Adopt-a-stream, Vol. 9, no. 6 (Nov./Dec. 2002)

GEORGIA
Adopt-A-Stream

Volume 9, Number 6, November/December 2002 Harold Harbert and Kim Morris-Zarneke, Editors

Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Division

Rivers Alive Keeps Expanding and Growing

Rivers Alive 2002 is here and as strong as ever. With an estimated 20,000 volunteers, 130 cleanups across the state tackled the job of cleaning up Georgia's waterways. Volunteers removed the usual culprits of paper, glass, aluminum and tires. Several groups reported an increase in the number of tennis balls and grocery carts they found. The fact that some groups had to move to a new site this year because their old site was too clean, tells us we are making progress in cleaning up our waterways.
As of December 1st, the following results have been turned in: 15,878 volunteers contributing 59,800 volunteer hours collected 14,885 bags of garbage and filled numerous dumpsters and pickup trucks. This massive effort included sponsorship from 21 corporations whose assistance provided t-shirts, posters and banners for cleanup events. During this year's cleanup, 525 miles of Georgia waterways were cleaned. Event organizers say this year's cleanup has been one of their best cleanups ever with many first time participants joining our Rivers Alive volunteer ranks. Press coverage has been great with Fox 5 featuring Rivers Alive during one of their "Good Day Atlanta" programs. To date we have received over 100 newspaper articles highlighting cleanups from all over the State. Like always, the t-shirts were a great hit. Many commented on the artwork and liked that we used children's art. The partnership with River of Words has been key in providing an education link to this actionorientated event. For more details about Rivers Alive and to find out what the final results are, check out the Rivers Alive website at www.riversalive.org.

A Prescription for Clean Watersheds
Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Implementation Plans
Throughout the State of Georgia, communities of stakeholders are developing local TMDL Implementation Plans to identify and control the nonpoint sources of pollution in their watersheds. Because they tie together the land and water, watersheds have become the most practical unit for an ecosystem approach to water quality management. Reducing pollutant loadings in a stream by locating likely sources throughout the surrounding watershed has become the new frontier in restoring health to impaired streams, rivers and lakes. Local governments, environmentalists and businesses in each watershed are developing plans to implement controls and best management practices that will keep pollutant loadings at target TMDL limits.

TMDLs set load limits & restore water quality
A TMDL is a calculation of the maximum amount of a certain pollutant that a stream, river or lake can receive and still be safe and healthy. If the amount of a pollutant exceeds water quality standards, no more of that particular pollutant can enter the water body until a TMDL limit is established. Reducing pollutant loadings to meet established TMDL targets is also a means to restore the health of polluted water bodies.
TMDLs indicate the amount of pollutants that may be present and still meet water quality standards for drinking, fishing and swimming. For these reasons, community-based partnerships throughout the watershed are essential to developing TMDL Implementation Plans that will identify and resolve nonpoint source contributions to pollution.
TMDL Implementation Plans detect & reduce pollutants
TMDL Implementation Plans focus on detecting and reducing cases of "nonpoint source" pollution. Much of nonpoint source pollution is tied to storm water runoff from the land and pollution controls depend on voluntary adjustments to lifestyles and business practices.
TMDL Implementation Plans help identify possible pollution sources throughout a watershed whether industries, farmlands, forests or cities to detect the most likely origin of a particular pollutant in the impaired water body. Local stakeholders meet to recommend existing or improved best management practices to reduce pollutant loads and restore the water body to water quality standards. Monitoring of the water body is also an important element of the Implementation Plan to keep stakeholders updated about the success of best management practices.
Monitoring groups should contact the Adopt-A-Stream (404-675-1639) if you are considering monitoring a TMDL listed stream.
For further information contact: Georgia EPD Water Protection Branch TMDL Implementation Program at 404675-1745 mary_gazaway@mail.dnr.state.ga.us or access the Georgia DNR EPD website at www.dnr.state.ga.us
Name That Bug
Are you still uncomfortable identifying aquatic insects and other macroinvertebrates? Wish you had the opportunity to hone your skills one last time? Well, Georgia Adopt-A-Stream has teamed up with local photographer Ray Swords www.rayswords.com to create a new website that helps volunteers do just that, Name That Bug. Ray can usually be found photographing local wedding events, but to show off his formidable skills with the camera, he's tested his hand at macro photos. Just go to our website www.riversalive.org/aas.htm and test your skills. It should serve an excellent tool for practicing before participating in an AAS biological workshop or monitoring event.
The correct term that refers to large animals without a backbone that live on the substrate of waterbodies is benthic macroinvertebrate (but those of you who have been to our workshops already know this!). Macro- means large enough to see with "the naked eye" and invertebrate refers to critters without a backbone. Enjoy the photos!
The 2003 Youth Environmental Symposium
The Georgia Conservancy is calling for entries for the 2003 Youth Environmental Symposium (YES), a competition among middle and high school students. The goal of YES is to develop knowledgeable, dedicated and interested students who are more aware of the environmental issues. Past project submissions included water quality monitoring, composting, air pollution prevention, habitat restoration and butterflies to name a few. The deadline for submitting a project is April 18, 2003. For more information about YES and to receive a teacher's packet, please contact Karen Garland of The Georgia Conservancy by e-mail at kgarland@gaconservancy.org.

