Georgia adopt-a-stream, 2020 Oct./Dec.

Adopt-A-Stream October-December 2020 Newsletter

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October-December 2020

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Send in Your AAS Award Nominations!
Do you know a current AAS volunteer, trainer, or watershed organization whose work deserves to be recognized and celebrated? Nominate them for an AAS award! Go to the AAS website to view award descriptions and submit your nominations.
Deadline to submit is Friday, January 22, 2021!
Submit Abstracts for the Water Science Research Session!
Adopt-A-Stream's Virtual Water Science Research Session is an opportunity for students and volunteers to share their water science and citizen monitoring projects and to receive recognition from peers and professionals in water science fields. Space is limited, and we are asking all participants to submit a short abstract of their research to help us select as many participants as possible. Go to the AAS website for more information.
Abstract submissions are due Friday, January 22, 2021!
AAS Newsletter to be Exclusively Electronic starting in 2021
The AAS team has made the decision to stop offering paper

October-December 2020 Newsletter at a Glance
The full version of the newsletter is available on the Adopt-A-Stream website.
Paddling through the Pandemic
This fall, Adopt-A-Stream staff participated in three different paddling events organized by Georgia River Network (GRN). While the events were conducted a little differently than previous years, AAS staff were grateful for the opportunity to get out on the river and collect sampling data to add to our long-term paddle datasets.
The first 2020 paddle took place on the Satilla River in southeast Georgia over Labor Day weekend. Typically held in the spring, the event was postponed from its original date in April to ensure that GRN staff had time to properly plan for a social- yet socially distanced- paddling event. Typically amassing over 100 avid paddlers, the event had just around 50 participants. It took place entirely outdoors, with masks required in communal spaces like the put-in and take-out, as well as in the food serving lines. Despite these necessary changes, the event was a great success! Paddlers enjoyed the unique beauty of the Satilla River, with its tannic waters, deeply rooted tupelo trees, and salty tidal influences.
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Community Partnership Highlight: Upper Oconee Watershed Network
Bruno Giri and Reilly Farrell, UOWN Board Members
The growth of Athens and the University of Georgia over the years has subsequently led to increased development of the surrounding landscape. As local water resources were rapidly becoming degraded, the need for an organization to monitor and protect these waterways arose. Hence, the Upper Oconee Watershed Network (UOWN) was formed in 2000, with the goal of protecting local freshwater resources in Athens and surrounding areas through advocacy, science and monitoring, education, and recreational activities.
One of our organization's primary goals is to better inform residents about their water resources and promote a sense of responsibility for the health of the natural environment. We do this by tabling at local outreach events, hosting quarterly monitoring sessions with groups of citizen volunteers, and teaching children about the connection between local stream health and local community health. We also serve as an advocacy voice for the watershed when the need arises.
Read more
A Citizen's Guide to Listed Waters: Sections 303(d), 305(b), and the Clean Water Act
Anna Truszczynski, PhD, GA EPD Assistant Branch Chief

https://mailchi.mp/1467eda26e30/adopt-a-stream-newsletter-april-june-2851224?e=b2d12c658b[1/20/2021 8:46:55 AM]

Adopt-A-Stream October-December 2020 Newsletter

versions of our quarterly newsletters and instead solely produce e-newsletters. We hope this will make our newsletter more accessible to a wider audience, decrease our carbon footprint, and streamline distribution.
If you are already receiving the e-newsletter, you will not see any changes. We look forward to continuing to supply quality waterrelated articles and keep you up to date on all AAS activities.
New Adopt-AStream Groups
UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant

Have you ever heard of a stream being "listed" or "delisted", but were unsure as to what that meant? Here's your answer! Essentially, every two years, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) assesses water quality data from streams and rivers across the state and compiles a list of impaired waters. The list in question, called the 303(d)/305(b) list, is a requirement under the Clean Water Act and is an important component of EPD's efforts to protect and restore water quality in Georgia. Here's how this list is developed...
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Yohanna Operation Clean Water Lake Sovereign Good Guy Greg GC Journeys: Alternate Break Tappy Turtle Monitoring Motz Group
Riffles Around Us
AAS Award Nominations due January 22 Water Research Session Abstracts due January 22

Community Partnership Highlight: Science for Georgia

over the state.

As those who have attended an Adopt-A-Stream workshop already know, P is for Partnerships! Partnerships increase organizational impact and reach, as well as facilitate knowledge sharing. From local governments to nonprofits, AAS volunteers are encouraged to form partnerships within their communities. On the state level, partnerships are integral to the backbone of AAS. Long-lasting, involved partnerships set Georgia Adopt-A-Stream apart from other volunteer water quality monitoring programs, and make AAS accessible to Georgians all

That being said, Adopt-A-Stream is happy to announce a new partnership with Science for Georgia! Science for Georgia is an Atlanta-based nonprofit that works to improve communication between scientists and the public, increase public engagement with science, and advocate for the responsible use of science in public policy. To achieve this mission, Science for Georgia creates and disseminates science-based resources, hosts communication trainings for scientists, and provides venues for scientists to engage with the public, including the monthly Science Tales & Trails and Atlanta Science Tavern.

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AAS Lunch and Learn: Online Mapping Resources January 26
EEA Annual Conference March 12-13, Virtual
Confluence 2021 March 15-21, Virtual
Georgia Water Resources Conference March 22-23, Virtual

Visit our online calendar for monitoring workshops and AAS events!

If you'd like to become an AAS trainer, please contact the State Office for workshop information.

Connect With Us!

https://mailchi.mp/1467eda26e30/adopt-a-stream-newsletter-april-june-2851224?e=b2d12c658b[1/20/2021 8:46:55 AM]

Adopt-A-Stream October-December 2020 Newsletter Check out our website! Like us on Facebook! Follow us on Instagram!
Subscribe to our Youtube Channel! Georgia Adopt-A-Stream is a program of the Georgia Environmental Protection Division Outreach Program.
The preparation of this newsletter was financed in part through a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under provisions of Section 319(h) of the Federal Clean Water Act of 1987, as amended.
Our mailing address is: Georgia Environmental Protection Division 2 MLK Jr. Dr. S.E. Suite 1462 E Atlanta, GA 30334 Add us to your address book unsubscribe from this list update subscription preferences
https://mailchi.mp/1467eda26e30/adopt-a-stream-newsletter-april-june-2851224?e=b2d12c658b[1/20/2021 8:46:55 AM]