With summer temperatures continuing across Northwest Georgia, the Coosa River Basin Initiative is reminding residents to check water conditions before swimming, paddling or enjoying area rivers and lakes. CRBI will continue its Swim Guide water-quality monitoring through Labor Day weekend, collecting samples from 29 locations throughout the Coosa River Basin. Samples are tested for E. coli bacteria, and updated results are posted each Friday. Sites receiving a green designation have low E. coli levels and are considered suitable for recreation, while red sites have elevated levels and visitors are advised to use extra caution or avoid the location. The program has a direct connection to Chattooga County because CRBI’s monitoring includes the Chattooga River watershed. CRBI describes its Swim Guide as a weekly bacteriological monitoring program covering popular recreational locations throughout the upper Coosa basin. The organization conducts testing each Thursday and Friday from Memorial Day through Labor Day. CRBI’s broader water-monitoring work has also included the Chattooga River itself. The organization has previously documented and monitored water-quality concerns in the river, including PFAS contamination associated with upstream textile manufacturing in the Trion area. For Swim Guide testing, CRBI is specifically looking for E. coli, which can indicate fecal contamination and an increased health risk for people recreating in the water. The organization says E. coli…
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