Tony Able

Chair, Southeast Beaver Alliance
Decatur, Georgia

Tony Able has a dedicated career championing clean water and healthy ecosystems. He retired in 2022 after 35 years of distinguished service with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). During his tenure, he specialized in natural stream and wetland restoration, contributing his expertise to a wide range of environmental issues, including watershed management, groundwater remediation, hazardous waste cleanup, non-point source pollution, wetlands protection, and water quality management. Mr. Able’s work with the Southeast Beaver Alliance focuses on how beavers can serve as critical partners in the restoration of streams and wetlands to promote environmental health. As part of his outreach, he leads educational tours at Legacy Park in Decatur, Georgia, which provide opportunities to see beaver ecology in action. Mr. Able also provides education about innovative techniques, such as fencing and flow devices, that allow humans to manage flooding and damage to infrastructure effectively, thereby decreasing human-beaver conflict concerns.

He is deeply involved in a variety of conservation efforts, currently serving on the Board of Directors of the Southeastern Trust for Parks and Land, where he helps to conserve natural landscapes and build public parks that benefit local communities and ecosystems.  He is also a dedicated volunteer with Trees Atlanta, where he plants native trees to support local biodiversity and ecosystem restoration. Mr. Able holds a Bachelor of Science in Geology from Georgia Southwestern University and a Master of Science in Geography from Western Kentucky University. His lifelong commitment to environmental stewardship continues to drive his work and volunteer efforts, making a lasting impact on the natural world and the communities he serves.