Adopt-a-stream, Vol. 6, no. 6 (Nov./Dec. 1999)

GEORGIA
Adopt-A-Stream

Volume 6, Number 6, November / December 1999
Michele Droszcz and Harold Harbert, Editors
Best Watershed Effort Award

Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Division

So many great watershed efforts developed this year that it is impossible to say one is the "best." Watershed efforts take many forms due to the varying goals and resources of each group. Some watershed efforts develop as alliances of several environmental or community interest groups and others start with just a few dedicated citizens who use their talents and energies to bring other concerned citizens together.

One group that has been brought to our attention several times this year is the Little River Valley Association. This watershed association was formed last year by Ben and Linda Statham. Ben and Linda have spent countless hours educating themselves and their community about water quality issues. They have hosted a Citizen Soil Watch Workshop, Adopt-A-Stream workshops and a "Smart Growth" luncheon in North Fulton County. With assistance from Fulton County, the Little River Valley Association received a $20,000 grant to purchase Adopt-A-Stream monitoring equipment and to conduct community education. Lastly, (only because we don't have room to list all their achievements), Ben and Linda Statham have used their leadership skills and glowing personalities to attract 75 members to help protect the Little River Watershed. Congratulations to the Little River Valley Association!

Rivers Alive! Epitomizes True Partnership
Rivers Alive, Georgia's Eight Annual River Cleanup Week, has been selected for this year's partnership award. Epitomizing what a true partnership should be, this year's River Cleanup Steering Committee was comprised of 60 plus individuals representing Federal, State, and local government groups, State and local nonprofits, corporations, and private citizens. Achievements include a two-fold increase in participation from 3,600 to 8,000 cleanup volunteers. In addition, more than 8,000 Rivers Alive T-shirts were created, produced and distributed to all volunteers. Nine corporations provided funding for all Rivers Alive Tshirts. Governor Roy Barnes proclaimed the week of Oct. 9-17 as River Cleanup Week. The DNR provided funding for a promotional video. The steering committee produced a Jeff Foxworthy radio PSA, river cleanup banners, promotional news article templates and more.
Most importantly, large cleanups occurred in every major city and watershed across the State. Although the numbers have yet to be tallied, it is expected that we will have record numbers of participation and trash retrieved from Georgia's rivers, streams, lakes and wetlands. Please go the Rivers Alive web page for more in-depth coverage of this year's cleanup, www.riversalive.org.

The Award For Excellence In Data Collection Goes To...

The following volunteers have been collecting data consistently for at least two years.
Robert Kirkpatrick, Bonnie Pinkerton, The White Family, Lory Breen and Jenkins High School Marine Science Club, Neva Jean Fain, Cheryl Garner and McHenry Elementary, Jerry Hagerty, Elaine Oakes and the Apalachee Water Watchers, and Randall Stone and the Give-A-Hoochies.

The following volunteers have been collecting data consistently since 1995! Thanks to these folks, we now have a good set of baseline data for their stream segments.
Olive Robinson, Penny Baily and Blanchard Elementary, Marjorie Curtis and Richards Middle School, David Dockery, Georgia Evans, and Barbara Hopper and Walton High School, Dee Shore and Clubview Elementary.

Community / Watershed Coordinators Meeting
The community watershed workshops are special meetings for all AAS community coordinators. Meeting goals are to increase communication and participation between local coordinators; clarify program expectations and future goals; and create a positive environment for the development of a cohesive,
interactive and connected statewide program. We now have 32 active coordinators in Georgia. These meetings are held quarterly.

Listed clockwise form the top left corner: Michael Dyson, Paul Thomas, David Dockery, Michele Barry, Joanne Steele, Bob Bourne, Sharon Cowden, Dana Poole, Anna White, Ginny Brady, Michael O'Shield, Harold Harbert, Patricia Payne White, Paula Croslin,
Sue Hurd, Nicole Vachon, Cheryl Dukas, Ann Banke, and Rebecca Steele.

