AWWareness – The Official Newsletter of Alabama Water Watch

June 25, 2020June 25, 2020

AWW Office COVID-19 Update

As part of Auburn University’s precautionary measures amid the COVID-19 outbreak, the Alabama Water Watch Program Office closed on March 16, at 5 pm until future notice. We will provide updates as possible.

All Alabama Water Watch related programs and workshops during this time period are postponed. Please visit the AWW website for details regarding specific events. AWW will continue to go about daily operations during the closure as AWW Staff will be working remotely during this time.

6/3/2020 – The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES) will not allow face-to-face meetings until at least August 8.

4/30/2020 – Governor Ivey issued a Safer-At-Home Order that superseded the Stay-At-Home Order starting on Thursday, April 30th at 5pm and will remain in effect until at least May 15th. Although, this order eases some statewide restrictions, please continue to take into consideration your personal health and safety, please review the Safer-at-Home fact sheet link below as you determine whether or not it is in your best interest to conduct water monitoring.

https://governor.alabama.gov/assets/2020/04/Final-Statewihttps://governor.alabama.gov/assets/2020/04/GKI-0040-2020-Health-Order-Update-Info-Sheet.pdfde-Order-4.3.2020.pd

4/6/2020 – Governor Ivey issued a Stay-At-Home Order that went into effect on Saturday, April 4th. Therefore, in addition to taking into consideration your personal health and safety, please review the Order (see link below) as you determine whether or not it is in your best interest to conduct water monitoring.

https://governor.alabama.gov/assets/2020/04/Final-Statewide-Order-4.3.2020.pdf

Also, be aware that many public recreation areas are now closed to the public. The Alabama State Parks and National Forests of Alabama have listed current closings on their websites. Check with local officials about any parks or recreational areas in your communities.

USDA Forest Service Closed Areas: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/alabama/news-events/?cid=FSEPRD716412

AL State Parks Info: https://www.outdooralabama.com/COVID-19?fbclid=IwAR273aZnuIt6vsulZ-1k02zkl1EZh

To read about general safety recommendations and other concerns related to COVID-19 and water monitoring, please see this additional article, COVID-19 Water Monitoring Concerns.

April 15, 2019April 15, 2019

AWW Tiger Giving Project, Protect Alabama Waterways, Mini-grant Program

WE ARE CURRENTLY RECEIVING APPLICATIONS FOR THE AWW TIGER GIVING PROJECT MINI-GRANT PROGRAM!! CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE APPLICATION.

If you are a certified AWW monitor and need some help to get started monitoring at an orphaned site or a new site, in the form of a water chemistry test kit, water chemistry reagents to refill an existing kit, or bacteria supplies, this mini-grant program is for you!

Continue reading “AWW Tiger Giving Project, Protect Alabama Waterways, Mini-grant Program”

June 19, 2020

Recap: 2020 Virtual Annual Meeting

The first ever Alabama Water Watch Virtual Annual Meeting was a success! Although we weren’t able to meet in person for our Annual Meeting this year, we are thankful that we still got the opportunity to recognize and highlight our volunteers in a meaningful way.

If you weren’t able to join us for the meeting this year, read on for a brief recap of the events of the day…

June 19, 2020

Introducing the AU Water Resource Center’s New Director, Dr. Eve Brantley!

We are excited to announce that our new Director of the Auburn University Water Resources Center (WRC) is Dr. Eve Brantley! We encourage folks to leave words of encouragement in the comments on this post 🙂 Read on to learn more about Dr. Brantley and why she will make a great director!

June 19, 2020

2020 AWW Volunteer Awards

Congratulations to our 2019-2020 AWWard Winners! Thank you all for your dedication, enthusiasm, and incredible contributions to the AWW Program. You are an integral part of our team!

June 4, 2020June 4, 2020

How to: Establish a Beach Site in Swim Guide

Its heating up and the summer months are upon us! As Alabamians go out and hit the beaches and rivers this summer for swimming, paddling, and fishing, it is important that water quality data is easily accessible and up-to-date. In addition to the Alabama Water Watch public data tools, an application called Swim Guide is another useful tool for determining if it is safe to swim.

Your data and observations can help let people know if it is safe to swim this summer! Learn how you can get involved by reading below.

June 4, 2020June 8, 2020

AWW Staff Bacteria Blitzes

Water monitoring has been a great way for our monitors and staff to get outdoors while maintaining social distancing. In April and May (planning another for June!), the AWW Program Staff set out to conduct multi-site bacteriological monitoring blitzes near their homes in the Auburn area. Each staffer took on multiple sites on several waterbodies in Auburn. Take a look at what we found!