AWWareness

by: eric reutebuch

To begin our “AWW Success Stories” series, let’s go down to Alabama’s beautiful coastal region and introduce you to the Town of Magnolia Springs (TOMS) monitoring group.   Local citizens began monitoring the Magnolia River around 1996, but significantly stepped up efforts in 2005, with one major goal: to get the Magnolia River upgraded to Outstanding Alabama Water (OAW) status.   TOMS realized that the Magnolia River was an exceptional waterbody, and they decided to do everything possible to make sure that it would stay this way for generations to follow.  Their pursuit of OAW status was a significant step in the right direction.

TOMS secures OAW status from ADEM for the Magnolia River

from left to right, Ken Underwood, Charlie Houser, Brett Gaar, Richard Odess (all TOMS water watchers); and ADEM officials, Stan Shirley (Environmental Engineer) and Lynn Sisk (Chief, Water Quality Division)

In Alabama there are eight classifications of water use.  Outstanding Alabama Water is the second highest of all the classifications, second only to the Outstanding National Resource Waters, and according to ADEM the “best usage of water assigned this classification are those activities consistent with the natural characteristics of the waters”.    In order for a body of water to receive this classification, it must exhibit a high quality.  The OAW status is rarely granted, and the characteristics that constitute a high quality are very specific and must be documented scientifically.  Clearly not all citizens of Magnolia Springs are scientists, but their certification in the AWW water quality monitoring program, which is approved by both ADEM and the EPA, made it was possible for locals to provide the data necessary to show that the Magnolia River was deserving of the OAW status.   According to TOMS monitor Rick Odess, the contribution from the AWW program that helped the most in this process was that “AWW provided the infrastructure and made it easy for TOMS to get their data to ADEM. AWW acts as a conduit between us and ADEM.”  Not only does OAW status draw deserved attention to the environmentally sound initiatives of Magnolia Springs, including regular water monitoring and strict water quality regulations put in place by the town, it also makes the regulations for potential polluters stricter (to learn more about the OAW  classification, CLICK HERE).

Click Here for more pics

Although the TOMS group began their testing efforts with the intention of achieving the OAW status, after becoming familiar with the benefits of regular citizen water monitoring, the group has chosen to continue monitoring. The events that have taken place during the past several months in Magnolia Springs have reaffirmed the importance of water monitoring for the community.   Monitors conduct regular AWW tests in the Magnolia River Watershed for chemistry parameters as well as bacteria, including E. coli.   In two years of testing for E. coli in the Magnolia River, the results never exceeded the safety limit set by ADEM for human contact, which is 600 E. coli per 100 mL of water.  However, in January 2010, while the community was beginning to celebrate the recent achievement of OAW status for the River, an AWW monitor near the headwaters of the Magnolia River found extremely high counts of E. coli at his regular testing site.   The community was not sure what to make of the result considering it was so out of the ordinary.

In March, the Mobile Register published a front page article detailing the problems experienced by a private sewer treatment company in Foley which has a lift station very close to the Magnolia River headwaters.  Heavy rains in January caused problems with the sewer system.  As a response, the company made the decision to discharge raw sewage into the stormwater retention pond of a nearby subdivision.  Community members complained of bad odors in the area which led to the investigation that uncovered the sewage problem.  Because of the proximity of the retention pond to the Magnolia River headwaters, and the heavy rains, it is likely that contaminated water flooded into the Magnolia River, and  that the high E. coli counts discovered by the AWW monitor were connected to this event.  The proactive community of Magnolia Springs did not hesitate to contact the necessary officials, including ADEM. As a result a “cease and desist” order was made by ADEM in March 2010. The sewer company was required to immediately stop all discharges into the retention pond and do a thorough sanitation of the pond to prevent further contamination of the area.

This event is a vivid reminder to the community of Magnolia Springs, and to other members of the AWW community, that the work of protecting water quality is never finished.   Although a stream or river has been historically healthy, it is important to continue monitoring because you never know when something could go wrong upstream. Long- term data makes it easier to determine when a problem began and what the likely cause is.   Thanks to proactive citizens, the environmental damage of this particular incidence was kept to a minimum. However, there is no guarantee that something similar will not happen again to Magnolia River, and it is likely that other rivers and streams throughout Alabama are being contaminated without detection.  In general, the people who care most about the water quality of a local water body are the people who live near it, play in it, and drink it.  When citizens are equipped with the knowledge and skills to monitor and understand water quality they have the ability to make positive changes.  It is good to be reminded of this fact and to believe in the power of collective action.  It is clear that the monitors in Magnolia Springs believe this and we can all learn a lot from their actions.

