Georgia adopt-a-stream, 2021 July/September

AAS July-September 2021 Newsletter

Subs cribe

Pas t Is s ue s

https://mailchi.mp/22050f58442c/aas-january-march-2021-newsletter-2... Trans late

July-September 2021 Newsletter
View this email in y our browser
IN THIS ISSUE: Paddle Georgia 2021 on the Flint Board Member Highlight: Checo Coln-Gaud, Ph.D. Program Updates Riffles Around Us
Paddle Georgia 2021 on the Flint
Sarah Taylor, Georgia River Network Communications Coordinator

1 of 11

11/1/2021, 8:35 AM

AAS July-September 2021 Newsletter

Subs cribe

Pas t Is s ue s

https://mailchi.mp/22050f58442c/aas-january-march-2021-newsletter-2... Trans late

Each year, the largest paddle journey in the nation takes place right here in Georgia. For one week, a group of 300-400 kayakers and canoers, ages 4 to 84 from all across the state and beyond, come together to paddle and camp along one of Georgia's many incredible rivers. This river adventure is known as Paddle Georgia and has been a project of Georgia River Network (GRN), a 23-year-old river conservation group, since 2005.
Paddle Georgia is designed to connect more individuals to their rivers so that they might be inspired to protect and advocate for their state's waterways. In addition to paddling about 100-miles over a 7-day period, participants enjoy educational speakers, hands-on workshops, catered meals, the company of other river lovers and more. For more than 15 years, Paddle Georgia has taken place on an array of Georgia rivers, from the Etowah to the Altamaha, but for this year's unique journey, Georgia River Network returned to a staff favorite: the Flint River in southwest Georgia.
Due to the global pandemic, registration was limited to 36 participants. On June 20 of this year, they set out from Crisp County Power Dam near Cordele to paddle their first 18-mile stretch of the lower Flint. Over the course of the

2 of 11

11/1/2021, 8:35 AM

AAS July-September 2021 Newsletter

https://mailchi.mp/22050f58442c/aas-january-march-2021-newsletter-2...

Subs cribe

Pas t Is s ue s

Trans late

week, they floated alongside the river's tree- and limestone-lined edges, occasionally stopping to hunt for fossils, partake in rope swing competitions, and even swim in some of the river's beloved blue springs. As expected, wildlife sightings were abundant. Among the highlights were alligators, osprey, eagles, owls, and deer.

Not only did participants experience the natural wonder of the Flint, but they also learned about it from individuals who fight to conserve the river as well as scientists and naturalists who study it in a series of daily educational programs. For example, on a sandbar pull-off near the Jones Ecological Research Center, Georgia Adopt-A-Stream staff provided a demonstration of the methods used to collect and test water samples at various sites along the journey. After a week filled with adventure and laughs amongst new and old friends, Paddle Georgia 2021 capped-off in Bainbridge with a fish fry lunch hosted by the Flint Riverkeeper. It is important to note that as in previous years, Paddle Georgia participants raised money for river conservation through individual online Canoe-a-thon fundraisers. To date, this year's trip has brought in about $45,000 in donations for river conservation.
Georgia River Network's Paddle Georgia project is not limited to June's weeklong trip, but also includes a series of day- and weekend-trips throughout the year. In 2021, GRN connected more than 500 people with rivers across Georgia's 14 major river basins. In 2022, the organization plans to host another series of 15 or so small-group trips as well as introductory paddling and water safety classes for newcomers to the sport seeking hands-on education and training. To learn more about your rivers, participate in a trip or donate to Georgia River Network's conservation efforts, visit

3 of 11

11/1/2021, 8:35 AM

AAS July-September 2021 Newsletter

https://mailchi.mp/22050f58442c/aas-january-march-2021-newsletter-2...

Subs cribe

Pas t Is s ue s

garivers .org.

Adopt-A-Stream Data from Paddle Georgia 2021

Trans late

The 2021 paddle on the Flint River is the 15th week-long Paddle Georgia event attended by Adopt-A-Stream (AAS) staff. AAS uses these paddles as an opportunity to collect water quality data on rivers across the state, educate participants on non-point source pollution and the AAS program, and often times to put on a QA/QC workshop for new and returning volunteers. On the 2021 paddle on the Flint River, AAS staff and volunteers sampled a total of 39 sites throughout the week, which included 11 mainstem sites, 16 tributaries, 6 springs, and 6 other sites of interest.
Due to heavy rainfall preceding (and partially during) the event, certain s prings were not sampled as they were entirely inundated with river water. Even out of those that were sampled, only one had a nitrate concentration greater than 1.0 mg/L, whereas data collected from previous paddles on the Flint showed that consistently at least half of the spring sites had evidence of elevated nitrate levels, sometimes even up to 9.0 mg/L. Additionally, high E. coli counts were observed in a few of the tributaries, 6 of which exceeded the AAS action value of >1000 CFU/100mL.

4 of 11

11/1/2021, 8:35 AM

AAS July-September 2021 Newsletter

https://mailchi.mp/22050f58442c/aas-january-march-2021-newsletter-2...

Subs cribe

Pas t Is s ue s

Trans late

A summary of the trip's sampling results is presented in the chart below. Complete results are available from the AAS State Office upon request.

