Equity Case Study:
West Atlanta Watershed Alliance
How the West Atlanta Watershed Alliance Paved the Way for Community and City Collaboration on Green Infrastructure
| Region | Southeast USA | Principle | Center Community |
| City | Atlanta, GA | Best Practice | Listen first |
| Population | 499,000 | ||
| Partners | Proctor Creek Stewardship Council |
“The community and the nonprofits came up with the maps and plans, and we had modeling by hydrologists. With that collaboration, we pulled together something amazing that gave the city the breadcrumbs to move in the right direction.”
–Darryl Haddock, Special Projects Director, West Atlanta Watershed Alliance
Project Description
The West Atlanta Watershed Alliance (WAWA) is a community-based organization focused on protecting, preserving and restoring the natural resources in West Atlanta, particularly in historically underserved areas that have a legacy of flooding and mismanagement. The Alliance has forged a unique and mutually beneficial relationship with the Department of Watershed Management (DWM) by developing a structure for citizen science, opportunities for community advocacy and frequent collaboration alongside the DWM for green planning. A primary goal of WAWA is to address environmental justice issues and enhance the quality of life for residents within the Proctor Creek Watershed and beyond.
Best Practices in Action
The West Atlanta Watershed Alliance spent years taking the time to find people who were motivated to work with them from inside the Department of Watershed Management. The beneficial relationship took patience, years of collaboration and very focused listening on both sides. Additionally, WAWA did not wait for an invitation to start working. Alongside the Proctor Creek Stewardship Council, they paved their own path by developing mechanisms to conduct community science. They presented their findings to prove their involvement was necessary and thoughtful. They ensured that community members were not just consulted but actively involved in the decision-making process, turning community meetings into collaborative platforms for shared ideation.
The Alliance continues community activation in maintaining the parks. Green infrastructure requires ongoing maintenance, which has proven to be one of the more challenging long-term issues when implementing green spaces. The Alliance created a community-led green team that regularly maintains the spaces and supports these efforts by sourcing funding to ensure the program’s longevity.