Adopt-a-stream, Vol. 19, no. 5 (Sept.-Oct. 2012)

GEORGIA
Adopt-A-Stream

Volume 19, Number 5, September/October 2012 Editors: Allison Hughes, Tara Muenz

Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Division

Georgia Adopt-A-Stream Launches the New Stream Habitat Survey
A new way to assess freshwater streams has been added to the Georgia Adopt-A-Stream Program in the form of a rapid habitat assessment or what our program refers to as the `Stream Habitat Survey.' The 2-page survey is for both rocky and muddy bottom streams, evaluating 10 different aspects of a stream's physical condition and health of its habitat.

A complement to the AAS macroinverterbate program, we suggest conducting these surveys together, four times a year,
but you can also use it on its own. The result of the habitat assessment is a final number score that corresponds with a rating of the stream condition from poor to excellent. Data can be entered online, and the surveys are easy to access from our website with helpful corresponding materials. Below are some FAQs about the program.

How Do I Get Trained? We are hosting 2-hour workshops across the state to train volunteers on the survey. See our website calendar for upcoming trainings or contact us at AAS@gaepd.org/404-675-6240 to schedule a workshop in your community.

Where Do I Find the Datasheets and Image Guide? These can be found on our website by going to the toolbar and clicking on `Materials & Resources,' then `Manuals, Forms, etc.,' then scroll down to the forms under the heading `Data Forms.'

Online Data Entry: After you have registered your adopted site and conducted a survey, please submit this data to our online database by going to the toolbar and clicking on `Forms and Reports' and select `Stream Habitat Survey.'

How Does it Work? This rapid assessment is meant to be just that, quick and easy to conduct. Taking anywhere from

15-20 minutes, you and a partner will walk a stretch (reach) of the adopted stream site, evaluating the 10 parameters on a

scale from 1-10 and for some parameters, on a scale from 1-5. The type of stream (rocky or muddy bottom) will also be

noted. Summing up your scores from all the parameters, you will come up with your total score for your final rating of

poor to excellent. When we speak of habitat, most people think of the places where fish or

(continued on page 2)

The new 2-page visual stream survey and accompanying color guide/poster can be found on our website.

Stream Habitat Survey Continued...
wildlife live, which is only part of the picture. Stream habitat includes many different features, including the type of substrate in a stream, presence of pools-riffles-runs, are the banks stable, and what is condition of the adjacent stream buffer? All of these will be evaluated through this survey, and examined many times throughout the year. Below is an example of how to evaluate one of the survey parameters, `Channel Alteration.'

We Are Looking For You!
We are Now Accepting Nominations for the 2012 Adopt-A-Stream Awards
Yes, we do want you, to recognize and celebrate your efforts supporting Georgia Adopt-A-Stream and water quality throughout the state. We encourage you to nominate yourself or others for any one of the categories listed below, so please take a moment to reflect on your activities and submit a well-deserved nomination!
Nominations should include a short essay describing why the volunteer(s) and/or group is deserving of the award and how they excelled in the protection of Georgia's waterways. Supporting materials, such as photographs or newspaper articles, are also accepted. To find 2011's winners, please see our March/April 2012 newsletter.
Deadline for submissions: January 16th, 2013
Awards will be given at our volunteer conference called `Confluence' to be held at the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center on Saturday, March 16th, 2013. Winners will receive free registration and are eligible for the travel stipend to attend Confluence.
Nominations can be submitted online through the website: www.GeorgiaAdoptAStream.org. You can also e-mail entries to AAS@gaepd.org or mail them to Georgia Adopt-A-Stream, 4220 International Pkwy, Suite 101, Atlanta, GA. 30354.

VOLUNTEER AWARDS

WATERSHED AWARDS

Volunteer of the Year Extraordinary Volunteer Watershed Effort Red Flag Award Outstanding Outreach and Partnership Adopt-A-Stream in Action Excellence in Data Collection Nymph Award
More information on these categories can be found online at www.GeorgiaAdoptAStream.org

These awards recognize local public utilities, government agencies, regional commissions, non-profits, and watershed organizations that have exceeded standards in implementing the four Adopt -A-Stream goals. Contact Adopt-A-Stream for more information and an application.

SAVE THE DATE: CONFLUENCE 2013 Saturday, March 16th
Gwinnett Environmental & Heritage Center
Confluence is a one-day event designed to support and educate our volunteers. As the word implies, volunteers will come together from the headwater streams, the coastal estuaries and everywhere between to
further educate themselves about our waterways and nonpoint source pollution. This will be a great opportunity to share experiences, knowledge and advice, as well as honor the collective efforts that have positively influenced water quality within the state of Georgia. Please let us know which topics you would
like to have at Confluence 2013 by filling out this short survey by October 31st: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2V8YVYS
2013 will also be the 20th Anniversary of Georgia Adopt-A-Stream! A big celebration will be a part of this weekend with Confluence and we hope you will join us. Registration is only $30 ($20 for students).

Check out this Great Newsletter Geared for the Volunteer Water Monitor

For those of you interested in the volunteer monitoring world, you have got to check out and sign up to receive the `Volunteer Monitoring News' newsletter. A compliment to the Adopt-A-Stream newsletter, you'll find many helpful and useful articles created just for you and by you, the volunteer. Their first issue was created in January 2012, and you can sign up for this free publication produced on a quarterly basis and distributed electronically by emailing Alice Mayio at mayio.alice@epa.gov. Click here to see their first issue:
http://acwi.gov/monitoring/vm/publications/newsletters/VM_News_Issue1_Jan2012.pdf
Please visit our calendar of events at www.GeorgiaAdoptAStream.org for upcoming monitoring workshops and Adopt-A-Stream events.
Volume 19, Number 5, September/October 2012 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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