Mission Statement: Georgia River Network is working to ensure a clean water legacy by engaging and empowering Georgians to protect and restore our rivers from the mountains to the coast. The Need: Georgia's rivers provide habitat for many endangered and threatened plant and animal species. Georgia ranks third in the nation for aquatic diversity, with at least 269 different kinds of freshwater fish native to the state. Our waterways provide recreational opportunities for whitewater enthusiasts, anglers, swimmers, and boaters. They beautify our communities and countryside. They nourish coastal marshlands, estuaries, and fisheries. They provide water for industry and drinking water for millions of people. Today, many forces threaten or negatively impact these rivers, including increased demand for water and multi-source pollution. Working together, river groups are critical to addressing issues threatening Georgia's rivers. Threats are diverse and localized, and local people are best suited to identify and implement solutions that will work in their watershed. In many of the state's watersheds, where citizens are not engaged or organized to advocate for their river, they must be engaged. Where groups are already organized, they must be empowered with skills, information, tools, and resources to effectively address issues within their watershed.