Allison Cregger - July Aug 2003.doc Page 1 GEORGIA Adopt-A-Stream Volume 10, Number 4, July / August 2003 Harold Harbert and Kim Morris-Zarneke, Editors Georgia Abounds in Salamanders, Frogs and Toads Did you know that North America boasts more salamander species than any other region of the world, 170? The greatest diversity of salamanders occurs in southeastern United States, with Georgia providing a home for 55 species. Although salamanders do not call or sing, Georgia also hosts 31 species of frogs and toads. All male frogs and toads can vocalize or chorus to attract mates or establish territory. Amphibians are found in swamps, forests, grasslands, mountains, and yes, even deserts. However, since amphibians have moist, gelatinous eggs, all rely on moisture for at least part of their life cycle. While many will leave wetlands to complete their adult stages, some spend their entire lives in aquatic habitats. In the 80's scientist began to notice a worldwide decline in amphibian populations. In response, action was taken to begin to learn more about these disappearing creatures. Studies include understanding amphibian populations and life history traits, measuring and monitoring environmental characteristics, and conducting research into potential causes of decline. In Georgia there are several opportunities for individuals interested in learning more about amphibians. Listed below are a couple of Georgia websites. Most of these sites have fantastic photographs. Some have wonderful recordings of frog and toad calls. Checkout these links so that you can familiarize yourself with species at your local watering hole: Georgia Wildlife Web museum.nhm.uga.edu/gawildlife/gaww.html UGA Herpetology Program at Savannah River Ecology Laboratory www.uga.edu/srelherp/Amphibians The Frogs and Toads of Georgia wwknapp.home.mindspring.com/GAFrog.Toad.html More links can be found at www.riversalive.org/aas.htm (go to Resources and Materials and click on Amphibians). World Water Monitoring Day is October 18 From September 18 to October 18, citizens throughout the world community will have an opportunity to monitor the quality of their local watersheds and enter the results into an international database. Volunteer monitoring groups are encouraged to participate. Those without equipment may obtain an Allison Cregger - July Aug 2003.doc $18.95 kit that tests DO, temperature, turbidity, and pH. For more info go to www.worldwatermonitoringday.org/index.html Page 2 Allison Cregger - July Aug 2003.doc Page 3 2004 ACF Children's Water Festival Winning Water: Everyone Wins With Clean Water In March of 2004, Keep Georgia Beautiful and Oxbow Meadow/Columbus State University in partnership with over thirty organizations will be sponsoring the ACF Children's Watershed Festival in Columbus, Georgia. This wonderful educational festival is open to all 4th grade teachers and their classes located in the Apalachicola, Chattahoochee, and Flint River Basins (ACF). The ACF festival will explore water through interactive and dynamic activities such as Edible Aquifers, Team H2O Pit Stop, Water Jeopardy, The Tragic Story of Gabe the Georgia Trout, and Wheel of Water. This exciting and fun event will explore the topics of drinking water, groundwater, watersheds, surface water, and water quality. The Winning Water Planning Committee is currently seeking presenters and exhibitors to present these and other activities at the festival. If interested in being a presenter or exhibitor, please contact Kanika Greenlee at 404-679-4922 or kgreenle@dca.state.ga.us. The 2003 Clean Water Campaign's waterSmart Essay Contest To promote better water quality and conservation practices in the Atlanta area, the Clean Water Campaign and waterSmart are helping to kick off the new school year with an essay contest that explores the important issues of water quality and conservation. Who's Eligible: 6th, 7th and 8th graders from Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett Counties. Deadline: Friday, October 10 Award Date: Thursday, October 23 Essay Requirements: A strong connection between water quality and water conservation has not been linked, and we would like to hear how the Atlanta area's young adults would make this link. Participants will be required to submit a 300 to 500-word paper (typed or handwritten) about how people can protect water quality and conserve at the same time. In addition, participants should draw a symbol that they think would best represent water quality and conservation. Submission Details: Can submit by mail as a group within school or organization or separately to: Water Essay Contest Or for those submitted electronically, email at 40 Courtland Street, NE cleanwater@atlantaregional.com. Atlanta, GA 30303 Allison Cregger - July Aug 2003.doc Page 4 Adopt-A-Stream Calendar of Events The following workshops, taught by certified AAS trainers, provide training in visual, biological and chemical monitoring of streams. Teachers may receive 1 SDU credit for participating please go to