As many of our volunteers know, AWW is part of the Auburn University Water Resources Center (AUWRC), which receives support from the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station (AAES) and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES). What folks may not know is that AWW and WRC Staff are part of the Agriculture, Forestry, and Natural Resources (AFNR) team within Extension, which includes professionals from Aquatic Resources, Horticulture, Home Grounds, Gardens, and Home Pests, Poultry, Food Safety, and more.
The AFNR Team meets annually to discuss program goals and foster community amongst team members. This year, the meeting was held at the Lake Guntersville State Park Lodge, with a field trip to Graham Farms, about an hour north of Guntersville.
Between sessions of strategic planning, the team went on a field trip to the Graham Farm and Nature Center in the beautiful Paint Rock Valley.
WRC Staff Eve Brantley (WRC Director), Bree Minton (Alabama Drought Reach Coordinator), and Sydney Zinner (AWW Volunteer Coordinator) led a stream biomonitoring session in Larkin Fork flowing through the farm’s property.
The creek was abundant with critters, from dragonflies, crayfish, and craneflies to water pennies and scuds! While we did not find AWW’s mascot, the caddisfly, there was a great diversity of critters, indicating that the water quality was good.
AFNR Team members enjoyed the hands-on experience, which was elevated by their unique expertise in their fields, ranging from entomology to food safety. Water brings folks together from all disciplines, and we are happy to see our fellow team members getting involved in watershed stewardship!
