Chattahoochee River between Columbus and Phenix, Ala. (Dave Bender)
Georgia environmental groups - like many non-profit organizations - are feeling the economic pinch. One organization sharply curtailing its activities is Columbus-based Chattahoochee River Watch.
The group's $100, 000 annual operating budget goes towards monitoring pollutants and silt along the river, and in the creeks and steams that feed it.
But that money is drying up, because donations are way down.
Bill Edwards was the group's salaried executive director and now serves as chief volunteer:
"With the cutback in funding, Chattahoochee RiverWatch is going to have to sit down and reprioritize what it's going to do and how it's going to raise the money to do it."Edwards says the group will severely cutback it's operation but hopes to resume activities in the spring or summer - depending on funding.
Officials with other environmental groups report similar shortfalls in donations since the economic downturn.
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