GEORGIA Adopt-A-Stream Volume 6, Number 5, September / October 1999 Michele Droszcz and Harold Harbert, Editors Help Clean Our Rivers! Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Division The Eighth Annual River Cleanup Week, Rivers Alive, is just around the corner and, yes, we are still looking for volunteers to help in this statewide event. The Rivers Alive Steering Committee has worked extra hard to ensure a successful cleanup. By soliciting the support of 9 corporate sponsors, Rivers Alive will be providing free Tshirts for all volunteers on a first-come-first-serve basis. As a result of the extra funding, the Rivers Alive Steering Committee has also created a web page with great information for all volunteers and organizers of cleanups. Check it out at www.riversalive.org. For 1999, cleanups will be occurring in every major city and watershed across the state. Go to our web page and look under Maps to find a cleanup that is occurring near your home. Or call 888-373-5947 to speak to a receptionist. We are also still looking for individuals to help organize cleanups. Check out the information available on the web page to learn what's involved or call our receptionist. Help us make this year's river cleanup a great success. Sign up today to volunteer! Get Involved with Gainesville / Hall County Adopt-A-Stream The Gainesville / Hall County Adopt-A-Stream Program has been active since 1994. This program provides much support to the citizens of Hall County. The City of Gainesville Utilities, Hall Clean Council and Gainesville College all contribute technical and organizational support. All stream data is reviewed by staff at Gainesville Utilities and then forwarded to the state Adopt-A-Stream office. Biological and chemical monitoring workshops are offered periodically by Gainesville Utilities and Gainesville College. As a member of the Gainesville / Hall County Adopt-A-Stream Program, citizens can check out LaMotte chemical kits from Gainesville Utilities and storm drain stenciling equipment from Hall Clean Council. For those interested in getting turbidity readings, a turbidity meter will be available at Gainesville College for volunteers to use. This is an outstanding program and we encourage citizens to join the Gainesville / Hall County Adopt-A-Stream Program. Citizens interested in monitoring a stream or attending a workshop should contact David Dockery at 770-532-7462. If you have registered to monitor a stream in Hall County and would like to make arrangements to use the turbidity meter, contact Mary Mayhew at 770-535-6310. For storm drain stenciling equipment, contact Marsha Fletcher, with Hall Clean Council, at 770-531-1102. Georgia Adopt-A-Stream Is Only As Strong As Its Volunteers The Georgia Adopt-A-Stream Program is a volunteer monitoring program. The success of the program is based on the hard work, time and devotion of the volunteers who monitor and protect the streams, wetlands, rivers and lakes of Georgia. Every year, we like to recognize the outstanding work the volunteers have done. At this time, we ask that you send in stories, poems and other works of art that portray the work you or your group have done this year. We will put these in the November/December issue of the newsletter. In addition to the fabulous stories, poems and works of art that we will showcase in the next newsletter, we will also recognize outstanding efforts in the categories below. Best Stream Video A video about stream monitoring, nonpoint source pollution education, stream restoration or other Adopt-A-Stream related activities. Best Photograph A photograph that best portrays the Adopt-AStream, Wetland or Lake program. Best School Monitoring Project A research project, outreach or monitoring effort that has contributed to greater awareness or protection of a waterbody. Best Brochure or Poster Outreach material describing your Adopt-AStream, Wetland or Lake program or educating citizens about nonpoint source pollution and water quality. Outstanding Outreach An event or media attention that reached a large number of people educating them about nonpoint source pollution and water quality. Volunteer of the Year A volunteer who has made an outstanding contribution to stream, river, wetland or lake protection with citizen involvement. Red-Flag Award Recognizing a serious water resource problem and bringing appropriate attention to it. Partnership Award Showing cooperation among citizens, local government and local