Environmental Group Sues Columbus Developer Over River Pollution Violations
Chattahoochee Riverkeeper files federal lawsuit against Columbus apartment developer over muddy stormwater pollution that has destroyed neighboring creeks.
COLUMBUS, GEORGIA — The Chattahoochee Riverkeeper filed a federal lawsuit last week against a Columbus apartment complex developer, alleging violations of the Clean Water Act that have led to muddy stormwater polluting local waterways.
The lawsuit targets Phenix City, Alabama-based developer SCorUSA and the Aspire at Old Guard apartment complex in Columbus for allegedly not following regulations designed to protect waterways from muddy stormwaters during construction.
“The failure to implement and maintain basic pollution controls has destroyed the neighboring creeks and aquatic life downstream. Given the gravity of these violations and the defendants’ refusal to work collaboratively on a solution, CRK is moving forward with our lawsuit,” said Jason Ulseth, Riverkeeper and executive director of the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, in a statement Tuesday.
Problem Worsened Despite City Intervention
The environmental organization first notified Columbus officials in 2025 after muddy stormwater was released into the Chattahoochee river system due to “broken and insufficient pollution controls.” Despite the city requiring developers to fix the problem, the situation deteriorated by early 2026 following heavy rainfall.
The Chattahoochee Riverkeeper reported that the pristine stream, normally teeming with life, became filled with sediment from muddy waters flowing from the construction site. The environmental group described how the pollution transformed the previously healthy aquatic ecosystem.
City Issues Multiple Stop-Work Orders
The lawsuit followed an open records request filed by the riverkeeper in February for site inspection reports. Those documents revealed that the 25-acre development had been poorly managed and the pollution problem had significantly worsened.
Columbus officials issued a stop-work order shortly after the inspection reports were obtained and issued another stop-work order in early May. Henry Jacobs, deputy director of the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, addressed the ongoing enforcement challenges in the case.
The Chattahoochee River system provides drinking water and recreational opportunities for communities throughout Georgia and Alabama. Construction sites must follow specific stormwater management protocols under the Clean Water Act to prevent soil erosion and sediment runoff during development projects.
The federal lawsuit seeks to compel the defendants to comply with Clean Water Act requirements and implement proper pollution control measures at the construction site. The case highlights ongoing tensions between development pressures and environmental protection in rapidly growing areas along Georgia’s major river systems.
