AWWareness

On AWW data and water monitoring data entry …

The AWW database is closing in on 90,000 water monitoring data records and with all of that data comes a need for efficient data management! Since 2002, the majority of water data has been submitted electronically by certified AWW monitors. Even with all of our years of experience managing the AWW database and web tools, AWW has to learn and adapt every day in order to keep up with constantly changing technology. In addition, we have to balance the changing needs of our volunteers and waterbodies.

With this in mind, we would like to introduce you to our newest online data entry system that was developed in an effort to provide monitors with an improved data entry and review process. Our tests of the new system have received positive feedback.

Continue reading “New Online Data Entry!”

BY: ERIC REUTEBUCH

Dear AWW Family,

It is with a heavy heart that I write to you, but a heart filled with gratitude and purpose. As of October 1, I retired from Auburn University after 29 years of service. After hobbling around for a couple of months this past spring, I was diagnosed with ALS last July, which precipitated my retirement.

Recently, I recalled a coworker suggesting that, along with all of the fine watershed stewardship activities that we do, we should also take time to get out and enjoy the precious waters that flow through our state – that is my next major goal.

Continue reading “A Message From the Director”

Whitney Henson first started monitoring with AWW in 2014 and became a dedicated citizen volunteer trainer just a year later. She has since graduated from Jacksonville State University with a Bachelors in Geography in 2015 and Masters in Emergency Management in 2017, helped establish the AWWsome monitoring group Jacksonville River Monitors and now works at NOAA’s Office of Water Prediction as an Associate Scientist.

Let’s get to know Whitney better:

Continue reading “Whitney Henson, AWW Trainer & Monitor Extraordinaire!”

Below are a couple of updates relative to 1) reporting fish kills, and 2) advising on consumption of contaminated fish.

1. Reporting Fish Kills:

Please help the good folks in the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division of DCNR (Department of Conservation and Natural Resources) in documenting and diagnosing fish kills in Alabama Waters by calling them ASAP when you witness a fish kill at:

Operation Game Watch line at 1-800-272-GAME(4263)       (http://www.outdooralabama.com/reporting-freshwater-fish-kills)

Continue reading “Fish Kills and Contaminated Fish Consumption”

BY: ERIC REUTEBUCH

Water Watchers,
I hope that all are having an enjoyable summer, and have time to recreate on and in our world-class waters here in Alabama. Below are a couple of updates relative to bacterial contamination of our surface waters, and our AWW bacteriological data entry that we wanted to bring to your attention:

New ADEM Bacteriological Criteria

Continue reading “Updates on bacteria monitoring from ADEM and AWW”

BY: eric reutebuch

Last fall, Alabama Water Watch (AWW) was contacted by Flotilla Commander Jake Shaw, Director of the Coast Guard Auxiliary (CGA) at Auburn University. Commander Shaw, and the AU CGA cadets were interested in AWW and how water monitoring might mesh with their mission to be involved in environmental stewardship. After an introductory presentation on AWW, they felt that becoming AWW-certified in water monitoring would be a great fit!

Continue reading “AU’s Coast Guard Auxiliary begins Watching Auburn’s Water”

2017 Alabama Water Watch Awards

Several individuals and groups were recognized during the AWW 25^th Anniversary Celebration. Continue reading “2017 AWW Awards”

Who could have imagined back in the early days of AWW how far-reaching the program’s impacts would be 25 years later. Read about some of AWW’s impressive achievements in Eric’s recent AWWareness Article:  AWW Celebrates 25 Years of Watching the Water.

Over the weekend of May 20^th, volunteers, supporters, and friends of AWW joined together at the Living River Retreat on the Cahaba near Montevallo to celebrate the achievements and importance of AWW over the last 25 years. Here are a few highlights from the celebration.

The day began with a welcome that included recognition of the AWW Association board members, volunteer trainers, and monitors by AWW Director, Eric Reutebuch. Each of the twelve trainers present received a poster of the America’s Amazon Infographic in recognition of his or her valuable contributions to AWW.

Continue reading “AWW 25th Anniversary Celebration Highlights”

On May 19^th, to kick off a fun-filled weekend of celebrating 25 years of “Loving Our Downstream Neighbor”, several AWW monitors and staff floated a short stretch of the Cahaba River on the Living River Retreat property. Along the way we found snakes, turtles, and mussels, laughs were shared, and near the end, the group had the pleasure of seeing a small stand of the famous Cahaba Lilies.

Continue reading “Canoeing and Celebrating on the Cahaba”

by: eric reutebuch

Back in 1992, Bill Deutsch was fresh out of graduate school at AU, and ready to go out and change the world – for the better, of course. Little did he know that 25 years later, AWW would have trained 7,400 citizen monitors who have monitored 2,400 sites on the streams, rivers, lakes, bays and bayous throughout the state, and submitted over 86,000 water quality records to the AWW online database!

More important, that these volunteer monitors would have accomplished a litany of achievements in improving water quality and water policy through the use of their data and acquired knowledge in a myriad of watershed stewardship endeavors. The list includes positive impacts ranging from cyphering out fecal contamination in local neighborhood streams to impacting state water policy! Here are some examples: Continue reading “AWW celebrates 25 years of watching the water”