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e-River Ties, July 2008
Welcome to Issue 7 of e-River Ties!
In this issue:
- Important Action Alerts!
- Alabama's rivers need your help! Don't miss this Once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to shape Alabama's water policy of the future
- Alabama's air needs your help! Take action to stop proposed rollbacks to Alabama's Air Quality Standards that will endanger human health
- Big events coming up at the Rivers Alliance!
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- 3rd Annual River Revival Bluegrass Festival, September 21
- Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival, November 6
- Grassroots Highlight
- Victory for Hurricane Creekkeeper John Wathen and Friends of Hurricane Creek: 250 acre preserve established on waterway
- July News Digest
- Support the Alabama Rivers Alliance
Important Action Alerts
Alabama's rivers need your help!
Take this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to help shape the water policy of the future!
The Committee stated that the next meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, September 23, will focus on recreation and conservation issues. We don’t know yet who will speak at the next meeting, which will be held at Guntersville State Park.
Four subcommittees were announced at the meeting on Monday: agriculture/industry/transportation/recreation (Chair Sen. Mitchell); water management mechanisms/strategy/policy (Chair Rep. McLaughlin); conservation/efficiency/water quality/drought management (Chair Rep. McCampbell); and water resource assessment studies and data collection and storage (Chair Sen. Orr).
These subcommittees are open to the public. We encourage anyone with an interest in water resources to sign up for one or more committees. There needs to be more participation from recreation, conservation, and preservation interests.
To sign up for a subcommittee or to receive announcements of committee and subcommittee meetings, please contact Pamela Averrett at 334-242-7875 or Pamela.averrett@alsentate.gov.
This may very well be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us to help shape the water policy of the future. To help the Alabama Rivers Alliance protect your water resources, please consider participating in this unique process. You don’t need any expertise – just your love of Alabama’s greatest natural resource: our waters.
To read the whole text of this Action Alert from April Hall, Alabama Rivers Alliance Program Director, click here.
Alabama's air needs your help!
Take action to stop proposed rollbacks to Alabama's Air Quality Standards that will endanger human health!Regulatory agencies that are charged with protecting human health and the environment should show extra caution during this time of poor air quality. Instead EPA is proposing to approve a relaxation of an important Alabama air pollution regulation. In a letter from Governor Riley to the Administrator of EPA he wrote: "On Tuesday, June 2, representatives of EPA Region 4 asked ADEM to reconsider additional changes to Alabama's proposed SIP revision related to opacity…I urge you to finalize EPA's proposed approval without delay."
Dear
Friends,
Here's the latest about the
proposed rollbacks to Alabama's air quality standards. Thanks to those of you who have already taken
action!
Contrary to claims
by ADEM and the Governor, the proposed rules are not more stringent and will
allow significantly more particulate matter pollution to be released into the
air we breathe every day. Which puts my health, your health and
your children's health at risk.
And guess what? The law is being revised
because TVA, Alabama Power and other permitted polluters asked ADEM to change the law, to
avoid litigation they are involved in with organizations such as the
Alabama Environmental Council.
A
freedom of information request uncovered a letter from ADEM Director Trey Glenn,
Governor Riley and the entire Alabama delegation in support of the proposed
rollback. Is this how you want your elected officials spending their
time?
What can you do about the proposed Revision to Alabama's Visible Emissions Rule?
Take Action Now! Sample script below; please feel free to personalize your comments.
1) If you do nothing else, please send public comment to ADEM for the proposed rollback on opacity standards and plan to attend the Public Hearing set for August 6th. Written submissions and other inquires should be directed to: ADEM Hearing Officer, Office of General Counsel, Alabama Department of Environmental Management, P.O. Box 301463, Montgomery, AL 36130-1463 (street address: 1400 Coliseum Boulevard, Montgomery, AL 36110-2059) or by e-mail at Hearing.officer@adem.state.al.us
2) Contact Governor Riley: Send letters to: Governor Riley, State Capitol, 600 Dexter Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama, 36130.
Phone calls: (334) 242-7100 Fax: (334) 353-0004. Email http://governor.alabama.gov/contact.aspx
3) Contact your elected official: To find your member of congress visit: http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/
To read the original Action Alert from Jenny Dorgan, Alabama Environmental Council Program Coordinator, click here.
Big Events coming soon!
The 3rd Annual River Revival Bluegrass Festival is September 21
We are proud to announce that the 3rd annual River Revival Bluegrass Festival will take place on September 21, 1-6pm, at King's Bend on the Locust Fork River. (Directions can be found here.) The festival is hosted by Friends of the Locust Fork River and will benefit the Alabama Rivers Alliance.
This family-friendly festival will feature local bluegrass legend Glen Tolbert, as well as local favorites Jenny Leigh Obert and Who Shot Sally, The OxyMorons and The Embers. In addition to terrific music, River Revival will also include face-painting and crafts for children, funnel cakes, home-made ice cream, hamburgers and hot dogs for the hungry, and local arts vendors.
