ATLANTA – State Representative Chuck Sims (R-Ambrose) recently received the Clean Water Champion Award from the Georgia Water Coalition. The Clean Water Champion Award recognizes state representatives and senators who supported Georgia’s rivers, lakes, groundwater and streams during the 2014 legislative session.
“Georgia’s water supply is not only a crucial resource for our citizens, businesses, and wildlife, but it is also a resource that we must protect for future generations,” said Rep. Sims. “As a result, I have worked diligently to support policies that safeguard Georgia’s waterways. I am honored that the Georgia Water Coalition recognized my efforts with this award.”
Rep. Sims was selected as a Clean Water Champion for his support and leadership on House Bill 1085, otherwise known as the Farmer’s Private Property Protection Act. Although HB 1085 failed to pass the House Natural Resources and Environment Committee, language from the bill was incorporated into the final version of Senate Bill 213, also known as the Flint River Drought Protection Act. The added measure, incorporated from HB 1085, allows the Environmental Protection Division (EPD) Director to prohibit certain permit holders from withdrawing water downstream of an augmentation project. Those projects are limited to a specific area in the lower Flint River basin for the sole purpose of maintaining minimum stream flows, which will protect habitat critical for vulnerable aquatic life.
Senate Bill 213 passed both the House and Senate during the 2014 legislative session and was signed into law by Governor Deal on April, 16, 2014.
“We are grateful for the Clean Water Champions who protected not only the Flint, but also our system of property rights and state stewardship,” said Gordon Rogers, Flint Riverkeeper and part of the GWC’s legislative team. “There is a fundamental difference between state water ownership and state protection.”
Rep. Sims was presented with the award at Riverview Landing before 400 participants in this year’s Paddle Georgia, a 7-day, 110-mile canoe and kayak adventure down the Chattahoochee River.
The Georgia Water Coalition is a consortium of more than 200 conservation and environmental organizations, hunting and fishing groups, businesses, and faith-based organizations that have been working to protect Georgia’s water since 2002. Collectively, these organizations represent more than 300,000 Georgians.
For more information about the Georgia Water Coalition, click here. For more information on SB 213, click here.
Representative Chuck Sims represents the citizens of District 169, which includes Bacon County and portions of Coffee and Jeff Davis counties. He was elected into the House of Representatives in 1996, currently serves on the Higher Education, Intragovernmental Coordination, State Planning & Community Affairs, and Ways & Means committees.
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