Best Brochure
This award goes to the Friends of Nancy Creek Brochure, created and distributed by Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper. Friends of Nancy Creek is a network of citizens, schools, organizations and local governments working together to protect water quality in the Nancy Creek Watershed through hands on activities that make a tangible difference. The brochure includes a map of the watershed with Adopt-A-Stream monitoring groups marked as well as a "Who To Call" list. Basic land uses in the watershed are described, including percentage of impervious surface. The brochure simply and effectively educates citizens about the watershed approach, point source and nonpoint source pollution and provides information on how to get involved in Adopt-A-Stream and the Friends of Nancy Creek. For a copy of this brochure, call 404-352-9828 extension 17.

Red-Flag Award
When a citizen spends time near a local stream, he learns to know that stream. If he walks the stream, watches the way it flows and monitors the water, he becomes somewhat of a local authority on that stream. Kevin McCauley is one such person who knows his stream. Kevin has been monitoring Little Nancy Creek since 1998. He formed Little Nancy Creek Watershed Watch, which has been active in monitoring, stenciling and stream clean-ups. Last year, a neighbor discovered a fish kill in the creek and reported the incident to Kevin. Kevin took photographs and fish and water samples. He contacted EPD Emergency Response and the Wildlife Resources Division. Thanks to Kevin's work with Adopt-A-Stream, he's prepared to take the appropriate steps to document and report water quality problems. Thanks for protecting our streams Kevin!

Outstanding Outreach
This year, we would like to recognize Gwinnett County Watershed Preservation & Education Program (GCWPE) for their OUTSTANDING efforts to educate the citizens of Gwinnett County about water and water quality. GCWPE is a partnership between Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful and Gwinnett County Public Schools. Through this effort, 150 teachers have received continuing education credits to learn about watersheds, water quality and wastewater treatment. Gwinnett County Stormwater Management worked with GCWPE to expand their storm drain stenciling program into all 84 schools in Gwinnett County, 3 Buford City Schools and nine private schools. In all, Gwinnett County Watershed Preservation & Education Program has brought together more than 7,000 students, educators, parents and volunteers to bring awareness about nonpoint source pollution and water resource protection. For more information about this program, contact Michael O'Shield at 770-822-7157.

The Georgia Adopt-A-Stream Advisory Board Members
Georgia Adopt-A-Stream's Advisory Board meets four times a year to provide input and expertise to the Georgia Adopt-A-Stream staff. The Board is comprised of 24 participants, representing volunteer monitoring groups, counties, watershed organizations, industries, schools, cities and other government agencies. We would like to extend a special "thank you" to those who have served on the Board during the 1997-1999 term.
Lynn Cobb, Department of Community Affairs Dr. Gail Marshall, Douglas High School
Bryan Wagoner, Georgia Water and Pollution Control Association Alice Champagne, Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper Dee West, Alpharetta Environmental Services Melanie Ruhlman, International Paper Jennifer Christman, International Paper Michael O'Shield, Gwinnett County Public Utilities Brannon Wilder, Izaak Walton League of America Dana Poole, Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper Martha Little, City of Rome Rusty Garrison, Wildlife Resources Division
Dr. Mac Callaham, North Georgia College and State University Dr. Susan Gannaway, North Georgia College and State University
Dr. Becky Champion, Columbus State University Dr. Joe Richardson, Savannah State University
Sylbie Yon, Georgia College Adopt-A-Stream Regional Training Center Dr. David Hedgepeth, Voldosta State University Tom Broadwell, Georgia Power Laurie Hawks, Brown and Caldwell Eric Osborne, Clayton Water Authority Patti Lanford, Wildlife Resources Division Andy Johnson, USDA NRCS Lisa Ann McKinley, EPA Frank Henning, Clarke County Extension Service Frank Carubba, EPD NonPoint Source Unit

