But the Chattahoochee is also a river in danger. Many of the major tributaries to the Chattahoochee River suffer from urban runoff, eroded stream banks and sewer overflows. Several environmental groups and communities have filed suit in federal court because of elevated levels of pollution that have been blamed on inadequate wastewater and sewer overflows. American Rivers has declared the Chattahoochee "the most endangered urban river in America.

To address the issues surrounding the Chattahoochee River, we have assembled teams of landscape architects from around the country combined with forces of local design professionals, national organizations, community stakeholders, and representatives from city, county, and federal agencies. Our goal is to help bring people to the river in their daily lives, and, by doing so, develop a broad "river ethic" which will influence future public policy on river protection, and to integrate the river into the daily life of Atlanta. Specific objectives of this demonstration project are to address flood control, environmental quality, preservation, aesthetics, watershed management, and public access while helping build public support for the vision of protecting the river.