Adopt-a-stream, Vol. 12, no. 3 (May/June 2005)

GEORGIA
Adopt-A-Stream
Volume 12, Number 3, May / June 2005
Harold Harbert and Kim Morris-Zarneke, Editors

Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Division

Part of my job with the Georgia Wildlife Federation (GWF) is to monitor water quality in Newton County under the Adopt-A-Stream protocols and provide the tools and training to form a group called NOW (Newton's Own Water team). While having worked with the Georgia Adopt-A-Stream protocol for nearly nine years, I have often used the "Who to Call List" in my workshops. Recently I came across a situation where I was being tested.
Our group had already successfully stopped one infraction. While building a new pumping station for Newton County's Lake Varner reservoir, the subcontractor was working only a few feet away from the waters of the Alcovy River. One of our sharp-eyed GWF staff members saw what was happening and brought it to my attention. With a quick call to Newton County's Code Enforcement Office, a stop work order was threatened and immediately the BMP's were put in place. The "Who to Call List" worked.
A recent discovery brought an unexpected turn of events. A fishing buddy's brother living just inside Jasper County brought me a water sample from his newly built pond. Not being able to do a dissolved oxygen test, I ran only two tests on the water, nitrate nitrogen and orthophosphates. With a nitrate nitrogen level of 7 mg/l (normal conditions are below 1 mg/l) and orthophosphates at .5 mg/l (anything above .1 may lead to excess algal growth in streams and ponds), these numbers were surprisingly high and showed evidence of some unnatural conditions.

I encouraged the county resident to walk the stream to see if he could find anything that might be a source for the unusual conditions. Later that day the landowner walked the stream and found that an egg company had dug an open pit, filled it with discarded eggs and had also thrown chicken poop all around the area. Bingo! We had found the source, now the question was, who to call? I recommended that he
call the EPD District Office and ask them for help. I was not prepared for their response. EPD would not get involved unless the nitrate nitrogen levels were over 10 mg/l. But good news, EPD does have an agreement with the Georgia Department of Agriculture to inspect large farm businesses for violations. The inspector from the Department of Agriculture was called, did an inspection the next day and the problem was solved before sunset that day. It was just a matter of knowing "Who To Call".
When large businesses dispose of their waste product, there are requirements to be met so that the local citizens and wildlife are not put at risk. If there is pollution being caused by nonpoint runoff, then it will likely be a local issue. Call your city or county enforcement office for assistance. If it is an agricultural problem, call the Georgia Department of Agriculture or the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission. For forestry practices, call the Georgia Forestry Commission. If it is being caused by a point source problem under no local authority, call one of the EPD District Offices. And, most importantly, keep your local names and numbers up to date.

Article by Robert Phillips (pictured above) of Georgia Wildlife Federation AAS local coordinator & trainer Download the "Who to Call List" of State and Federal contacts at www.riversalive.org/aas.htm

Intown Community Church ("Intown") is a Presbyterian Church located within the Metropolitan Atlanta

area. Like most large urban cities, Atlanta's urban and suburban landscape is dominated by impervious

surfaces, such as driveways, rooftops, parking lots and roads. These

surfaces prevent rainwater from naturally seeping into the ground.

Problems caused by

Stormwater runoff, water that rushes off surfaces rather than seeping

stormwater runoff:

into the ground, causes many problems in storm drain systems, creeks, and rivers.

Flooding Poor water quality

There are several techniques to mitigate problems caused by stormwater runoff. Several of these techniques function to hold runoff on the property where it is created. Rain gardens are one such technique.

Eroded streambanks Decreased aesthetic value Increased cost of water and wastewater treatment

What is a rain garden and why create one?

A rain garden is a beautiful natural landscape feature that requires less maintenance and fewer chemicals than lawns. The rain garden holds water on the landscape so that it can be taken in by plants and slowly
soak into the ground instead of flowing into the street or down a storm drain.

Through a grant provided by the Georgia Forestry Commission, a half dozen demonstration rain gardens are being installed throughout urban Georgia. To learn about the Intown rain garden or other demonstration sites, go to www.riversalive.com/aas.htm and click on Life At The Water's Edge. On the left, volunteers begin the final phase of installing the Intown rain garden.

Article submitted by Alice Miller Keyes, member of Intown Community Church.

