I was recently asked if I was interested in writing a story about something coming to Douglas along the banks of the Satilla River.
That’s about 60 miles from where I live. My first thought was probably not, but I wanted to read some of the facts first. The more I read, the more I dislike this idea of what looks like is about to happen.
A Mr. Varnedore had owned a large tract of land on U.S. 441 South near the Coffee/Atkinson County lines bordering the Satilla River. It appears he has sold the 1,000 acres to an out of state entity, which plans to build a large-scale poultry operation on the tract although nothing has been confirmed or denied on the record.
Strong rumors are coming out the new owners plan to build 60 chicken houses (five farms with 12 houses to each farm) and bring as many as 120 people from out of state and possibly out of country to operate the farm. The property is zoned as agricultural, so there will be no zoning issues for the county to be involved with.
This will be a self-regulated company, which to me is also something to be worried about. Most all of the property is in a flood zone and the run-off from these 60 chicken houses will be going into the Satilla River.
I don’t see any way it can be stopped. IF that happens and IF the chicken houses are built on the banks of the Satilla River in Douglas, I am really concerned about this project. Nothing about it sounds good.
Nearby landowners are concerned and starting to show their disapproving of this project which has been kept under the radar until now. My personal concern would be for anyone downriver on the Satilla River from Douglas to the Georgia Coast who should really be concerned.
There are a lot of people who fish in Douglas, Ware, Pierce, Brantley, and all the way to Camden that should be concerned about eating contaminated fish if all of this is true.
I don’t know where the EPD (Environmental Protection Division) stands with allowing this to happen. I grew up in Southeast Georgia and not too far from some chicken houses, but none of them were near the Satilla River.
Chicken poop makes great fertilizer, but poses a huge health risk to humans, particularly due to bacteria like Salmonella and E. coli which can be found in the droppings.
This bacteria can cause foodborne illnesses and, if not handled properly, improperly composted manure can contain pathogens that can harm people and animals.
Wayne Morgan Brantley County
