Adopt-a-stream, Vol. 11, no. 6 (Nov./Dec. 2004)

GEORGIA
Adopt-A-Stream

Volume 11, Number 6, November/December 2004 Harold Harbert and Kim Morris-Zarneke, Editors
Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Division
Whitewater Creek Watershed Monitoring Event

On November 6, 39 residents in Taylor and Macon County initiated an ambitious activity, a one-day watershed wide monitoring event to gather information about the health of Whitewater Creek watershed. Synoptic watershed monitoring events of this nature are nothing new. Athens has their own version called the River Rendezvous. The Peachtree Nancy Creek watershed in Atlanta has a similar River Rendezvous event that they modeled on the Athens program. However, the effort in Whitewater Creek was unique because citizens organized it from the ground up.

Jerry Allmon, Committee Chair for the effort stated, "We're just a small group of folks trying to do our part to learn about and protect our watershed and increase land stewardship."

Participants divided into 11 groups

and monitored 29 sites for dissolved

oxygen, pH, conductivity,

temperature, turbidity, total coliform

and ecoli (using IDEXX equipment),

nitrate nitrogen, ortho-phosphates,

iron and sulfates. Supporting partners

included Whitewater Creek Park and

Macon County Government, Georgia

Adopt-A-Stream, Georgia Southwestern University, the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service, Americus

Watershed monitoring participants register, review maps and prepare to gather water quality information about Whitewater Creek watershed.

and Macon County Boy Scouts, Weyerhaeuser, Wal-Mart, Middle Flint Regional Development Center

(RDC), and the Environmental Protection Division TMDL Implementation Program.

Although the results have yet to be analyzed, everyone is excited about the promise events of this nature hold for increasing local knowledge of water quality conditions, facilitating positive partnerships between citizens and local governments, and in helping to instill a sense of watershed ownership.

Georgia Initiates an Underwater Archeology Program

Recently, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Historic Preservation Division (HPD) hired underwater archaeologist Jason Burns to help build a statewide underwater archaeology program for Georgia. Jason joins the staff of HPD's Archaeological Services Unit (ASU). The program is currently working throughout the state to build up a network of individuals to help record Georgia's submerged

heritage. Working closely with sport diver groups and other interested individuals, underwater surveys are on-going on the Chattahoochee River in West Point and on the Coosa, Etowah and Oostanaula Rivers in Rome and Cartersville.
The Archaeological Services Unit needs your help! If you know the location of a shipwreck or an underwater site in Georgia, please report it to Jason Burns through the on-line reporting form at http://gashpo.org or call the Archaeological Services Unit at 912-598-3346.
Give Us Your Tired, Your Weary, Your Dedicated... Volunteers that is!
Please consider nominating a person for one of the six awards listed below or apply for the competitive AAS Watershed Award. To nominate someone, please send Georgia Adopt-A-Stream a letter naming the person/group you wish to nominate, which award you feel they are deserving of, and short essay explaining why you think they deserve the award. The deadline is January 20th.
Volunteer of the Year Do you know someone who has gone beyond the call of duty to protect Georgia's waterways and support the Adopt-A-Steam mission, giving their time and energy to improve our waterways? Nominate a deserving individual in your community or across the State.
Extraordinary Volunteer Watershed Effort We all live down stream, therefore most successful water quality programs start at the watershed level. Help us recognize the group that has accomplished the most to blur political boundaries and confront the issues where they are by working in the watershed.
Red Flag Award Perseverance, environmental awareness, a keen understanding of water related policy and a desire to act when a problem is detected, are the traits we are looking for in our Red Flag Award.
Outstanding Outreach and Partnership The first step in conservation is awareness. And awareness only happens through effective outreach efforts and partnerships. Nominate a group or person that has demonstrated skill in effectively organizing and educating others.
Adopt-A-Stream in Action: Video or Photography A photograph is worth a thousand words. Often times a photograph is all that's needed to identify a problem. Send us your exceptional images.
Excellence In Data Collection Volunteer monitoring data can make a difference, but only if it's collected consistently and under a QAQC plan. Now more than ever, the need for high quality data is in demand. Nominate an individual or group who has consistently collected quality data in your community.
Adopt-A-Stream Watershed Award This year Adopt-A-Stream has modified it award program by added a new category - the Adopt-AStream Watershed Award. The Adopt-A-Stream Watershed Awards honor the efforts of city, county and regional governmental agencies working to improve Georgia's waterways through participation in the AAS Program. To submit application for the Adopt-A-Stream Watershed Award, please go to the Georgia Adopt-A-Stream website at www.riversalive.org/aas.htm to download the award submission guidelines and application. All applications are due January 20th.