Tickets are $10/person or $25/carpool. Ride with friends and save fuel and your admission price! Kids under five get in free.
Buy your tickets and find out more information at this link.
The Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival is coming on September 6
Thanks to a special grant from Patagonia, the Alabama Rivers Alliance is bringing the Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival to Alabama!
The event will take place on Thursday, September 6 at the McWane Center in downtown Birmingham. Check back on the web page often for more details as they appear!
Grassroots Highlight
Victory for Hurricane Creekkeeper John Wathen and Friends of Hurricane Creek
The Alabama Rivers Alliance would like to give special recognition to Hurricane Creekkeeper John Wathen and the Friends of Hurricane Creek on their victory in getting a 250 acre preserve established on the creek.
- John Wathen's Response to the victory: "The leader of a group that has fought for years to preserve Hurricane Creek was elated. 'I think it's absolutely the most proactive thing I have ever seen done in this community.' " Read the entire Tuscaloosa News article here.
July News Digest
Alabama still needs a plan
A NEW study emphasizes Alabama's need for a comprehensive water plan. The U.S. Forest Service, commissioned by the World Wildlife Fund, ran computer models that show the state and all of the Southeastern United States could be in for more drought and degrading water quality.
Green Alabama is patriotic
Carbon regulations are on the way. The bad news: These regulations will be expensive for our current economy. The good news: They will stimulate the green economy.
Bring clean energy to Alabama
Bring clean energy to Alabama By Jenny Dorgan Special to The Star 07-20-2008 It's time for meaningful dialogue to take place that shines the light on a proud nation of innovative residents who are ready to move forward with solutions. Climate change and energy solution naysayers in Alabama can play catch-up while the rest of us pick the ball up and run together with it.
Get the Dirt Out!
Environmentalists push erosion control
Coosa River included in fish consumption advisories
The Coosa River in Chilton County and surrounding counties remains under a fish consumption advisory issued by the Alabama Department of Public Health.
2008 Fish Consumption Advisory Released
Know which fish are safe to eat.
Temperatures in several Alabama's cities reach 100 degrees
Heat is baking Alabama, especially in the north. By 1 p.m. today, 16 of 18 cities in the National Weather Service's regional weather roundup had reached temperatures of 95 or higher, with hours of heating still to come.
July is smart irrigation month
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, more than 50 percent of the water used to irrigate lawns and gardens is not utilized efficiently.
How clean is the lake?
LOGAN MARTIN LAKE — Lakeside Although PCB levels in fish samples collected from Logan Martin Lake continue to drop, the lake water fails to meet federal and state water quality standards.
Local pro offers fishing tips for nearby lakes
Although Prattville's Russ Lane plies both his passion and his vocation on lakes all over the nation as a Bassmaster Elite Pro, Lane honed his skills on the rivers and lakes in Alabama.
ADEM accepting RFPs for Nonpoint Source Demonstration Grant Funding
The Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) is accepting proposals for FY2009 Section 319(h) Nonpoint Source Demonstration Grant Funding
New Report From WWF Projects Stressed Water Resources
As Region Grapples With Second Consecutive Year Of Drought, New Findings Illustrate Significant Climate Vulnerability
Tempest over sewage plant slows Bayou project
BAYOU LA BATRE, Ala. - Bayou La Batre officials say a new wastewater treatment plant in this Alabama fishing village is needed now to handle sewage from post-Hurricane Katrina growth and seafood industry waste. Opponents of the plant site agree about replacing an aging treatment plant whose poor environmental record goes back before Katrina flooded the village in 2005.
Glenn, Chapman ethics probes continue
Two high profile ethics investigations may be coming to a head in the coming weeks. A very reliable source tells The Independent that the state Ethics Commission's findings against state environmental chief Trey Glenn may soon be presented to a Montgomery County grand jury. Meanwhile, the Ethics Commission staff may be nearing completion of its investigation into allegations against Secretary of State Beth Chapman and could present her case to the commission at its next meeting in August.
Wanted: New water sources
The Birmingham Water Works Board believes it needs a new water source that can provide an additional 50 million gallons of water per day, and it plans to decide this fall where it will go to get it.
Alabama's Water Uses
The most common uses of Alabama's water
Opposition remains for state reservoirs
As much water as Alabama has flowing through it, the state has only one natural lake within its borders, the 500-acre Lake Jackson in Florala that was formed by a sinkhole.
Support the Alabama Rivers Alliance
Volunteers and sponsors needed for upcoming events!
Support the Alabama Rivers Alliance and help to bring great events to Alabama's citizens at the same time! Email Katie Shaddix to find out how you can help.
Three different styles of Alabama Rivers Alliance t-shirts now available online!
Click here to check out the designs and order yours today!
Shop to support 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 Alabama 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 make a donation in support of Alabama's rivers, click here.
To subscribe to our e-newsletter mailing list, Email Katie Shaddix.
Water Is Life!
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