Proctor Creek in Blue and Green: Exploring Approaches to Planning in an Impaired Watershed

Abstract

Planning and community development efforts in impoverished urban areas are not often grounded in such acute ecological awareness, yet that seems to be precisely what is happening on Atlanta’s north west side. Whether at the grassroots level or at the federal agency level and everything in between, a renewed focus on the intersection of ecological and social impact of the impaired Proctor Creek watershed is taking hold. These efforts warrant special attention, as the various synergies created by their collective focus have the potential to add up to real and meaningful change and to provide a model for similarly situated communities elsewhere.

This paper will investigate such efforts in order to gain a better understanding of the motivating factors behind the various groups and projects focusing on the Proctor Creek watershed , their leadership, the policy environment in which they are operating (or seeking to change), and finally, the connections that may or may not exist between them. In investigating these linkages, this paper will seek to identify areas where synergistic focus can have the greatest impact, and will make recommendations aimed at maximizing the benefits of these combined activities.