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 PLU credit for participating please go to the AAS website under Teacher Corner for more details. Please call to register for a workshop.

What
Chemical Chemical Biological

Who
Upper Oconee Watershed Network Coastal Georgia Adopt-A-Wetland Upper Oconee Watershed Network

When
Nov 13 Nov 13 Nov 20

Where
Athens Brunswick Athens

To Register
706-542-7880 912-598-2388 or 3349 706-542-7880

NOTE: Workshop times vary. For the most updated information on workshops or for trainer contact information to request a workshop, please go to 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.

Georgia River Network Conference, February 19-20, 2005, in Milledgeville
This year's conference is shaping up to be a dandy, with three excellent tracks: Organizations that Make an Impact, Understanding Your Watershed, and The Land Connection. Georgia Adopt-A-Stream will present the track, Understanding Your Watershed. To learn more and to register, please go to www.garivers.org.
Environmental Education Alliance of Georgia Conference, March 11-13, 2005, at Unicoi State Park in Helen
Come and join us as we share our experiences and discuss Keys For Successful Partnerships. Registration information will be posted in December at www.eealliance.org.
Georgia Water Resources Conference, April 25 27, 2005, in Athens
Registration information will be posted in December at http://ga.water.usgs.gov/gwrc/index.html

Nominate Your Outstanding Cleanup Event
Rivers Alive is sponsoring its first annual Outstanding Waterway Cleanup and Leadership Awards. The purpose of the Rivers Alive Awards is to honor the efforts of individuals and groups who are working to improve Georgia's waterways one trash bag at a time.
The Outstanding Waterway Cleanup Award was established to recognize cleanup groups that have successfully involved their local community to create an awareness of and involvement in the preservation of Georgia's water resources. This award is a competitive award and will be given out in 4 different categories. The Leadership Award was established to recognize the efforts of individuals and sponsors for their hard work and dedication to protecting Georgia's water resources. This award is nomination-based and will be given to one individual and business each year.
All applications are due December 1st. Winners will be notified by January 15th and will receive their awards at a Rivers Alive recognition event in February.
For additional details including eligibility requirements, submission guidelines, application process and the application forms go to www.riversalive.org. If you have any questions please contact Kim MorrisZarneke at 404-675-1636.

Watershed Signs Saturate Our Drainage Basins!
Wherever you look, watershed signs are popping up. Fulton County is installing watershed boundary signs along major roadways to mark the entry points of watersheds within the County. The City of Atlanta has a similar program that will provide educational information and also identify watersheds in parks. Non-governmental organizations (NGO) like the Soque River Watershed Association have found private funds for "entering the Soque" watershed signs. Funding for these signs has occurred through independent funding that the municipalities and NGO's have obtained. Additional watershed signs have been distributed throughout the State this fall through the Rivers Alive program. With the help of Columbus State University and 319 funding, Rivers Alive has been able to secure funds for the creation and distribution of hundreds of signs to participating Rivers Alive cleanup organizers across the State. The purpose of all these watershed signs is to demonstrate the interconnectedness of land and their associated waterway, and the potential for pollutants to enter our waterways during rain events. Participants hope this project will heighten awareness of water issues, and emphasize that maintaining healthy watersheds will lead to cleaner water. For more information, contact your local government or local AAS watershed or community coordinator listed at the Adopt-A-Stream website.
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
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