Adopt-a-stream, Vol. 9, no. 4 (July/Aug. 2002)

GEORGIA
Adopt-A-Stream

Volume 9, Number 4, July/August 2002 Harold Harbert and Kim Morris-Zarneke, Editors

Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Division

Welcome Kim Morris-Zarneke

Hear ye, hear ye, Georgia Adopt-A-Stream has hired a

new coordinator.....Yes it is true, Georgia Adopt-A-

Stream has hired a new coordinator, Kim Morris-Zarneke

to work with Harold Harbert in managing AAS and the

Rivers Alive project. After six and a half years of

working in the zoo and aquarium industry as a

conservationist and educator, Kim decided to broaden her

skills and get back to her first love, aquatic habitats.

Kim's diverse background includes animal behavior

research, wetlands and submerged aquatic vegetation

surveys, waterway clean-ups and teaching. Don't be

surprised if you receive an email or call from Kim, she is

looking forward to meeting all of you and learning more

about this great team. You can reach Kim at (404) 675-

1636 or by email at kimberly_morris-zarneke@

mail.dnr.state.ga.us.

Kim and Harold test the old adage that coordinators that

Friday, September 20, 2002

collect bugs together stay together!

7:30am - 5:00pm

The Carter Center, Atlanta

The Georgia Conservancy is calling for a statewide vision for green space. Georgia lost on average more than 210,000 acres of forest and farmland annually from 1992 to 1997. This is the second fastest rate in the country. At this point in Georgia's history, there is no greater environmental priority than protecting Georgia's vanishing landscape. Governor Roy Barnes will be the keynote speaker at the Conservancy's annual conference that will address urban, suburban, and rural issues. Cost to register is $65 before Sept. 1 and $80 after. For more information and to register, call 404-876-2900 ext 40 or visit www.georgiaconservancy.org and click on the Saving Georgia's Landscape icon.

Mark your calendars, CoastFest 2002 will be held on October 5 at the DNR Coastal
Resources Division headquarters in Brunswick. Georgia's largest organized celebration of coastal natural resources boasts hundreds of environmental exhibitors and thousands of participants. For more information call Lea King at 912-264-7218 or look for the seahorse logo on the web at: www.dnr.state.ga.us/dnr/coastal/. Don't miss it!

30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NATIONAL CLEAN WATER ACT
October will mark the 30th anniversary of the National Clean Water Act, a Federal law passed in 1972 to provide a framework for protecting and restoring America's water. In the three decades since its passage, Clean Water Act programs have yielded measurable improvements in water quality. Lakes and streams that were once devoid of fish and other aquatic life now support numerous and varied aquatic populations. Point source discharges from municipal and industrial sources are being monitored and controlled. There are no more lakes catching on fire, large pollution-based fish kills are a rarity, and almost all drinking water meets the minimum criteria for health and safety. Here in Georgia, the Adopt-A-Stream program has been instrumental in acquainting Georgia citizens with the water quality issues affecting the State and developing a network dedicated to finding solutions to improving water quality in the Southeast.
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Region 4 would like to invite you to join the America Clean Water Foundation in a National Monitoring Event on October 18, 2002. The monitoring event will sample four of the core water quality standards covered in the Georgia Adopt-A-Stream program's chemical monitoring workshop: temperature, pH, water clarity and dissolved oxygen, and is open to first time and veteran monitors. To find out more information about National Monitoring Day including how to register a site and obtain a test kit, please go to www.yearofcleanwater.org. Inexpensive, simple and safe National Water Monitoring Day Test Kits are available from LaMotte Company for $16.75 or participate in an Adopt-A-Stream workshop and learn how to collect quality assured data.
With so many people working in watersheds to improve water quality throughout the year, EPA wishes to capture these efforts during the Year of Clean Water. If possible, try to direct your watershed events such as monitoring, river and coastal clean-ups, water festivals, community awareness activities, restoration projects and other watershed type activities to the month of October. Once you have committed to an event, please register your event on the clean water website. This will let people know what you are doing locally as well as nationally to protect America's waterways.
Save this date: October 18, 2002 National Monitoring Day
Looking to make a difference in your community? Interested in participating in National Monitoring Day but you don't know how? Look no further Rivers Alive is your answer. This year Rivers Alive is teaming up with the EPA to promote National Monitoring Day. Rivers Alive is Georgia's annual volunteer cleanup event that targets waterways across the State including streams, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. Held throughout the month of October, Rivers Alive is organized by the Georgia Adopt-A-Stream Program and the Keep Georgia Beautiful Program in conjunction with Help The Hooch in Columbus. Last year, 18,763 volunteers collected 118,000 pounds of garbage and cleaned over 662 miles of waterways. To volunteer for a cleanup, visit our website at www.riversalive.org for list of cleanups in your area. For the fourth year running, thanks to our corporate sponsors, we are once again offering free T-shirts to all participants.