The Georgia Water & Pollution Control
Association invites Georgia K-12 teachers to attend Cool Waters, a fun-filled, three-day water workshop being held June 7-9, 2005, at the Cobb County Water System's Water Quality Laboratory. All coursework materials, curricula, field trip transportation, continental breakfast, and lunch are included in the workshop registration fee of $25.00. Numerous other water quality resources will be provided for all participants. Teachers will also earn two Professional Learning Unit credits (PLU's) for attending the workshop. Register online at www.gwpca.org or call 770-794-5227 for more information. Workshop space is limited, so reserve your spot today!
Rivers Alive 2005 is just around the corner... Held throughout
the Fall, Rivers Alive is organized by the Georgia Adopt-A-Stream Program and the Keep Georgia Beautiful Program. Last year, 23,000 volunteers collected over 590,000 pounds of garbage and cleaned over 1250 miles of waterways. Please consider organizing in a Rivers Alive cleanup event in 2005. To register your event check out the Rivers Alive website at www.riversalive.org or for more information contact Kim Morris-Zarneke at 404-675-1636 or kimberly_morris-zarneke@dnr.state.ga.us.

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
Biological Intro and Chemical Intro and Chemical Biological Intro & Chemical Freshwater wetlands Biological Intro, Biological & Chemical Intro, Biological & Chemical Intro/Visual Chemical Biological Intro, Biological & Chemical

Who
Cobb County AAS Savannah Riverkeeper Georgia AAS Savannah Riverkeeper DeKalb County AAS Georgia AAS Upper Etowah River Alliance Elachee Nature Center AAS Georgia AAS Upper Etowah River Alliance Upper Etowah River Alliance Upper Etowah River Alliance Phinizy Swamp Adopt-A-Stream

When
May 14 May 21 May 26 May 28 June 11 June 11 June 18 June 24-25 July 15-16 June 16 July 23 Aug 6 Aug 25 &27

Where
Cobb Co. Savannah Troop Co Savannah DeKalb Co. Gwinnett Co Forsyth Co. Gainesville Coweta Co Cherokee Co. Cherokee Co. Cherokee Co. Augusta

To Register
770-528-1480 706-364-5253 404-675-1636 706-364-5253 404-508-7602 404-675-1636 770-355-6477 770-535-1976 404-675-1636 770-355-6477 770-355-6477 770-355-6477 706-796-7707

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.

Join Georgia Project WET at the Newman Wetlands Center June 24-25 for WOW! The Wonders of Wetlands curriculum facilitator training. Participants will receive hands-on training on wetland activities and will become certified WOW! facilitators, able to hold educator workshops on the curriculum. Benefits include workshop materials, a WOW! The Wonders of Wetlands Curriculum Guide, a facilitator manual, a "wetland-in-a-pan" model, PLU credit, and great networking opportunities. Registration closes June 8.
Georgia Adopt-A-Stream and Georgia Project WET are teaming up to present Healthy Water, Healthy People, an exciting workshop opportunity to all volunteers and environmental educators! During this combined workshop at Charlie Elliot Wildlife Center August 5-7, participants will become AAS trainers and Healthy Water, Healthy People facilitators. Participants will receive the Healthy Water, Healthy People Educators Guide and Testing Kit Manual, a facilitator handbook, the Adopt-A-Stream Train-TheTrainer handbook, all AAS publications, plenty of networking opportunities, as well as PLU credit. Registration for this workshop closes on July 20, but there are financial incentives for early birds!
For more information or to register for the WOW! Wonders of Wetlands or Healthy Water, Healthy People workshop, please contact Jessica at Jessica_Stelzner@dnr.state.ga.us or (404) 362-6536.
School Yard Ecology Course
The Oxford Institute for Environmental Education announces a summer course: Improving Science Education through School Yard Ecology, June 13-24. For more information please go to www.emory.edu/OXFORD/Academics/oiee.

This summer, join fellow paddling enthusiasts for Paddle Georgia, a week-long, 110-mile canoe/kayak adventure on the Chattahoochee River from Buford Dam to Franklin and experience Georgia as you never have before with nature photographer Joe Cook.
This adventure includes:
Daily paddle trips averaging 15 miles Nightly camping with meals, games, entertainment and
educational programs Tours of nature centers, dams, power plants and water
treatment facilities Companionship and camaraderie with dozens of fellow
paddlers
The dates are June 25 - July 1. For details or to register please visit www.garivers.org/paddlegeorgia/pghome.html

Whether you're a novice or an expert, join the festival this June 4th for a canoe and kayak extravaganza. For more information or to register, go to www.chattahoochee.org.

A kayaker drifts down the Chattahoochee in Heard County. Photograph by Joe Cook.

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