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e-River Ties, February 2008
Welcome to the February edition of e-River Ties!
Reminder: Don’t forget to register for the Watershed Leadership Conference in Fairhope, AL on March 14-16. Early bird registration ends March 1!
We would like to extend a special thank you to each of our conference sponsors:
• Acoustic Café • Agricola Properties • Alabama Coastal Foundation • Bill East • Birmingham Canoe Club • Black Warrior Riverkeeper • Cahaba River Society • Carl and Marcia Montgomery • Conecuh/Sepulgah Watershed Alliance • Dr. Cameron Vowell • East Central Alabama Alliance for Quality Living • Friends of Chewacla & Uphapee Watershed • Friends of Shades Creek • Friends of the Locust Fork River • Gulf Restoration Network • Higher Ground Coffee Company • Henry Hughes • Macknally Ross Land Design • Mark and Maggie Johnston • Munson Foundation • Perret Financial • Ragsdale LLC • Rob and Kathy Angus • Save Our Saugahatchee • Saxon Environmental Services, Co • Silpada Designs • Weeks Bay Foundation • Wolf Bay Watershed Watch •
Inside this issue:
- Alabama Senate Introduces Water Resolution!
- Victory against TRI Mining Company sets precedent for upholding the Clean Water Act in Alabama
- Cancer rulemaking public hearing to be held March 19
- Mobile Baykeeper wins settlement against Prichard Water and Sewer Board
- Featured organization for February: Hulsey Little River Land Trust
- Send in your Grassroots Highlights!
Ways to support the Rivers Alliance
- Help with the Watershed Leadership Conference
- Shop to support the Rivers Alliance
- Donate to the Rivers Alliance
February News Digest
February has been an exciting month in the news!
Alabama Senate Introduces Water Resolution!
February 20, 2008 - A new water policy committee of 14 lawmakers would be empowered to draft a state water management plan that the entire Legislature could adopt next year, under a joint resolution the state Senate passed Tuesday.
As part of the Alabama Water Agenda, the Alabama Rivers has been advocating for state water policy for years. This resolution is a big step in the right direction. Co-sponsored by every state Senator, the resolution sends a strong message to the Governor and all Alabama citizens that water policy is a priority!
See this Birmingham News article for details and click here to read the resolution.
Updates to follow in the next edition of e-RiverTies…
Victory against pollution of TRI mining company sets precedent for upholding the Clean Water Act in Alabama, case continues
Thanks to the hard work of Rivers Alliance board member Edwin Lamberth as the attorney on this case, along with the continued partnership of John Wathen the Hurricane Creekkeeper with Friends of Hurricane Creek, we have set a major precedent for upholding the Clean Water Act and for the protection of impaired streams in Alabama. The Alabama Court of Civil Appeals upheld Judge Truman Hobb’s earlier decision that it is unlawful to continue to discharge pollutants into a 303d listed waterway and refused the appeal of the TRI mining company to do so with their old permit. The case is still in court with a new TRI permit being challenged by Edwin and our team. A new permit has been issued for this facility and public comments are due in March. The Alliance and partner groups will continue to follow this case.
Cancer Rulemaking Public Hearing, March 19th
The next step in collectively reducing our risk of getting cancer from water pollution is the March 19th Public Hearing of the Environmental Management Commission (Alabama Department of Environmental Management’s oversight board). Come to Montgomery and show your support by making an appearance at the rulemaking and/or write in to the EMC commissioners and your local papers! We asked for it and here it is!
Public Comment Period Open for Alabama Department of Environmental Management’s list of polluted waters
The draft 2008 303d list of water-quality-impaired water bodies has been published by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management, who is accepting comments on the list. To read more about it, view the list, and learn how to file comments, click here.
Special Announcements
The Watershed Leadership Conference is almost here!
We at the Rivers Alliance are gearing up for our annual Watershed Leadership Conference on March 14-16 at Camp Beckwith in Fairhope, Alabama—that’s just two weeks away! If you haven’t registered yet, you can do so online by clicking here.
We’ve got a really special lineup for this year’s conference. We’re busily sifting through a large number of terrific River Hero nominations. Thanks to everyone who participated!
All of you musicians out there don’t forget to bring your instruments for River Jam on Friday night. Saturday night will be a real treat for all you music-lovers: Dread Clampitt is already getting warmed up, so don’t forget to pack your dancing shoes for the celebration (and your checkbook for the auction!)
Grassroots Highlights
We two special announcements to brag about this month!
Mobile Baykeeper wins settlement against Prichard Water and Sewer Board
Mobile Baykeeper fought for and won a settlement against Prichard Water and Sewer Board for dumping tens of millions of gallons of raw sewage for a full five months. Read more here.
Featured Organization of the month: Hulsey Little River Trust
The Hulsey Little River Trust was formed near the end of 2006 to honor the memory and carry on the environmental passion of Shane Hulsey, a local environmental educator who loved Little River Canyon. The organization is looking for new members who share a passion and/or a concern for the health of this beautiful canyon and river system. Check out their website, www.HLRT.org.
