The purpose of LATWE is to increase awareness, knowledge, and implementation of a suite of sound stream and watershed stewardship practices available to the Georgia urban and suburban homeowner.  Practices will focus on management for healthy riparian areas, and on a variety of approaches to reduce pollutants and stormwater from lawns and gardens.  The many functions and values of trees and shrubs will be highlighted throughout this program.  

On the right is a typical urban stream in Atlanta.  Note that homeowners have dumped rip rap along the streambanks.  In places, concrete has been poured to further protect from soil loss.   Mature hardwood trees have exposed roots and are in danger of falling.  The houses along this stream suffer from periodic flooding.  These problems haven't always existed,  but have been exasperated due to upstream development, road size expansion, and loss of the active floodplain - all contributing to downstream problems.  The solution requires a watershed approach that takes into account changes to the entire system.