June 2012: Safe Swimming, Worth of Water, & More

Mobile Baykeeper launches swim guide app • How much is clean water worth? 

Adam's Adventures: Alliance Coordinator Travel Log 

Alabama Water Watch turns 20! • Welcome to Rob Howell, legal intern • Events

Mobile, AL (May 30, 2012) – The Swim Guide is an app for smartphones that makes it easy to explore and enjoy our waterways and beaches in Mobile and Baldwin counties, as well as hundreds of beaches in Florida, California, and the Great Lakes. 

 

 

Alabama Water Watch will come together on June 9 for a picnic celebrating 20 great years and looking forward to the next 20. During the meeting veteran water watchers will share why they have chosen to be a part of Alabama Water Watch, and will also discuss the future of Alabama Water Watch, its goals, and how we are going to achieve them together. 

 

When & Where: June 9th, 2012 at the Fisheries Pavilion 

Friends of Hurricane Creek, Friday, May 18th near Tuscaloosa: Members of Friends of Hurricane Creek met at Hurricane Creek Park for a survey of the creek's beautiful and diverse flora and fauna. While we listened to the plentiful songbirds, we also heard stories and legends of Hurricane Creek from the living legend of Hurricane Creek, John Wathen, Hurricane Creekkeeper, recent winner of the National River Hero award. 

 

Wathen told about the origins of Hurricane Creek's name and how the name is connected to one of its native plant species. He showed us River Cane, a very thin, reedy grass of the bamboo family which thrives along the banks of this creek and he described how important it was for the native Creek Indians'. The Creek's name for this plant translated to "hair cane," and after many generations the name evolved to Hurricane Creek. An incredible story by an incredible man! 

 

 

If you have any interesting stories about your watershed, please email them to us!

 

One World Adventure Company, Wednesday, May 30th in Mentone, Alabama: The Alabama Rivers Alliance joined Billy and Angie Shugart of One World Adventure Company to explore and kayak Little River in the Coosa watershed. The Shugarts welcomed me to the fabulous Nippersink Lodge and then led me down Little River by kayak to DeSoto Falls in DeSoto State Park.

The float was followed by a delicious fish fry, mmm. 

 

One World offers fun outdoor adventures in one of the most beautiful places in our state. Check out their upcoming adventure camps for summer. They are busy folks. Besides managing an eco-tourism business, the Shugarts are very active in their community! WOW! It was fantastic, thanks Shugarts! 

 

They now offer a First Friday Fish Fry on the first Friday of each month, from now until October. One World and the Mentone Inn will host the fish dinner which provides awareness for the community and some good eating. Mentone and Little River have many active citizens and many things to offer. Little River has something for everyone!

 

EPA’s Healthy Watersheds Initiative is intended to protect the Nation’s remaining healthy watersheds, prevent them from becoming impaired, and accelerate restoration successes. It encourages interested states to take a strategic, systems approach to protecting healthy watersheds that recognizes the dynamic and interconnected nature of aquatic ecosystems. 

 

The fact sheet describes studies that demonstrate protecting healthy watersheds can reduce capital costs for water treatment plants and reduce damages to property and infrastructure due to flooding, thereby avoiding future costs. Additionally, examples in the fact sheet show that protecting healthy watersheds can generate revenue through property value premiums, recreation, and tourism. This fact sheet directs readers to important resources to learn more about the substantial efforts to monetize ecosystem services from across the country. This fact sheet is also a resource for those doing outreach to promote the protection of healthy watersheds. 

Address: 2027 2nd Ave North, Suite A | Birmingham, AL 35203