwater Steward Award to an organization, business, individual, or community group that has gone above and beyond to reduce the impact of stormwater runoff on local waters through a specific project, practice, or event. This year, the awards were announced during the Athens Greenfest Awards in downtown Athens, GA at the Morton Theatre on April, 21st 2017.
Watershed UGA among 2017 winners of the Clarke County School District's Impact Awards.
On June 8th, the Clarke County Board of Education announced the school district's 5th annual Impact Awards for 2017. Watershed UGA was one of four organizations honored by the school system for their ongoing dedication to students this year.