Adopt-a-stream, Vol. 14, no. 4 (July/Aug. 2007)

GEORGIA
Adopt-A-Stream
Volume 14, Number 4, July / August 2007
Allison Hughes, Anne Prusak, Editors

Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Division

Taking care of Georgia streams is an activity everyone can help with. Until now, finding information on how to do this has not been easy. With the help of several key partners, a new publication has been created to address these issues, Life at the Water's Edge. With homeowners as the targeted audience, this publication should help Georgian's learn about some simple practices that can make a difference.
Life at the Water's Edge is divided into three sections:
Watersheds, streams and the problems that they are facing
How to address problems with your backyard stream
Simple watershed stewardship practices anyone can implement on their property
Each section focuses on different critical components of stream care. The first section educates homeowners about watersheds and streams, and the role each of us play in future challenges facing our waterways.
The second section focuses on stream banks and the buffer zone directly adjacent to streams. Here you'll find suggestions on how to maintain and protect this critical area through simple practices such as planting your stream banks and letting natural vegetation armor and protect your buffer zone.
The last section addresses simple practices that everyone can implement in their backyard. It might be hard to make the connection between our backyards and our stream health, but because of stormwater runoff, what we do on our property can make a difference. This section includes guidelines for installing a rain garden to capture and use excess rainwater. Other worthwhile activities include using grass swales or permeable pavement. Even rain barrels can make a difference for thirsty plants.
If you're interested in a copy of this publication, call 404-675-6240, or go to our website, www.latwe.org.
Article contributed by Harold Harbert, Outreach Unit Coordinator EPD Watershed Protection Branch

The Environmental Outreach Unit would like to extend a warm welcome our newest member, Anne Prusak, as the Rivers Alive State Coordinator. Anne brings a strong scientific background to the program, graduating with a B.S in Biology and a minor in marine science from S.U.N.Y. Stony Brook and a M.S. in Chemical Ecology from Georgia Institute of Technology. She has conducted ecological research in Georgia and Florida and internationally in Bermuda and Fiji. Anne also helped open the world's largest aquarium here in Atlanta, acting as the head water chemist. We are excited to have her aboard!

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A new year is upon us and our waterways need our help! Last year over 150 organizations registered cleanups, over 25,000 people volunteered their time, 10,707 bags of trash were filled, which resulted in over 700,00 lbs of trash being removed from our waterways. This could not have been possible without our dedicated organizers, volunteers, and sponsors. THANK YOU!
The goals for 2007 Rivers Alive include increasing our volunteer base, thereby increasing people's awareness of the program and of the problems facing our waterways. We would also like to see an increase in the total miles of waterways cleaned within the state. Help us make this year an even bigger success!
Is water important? Why should we do our best to preserve what we have? Civilization, from the beginning, was built by or near water. We as humans need it to live; we use it for drinking, cleaning, energy, transportation, and recreation. Where are the most diverse areas on our planet? Rain forests, coral reefs, and wetlands. The predominate feature here is water. Without water, clean, healthy water, we will lose part of what makes the Earth amazing the ability to create and maintain diversity. Take the time this year to do your part to protect this resource.
Volunteering at a cleanup event is easy. Go to www.riversalive.com to find a cleanup in your area. Select an event and contact the organizer listed for that event. You don't need to actively pick up litter to be a volunteer, event organizers need help with the registration table, refreshments, transportation, and equipment distribution. If you are picking up litter, the only thing you need to do to make a difference is pick up one piece of trash...filling one garbage bag means less trash in our waterways. To find out more information on Rivers Alive or if you have questions, please visit our website or contact the Rivers Alive State Coordinator at anne_prusak@dnr.state.ga.us or 404.362.6536.

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Join Giff Beaton, author of Dragonflies & Damselflies of Georgia and the Southeast, on Sunday, July 29th, for a morning walk through the wetland trails of the Newman Wetlands Center. You'll learn identification techniques for the many species of these beautiful insects that have an important role in the food chain, including mosquito control. Group size is limited and registration is required. For information, please call 770.603.5606. Dragonflies & Damselflies of Georgia and the Southeast may be purchased through the University of Georgia Press.