To hear more about Magnolia Springs and their efforts to protect the
Magnolia River, check out the interview with Magnolia Springs leaders near
the end of the updated Living Downstream Video (Click Here for the video).

by: eric reutebuch

Two volunteer groups have been ‘watching the waters’ of local streams in the Auburn-Opelika area for several years. Most of the two-city area falls in either the Saugahatchee Watershed or the Chewacla Watershed (see map below).

 Watersheds in the Auburn-Opelika area (click map to enlarge) include 1) Saugahatchee, 2) Chewacla, 3) Uphapee, 4) Halawakee and 5) Little Uchee. The first 3 are in the Tallapoosa River Basin, 4 and 5 are in the Chattahoochee River Basin.

 The two volunteer groups have been monitoring water chemistry and bacterial contamination (E. coli levels) at several stream sites for over a decade. Save Our Saugahatchee (SOS) formed in 1997 to address impacts to Saugahatchee Creek, and has measured water quality at 42 sites on the creek and its tributary streams (25 sites are currently monitored). Friends of Chewacla Creek and the Uphapee Watershed (CHEWUP) formed in 1998 to address impacts to Chewacla Creek, and has measured 26 sites on Choctafaula Creek and on Chewacla Creek and its tributary streams (24 sites are currently monitored). Trend graphs of these data can be viewed at the AWW website (go to www.alabamawaterwatch.org and click AWW Data). Below is a graph of bacteria data monitored over the past seven years by SOS monitor Mary Burkhart at her site on Saugahatchee Creek in the Turtle Cove subdivision.

                              Click to explore SOS bacteria data

                      Click here to explore CHEWUP bacteria data

In 2006, interest in bacteria monitoring greatly increased after a few monitors reported high E. coli levels in a couple of streams in the watershed.  Several citizen monitors got trained and certified by AWW in bacteria monitoring. ‘Blitz’ monitoring across both Saugahatchee and Chewacla Creek watersheds began in January of 2007. During a ‘blitz’ ten to twelve volunteer monitors that have been certified by AWW in Bacteriological Monitoring test about 30 sites in Chewacla and Saugahatchee watersheds in and around Auburn-Opelika. After samples are poured onto petri dishes and incubated from 30-48 hours, E. coli are counted and the counts are linked back to their respective sample site locations.

Click here for more blitz pictures

 Results are communicated to local municipal officials and to Auburn University (AU) officials. High levels of E. coli have been found at multiple sites in both cities and on the AU campus. Municipal and campus officials have worked with local monitors to resolve the sources of bacterial contamination in a timely manner, preventing further environmental and human harm. Successfully resolved problems have included underground sewer leaks, clogged sewer pipes, and improperly connected sewer pipes. Results of the most recent blitz conducted in November 2010 are shown below.

                                     Click map to enlarge

The volunteer monitors found significant E. coli contamination at 10 sites. Highest E. coli levels were at Chewacla Creek at Nixon’s Farm above Lake Ogletree at CR 27 bridge (site #10; 900 E. coli per 100 mL of water), and at Parkerson Mill Creek at Thach Avenue near the rugby field (site #25; 1,233 E. coli per 100 mL of water). Citizen monitors continue to supply their data to local resource managers to collaborate in finding sources of contamination and resolving them so that we can all fully benefit from clean waters.

Thanks to the dedication of SOS and CHEWUP monitors, our local waters run a lot cleaner! A special thanks goes to the World Wildlife Fund for grant support of this volunteer monitor watershed stewardship effort – Thank You WWF!

