Adopt-a-stream, Vol. 8, no. 2 (Mar./Apr. 2001)

GEORGIA
Adopt-A-Stream

Volume 8, Number 2, March / April 2001 Michele Droszcz and Harold Harbert, Editors
Thank You!

Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Division

Most people do not realize how much work it takes to address the needs of citizen water quality monitors and the community watershed networks throughout the State. With only 2 State Coordinators, Georgia Adopt-A-Stream relies heavily on the involvement of local coordinators, supporting organizations, universities and individuals who commit thousands of hours of time to help enhance the program.
Each year, Georgia Adopt-A-Stream recognizes volunteers who have made some special contribution to protecting Georgia's waters. This year, Georgia Adopt-A-Stream would like to take this opportunity to recognize the individuals and their supporting organizations who have made such a large contribution to the statewide program. Without their support, Georgia Adopt-A-Stream would not be what it is today!

Dramatic changes are underway at Georgia Adopt-A-Stream; changes that will have a big impact on our ability to better serve you! We are now on the verge of transferring to a completely new database system. After years of searching for volunteers with database savvy, two of the Georgia Adopt-A-Stream Advisory Board members, Shan Cammack and Eric Osborne, went forth and found the perfect volunteers. Eric Van De Genachte, with Wildlife Resource Division Natural Heritage Program, developed the inner workings of the new database. He then passed it off to Bruce Taylor, with Clayton County Water Authority, who has spent hundreds of hours perfecting the database. Thanks to the support of these loyal volunteers, Georgia Adopt-A-Stream will soon be able to easily input quality assured data, track monitoring locations and produce reports in a timely manner.

The Pollution Prevention Assistance Division targeted the Georgia AdoptA-Stream audience with a beautiful and informative full-color brochure and poster entitled "You're the Solution To Water Pollution." The mastermind behind the final product was David Gipson. He spent countless hours making sure this would be a useful and informative piece of work.

Bruce Taylor above & Eric Van De Genachte
Ginny Brady and her colleagues at Fort Discovery Educational Technology Training Center have been a leading force in assisting Georgia Adopt-A-Stream reach out to teachers throughout Georgia. Ginny handles all paperwork for teacher development credits, has correlated the Adopt-A-Stream activities to Georgia's Quality Core Curriculum, and is developing a teacher's web page for Adopt-A-Stream.

Lynn Cobb with Department of Community Affairs, Keep Georgia Beautiful, has been on the Georgia Adopt-A-Stream Advisory Board since the beginning. Lynn uses her organizational experience to ensure that Georgia Adopt-A-Stream remains a high quality program. Lynn is also very instrumental in organizing Rivers Alive, the annual river cleanup event.

Dr. Becky Champion and Oxbow Meadows Environmental Learning Center have been a key feature in almost all water quality education and watershed outreach in the Middle Chattahoochee Watershed. In all her efforts, Becky has always used and promoted Georgia Adopt-A-Stream. Becky is also a leading figure in the success of Rivers Alive, the annual river cleanup event.

We would like to extend a special "thank you" to Dr. Mac Callaham and Dr. Susan Gannaway who spearheaded the Georgia Adopt-A-Stream Regional Training Center concept in 1996. Last year, Mac and Susan moved on to other endeavors but the Regional Training

Nicole Vachon, as the Dekalb County Adopt-A-Stream coordinator, conducted workshops with more energy and enthusiasm than anyone else. She coordinated the production of a very useful guide called the "Watershed Owner's Manual." Now on a world tour, Nicole uses the Georgia Adopt-AStream protocols to teach people in developing countries about water quality.

Centers are still providing training and

Upper Chattahoochee

guidance through 5 State Universities

Riverkeeper has promoted and

throughout Georgia.

supported Georgia Adopt-A-Stream

Patricia Payne White and Peavine Watershed Alliance are great

for many years. We work very

supporters and promoters of Georgia Adopt-A-Stream. Peavine

closely with their staff on many of

Watershed Alliance recently produced a video called "Building A

our outreach efforts and have gained

Watershed Alliance" which is a very useful tool for volunteer

much from their partnership.

monitors who wish to organize a watershed alliance.

Dana Poole and Kenny Peavy have

The Environmental Education Alliance of Georgia became our nonprofit partner last year. Through this partnership, Georgia Adopt-A-Stream will be able to enhance volunteer recognition and produce a fabulous annual conference.

become pivotal figures in uniting and expanding the Georgia Adopt-AStream efforts in the Athens/Clarke County area. Since moving to Athens, Dana has volunteered her time to teach many Adopt-A-Stream workshops. Kenny contributed his own money towards the purchase of chemical
it i kit

Ted Mikalsen provided a lot of the expertise in

Dr. Joe Richardson has been the primary contact and

developing the watershed and visual survey data

trainer in the coastal region for many years. Last year, Joe

forms. He also developed the "Evaluation of

received a three-year grant from the Georgia Coastal

Stream Conditions" table, which is a user-friendly

Management Program to continue his work as the director of

tool for recognizing stream conditions.

the Coastal Adopt-A-Stream and Wetland Regional Training

Center

Sharon Cowden with Fulton County Adopt-A-Stream offers chemical and biological workshops twice a month. With Sharon's passionate efforts of training and educating, Georgia Adopt-A-Stream has been able to fine-tune the program using her experienced input.

