It is impossible to talk with teacher and 4-H Club Sponsor, Christina Turner without getting excited about the limitless possibilities we have as adults to make a difference in kids’ lives. Click here for ‘the rest of the story.’
Christina and friends getting trained in AWW water chemistry monitoring protocols in Huntsville in September 2013
Many smaller cities and communities in Alabama may have been wailing and gnashing their teeth back a few years ago after the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) released its General Phase II MS4 Stormwater Permit requirements. As part of these requirements, smaller communities had to develop a stormwater management program to prevent pollutants in stormwater from flushing into their stormwater sewers and local streams. The program had to include drafting a stormwater management plan, implementing a stormwater monitoring program, conducting a stormwater/nonpoint source pollution outreach program, and submitting an annual stormwater report to ADEM. The merits of government regulations can be debated, but the fact is, the Phase II requirements are here to stay, and small communities started searching for efficient ways to meet the Phase II requirements from ADEM.
Lisa Pippin-Hall measuring hardness in a stream near Smiths Station
Save Our Saugahatchee water monitors got some great news at their last group meeting in mid-October – funding from local government to support their ongoing water monitoring activities in the Saugahatchee Watershed! This was extremely welcome and important news on several fronts:
SOS has very limited financial resources,
given the ongoing rapid development, the Saugahatchee Watershed needs TLC now more than ever, and
support by local governmental entities equates to them ‘buying-in’ to Alabama Water Watch’s Community-based Watershed Stewardship model – a big boost for SOS monitoring and watershed stewardship efforts!
Cliff Webber and Eric Reutebuch (on left, SOS board member and president) ceremonially receive support for annual water monitoring supplies from Joey Hundley, Dan Ballard and Scott Parker (center and to the right, representing Lee County, City of Auburn and City of Opelika).
Alabama Water Watch congratulates Katie Morris, AWW monitor and recipient of the Girl Scout Gold Award, which represents the highest achievement in Girl Scouting. To accomplish this goal, Katie had to design and propose a sustainable project that would benefit her community.
Katie conducting water chemistry monitoring at Shoal Creek
The AWW family mourns the loss of Bill Peters, AWW monitor, citizen trainer, mentor and friend. Bill completed his earthly work on Thursday, October 2nd, 2014. In addition to his work with AWW and the Living River Center on the Cahaba River, Bill also encouraged young people to get involved with their local water resources. In this blog article from 2012, Water Watching Inspires a Sumter Eagle to Soar, we read how Bill inspired his niece to begin water monitoring on the Tombigbee River – which led to a study project and prizes in local, district and state level science fairs. We plan to publish an article soon about Bill’s work with Katie Morris, a high school student in Montevallo who recently achieved the Gold Award in Scouting. Our sincere condolences go out to Bill’s wife, Flo, and their children, Donna and Mike. We will miss you, Bill!
2013 Restoration and Protection Award Winners: Bill Peters and Gene Grimes (the Living River Center), pictured above Gene Grimes, Bill Peters (center), Bill Deutsch.
The Alabama Water Watch Association (AWWA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that works to support the goals of the AWW Program. Throughout the coming months we would like to introduce you to the AWWA Board of Directors and help citizens gain a better understanding of the purpose and mission of the AWWA through a series of blog articles. You can also learn more about AWWA and supporting its mission by visiting www.alabamawaterwatch.org/get_involved/donate.html or contacting one of our Board Members (contact information listed here: www.alabamawaterwatch.org/about/board.html .Let’s start with Mike Kensler, AWWA President:
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.
This year’s participants in the 28th Annual Alabama Water Resources Conference, www.aaes.auburn.edu/water/alabama-water-resources-conferencewere treated to a presentation on the phenomenal success of Global Water Watch (GWW) in Mexico. GWW a program based at Auburn University, and GWW, Inc. an incorporated nonprofit organization, promote community-based watershed monitoring throughout the world, see www.globalwaterwatch.org
Sarah Juliana Dominguez finally arrived after taking the ‘scenic route’ in the delivery room (according to an exhausted but ecstatic Mommy Mona – Daddy Ariel looks pretty whooped too)!