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Countless school aged youth in Georgia can be found splashing in the stream as they collect macroinvertebrate samples and test chemical parameters. Teachers who use the Adopt-A-Stream program to enhance their classroom studies provide an avenue for students to have fun while learning science. To encourage teachers to use AdoptA-Stream in their classrooms, we have designed a K-12 Educator's Guide to support teachers as they incorporate water quality education activities into their curriculum. These K-12 activities include both inside and outside activities and some activities do not even require a stream. Adopt-A-Stream plans to have this guide correlated to the Georgia Performance Standards by the start of the 2007-2008 school year.

Adopt-A-Stream in the Classroom is appropriate for all grade levels. "An Imaginary River" allows K-2 students to creatively design their own miniature river

Cherokee Co. home school students paint storm drains

system using construction paper and paint while learning the concept of a watershed. Third through fifth graders

can explore the pH scale by determining the pH of various substances and differentiate between acids and bases by

participating in "Pondering pH". Students in ninth through twelfth grades can investigate the toxicity of water to

find out how urban runoff effects surface waters using the "Lethal Lots" activity. These are just a few examples of

the exciting activities that our guide has to offer.

Adopt-A-Stream offers many great learning opportunities for students in the State of Georgia. If you would like more information about how to incorporate Adopt-A-Stream into your local schools or would like to obtain a free copy of this manual, please contact the Adopt-A-Stream State office.

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Workshops are taught by certified AAS instructors and provide stream monitoring training. Teachers may receive 1 PLU credit for participating. Please visit the AAS website under the Teacher Corner heading for more details. Please call to register.

What
July
Biological Chemical Chemical Intro/Bio/Chem Biological Chemical
August
Biological Chemical Intro/Visual Chemical Biological
September
Intro Biological Chemical Chemical Healthy Waters/ Healthy People Biological

Who

When

Where

To Register

Clayton County AAS Cherokee County AAS Gordon County Ag. Extension Paulding County AAS Cherokee County AAS Roswell Adopt-A-Stream

July 14 July 14 July 17 July 19-20 July 28 July 28

Clayton County Cherokee County Gordon County Paulding County Cherokee County Roswell

678.422.2838 770.355.6477 706.629.8685
770.355.6477 770.641.3742

Columbia County AAS UGA Marine Extension Service Upper Etowah River Alliance UGA Marine Extension Service UGA Marine Extension Service

August 4 August 9 August 18 August 18 August 23

Columbia County Savannah Cherokee County Brunswick Savannah

706.868.0296 912.598.2348 678-493-7804 912.598.2348 912.598.2348

Georgia Wildlife Federation Upper Etowah River Alliance Georgia Wildlife Federation Upper Etowah River Alliance
Georgia Adopt-A-Stream/Project WET
Georgia Wildlife Federation

Sept. 8 Sept. 15 Sept. 22 Sept. 22
Sept. 28-29
Sept. 29

Covington Cherokee County Covington Cherokee County
Red Top Mt.
Covington

770.787.7887 770-548-1799 770.787.7887 678.493.7804
404.675.1635
770.787.7887

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.

August 1-3 * Braselton, GA * www.southeastwaterforum.org Presenters from around the Southeast and beyond will showcase communities, utilities and industries blending innovative strategies for water supply, wastewater and watershed management, based on the USEPA's Four Pillars of Sustainable Water Infrastructure: 1. Better Management; 2. Full Cost Pricing; 3. Water Efficiency; and 4. Watershed Approach.

August 22-24 * Savannah, GA * www.georgianet.com This three-day conference will offer over thirty unique course topics, allowing attendees to design a curriculum which best fits their individual needs. Topics range from Water Management, Regulatory Updates, Recycling and Green Businesses. For more information, please visit the conference website.

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Sept. 28-29 * Red Top Mt. State Park

The purpose of this workshop is to raise awareness and understanding of water quality issues and their relationship

to personal, public and environmental health. Participants in this two-day, hands-on workshop will become

certified as a HWHP Facilitator and an AAS Trainer and will receive the Healthy Water, Healthy People Educators

Guide, the HWHP Testing Kit Manual, a HWHP Facilitator Handbook, Georgia Adopt-A-Stream Train-the-Trainer

Handbook and all Georgia Adopt-A-Stream Publications. Contact Monica Kilpatrick at 404.362.6536 or

monica_Kilpatrick@dnr.state.ga.us.

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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) 675-1635 www.GeorgiaAdoptAStream.org allison_hughes@dnr.state.ga.us

Printed on recycled paper