Elaine Oakes and Keep Walton Beautiful, along with their partners in Walton County, sponsored and hosted the Adopt-A-Stream Volunteer

Aquascape Environmental and their staff have been great supporters of Georgia Adopt-A-Stream. We would like to recognize them for donating the volunteer awards that will be given out at the Volunteer Awards Banquet in Columbus on March 3.

Tom Broadwell and Georgia Power are strong supporters of Georgia Adopt-A-Stream. Georgia Power has provided key assistance for Adopt-AStream in obtaining printing services for conference materials and T-shirt production.

Celebration last year on the Apalachee River. After canoeing down the river, volunteers gathered on the banks to enjoy a nice lunch, live music and a sing-along.

Representatives of International Paper have backed Georgia Adopt-AStream for years, serving on the Advisory Board. Most recently Rebecca Winn has assisted in the establishment of the Citizen Riparian Network.

Adopt-A-Stream Calendar of Events

The following workshops, taught by certified AAS trainers, provide training in visual, biological and chemical monitoring of streams. Please call to register.

What
Chemical Chemical Biological Chem. & Bio. Testing Biological Biological Biological Chemical Chemical Getting Started w/ AAS Biological/Chemical Chemical Biological Chemical

Who
Gwinnett County AAS Fulton County AAS Gwinnett County AAS Gwinnett County AAS City of Atlanta AAS City of Roswell AAS Fulton County AAS City of Atlanta AAS Floyd/Rome AAS & CRBI Peavine Watershed Alliance Peavine Watershed Alliance Fulton County AAS City of Atlanta AAS City of Atlanta AAS

When
March 15 March 17 March 20 March 24 April 14 April 21 April 28 April 28 May 5 May 5 May 12 May 12 May 12 May 26

Where
Gwinnett County South Fulton Gwinnett County Gwinnett County South River Roswell City Hall South Fulton Utoy Creek Rome, Heritage Hall DeKalb County DeKalb County North Fulton Proctor Creek Peachtree/Nancy Creek

NOTE: Workshop times vary. Please call to get exact times and locations.

To Register
770-822-7157 404-730-8006 770-822-7157 770-822-7157 404-330-6980 770-641-3715 404-730-8006 404-330-6980 706-802-5322 404-508-7603 404-508-7603 404-730-8006 404-330-6980 404-330-6980

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 West GA Central GA Southwest GA South GA

Who
Dr. Joe Richardson Dr. Becky Champion Beth Hohnadel Dr. William Tietjen Dr. David Hedgepeth

To Register
912-356-2809 706-687-4090 706-444-9820 912-931-2253 912-333-5611

E-mail
richards@tigerpaw.ssu.peachnet.edu champion_becky@colstate.edu ejhohnadel@hotmail.com wlt@canes.gsw.edu dhedgepe@valdosta.edu

Special Recognition
The success of Georgia Adopt-A-Stream comes from the input and efforts of the trainers and local coordinators. We would like to recognize those who really
stood out this past year.
Sylbie Yon, Georgia College Regional Training Center Paul Thomas, City of Atlanta Kristi Rose, Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper Kim Zimmerman, Rockdale County Sue Hurd and Brian Wiley, City of Gainesville Jane Pape, NW Georgia Youth Science and Technology Center Michele Barry, SE Natural Sciences Academy Katie Gibbs, EPD Coastal District Stephen Golladay, Jones Ecological Research Center Na'Taki Osborne, National Wildlife Federation Duncan Cottrell, Environmental Management Services David Hedgepeth, Valdosta State Regional Training Center Eric Lindberg, City of Rome Mona Painter, City of Cornelia David Llewellyn, Trevor Carlson and Charles Richards, City of Roswell Michael O'Shield and Katherine Atteberry, Gwinnett County Adopt-A-Stream Hugh Mitchell and Gilbert Nicolson, Hiawassee River Watershed Coalition
Community Watershed Workshop

March 13, 2001 7:00 8:30 p.m. Agape Center, 2351 Bolton Road, NW
The workshop will provide an opportunity for people to meet and share information, recruit volunteers, and obtain resources to start up and/or sustain watershed activities.

7:00 p.m. 7:15 p.m.
7:30 p.m.

Refreshments Highlighted Watershed: Peachtree Woodall-Whetstone Watershed Alliance, Jacqueline Echols Citizen Soil Watch Workshop, Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, Alice Champagne

This workshop is hosted by Georgia Adopt-A-Stream and Riverkeeper with thanks to the Agape Center

This

is the

first workshop of 2001 in a series of four to promote and support community and watershed activities. The

series will continue on May 8, September 11 and December 4.

The workshops are sponsored by: Georgia Adopt-AStream, Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, DeKalb County Parks and Recreation, Peavine Watershed Alliance, City of Atlanta Department of Public Works, Fulton County Adopt-A-Stream, Gwinnett County Adopt-A-Stream and National Wildlife Federation.

Directions: From I-75 North and South. Exit Moores Mill Road. Turn West (right) from I-75 North or from I-75 South. Moores Mill Road will dead end into Defoors Ferry Road. Turn right. Defoors Ferry will turn into Bolton Road after crossing Marietta Blvd. (first traffic light). After crossing Marietta Blvd. the Agape Center is located about 500 feet on the left side of Bolton Road.

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 www.riversalive.org/aas.htm

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