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 Getting Started w/AAS Getting Started w/AAS Chemical & Biological Chemical Chemical

Who
Georgia Adopt-A-Stream Upper Etowah Adopt-A-Stream Georgia Adopt-A-Stream Georgia Adopt-A-Stream Clayton County AAS Upper Etowah Adopt-A-Stream

When
Jan 11 Jan 18 Jan 21 Jan 25 Jan 25 Jan 25

Where
Swainsboro Canton Atlanta Atlanta CCWA Wetlands Ctr Tate

To Register
404-675-1639 770-735-2778 404-675-1639 404-675-1639 678-422-2838 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.

Stream Monitoring Workshop in Southeast Georgia
On January 11 Canoochee Riverkeeper, Savannah Riverkeeper, and Georgia Adopt-A-Stream are teaming together to conduct a one-day workshop for chemical and biological monitoring at East Georgia College in Swainsboro, Georgia. This workshop will be packed full of information for how southeast Georgian's can learn how to protect and preserve their local waterways. Special guest presenters include Professor Chris Skelton of Georgia College Biology Department and Ginny Brady from Georgia Technology Training Center in Augusta. Participating teachers may receive one SDU credit. Groups that pass the quality assurance test may qualify for free monitoring equipment. To register call Chandra Brown at 478289-6523 or email keeper@canoocheeriverkeeper.org.

Environmental Education: Connecting Classrooms and Communities

For the third year, Georgia Adopt-A-Stream is

partnering with the Environmental Education

Alliance of Georgia (EEA), The Georgia Conservancy, Project Learning Tree, Project WET, Project WILD, the National Wildlife Federation,

Turner High School Science Club participates in a biological certification workshop.

Georgia Wildlife Federation and University of

Georgia to produce a comprehensive and exciting environmental education conference. This year's conference will

be held at Coastal Georgia Center in the historic district of Savannah, March 21-23, 2003. The conference will

include three days of presentations and workshops covering a range of topics from citizen action to curriculum

enhancement, hands on field trips, panel discussions and a volunteer awards banquet. The final program and

descriptions will be available in January on the EEA's website at www.eealliance.org along with the registration

forms for the conference.

Give Us Your Tired, Your Weary, Your Dedicated... Volunteers that is!

This year's award categories are:
Volunteer of the Year This individual must exhibit traits that personify the most overachieving, dedicated and successful volunteer in Georgia!
Extraordinary Volunteer Watershed Effort We all live down stream, therefore most successful water quality programs start at the watershed level. Help us recognize the group that has accomplished the most to blur political boundaries and confront the issues where they are: working in watersheds.
Outstanding Outreach and Partnership Georgia Adopt-A-Stream has always encouraged working at the grassroots level. Nominate a group or partnership that has demonstrated the greatest skill in organizing others.

Red Flag Award Perseverance, environmental awareness, a keen understanding of water related policy and a desire to act when a problem is detected, these are the traits we are looking for in our Red Flag Award.
Adopt-A-Stream in Action: Video or Photography A photograph is worth a thousand words. Often times a photograph is all that's needed to identify a problem. Send us your exceptional images.
Excellence In Data Collection Volunteer monitoring data can make a difference, but only if it's collected consistently and under a QAQC plan. We call this trend monitoring: now more than ever, the need for high quality data is in demand.

Please send proposals and nominations to Georgia Adopt-A-Stream, 4220 International Parkway, Suite 101, Atlanta, GA 30354. The deadline for award nominations is February 28.

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