Adopt-a-stream, Vol. 15, no. 5 (Sept./Oct. 2008)

GEORGIA
Adopt-A-Stream
Volume 15, Number 5 September/October 2008
Andrea Sarisky, Editor

Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Division

Aquatic Nuisance Species in Georgia

Georgia is developing its first Georgia Aquatic Nuisance Species Management Plan to describe the nature and extent of this environmental problem and propose specific management actions to minimize negative impacts of aquatic nuisance species. This plan, being developed by the Georgia Invasive Species Management Plan Advisory Committee and led by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, will guide aquatic nuisance species efforts over the next few years. According to that Committee, as of 2007, 117 nonnative aquatic species have been introduced into Georgia. Comprehensive plans are a necessity, but what can the average citizen and Adopt-A-Stream volunteer or supporter do about this issue?

Citizen Actions Do not use invasive species in water gardens Never dump unwanted aquarium pets or plants into waterways Clean and dry your recreational equipment between trips and inspect for "hitchhiking invaders" Never dump unwanted bait overboard

One of Georgia's aquatic nuisance species, the channeled apple snail.

AAS Volunteers Learn common aquatic nuisance species in Georgia and report suspicious sightings Educate others about aquatic nuisance species Clean your sampling equipment between uses and when transferring to a new water body Encourage responsible aquatic pet ownership and water gardening practices

Everyone can play a role in stopping aquatic invaders in Georgia. Learn more about Georgia invasive species including aquatic nuisance species at:
Georgia Invasives website: www.invasive.org Georgia Exotic Pest Plant Council (GEPPC): http://www.gaeppc.org Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers: www.protectyourwaters.net Habitattitude: www.habitattitude.net Gulf and South Atlantic ANS Regional Panel: http://nis.gsmfc.org National Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force: http://anstaskforce.gov/default.php
Contributed by Ted Hendrickx, Georgia EPD Watershed Protection Branch Permitting, Compliance and Enforcement Program

Funding opportunities for Adopt-A-Stream groups
Funding for Adopt-A-Stream projects is available through several avenues. Two organizations that provide funding for community programs such as Adopt-A-Stream are the Wal-Mart Foundation's State Giving Program and the Captain Planet Foundation. These grants provide excellent opportunities to expand and improve existing Adopt-A-Stream programs and help start volunteer monitoring projects.

The Captain Planet Foundation provides grants to organizations that promote an understanding of the environment and involve youth ages 6-18. Grants for Adopt-A-Stream programs are available up to $400. Deadlines for submitting grant applications are March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31. Visit www.captainplanetfdn.org.

The Wal-Mart Foundation's Community Giving program supports local programs focused on education, health, job skills training and sustainability, and gives grants up to $1,000. For more information about requesting a grant from Wal-Mart or Sam's Club, ask for the Community Involvement Coordinator or Facility Manager at the store closest to you.

Volunteers needed for national frog monitoring program

2009 marks the second year of Georgia's participation in the North American Amphibian Monitoring Program (NAAMP). Developed by the United State Geological Survey, NAAMP is an international study investigating the distribution and relative abundance of amphibians in North America. Standardized monitoring data collected from across the country will be analyzed for patterns of amphibian stability or decline on local, regional and national levels.

Volunteers are asked to drive a

Georgia Frog Calls

predetermined route (or routes), stopping

http://jcmaerz.myweb.uga.edu/lab/GANAAMP/index.htm for five minutes to listen and report frog

species and their relative abundance at

http://wwknapp.home.mindspring.com/GAFrog.Toad.html 10 established wetland stops. Three

specific "windows" of listening periods are

http://www.ugapress.uga.edu/AmphibsAndReptiles.html designated to account for the seasonal

activity differences between various

species, so each route is run three times per year. Additionally, each volunteer must annually pass (65%

or greater) an online frog call identification quiz.

Ideally, all 78 routes can be covered for the 2009 season and beyond. Interested folks can bone-up on frog call identification skills and join us next year in this study. Georgia frog calls can be listened to on several websites (see links above), or you can purchase "Calls of the Wild Vocalizations of Georgia's Frogs" CD from the Nongame Conservation Section. Call 478-994-1438 for more information.

Contributed by John Jensen, Senior Wildlife Biologist, DNR

Volunteer Awards 2008
It's time for our annual awards, so please consider nominating a person or group for one of the six awards listed below. The nomination process is simple; just send Georgia Adopt-A-Stream a short essay explaining why your nominee deserves the award. Remember to include the name of the person or group and the name of the award. The deadline is Monday, January 12th, 2009.
Volunteer of the Year This goes to the individual who has gone beyond the call of duty to protect Georgia's waterways and to support the Adopt-A-Steam mission, giving their time and energy to improve our waterways.
Extraordinary Volunteer Watershed Effort Protection of our streams starts with the protection of our watersheds. Help us recognize the group that has accomplished the most to blur political boundaries and confront local issues by working in the watershed.
Red Flag Award Perseverance, environmental awareness, a keen understanding of water 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 Reaching out to local communities about environmental issues can be done in a multitude of ways. This award goes to the group who has gone above and beyond by utilizing non-traditional formats (multimedia, art, etc.) to raise awareness.
Excellence in Data Collection Volunteer monitoring data can make a difference, but only if it's collected consistently and under a QA/QC plan. Nominate an individual or group who has consistently collected quality data.
Award nominations can be mailed to: Georgia Adopt-A-Stream
Environmental Protection Division 4220 International Parkway Suite 101
Atlanta, GA 30354 or e-mailed to: andrea.sarisky@gaepd.org.
Note: The Watershed Award is for larger organizations such as local public utilities, RDC's and government agencies that have exceeded standards in implementing the four Adopt-A-Stream goals. For more information about this award, contact the state office.

Upcoming Events and Announcements
Georgia River Network Annual Conference February 20-21, 2009 Athens, GA The Georgia River Network's annual conference attracts river advocates from across Georgia. For more information go to www.garivers.org. The theme for the 2009 conference is "Maximize your impact, protect your river."
Environmental Education Alliance Annual Conference March 13-14, 2009 Tifton, GA The Environmental Education Alliance of Georgia is a professional education and networking association for environmental educators in Georgia. This year's conference "Learning from the Land" will focus on agriculture, land management and place-based education then, now and in the future. For more information, visit www.eealliance.org. Georgia Project WET will also be conducting a wetlands workshop in conjunction with the conference on March 12 from 9-3 at the NESPAL auditorium in Tifton. Visit www.gaprojectwet.org to learn more.
waterSmart Conserve Water Georgia is a water conservation clearinghouse with timely tips and tools for homeowners, individuals, students and teachers, business and industry representatives and community leaders. It is a service of the Watershed Protection Branch of the Environmental Protection Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. You can learn more about water conservation at their website: www.conservewatergeorgia.net.
EEinGeorgia.org EEinGeorgia.org offers EE (environmental education) lesson plans based on Georgia's curriculum standards, a searchable directory of Georgia's EE organizations and the resources they offer, a statewide calendar of EE events, EE news, and easy-to-access facts about Georgia's environment. The website also offers an extensive database of environmental education job and internship openings.
For more information as well as the time and location of upcoming workshops visit www.GeorgiaAdoptAStream.org.
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 404.675.6240 www.GeorgiaAdoptAStream.org

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