If the SHU fits, wear it!

by: eric reutebuch

The name of the game in these days of tight-and-diminishing budgets is collaboration and partnerships. AWW recently learned of a major statewide effort to recover and restore  imperiled threatened and endangered aquatic species in streams throughout Alabama. The recently-formed Alabama Rivers and Streams Network (ARSN) is a coalition of several groups and dedicated individuals who are pooling resources and efforts to protect our rich aquatic biodiversity, which in many areas is suffering,  see www.alh2o.org.

The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in partnership with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Geological Survey of Alabama, has selected Alabama’s low-hanging fruit – watersheds throughout the state with imperiled aquatic critters that have the best chance of being restored and preserved. These watersheds have been designated as Strategic Habitat Units (SHUs) and Strategic River Reach Units (SRRUs; to view a map of these 51 watersheds go to   www.alh2o.org/interactive-map).

In meetings and discussions with ARSN members about the SHU effort, it was evident that Alabama Water Watch had similar goals and aspirations and a partnership would be mutually beneficial.  The ARSN mission – to study, manage, and develop our water resources in a scientific and comprehensive way to minimize their degradation, maximize their availability for all users, and restore and recover aquatic species aligns closely with that of AWW – to improve both water quality and water policy through citizen monitoring and action. The AWW Program Office has already assisted ARSN in SHUs by providing valuable volunteer monitor water data from streams that had little-or-no other data.

Why bother? One reason that immediately comes to mind is because we Alabamians are truly blessed!

• Alabama is one of the most biologically diverse states in the United States, and with regard to some plants and animals, in the world.
• Alabama ranks first among states or is at or near the top for several types of animals and plants. It is number one for diversity of freshwater mussels, freshwater fishes (Tennessee is a close second), freshwater snails, crayfish, and freshwater turtles.
  Encyclopedia of Alabama  www.encyclopediaofalabama.org

And with great blessings comes great responsibility. I encourage all AWW monitors, and friends of AWW to learn more about ARSN and support this noble effort – I would bet that there’s a SHU near you!