To TRIPPE MIDDLE SCHOOL
for OUTSTANDING ADOPT-A-WETLAND PROGRAM

To FRIENDS OF SAPELO
for OUTSTANDING ESTUARY MONITORING

Best Stream Video
Soque Diary: River Protection In The Chattahoochee Headwaters chronicles both river restoration and community watershed protection efforts in the Chattahoochee Headwaters. The video, filmed and produced by Fran Burst, of Burst Video/Film, traces a restoration project from its inception and site selection, to the fieldwork, implementation and post-construction community involvement to replant the riparian zone. This project was a joint effort between the Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Savage-Roberts Farms. Other partners included Southeast Waters Americorps and the Soque River Watershed Association. Weaved through the video are voices of community members who are working, at the local level, on the Soque River watershed. Soque Diary is an excellent resource for teachers, community watershed groups, citizens, property owners and local government. For a copy, contact Katherine Baer at 770-538-2619.
Outstanding School Monitoring Group
Jenkins High School Marine Science Club has been conducting chemical monitoring on Casey Canal in Savannah for three years. The Club has participated in the production of at least two educational videos regarding nonpoint source pollution, which are used in schools and environmental settings in the area. Within the past year, three planning and local government agencies have requested their data. For their diligence, attention to detail, year-round loyalty to monitoring, and for providing educational and scientific services to the community, the Jenkins High School Marine Science Club receives the Award of Excellence for Outstanding School Monitoring Group.
Special Recognition: Dana Poole
Dana Poole is the coordinator of the Riverkeeper Adopt-A-Stream Monitoring Network. In 1995, Dana joined Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper to coordinate the Proctor Creek Education Initiative. This program introduced stream monitoring to five schools in the Proctor Creek Watershed. She then introduced a similar program in Troup County, called Kids Downstream. Two years ago, Dana took over the coordination of the Adopt-A-Stream Monitoring Network in the Upper Chattahoochee River basin. As the coordinator, Dana promotes the Georgia Adopt-A-Stream program and provides training and support to the volunteer monitors within the Upper Chattahoochee Basin. The Monitoring Network has 103 groups, which is almost half the total number of Adopt-AStream groups in the whole state!
In addition to these duties, Dana manages a variety of other projects. For example, Dana organized a streambank restoration effort at the Huntcliff Horse Farm. This farm is situated along the Chattahoochee River and for years, the horses were allowed to walk on the banks of the river. The restoration project, funded by the Corp of Engineers, included fencing off the horses, removing large amounts of manure and replanting the bank.
Not only has Dana done a fantastic job in her position, she has always been willing to offer her assistance in organizing projects and events. Dana has been an invaluable member of the Georgia Adopt-A-Stream Advisory Board for two years. She solicited prizes for the Adopt-A-Stream Conference and Awards Ceremony and was part of the Rivers Alive Steering Committee. There is much more to be said about Dana but there is no more space. Dana will be leaving her position in January to attend graduate school. Good luck Dana and thanks for all your work with Adopt-A-Stream and water education.

The Bug Girls Tell Us About Whirligig Beetles
By Becky Blasius and Kristen Sanford EPD Watershed Planning and Monitoring Program
Order: Coleoptera Family: Gyrinidae
The larvae are commonly called Beetle Larvae on the Izaak Walton League Macroinvertabrate key. They can be recognized by their lateral gills running along the abdomen. There are approximately 700 species of Gyrinidae but the general identifying characteristics of the family are similar.
The adults have two pairs of compound eyes that are always divided. This allows them to spot their prey above and bellow the water. They are black or sometimes metallic dark green. The front legs are long and slender, the middle and hind legs are very short, flattened without hairs. They swim rapidly and are as much at home below water as on the surface.
Both adult and larvae are predaceous.
Life Cycle:
Whirligig Beetles go through complete metamorphosis (eggs, larvae, pupae and adults) similar to the butterfly. The adult female lays her eggs on vegetation a few centimeters below the surface of the water. Within one to two weeks the eggs hatch. The larvae then go through three stages of growth or instars. The pupal stage occurs underwater. When ready, the pupa rises to the surface and the adult emerges.
Places you can find them:
The adults are often found swimming in groups in an odd gyrating fashion on the surface of freshwater ponds, lake margins and streams. The larvae are found underwater in streams, using their abdominal hooks to crawl on rocks, vegetation and woody debris. They can also use their abdominal gills to swim. These beetles (adults and larvae) can be found throughout Georgia however, the adults are much easier to spot.
What they mean about water quality:
These beetles are considered somewhat tolerant and can be found in good to fair quality water. The larvae (as with most aquatic larvae) are better at telling us about water quality because of their constant interaction with the water column, whereas the adults are primarily exposed to the surface of the water and can fly away if conditions become poor.
Fun Facts:
The adults, when handled, give off an odor similar to that of green apples. Really...try it!