the AAS website under Teacher Corner for more details. Please call to register for a workshop. What Getting Started w/ AAS Bio & Chem Getting Started w/ AAS Getting Started w/AAS Getting Started w/ AAS Getting Started w/ AAS Chem and Bio Biological Chemical Intro and Chemical Getting Started w/ AAS Bio/Chem Biological Biological Chemical Getting Started w/ AAS Biological Biological Bio/Chem Getting Started w/ AAS Chemical Biological Who Georgia Adopt-A-Stream Georgia Adopt-A-Stream Clayton County AAS Cobb County AAS Upper Etowah AAS Elachee Nature Center Elachee Nature Center Coweta County AAS Upper Etowah AAS Gwinnett County AAS GA AAS GA AAS Gwinnett County AAS Upper Etowah AAS Cobb County AAS Georgia Wildlife Federation Upper Etowah AAS Cobb County AAS GA AAS Fulton County AAS Fulton County AAS Fulton County AAS When July 11 July 12 July 12 July 12 July 12 July 18 July 19 July 19 July 19 July 26 July 28 July 30, Aug 2 & 4 Aug 2 Aug 2 Aug 23 Sept 13 Sept 20 Sept 20 Sept 20 TBA TBA TBA Where Habersham Co. Habersham Co. Clayton Co. Cobb Co Dawsonville Gainesville Gainesville Newnan Dawsonville Buford Decatur Decatur Buford TBD Cobb Co Covington TBD Cobb Co Ware Co Fulton Co. Fulton Co. Fulton Co. To Register 404-675-1636 404-675-1636 678-422-2838 770-528-1480 770-735-2778 770-535-1976 770-535-1976 404-675-1639 770-735-2778 678-376-7157 404-675-1636 404-675-1636 678-376-7157 678-640-2563 770-528-1480 770-787-7887 678-640-2563 770-528-1480 404-675-1636 770-698-5739 770-698-5739 770-698-5739 NOTE: Workshop times vary. Please call to get exact times and locations. Workshop information is updated weekly on our website at www.riversalive.org/aas.htm QA/QC Recertification: All QA/QC volunteers must renew certification on a yearly basis. This can be accomplished by participating in the second half of our regular chemical or biological workshop. To register, please contact one of our scheduled workshops. Community Watershed Workshop - "Wading Through the Zoning Process" September 2, 2003 This workshop will provide an opportunity for people to learn about the do's and don'ts of the zoning process. Representatives from local governments and watershed groups have been invited to attend and share their expertise in this matter. Sponsors include Little River Valley Association and the City of Atlanta. For updated information please click on Community Watershed Network at www.riversalive.org/aas.htm. Time: 6:00 8:00 p.m. Location: Alpharetta Public Library 238 Canton Street, Alpharetta, GA 30004 Five-Star Restoration Program Funding opportunities are available for programs that provide environmental education through projects that restore streambanks and wetlands. The Five-Star Restoration Program provides challenge grants, technical support, and opportunities for information exchange to enable community-based restoration projects. Funding levels average about $10,000. For more information please go to http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/restore/5star/ Allison Cregger - July Aug 2003.doc Page 5 Rivers Alive Volunteers are needed to help clean Georgia's waterways! Held throughout the month of October, Rivers Alive is organized by the Georgia AdoptA-Stream Program and the Keep Georgia Beautiful Program in conjunction with Help The Hooch in Columbus. Rivers Alive is Georgia's annual volunteer waterway cleanup event that targets all waterways in the State including streams, rivers, lakes, beaches, and wetlands. The mission of Rivers Alive is to create awareness of and involvement in the preservation of Georgia's water resources. Last year, 16,700 volunteers collected over 300,000 pounds of garbage and cleaned over 780 miles of waterways. Please join a cleanup event. Details on where cleanups are being held statewide can be found on the Rivers Alive Website www.riversalive.org. For more information about Rivers Alive check our website or contact Kim Morris-Zarneke, Georgia Adopt-A-Stream at 404-675-1636 or kimberly_morris-zarneke@dnr.state.ga.us. Adopt-A-Lake Training Opportunity Georgia Adopt-A-Stream and Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, in conjunction with the Georgia Lake Society, will be offering two Adopt-A-Lake workshops this summer at the Aqualand Marina on Lake Lanier. The first one is scheduled for Thursday, August 7th at 2:00 p.m. and the second on Saturday, August 23rd at 10:00 a.m. Both workshops will take approximately 2 hours. For directions and to RSVP please contact Kristi Hastie of Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper at 404-352-9828 ext. 17. The Chota Princess can only take 16 participants at a time on the lake, so RSVP today! The Georgia Adopt-A-Stream Newsletter is published six times per year. For more information about the Georgia Adopt-A-Stream program or to contribute to the newsletter, call or write to: Georgia Adopt-A-Stream Environmental Protection Division 4220 International Parkway, Suite 101 Atlanta, GA 30354 (404) 675-1639 or 1636 www.riversalive.org/aas.htm Printed on recycled paper