Sandy Springs, GA and Kennesaw, GA - Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (Chattahoochee River NRA), Chattahoochee National Park Conservancy (CNPC), and Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park (Kennesaw Mountain NBP) are teaming up to reduce dog waste in two of metro Atlanta’s national park units. With design and funding support from CNPC, Chattahoochee River NRA and Kennesaw Mountain NBP are installing new dog waste bins at major trailheads and visitor use areas throughout both national parks to encourage visitors to “bag and bin it."
Approximately 37.6% of metro Atlanta residents own dogs, and many visitors bring their dogs along on their visits to the Chattahoochee River and Kennesaw Mountain. Dog waste poses a risk to the health of park visitors and wildlife, directly through physical contact and indirectly through elevated bacteria levels in nearby water supplies. Both Chattahoochee River NRA and Kennesaw Mountain NBP are asking park visitors to help decrease the dog waste that enters the Chattahoochee River watershed by correctly disposing of dog waste. Both parks have struggled with visitors not picking up dog waste or leaving bagged dog waste on the side of park trails. Even if the bags are biodegradable, dog waste will still contaminate the ground or nearby water sources.
“With 70% of the metro area’s drinking water coming from the Chattahoochee River, it’s imperative that we take actions to prevent dog waste from entering the water supply and raising bacteria levels," commented Acting Superintendent Ann Honious. “Dog waste is not a fertilizer. It actually produces deadly bacteria that enters the ecosystem and the water supply. Our goal is to create a safe and enjoyable experience for all visitors along the Chattahoochee River, and that includes educating visitors about the environmental impacts of dog waste and promoting the proper disposal of unsightly dog waste throughout all park units."
To help solve this problem, the board of CNPC partnered with students at the Miami Ad School in 2017 to engage Chattahoochee River NRA visitors and encourage dog owners to pick up and properly dispose of their dogs’ waste. The partnership led to a creative campaign to educate visitors about the ecological importance of proper waste disposal and a goal to make dog waste stations more accessible in areas of high visitation throughout the Park. With a mix of private donations and NPS Centennial Challenge funds, Chattahoochee River NRA and CNPC purchased
37 new dog waste stations to be used throughout the Park with new signage using a design created by Miami Ad School students.
Kennesaw Mountain NBP teamed up with Chattahoochee River NRA and CNPC in 2020 to expand the dog waste campaign to Kennesaw Mountain and install more dog waste bins on park trails. “Here at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, we have many miles of trails that are great for taking your dog on a hike," said Superintendent Patrick Gamman. We wanted to join Chattahoochee River NRA in making your experience the best it can be. With more and better placed bins, both parks will be cleaner and more enjoyable for everyone. Thanks for helping us take care of these special places."
Together, Chattahoochee River NRA, CNPC, and Kennesaw Mountain NBP are working to promote good dog waste etiquette and encourage visitors to “lead the pack" and “bag and bin it." For more information, including the locations of dog waste receptacles visit Chattahoochee River NRA and Kennesaw Mountain NBP..
www.nps.gov
About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 422 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
www.chattahoocheeparks.org
About Chattahoochee National Park Conservancy. The Chattahoochee National Park Conservancy (CNPC) is the official nonprofit partner of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, a unit of the national park system. CNPC strives to build a community of support for the Park and to promote the stewardship of its natural and cultural resources. Learn more at www.chattahoocheeparks.org and on Facebook and Instagram.
Tags: chattahoochee river national recreation area chattahoochee river
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