Historic Bacteria Sampling Results

by: eric reutebuch

In the spring of this year, Lake Watch of Lake Martin (LWLM) volunteer monitors met with Auburn University (AU) researchers to draft a study plan for the Sandy Creek Watershed. This watershed has been of particular concern as a source of pollution loading into Lake Martin. The Sandy Creek Watershed, about 193 square miles, is the largest of the 22 watersheds (eleven-digit hydrologic units) in the Middle Tallapoosa Basin. The Middle Tallapoosa Basin drains an area of 1,547 square miles from Lake Wedowee Dam downstream to Lake Martin Dam (see map below). It was ranked HIGH priority for 1) siltation and a source of lake turbidity, 2) nutrient enrichment, 3) pathogen contamination, and 4) illegal dumping in the Tallapoosa River Basin Management Plan (see www.cleanwaterpartnership.org/resources-downloads). It is also of high priority because, unlike many other streams in the basin, it drains directly into Lake Martin.

LWLM volunteers sampling Chattasofka at Hwy 280 Bridge

The group was aware of funding opportunities from the Middle Tallapoosa River Basin Clean Water Partnership (MTRBCWP), and submitted a proposal for the watershed study. The MTRBCWP funded the project, and field sampling was conducted monthly, June through September.

Eight sites were identified on seven tributaries of Sandy Creek, and one site was chosen directly downstream of the Dadeville waste water treatment plant on Chattasofka Creek. Watershed field work was divided in half with LWLM volunteer monitors sampling sites 1-4 and AU researchers sampling sites 5-8 (see map below, Sandy Creek Watershed is outlined in red). AU personnel trained the volunteers in sampling and field measurement techniques before starting the actual field sampling. During the first field outing, there was no access to the bridge crossing on Andrews Branch, which was in the heart of Chattasofka Hunting Club lands, so the site was swapped for a site on Chattasofka Creek at the Highway 280 Bridge. The water quality information collected at the Highway 280 site, along with data from the site on Chattasofka above the Andrews Branch confluence can provide insights on the water quality of Andrews Branch.

Click here for larger map

Parameters measured in the field included water temperature, dissolved oxygen and specific conductance. Water samples were collected for nutrient, sediment and E. coli analyses, which were conducted in the AWW water quality lab at AU.

Water quality results from the study are summarized below (see graphs).

• All sites had adequate dissolved oxygen (above 5 ppm, the minimum level for aquatic life, mandated by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management)
• Chattasofka Creek was high in nutrients (mean total nitrogen concentration > 1 ppm, mean total phosphorus concentration ~ 1 ppm)
• North Fork of Sandy  Creek (downstream from Camp Hill) was highest in E. coli contamination (1 occurrence > 600/100mL, 2 occurrences > 200/100mL)
• Of the three sites on Chattasofka Creek, the site below the Dadeville WWTP was the LOWEST in E. coli
• Norrell Branch was very low in alkalinity and hardness (less than 10 ppm, on average), and generally more susceptible to pollution, particularly acidic runoff (typical from mining activities)
•  All sites had relatively low sediment loads since none of the four sample dates captured a rainfall runoff event. During such an event, total suspended solids (TSS, a parameter that correlates well with stream suspended sediment loads) and nutrient concentrations would most likely be a lot higher.

Click here for larger graphs

AU project personnel would like to thank the MTRBCWP for making this project possible through their grant program, and also thank the LWLM volunteer monitors who donated their time and talent in drafting and conducting the study. Ultimately, the concerns, awareness and involvement of local AWW volunteer water monitors was translated into a collaborative effort to gather valuable water resource information in the Sandy Creek Watershed. This information can be used to improve resource management practices and water quality for Sandy, and on downstream, for Lake Martin.

By: eric reutebuch

The AU Urban Ecology class (FORY 4970/7970), taught by Dr. Chris Anderson, met with Eric Reutebuch and Sergio Ruiz-Cordova in September to learn about Alabama Water Watch(AWW) and to examine two local streams using the AWW Stream Biomonitoring protocol. The class sampled Saugahatchee Creek (at Lee County Road 65 Bridge) first, then sampled Parkerson Mill Creek (at Sandhill Road).

Photos of stream sampling

Continue reading “AU Forestry and AWW team up to assess streams”

by: eric reutebuch

AWW joined with the City of Auburn, the Auburn University Water Resources Center, and Natures Tap in sponsoring an Introduction to Rainwater Harvesting Workshop (ARCSA 100-level course). Tia Gonzales, the leader of last year’s Community Rain Barrel Workshops (sponsored by the Saugahatchee Watershed Management Plan) organized the ARCSA workshop.

