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e-River Ties, April 2009
Issue 11: April 30, 2009
In this issue:
This Month's Water Saver: DIY Rain Barrel
This Month's Water Saver: DIY Rain Barrel
It's estimated that during the hot summer months, the average homeowner uses 40% of their household water in the yard. Conserve water this growing season by making your own rain barrel like the one in this handy DIY video from HGTV.
Rivers Alliance News
Success: ADEM heeds call for Green Projects
Quarry Legislation to grant counties the right to vote on quarry locations moves forward, Rivers Alliance staff and board member participate in hearing.
For far too long, citizens of Alabama have had no voice in whether a granite or limestone surface mine is allowed to locate in their community. Their only chance for participation has been the permitting process at ADEM - but the impact of quarries goes far beyond air and water permits.
Fortunately, that might change next week- with your help.
According to Conservation Alabama, House Bill 804, penned by Rep. Jeff McLaughlin, D-Guntersville, would give commissioners statewide the very important right to vote on whether quarries could be permitted in their counties. A public hearing regarding this legislation before the House County and Municipal Government Committee was held on April 22. The meeting was coordinated by Conservation Alabama and Rivers Alliance board member Wendy Seesock.
Quarries have major impacts on Alabama's watersheds statewide. Limestone quarries have been known to dewater streams and change the hydrology of river systems altogether.
In addition to impacting watersheds, quarries impact property values, traffic, and quality of life. Blasting can go all hours of the day, even on Sunday, and into the evening. The foundations of homes and schools have been rattled by quarry blasting. Truck haulers arrive before dawn, littering the side of the road while waiting to pick up their load. Roads have been destroyed and people have been killed due to heavy hauling trucks crowding country highways.
The granite and limestone quarries in Alabama are a multi-billion dollar business, but that doesn't mean they are more important than the hard-working, regular citizens of Alabama. What citizens want is a voice in the future of their communities when it comes to regulation of quarry operations.
HB804 will give citizens and local elected officials that voice. If you are concerned about this basic quality of life issue, contact members of the County and Municipal Government Committee before their vote next week: Bill Dukes, Chair; Randy Wood, Vice Chair; Steve McMillan, Ranking Minority Member; Mike Curtis, Owen Drake, Chris England, Earl Hilliard, Richard Laird, Jim McClendon, Frank McDaniel, Jeff McLaughlin, Jeremy Oden, Rod Scott, Butch Taylor, Pebblin Warren, Jack Williams.
Alabama Rivers Alliance Director to participate in Tallapoosa River Basin 5th Annual State of Our Watershed Conference
Conference topics will include: -Overview of the Tallapoosa River Basin Management Plan -Evaluation of alternatives in river basin management in several southern states -Community participation in visioning better water policy for the Tallapoosa River Basin
April News Digest
OUR VIEW: Cities should join Jefferson County in rethinking pulling out of storm water consortium
The answer to whether Jefferson County should pull out of the Storm Water Management Authority is as simple as this: Jefferson County needs SWMA, and SWMA needs Jefferson County. Parting ways will prove costly for each, and for taxpayers.
al.com: Group pushes to preserve Locust Fork land
BIRMINGHAM - A broad coalition of environmental and recreational groups is making a push to preserve for the public 3,200 acres of Birmingham Water Works property in Blount County on the Locust Fork River.
Released on Rivers of Alabama Day, New Report Shows Waters in Alabama and Across Nation Losing Protection from Pollution
Federal documents obtained by environmental groups reveal that US Supreme Court decisions have eliminated or undermined federal Clean Water Act protections for streams, wetlands, lakes and rivers across the nation. In a report released today, the groups provide 30 case studies demonstrating how the federal Clean Water Act is broken and calling on Senators and Representatives to fix it. The report, titled “Courting Disaster: How the Supreme Court Has Broken the Clean Water Act and Why Congress Must Fix It.” is available at www.alabamarivers.org.
EPA Discloses New Actions Against Polluters at 'Poisoned Waters' Documentary Preview
EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson is for the first time calling for a legislative clarification of Clean Water Act (CWA) jurisdiction -- including the possibility of supporting legislation that would expand EPA's permitting authority -- to aid the agency's efforts to ensure protection of a wide range of waterbodies.
EPA to Reconsider the Weakening of Clean Air Protections in Alabama
The United States Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") today asked a federal court to return to the agency a Bush administration decision that had weakened an Alabama air pollution egulation, in order to allow the current administration to reconsider. EPA’s action reflects a decision by the Obama administration not to defend the Bush administration action in a lawsuit filed y four citizen groups alleging that EPA had no authority to ease restrictions on the amount of smoke that sources such as powerplants may emit in the heavily polluted Birmingham area.
Upcoming Events
Birmingham Canoe Club-Float That Lazy River
A full day paddling trip on a local river in Central Alabama, this will help beginners understand river-reading and learn on-the-water maneuvers with an emphasis on safety and trip planning.
Jones Valley Urban Farm Southern Slow Food Fair
Start your Spring with a Slow Food Extravaganza! Jones Valley Urban Farm and Slow Food Birmingham host local artisan farmers, ranchers, bakers and brewers for an unforgettable afternoon highlighting the delicious local flavors in our community.
Cahaba River Ramble
On Saturday, June 6 at 7:30 am, join the Cahaba River Society for the most unique running experience in central Alabama - come run next to the largest stand of Cahaba Lilies in the entire world! The Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge is the "biological heart" of the "Heart River of Alabama," the Cahaba, which is recognized as the most biologically diverse river of its size in North America . Proceeds from this event benefit the Shane Hulsey CLEAN Environmental Education Program of the Cahaba River Society.
The Alabama Water Watch Association and Program are teaming up to host the 18th Annual AWW Annual Meeting and Picnic on Saturday, May 30 in Auburn. We have rotated around the state over the last several years for our picnic, to maximize the number of people who could attend in their regions...Lake Martin in '05, Wolf Bay in '06, Lake Guntersville in '07, Smith Lake in '08.
Get involved!
Join the Alabama Rivers Alliance
If you aren't already a member, join today! Our numbers give us strength, so do your part to help give a voice to Alabama's rivers. Click here to join online.
Donate to the Alabama Rivers Alliance
None of the Rivers Alliance's good work would be possible without the support of our members and donors. Visit our Donate page to contribute or to renew your membership today!
For more information about current happenings with the Alabama Rivers Alliance, read our print newsletter online in a pdf format by clicking here.
To make a donation in support of Alabama's rivers, click here.
To subscribe to our e-newsletter mailing list, Email Katie Shaddix.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE from Friends of Hurricane Creek/Hurricane Creekkeeper: Circuit Court orders $120,500 minimum penalty for developer’s stormwater violations
ARTWORKS by Melanie Townsend Colvin