The ECO, short for Etowah, Coosa, and Oostanaula, River Education Center’s mission is to inspire children and adults to learn about and experience the ecology of Northwest Georgia. The grounds are landscaped with plants native to the region, and the aquaria inside the center house fish and other fauna native to the ECO River Basins. The building was originally constructed in 1893 as a pumping station to provide the City of Rome with municipal water. It has been renovated as part of a 2006 SPLOST package to serve as an educational facility focusing on the history and ecology of the region, with an emphasis on water related issues.
The ECO Center is designed for use by school groups to learn about the rivers in this area and for general public education. The Center will officially open in late 2010; The Rome-Floyd Adopt-A-Stream program will be based here, as will Keep Rome-Floyd Beautiful and the Rome-Floyd Environmental Services Department.