Send in your Grassroots Highlights and Events!
Part of our job is to keep you connected and informed, so if you have something going on, let’s celebrate…
Email Liz to get it on our calendar so we can let others in your area know about it.
Upcoming Events
For more information about current goings-on, check out the events calendar on our website. Have an event you’d like to advertise? Email Katie Shaddix.
Don’t forget to register for the Alabama Rivers Alliance Watershed Leadership Conference at Week’s Bay in Fairhope, Alabama on March 14-16!
Lots of other fun events are coming up as well:
Alabama Water Watch Exploring Alabama's Living Streams curriculum workshop for citizen volunteer monitors and Alabama science teachers, March 6
The curriculum is a fun and interactive way to teach locally relevant aquatic and life science principles using a neighborhood stream or pond. Come join us for a fun-filled day exploring Alabama's Living Streams! For more information contact Jennifer Fuller at the AWW office by phone 888-844-4785 or by e-mail fullej3@auburn.edu.
North Alabama Whitewater Festival, March 7-9
Come to the wildest freestyle kayaking competition in the southeast at King’s Bend on the Locust Fork River. For more info, visit www.nawfest.net.
Alabama Hiking Trail Society Conference, March 14-16
The Alabama Hiking Trail Society will be celebrating the linking of the Pinhoti Trail with the Appalachian Trail at their 2008 Conference at Cheaha State Park. For details, visit http://www.hikealabama.org/
Green Resource Center’s “Saving Our Water,” March 25
This session will offer business leaders, government officials, planners, developers, and concerned citizens an opportunity to explore the growing water needs of the Birmingham Region and explore ways to sensibly meet these needs through planning for sustainability, conservation, and cooperation. Read more here.
The 15th Annual Locust Fork Whitewater Classic, March 29
Don’t miss the final race of the Alabama Cup! For details and directions, click here.
River Action Day, April 8
April 8, 2008 will mark the first Rivers of Alabama Day. The Rivers Alliance will celebrate this day by holding our 2nd annual River Action Day in Montgomery. All citizens are invited to join us in Montgomery on this special day to celebrate rivers and let your elected officials know how important it is to protect Alabama’s water resources.
Green Coast 2008, April 9-10
The GreenCoast 2008 Conference & Expo will be held at Mobile, Alabama's Arthur Outlaw Convention Center. Register today at http://greencoast2008.blogspot.com/
AEC's Green Tie Affair, April 17
The Alabama Environmental Council will be holding their 12th Annual Green Tie Affair on April 17th at the Flower Stems Loft on 213 Richard Arrington Blvd. South. For more info, call 205-322-3126.
ALEEC Spring Conference, April 19
The Alabama Environmental Education Consortium (ALEEC) will be holding their Spring Conference this year at Samford University. This year's featured speaker will be Jared Diamond, author of Guns, Germs and Steel. His topic will be “Lessons from Environmental Collapses of Past Societies.” For more info about the conference call Virginia Brown at 205-726-4246.
Support the Rivers Alliance
Want to know how you can help?
Help with the annual Watershed Leadership Conference
This year the Rivers Alliance will host its annual Watershed Leadership Conference. This dynamic conference brings together citizens and grassroots leaders for a dynamic three-day weekend of learning and networking. The production of this wonderful education opportunity would never be possible without the support of our wonderful volunteers, donors, and sponsors--so let us know now if you can help.
Volunteer
The Rivers Alliance needs volunteers for our 2008 Watershed Leadership Conference to help with activities like registering guests, facilitating conference sessions, serving refreshments, and setting up displays of auction items. If you would like to help, contact Katie Shaddix.
Donate an auction item
Our annual auction is not only entertainment for our conference attendees; it is a source of funding that keeps the conference going from year to year. Would you, your business, or a person or business you know be interested in donating an item for our auction? Get your business and your merchandise into the public eye. Contact Katie Shaddix for more information.
Buy eco-friendly, socially-conscious merchandise while supporting the Rivers Alliance
We are proud to announce our guide to Eco-friendly, Socially-Conscious retailers. Do you know of a business that you'd like to see included on the list? Email us and let us know.
Did you know that you can support the Rivers Alliance just by purchasing Higher Ground Roaster's delicious River Blend Coffee? Or that 25% of purchases from www.LetsGoGreen.biz will benefit the Rivers Alliance when you travel to the store through the links on our website?
To shop with our fundraising partners and other Eco-friendly, fair trade retailers, click here.
Donate to the Rivers Alliance
None of the Rivers Alliance's good work would be possible without the support of our members and donors. The Rivers Alliance is now accepting donations online through Paypal for those of you with Paypal accounts and also through www.Groundspring.org. 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 unsubscribe to our e-newsletter, email Katie Shaddix.
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