Adopt-A-Stream Calendar of Events

The following are trainings and workshops, conducted by certified Georgia Adopt-A-Stream Trainers, 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
Visual/Chemical Visual/Chemical Biological Workshop Biological Workshop Wetland Workshop Visual/Chemical TTT Visual/Chem. Wksp. Biological TTT Biological Workshop Visual/Chem. Wksp.

Who

When

Forsyth Co. AAS

Nov. 6

Upper Chatt. Riverkeeper AAS Nov. 9-11, 15

Peavine Watershed Alliance Nov. 13

Fulton Co. AAS

Nov. 20

Georgia AAS

Nov. 20

Georgia AAS

Nov. 20

Fulton Co. AAS

Dec. 4

Georgia AAS

Dec. 16

Fulton Co. AAS

Dec. 18

Chattoga AAS

Jan. 6

Where
Forsyth Co. Douglas Co. Davidson Arabia N. Fulton Smyrna Dunwoody S. Fulton Dunwoody S. Fulton Polk/Floyd Co.

To Register
770-889-8325 404-352-9828 404-508-7603 404-730-8006 404-675-1636 404-675-1636 404-730-8006 404-675-1639 404-730-8006 706-802-5322

There's more! AAS workshops are conducted throughout the State. Call one of these numbers to learn about upcoming workshops in your region of the State.

Where
Coastal GA North GA South GA West GA Central GA

Who
Dr. Joe Richardson Dr. Mac Callaham Dr. David Hedgepeth Dr. Becky Champion Sylbie Yon

To Register
912-356-2809 706-864-1956 912-333-5611 706-687-4090 706-485-9243

Georgia Adopt-A-Stream Trainers
WORKING HARD TO EDUCATE GEORGIA

In the past year, we have asked local Adopt-A-Stream coordinators to take on the role of workshop trainers. These trainers have lightened the load here at the state office while providing citizen volunteers with local support and training. Georgia Adopt-A-Stream would like to recognize the following trainers who have conducted chemical or biological QA/QC workshops this year.

Sharon Cowden Nicole Vachon Sylbie Yon Dr. Mac Callaham Dr. Joe Richardson Susan Hurd Brian Wiley

Dana Poole Eric Sciullo Martha Little Michele Barry Katie Gibbs Michael O'Shield Jane Pape Becky Champion

Bob Donaghue Rebecca Winn Jeffery Boring Cheryl Dukas Kathy Sasser Marcia Brown Allison Smallwood

A very big THANK YOU to these trainers!!

Georgia Adopt-A-Stream Volunteer Recognition Issue
This issue of the Georgia Adopt-A-Stream Newsletter is dedicated to the volunteers who have been recognized, through nomination, by their peers. The Georgia Adopt-A-Stream staff also recognizes the dedication of the workshop trainers and some of the volunteers who have been consistently monitoring their water for several years.
Volunteer of the Year
This year's Georgia Adopt-A-Stream Volunteer of the Year is Jerry Hagerty. Jerry's work as an AdoptA-Stream volunteer monitor exceeds all our expectations. His energy to protect and monitor Poplar Creek is endless. Jerry has consistently collected Quality Assured water data since 1997. Jerry attends zoning meetings to speak for the protection of stream buffers, he documents potential stormwater problems, works with neighbors to prevent trash from entering the creek, and documents and reports events of soil erosion, streambank disturbance and sewage leaks. In his spare time, Jerry has produced several outstanding videos used to educate stakeholders and local officials about the threats to Poplar Creek. Keep up the great work Jerry!
The Georgia Adopt-A-Stream Newsletter is published six times per year. For More information about the Georgia Adopt-AStream 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