ARCSA 100-level course agenda

O-A News article on the workshop

ARCSA, the American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1994 to promote rainwater catchment systems in the United States. ARCSA’s mission is to promote sustainable rainwater-harvesting practices to help solve potable, non-potable, stormwater and energy challenges throughout the world. ARCSA encourages all rainwater harvesting enthusiasts to learn about rainwater harvest and join the ARCSA organization (see www.arcsa-usa.org for more information).

Pictures of Historical Society’s Rainwater Harvest System

 The 100-level workshop was held in Loachapoka, AL at the Lee County Historical Society. Thirty-two people participated, from as far away as Pennsylvania and Texas! Historical Society volunteers provided delicious snacks and beverages. Participants learned the basics of rainwater harvest from ARCSA instructor, Tim Pope, and were shown numerous systems, large and small, that have been installed around the country. Tim emphasized that rainwater harvest can be, and is for many, a viable sole-source of water for a household or a business, especially in Alabama where we get relatively abundant rainfall spread throughout the year (about 52 inches annually, on average).

Some valuable rainwater harvest tidbits that I learned at the workshop are:

• One square foot of rooftop yields 0.6 gallons of water from a 1” rain,
• A 2000 square foot home can harvest about 63,156 gallons of rainwater per year from the roof,
• Black rain tanks are best because they don’t allow light inside and therefore prevent algae growth inside the tank,
• If one desires to use rainwater for potable use, there are several ways to sterilize the water, including chlorination, ultraviolet light treatment, ozone treatment and reverse osmosis. Some are more effective than others.

It is encouraging to see an increasing number of rainwater harvest systems in the Auburn/Opelika area. Go take a look at some of these examples and be inspired:

SWaMP helps with 3 Rs of Cary Woods Elementary Environmental Ed Project

Rooftop rain catchment tour

Alternative sources of water plus pollution reduction – A Win-Win!

SWaMP supports Rain Catchers

by: eric reutebuch

Alabama Water Watch (AWW) was recently cited by AU President, Jay Gogue, Ph.D., in a letter to AU alumni (click here for letter). The letter expressed the concerns of the Auburn Family over the Gulf oil spill, and AU’s involvement in mediating the environmental disaster.

AWW’s involvement in the Gulf dates back to the early 1990’s when the statewide program began training citizen volunteers to monitor water quality. Coastal groups eagerly embraced the opportunity to become AWW-certified water monitors, and to employ the EPA-approved testing methods in monitoring their estuaries, bays and bayous. To date, coastal water monitoring groups have contributed over 20,000 water quality records (15,540 water chemistry records, 5,278 bacteria records, and 55 bioassessment records through July 2010) to the AWW statewide database, and are actively monitoring 119 sites.

AWW volunteer monitors often do much more than water testing. During AWW training workshops, they learn about the watershed concept, water quality, various pollutants that foul surface waters, how to test water quality, and ways to put their water data to work. Many go beyond testing, into watershed preservation, restoration and advocacy. Several, like Ann Crawford of the Wolf Bay Watershed Watch, are currently taking an active role as volunteer observers, checking coastal marshes, bays and wetlands for signs of oil pollution (read more at the AL.com blog, and at the AU Oil Spill blog). This spirit of volunteerism and stewardship of people across Alabama is the heart and soul of Alabama Water Watch!

Alabama Water Watch Staff and volunteer instructors recently conducted a Water Chemistry Monitor workshop at the Smith Lake Civic Association Building and Duncan Bridge Marina.

Click here to view the video and read more about it

Alabama Water Watch held their 17th Annual Meeting and Picnic on Saturday, June 19th at Auburn University. The event started with a mini-conference in Comer Hall. Bill Deutsch, AWW Program Director, welcomed guests from around the state, and asked them which of the 10 major basins in Alabama they came from. Folks from seven of the 10 basins were in attendance, from the Tallapoosa, Coosa, Chattahoochee, Tennessee, Coastal Plain Steams, Black Warrior and Cahaba basins. They collectively represented the following 16 groups that monitor from the Tennessee Valley to the Alabama Coast:

