The Conasauga River Alliance has been awarded a grant for $30,000 from Southern Co. to treat 500 linear feet of collapsing streambank to restore “riparian integrity” to a 3,800-foot segment of Swamp Creek, a tributary to the Conasauga River in Whitfield County.

The alliance must provide a match of $32,500 either through money or in-kind contributions. The grant is through the Five Star Restoration Program.

“The site will be used for an in-field, community-based workshop to showcase actual installation of currently underutilized, ecologically-preferable streambank stabilization techniques to area developers, designers and landowners,” Southern Co. said in a press release. Other project partners include Whitfield County, Georgia Environmental Protection Division, Limestone Valley RC&D Council, D2 Land and Water Resources, and private landowners. Several other communities in Southern’s four-state service area also received grants.

“EPA’s Five Star Restoration Grant Program will help promote conservation and environmental stewardship in these communities,” said Jimmy Palmer, EPA regional administrator. “Community-based projects, such as these, improve environmental awareness among local residents and create lasting relationships for protecting and sustaining wetlands, streams and coasts.”

The Conasauga River Alliance previously received a grant of $8,200 from Southern Co. in 2007 for efforts to protect the Varnell Springs, and a $15,000 grant from Southern Co. in 2006 that funded the removal of Chinese privet, an invasive species that was crowding out native plants.