Georgia River Network names SELC attorney Conservationist of the Year

Georgia River Network presented its 2018 River Conservationist of the Year award to SELC staff attorney April Lipscomb last month as part of its Annual Weekend for Rivers.

Praised for her leadership with the Georgia Water Coalition, made up of more than 250 member groups statewide, Lipscomb has been recognized for the invaluable assistance and legislative expertise she provides to river groups throughout Georgia. The network gives this award each year to someone whose work has had a direct impact on river health while demonstrating “heroic leadership, inspiration, creativity and dedication to a vision of clean, healthy, plentiful water for our communities, our families and wildlife.”

Lipscomb works in SELC’s Georgia office on a range of water quality issues and plays a key role in the Georgia General Assembly, collaborating closely with partner groups and elected officials to shape legislative and regulatory efforts for statewide water protections.

In addition to working on issues including improving stream buffer protections and groundwater safeguards, Lipscomb was instrumental in securing Georgia’s first bill governing fracking—signed into law by Governor Deal earlier this year—to better protect local communities and drinking water.