• Save Our Saugahatchee
• Friends of Chewacla and Uphapee Watersheds
• Lake Watch of Lake Martin
• Tri-River Region Water Watch
• Lake Mitchell HOBO
• RSVP Marshall County (Lake Guntersville)
• Lake Harding Water Watch
• Friends of Halawakee Creek
• Smith Lake Civic Association
• Alabama River Rats
• Watercress Darter Water Quality Monitoring Program
• Friends of Shades Creek
• Friends of Hodnett Creek
• Coastal Plain Streams Water Watch
• Jake and Donny Water Watch
• Mill Creek Watershed Management Plan 

Mini-conference YouTube video

Picnic and Mini-conference Photo Gallery

Mini-conference Presentations (with voice recording)

Bill continued by describing linkages among individual monitors, the AWW groups, the Alabama Water Watch Program and Alabama Water Watch Association (AWWA), and water watch globally – the Global Water Watch. He concluded by emphasizing that AWW is composed of three parts: the AU-based AWW Program, the 501(c)3 AWW Association (composed of board members from basins throughout the state) and the citizen monitoring groups (currently 58) throughout the state. He said that at the present time, there are strong ties and interactions between the AWW Program and the groups, and between the AWW Program and AWWA, but not a lot of interaction between the groups and AWWA. Bill had met with the AWWA board the previous evening to develop plans to strengthen this connection in the coming months.

Mike Kensler, Outreach Programs Administrator with the AU Water Resources Center, then spoke on the evolution of the environmental movement in the US, and how we got to where we are today. He outlined the ‘Alabama Water Watch story’ and suggested ways that AWW can revitalize its base, become more relevant to Alabamians, and increase organizational effectiveness going forward.

Jayme Oates, Executive Director of the AWWA, followed with a synopsis of AWWA deliberations over the past several months. AWWA has been working on a strategic plan consisting of five major goals:

Goal 1: Increase public awareness through increased data analysis, interpretation and dissemination,

Goal 2: Increase local group effectiveness and impact by providing them with the means to communicate and coordinate their efforts both with each other and with agency staff,

Goal 3: Secure stronger, more stable support of AWW from Auburn University,

Goal 4: Raise funds to meet annual budget goals and carry out annual activities,

Goal 5: Strengthen AWWA’s organizational capacity.

At the close of the mini-conference, all relocated to the AU ponds for a catfish & shrimp feed, followed by the 2010 AWW Awards Ceremony. This year’s awards went to the following individuals (note, awards are based on activity from June 2009-May 2010):

• The Mike Mullen Award – Monitor of the Year for outstanding performance and lasting contribution of an individual submitting the most records in the past year went to Bob Keefe (270 total water monitoring records submitted),
• Manic Stonefly Award for outstanding performance and lasting contribution of a group submitting the most combined records in the past year – Wolf Bay Watershed Watch (571 total water monitoring records submitted),
• The Trainer of the Year award for outstanding performance and lasting contribution of an individual conducting the most training sessions in the past year – Homer Singleton (11 water monitoring workshops),
• The AWW 08-09 MVP award for outstanding and dynamic performance and lasting contribution of an AWW Staff member during the past year – Eric Reutebuch (AWW staffer since 1996).

These individuals, along with all of the volunteer monitors throughout the state have given selflessly of their time and talent in monitoring and protecting the waters of Alabama, and for this we are truly grateful! The waters of Alabama are surely cleaner because of their collective efforts!

 

 

Click the Image for Picnic information and registration

The seeds of watershed planning have been sown over the past several years in the Smith Lake Watershed at the annual ‘State of the Lake Address’ sponsored by Smith Lake Environmental Preservation Committee, or SLEPC. Alabama Water Watch (AWW) staff annually evaluate volunteer monitor data collected by the five active monitoring groups in the Smith Lake Watershed and look at long-term trends in the data to see if the water quality in sections of the lake is getting better or worse. The five water monitoring groups include SLEPC (on Ryan Creek), Winston County Smith Lake Advocacy Inc., or WCSLAI (on Crooked, Rock, Brushy and Sipsey Fork), Camp McDowell (on Clear Creek), Smith Lake Civic Association, or SLCA (on the lower lake), and Cullman County Soil and Water Conservation District, or CULCO (on streams throughout Cullman County).

Continue reading “Smith Lake residents embrace watershed management”