businesses. Best Watershed Effort Volunteers who have taken monitoring and outreach to the next step and organized to protect their watershed. This is your chance to share your successes with others!! To nominate yourself or someone else for one or more of the above categories, send a one page letter of nomination and supporting materials by October 20, 1999 to Michele Droszcz, Georgia Adopt-A-Stream. UPDATE ... From the office of Georgia Adopt-A-Stream, Harold Harbert and Michele Droszcz would like to thank everyone for working to protect the waters of Georgia. Your efforts - whether it's educating yourself and your neighbors or collecting data and stabilizing streambanks - are important if we want to continue to reduce nonpoint source pollution and keep our waters fishable, swimmable and drinkable. In the past three years, Georgia Adopt-A-Stream has trained more than 1,100 Quality Assured water quality monitors. More than 200 groups have adopted streams, lakes and wetlands and Adopt-A-Stream volunteers have been featured in at least 100 news articles. We continue to enhance the program to allow for the growing number of citizens interested in water quality monitoring. In 2000, we will have a new website, database and monitoring manuals. Also look for our AdoptA-Stream Conference and Volunteer Awards Ceremony which is tentatively scheduled for Spring, 2000 !!! GEORGIA RIVER NETWORK FIRST ANNUAL CONFERENCE Georgia River Network is hosting an interactive training and educational weekend for all Georgians with an interest and desire to restore, protect, and enjoy the rivers, wetlands, lakes and estuaries which bejewel our state. The Conference will be held October 15-17 at Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville. Fantastic sessions are being offered as well as networking opportunities with state and national leaders. Georgia AdoptA-Stream will offer a watershed assessment and stream survey course on Friday, October 15. Sunday afternoon there will be a canoe trip down the beautiful Oconee River. Registration: Space is limited, so please pre-register as soon as possible. Fee: $40.00 individuals and non-profit NGO's $112.00 business and industry Fees include lodging for 2 nights, meals, and workshop materials (its a deal!!). For a registration form, contact Marty Kearns at 888-RIVER-GA (748-3742) or kearns@garivers.org Visit our web site for the itinerary and more at: http://www.garivers.org Grassroots Fundraising Workshop Improve your fundraising and leadership skills by attending this workshop conducted by the Institute For Conservation Leadership. The workshop is October 9, 1999 in Atlanta from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Fee: $ 40.00 To Register call 301-270-2900 Coast Fest 99 Coast Fest will be held Saturday, October 2 at the DNR headquarters in Brunswick from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.. Last year's event drew 3,600 people. For more information or directions, call 912-264-7218. Adopt-A-Stream Calendar of Events The following are trainings and workshops which educate citizens about watershed and stream monitoring. Please call early to register. Space is limited! If you are a trainer who will be conducting a workshop, tell us about it and we'll include it in the next newsletter. What Level I/ Chemical Workshop Level I Workshop Level I/ Chemical Workshop Biological Workshop Biological Workshop Stabilization Workshop Biological Workshop PWA Cleanup Level I/ Chemical Workshop Level I/ Chemical Workshop Level I/Chem. TTT Level I/ Chemical Workshop Biological Workshop Biological Workshop Biological TTT Level I/ Chemical Workshop Biological Workshop When Sept. 18 Sept. 25 Sept. 25 Sept. 25 Oct. 2 Oct. 9 Oct. 12 Oct. 16 Oct. 19 Oct. 30 Nov. Nov. 6 Nov. 13 Nov. 20 Dec. Dec. 4 Dec. 18 Where Cochran Mill N. Ctr. Rockdale Co. Dekalb Co. Forsyth Co. S. Fulton Dekalb Co. Chattooga Co. Peavine Watershed Chattooga Co. N. Fulton TBA Dekalb Co. Davidson Arabia N. Fulton TBA Fulton Co. Fulton Co. To Register 404-730-8006 404-675-1639 404-508-7602 404-352-9828 404-730-8006 404-508-7602 706-802-5322 404-508-7603 706-802-5322 404-730-8006 404-675-1639 404-508-7603 404-508-7603 404-730-8006 404-675-1639 404-730-8006 404-730-8006 Don't forget, Georgia Adopt-A-Stream requires that you must get recertified every year so that your data is QA/QC! Sign up for a workshop now! 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 404-675-1639 printed on recycled paper