Water Center Staff Carolina Ruiz, Jessie Curl, and Sydney Zinner demonstrated watersheds and water pollution with the Enviroscape Model for the BraveHeart Center for Place and Purpose (BCPP), also known as BraveHearts. BraveHearts is a collaborative community program within the AU Social Work Program.
Water Resources Director Eve Brantley and AWW Staffer Sydney Zinner headed to Central Alabama Community College (CACC) in Alex City to participate in the Future Farmers of America (FFA) Careers in Agriculture Expo hosted by CACC and Alabama Extension.
High school students participate in the pH quiz game at AWW’s booth! Photo credit: Central Alabama Community College
AWW appreciated the invitation to participate and the opportunity to chat with hundreds of students from local high schools and colleges who attended the Expo to learn about all of the career options that agriculture has to offer.
AWW Director Mona Dominguez gave a presentation about the importance of citizen science to municipal stormwater management.
ASA Board members and presenters. Photo credit: Alabama Soil and Water Conservation Committee
The Alabama Stormwater Association Symposium was hosted in partnership with the Alabama Soil and Water Conservation Committee.
On September 20, 2023, in Florence, AL, the Alabama Stormwater Association Symposium took place in conjunction with Clear Water Alabama. The Alabama Stormwater Association (ASA) is “an incubator and promoter of stormwater innovation, collaboration, communication, and connection for the good of Alabama and for the protection and restoration of the waters within and beyond its borders.”
Beautiful morning view from the Lodge on Lake Guntersville. Photo credit: Bree Minton
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.
The five sea turtles that can be found on the Alabama coast are Loggerhead, Green, Leatherback, Kemp’s Ridley, and Hawksbill. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), all sea turtles found in the U.S. are listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act.
Freshwater mussels, also known as bivalves, are a type of mollusk, along with snails. Alabama has the greatest diversity of freshwater mussels in the United States with 181 total species.
Villosa iris. Photo credit: Alan Cressler (Flickr)
Rainbow (Villosa iris) are found in the Tennessee River Basin, and favor shoal habitats. Its periostracum varies from yellow-brown with green rays.
Alabama has approximately 57 miles of Gulf Coast beachfront and just over 600 miles of estuary and tidal coastline, providing plenty of opportunities for marine sportfishing. A hotspot for saltwater fishing is in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach that is known as the “Red Snapper capital of the World.” Fort Morgan is known for its premiere redfish fishery.
Group photo after educators learned about how rivers formed through Towel Tectonics. Photo credit: Sydney Zinner
Thanks to our friends and workshop sponsors at Legacy, Partners in Environmental Education, AWW’s Mona and Sydney along with Dr. Bill Deutsch got to travel down to Prattville in late June for an Alabama Rivers Educator Workshop. Alabama Rivers Educator Workshops focus on curriculum based on the book, Alabama Rivers: A Celebration & Challenge by Dr. Deutsch.
We were excited to host the 2023 AWW Annual Meeting at the beautiful Lake Guntersville State Park! We gathered with Monitors, Trainers, Board Members, program partners and new friends to celebrate the accomplishments of our AWWesome Volunteers throughout the last year.