Adopt-A-Stream Calendar of Events

The following workshops, taught by certified AAS trainers, provide training in visual, biological and chemical monitoring of streams. Teachers may receive 0.5 SDU credits for participation in workshops. Please call to register.

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

Who
Upper Etowah Adopt-A-Stream Cobb County Adopt-A-Stream Fulton County Adopt-A-Stream Georgia Wildlife Federation Cobb County Adopt-A-Stream Georgia Adopt-A-Stream Georgia Wildlife Federation Georgia Adopt-A-Stream Clayton County Water Authority Georgia Wildlife Federation Cobb County Adopt-A-Stream Upper Etowah Adopt-A-Stream Upper Etowah Adopt-A-Stream

When
Aug. 3 Aug. 10 Aug. 17 Sept. 7 Sept. 14 Sept. 14 Sept. 14 Sept. 24 Sept. 28 Oct. 12 Oct. 12 Oct. 19 Oct. 26

Where
Canton Cobb County South Fulton Covington Cobb County Jefferson County Covington Rome Wetlands Center Covington Cobb County Canton Canton

To Register
770-735-2778 770-528-1482 770-698-5739 770-787-7887 770-528-1482 404-675-1639 770-787-7887 404-675-1639 678-422-2838 770-787-7887 770-528-1482 770-735-2778 770-735-2778

NOTE: Workshop times vary. Please call to get exact times and locations. Workshop information is updated weekly on our website at www.riversalive.org/aas.htm

QA/QC Recertification: All QA/QC volunteers must renew certification on a yearly basis. This can be accomplished by participating in the second half of our regular chemical or biological workshop. To register, please contact one of our scheduled workshops.

Local and State Happenings

Clayton County's annual "Wetlands and Watershed Festival" will be September 9th, from 10am to 3pm. It is free to the public and there will be environmental exhibits, live animals, nature walks, crafts, and activities for all ages.

Mission: To provide tools and opportunities for active participation and cooperative efforts among citizens, landowners and agencies to improve water quality.
The Water Stewardship Conference, held September 5-7, 2002, will provide a medium to promote awareness of the value of water stewardship and to inform attendees of actions that may be taken to conserve and to protect our water resources. This conference will feature innovative techniques, educational tools, current research and success stories from projects throughout the southeastern United States. The lecture segment of the conference will be divided into three tracks: Riparian Buffers, Wetlands and Citizen Monitoring. (Attendees will be able to choose which track to follow.) There will also be a tour of local sites that demonstrate the application of innovative techniques in the field.
Hosted by the Georgia Stream Buffer Initiative
To register and for further information visit: www.riversalive.org/aas.htm Note: Registration rate of $125 has been extended through August 23rd

Community Watershed Workshop
September 10, 2002 6:00 8:00 p.m.
"Atlanta's water resources cannot survive on science alone: Integrating water resource programs through creativity and collaboration in Nancy Creek and beyond."

Location: Pavilion #1, Chattahoochee River Park Azalea Drive, Roswell, 770-698-5739

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.

6:00

Refreshments

6:30

Guest Speakers: Teresa Crisp, Srinivas Jalla, and Elizabeth Perez

7:30

Questions & Answers

This workshop is brought to you by Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper and Fulton County Adopt-A-

This is the third workshop of 2002 in a series of four to promote and support community and watershed activities. The next workshop will be December 3, 2002.
The workshops are sponsored by: Georgia Adopt-A-Stream, 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, Clayton County Water Authority, Cobb County Adopt-A-Stream, Little River Valley Association and National Wildlife Federation.
Directions: Take GA 400 to exit 6 North Ridge go west towards Roswell Road. Turn right on to Roswell Road and continue north towards the river. After crossing the river, turn left at the light onto Azalea Drive. Pavilion #1 (the one with the bathrooms) will be on your left. Please note: this workshop is being held outdoors so dress appropriately.

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 or 1636 www.riversalive.org/aas.htm

Printed on recycled paper