Board Member Highlight
Checo Coln-Gaud, Ph.D Georgia Southern University

5 of 11

11/1/2021, 8:35 AM

AAS July-September 2021 Newsletter

Subs cribe

Pas t Is s ue s

https://mailchi.mp/22050f58442c/aas-january-march-2021-newsletter-2... Trans late

I was born and raised on the west coast of Puerto Rico, where I spent most of my time outdoors. Growing up on an island instilled a great love and appreciation for the natural world. Being in the water, whether it was at a beach or a mountain stream, was always a happy place for me. I left the island to attend college at El Paso, Texas where I earned a degree in Biology. During my undergrad I had the opportunity to work as a National Science Foundation (NSF) summer research intern in two consecutive years, first at Las Cruces, New Mexico and then at Manhattan, Kansas. Both opportunities centered on studying aquatic organisms and disturbance. These experiences inspired me to pursue graduate studies, first at Louisiana State University where I earned a MS in Fisheries and later at Southern Illinois University where I earned a PhD in Zoology. After completing my doctoral studies, I completed a NSF postdoctoral fellowship back home at the University of Puerto Rico in Rio Piedras working in mountain streams at the Luquillo Experimental Forest.
I'm now in my 11th year as a faculty member of Georgia Southern University, where I serve as Professor of Biology and Associate Dean of the Jack N.

6 of 11

11/1/2021, 8:35 AM

AAS July-September 2021 Newsletter

https://mailchi.mp/22050f58442c/aas-january-march-2021-newsletter-2...

Subs cribe

Pas t Is s ue s

Trans late

Averitt College of Graduate Studies. My studies focus on the role of macroinvertebrates in freshwater ecosystems, from small streams to large rivers and floodplains. In particular, my students and I look to macroinvertebrates as indicators of the health and condition of freshwater ecosystems in our region and to predict their response to climatic changes and potential disturbances.

I truly believe that working as an AAS volunteer-turned-trainer-turned-board member has provided me with a platform to communicate my science more broadly with the general public and stakeholders, many of whom I wouldn't be able to reach in a formal research setting. Through AAS, I can raise awareness about the value of healthy streams and the great diversity of life that can exist and thrive in these systems. This has given me the opportunity to connect with a variety of people and help them become stewards for their local waterways.
I think most of us can agree that having healthy and functioning stream ecosystems is important to our quality of life. AAS provides communities with the resources to better understand the meaning of 'healthy and functioning'.

7 of 11

11/1/2021, 8:35 AM

AAS July-September 2021 Newsletter

https://mailchi.mp/22050f58442c/aas-january-march-2021-newsletter-2...

Subs cribe

Pas t Is s ue s

Trans late

Further, volunteer programs like AAS can help build a sense of community if we all know we're doing our part in conserving this important natural resource. The AAS program plays an important role in making information available and accessible to the community and, in return, volunteers can help build a wealth of information that enables the continued management and conservation of stream resources statewide.

Program Updates

Confluence is Georgia Adopt-A-Stream's annual volunteer water quality monitoring conference, featuring a water-science poster session, expert talks and workshops, field experiences, and networking opportunities. The conference is cautiously coming back in-person on March 18-20, 2022, at

8 of 11

11/1/2021, 8:35 AM

AAS July-September 2021 Newsletter

https://mailchi.mp/22050f58442c/aas-january-march-2021-newsletter-2...

Subs cribe

Pas t Is s ue s

Trans late

Unicoi State Park and Lodge. Lodging reservations are available, so book now! Find m ore inform ation on the Adopt-A-Stream website.

Upcoming Workshop Opportunities

Get certified or recertified in an AAS monitoring program! While virtual options will still be available, in-person workshops are returning for those that feel comfortable attending. You can find workshop opportunities near you on the workshop calendar on the AAS website or contact us at AAS@dnr.ga.gov to set up a workshop in your area.

Welcome New Adopt-A-Stream Groups!
These groups monitored for the first time in July-September 2021. Welcome to the AAS team!

Lilly Vicens

Sauls About Healthy Waters

9 of 11

11/1/2021, 8:35 AM

AAS July-September 2021 Newsletter

Subs cribe

Pas t Is s ue s

The Herb Family John Stephan anna jones Hales Trace Jackson Feeder Creek Harbour Oaks Montessori School

https://mailchi.mp/22050f58442c/aas-january-march-2021-newsletter-2...

Livable Buckhead KMHS Research and Internship Fall 2021 Clean Water Buddies Avery Creek @ HOTL Les teros a PCHS Adopt-A-Stream

Trans late

Triple Early Childhood Education Workshop Join Projects WET, WILD, and Learning Tree (PLT) to explore three early
childhood curricula targeting ages 3-9. Nov 16 & 18, 2021 from 4pm-7pm Virtual- register here
Georgia River Network Paddling Trips Various dates and locations throughout 2021 and 2022
AAS Confluence 2022 Adopt-A-Stream's annual volunteer water quality monitoring conference
Mar 18-20, 2022 Unicoi State Park and Lodge
Visit our online calendar for monitoring workshops and AAS events!
If you'd like to b ecome an AAS trainer, please contact the State Office for workshop information.

10 of 11

11/1/2021, 8:35 AM

AAS July-September 2021 Newsletter

Subs cribe

Pas t Is s ue s

https://mailchi.mp/22050f58442c/aas-january-march-2021-newsletter-2... Trans late

Copyright 2021 Georgia Environmental Protection Division, All rights reserved.
Want to change how y ou receiv e these emails? You can update y our pref erences or unsubscribe f rom this list.

11 of 11

11/1/2021, 8:35 AM