Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper (UCR) Executive Director Sally Bethea was honored by Southern Living magazine as one of its “Heroes of the New South.”

Bethea, who helped co-found UCR in 1994, won in the “Eco-Preservation” category “as an individual recognized for fighting tirelessly to preserve the beauty of the region’s natural resources,” the magazine said in a press release. 

“I am very honored by this recognition and pleased to accept it as one of the 200 waterkeepers around the world who are working daily for clean, healthy waterways in their communities,” Bethea said.

The honorees will be featured in the magazine’s March issue, which hits newsstands on Friday, Feb. 24.

Winners were chosen by the magazine and a panel of jurors, based on the following criteria:

• Contribution to Southern culture: Commitment to driving Southern culture forward via personal grassroots efforts or within an organization
• Innovation: Forward-thinking individuals and organizations that put new spins on traditions
• Impact on the community: Regional and local reach throughout the South
• Scope of reach: Amount of community influence on a national, regional, and local level
• Advancement: How contributions will impact future generations

UCR’s mission is to protect and preserve the Chattahoochee River, its lakes and tributaries for the people, fish and wildlife that depend upon it. The Chattahoochee is the most heavily used water resource in Georgia. For more information, visit www.chattahoochee.org.