 | SUSTAINING THE FLOW A newsletter for partners of the Alabama Rivers Alliance Welcome to ARA's July 2024 monthly partner newsletter! This newsletter aims to foster collaboration and help us keep moving forward together in our respective work in Alabama. Dive into this past month's newsletter to hear about what's been going on at ARA and with our partners across Alabama, engage in comment opportunities, explore job postings, seize funding possibilities, and see upcoming events and trainings across our network. Please send us your news or suggestions anytime! | | | | | |  | REGULATORY NEWS & COMMENT OPPORTUNITIES Relevant environmental regulatory updates & opportunities to let agencies know how their decisions can impact your work. ADEM WATER QUALITY STANDARDS TRIENNIAL REVIEW The Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) has announced a public hearing and opportunity to comment on their Water Quality Standards as is required every three years by the Clean Water Act, aka the Triennial Review. Chapter 335-6-10 for Water Quality Criteria and 335-6-11 for Use Classifications for Surface Waters are open for review and comment. View the public notice and current rules on ADEM's public notice page here. A public hearing will be hosted on August, 21, 2024 and comments are due by 5 pm the same day. ADEM NOTICES OF SIGNIFICANT NON-COMPLIANCE & NPDES APPLICATIONS ADEM also released two lists of public notices on July 17, 2024 with accompanying comment periods of 30 days. One list is public notices for 38 significant industrial facilities currently operating in significant non-compliance, all of which are State Indirect Discharge (SID) permit operators. SID permits mean the facilities discharge into sewers and to a publicly-owned waste treatment plant. See the list and how to direct comments here. The other list of the public notices is for NDPES applications for discharge into Alabama's waterways and request for comments. Several applications were received in the categories of industrial facilities and public treatment facilities, all of which are applications for reissuance of their NPDES permit. See the list of facilities and how to comment here. | | | | | |  | AROUND THE ARA OFFICE - The behind the scenes work of managing a nonprofit is never-ending! This past month Cindy has done everything from signing checks to writing grants to installing a new toilet seat in our office. She has also been working with our board of directors to search for new office space. Spoiler! We are soon moving to a brand new office building more conducive to our hybrid work style, as our work takes us to communities and meetings all over the state!
- Jack has been preparing for the next stage of the Harris dam relicensing on the Tallapoosa River since the draft Environmental Impact Statement is expected any day now. Check out the 2021 Southern Exposure film Heal the River to see more about the damming of the Tallapoosa and its impacts.
- Charles has been working on two toxic substance-related issues dealing with one of the newer threats to water quality (PFAS) as well as one we've know about for more than half a century (PCBs). He's also been catching up on what new Supreme Court decisions mean for Alabama and our environment, read more here.
- Martha was out making connections as usual. It was inspiring to connect with our partners at Taproot Earth and Gulf South to Appalachia during the 2024 #WeChooseNow Community Assembly in Birmingham earlier this month. We heard from frontline communities and built relationships so we move together for Climate Action.
- V has been busy putting the final touches on an exciting research paper. They're grateful for the collaboration of University of Alabama, Auburn University, and University of South Alabama to complete this project and can't wait to share with y'all!
- Kelly has been working with partners to plan Southern Exposure screenings with communities across the state. Do you want to host a screening of the new films, or a curated selection of past films, in your city or town? Let us know! We now have shared use with Coosa Riverkeeper of a super cool outdoor screen and projector we can't wait to use!
| | | | | |  | A true River Hero and exceptional leader in our river movement is retiring at the end of this month. The incomparable Beth Stewart has been the Executive Director of the Cahaba River Society (CRS) for 29 years. CRS was the first watershed focused environmental organization in Alabama and in the mid 90s, as more groups began to form across the state, they championed the founding of the Alabama Rivers Alliance. Beth has been a stalwart advocate for the Cahaba River and for the communities relying on the waters of the Cahaba, but she’s also been a leader who recognized the importance of having a network of strong river groups all across the state and a collective voice in state policy advocacy. For me personally, Beth was one of the first people I met in this movement when I interned with the Cahaba River Society waaaayyy back in 2001. She and her staff inspired me to want to make defending rivers my life’s work. Beth, and the incredible people of CRS, have continued to lead and inspire many others in this movement. Under Beth’s guidance, CRS has been at the forefront of learning, listening and grappling with how diversity, equity, and justice has been undervalued in our work to protect rivers and how we as organizations can do better to truly hear the voices of the people of Alabama. The Alabama Rivers Alliance is grateful for the leadership and support that Beth has shown to our work and our movement and we wish her the very best in her well deserved retirement! Cindy Lowry, ARA’s Executive Director | | | | | | PARTNER HIGHLIGHTS FROM ACROSS ALABAMA Amplifying the voices of those working for change in Alabama by celebrating news, wins of all sizes, milestones, AND ways others could use support! Submit your news so we can celebrate you! - The Alabama River Foundation and Montgomery area partners hosted a successful 2024 Riverfront Rendezvous River Rangers summer camp program at the Montgomery Riverfront Park! The three-day educational event engaged 120 community children aged 9-14 in hands-on activities and a floating classroom. Read more about it here!
- Black Warrior Riverkeeper and Freshwater Land Trust announced a new 366 acre land acquisition on the peninsula situation at the confluence of the Mulberry Fork, Locust Fork, and Black Warrior River! Read more about how this came to be & photos here.
- BlackBelt Women Rising recently hosted their 2024 Staff Retreat in New Orleans to get to know each other better and work on some team-building projects. Check out photos and more about the foundation that made this possible here.
- Friends of the Alabama River is teaming up with Alabama Water Watch to start water quality monitoring on the Alabama River. Can you think of any testing spots? Follow them on Facebook & tell them here!
- Coosa Riverkeeper lawsuit update: Coosa Riverkeeper released an update to their case against Gadsden Waste Water and Sewer Board. Read the press release here.
- A new report by the Public Affairs Research Council of America (PARCA), How Alabama Democracy Compares, provides a detailed comparison of Alabama’s approach to voter registration, access to ballots, and democratic participation with those of other states.
- The Alabama Water Watch family also mourns the loss of Colonel Richard (Dick) Bronson and spotlights his legacy on their blog. Read more about those memories here.
- New educational signs installed along the Cahaba River Tree Trail, thanks to the Friends of Pinchgut Creek! Read more in the Trussville Tribune here.
- Chattahoochee Riverkeeper has put Phenix City on notice to resolve their problems at its wastewater treatment plant or face a Clean Water Act lawsuit from them. Coverage from WTVM here.
- Wow! The Nature Conservancy's Gulf of Mexico Program has been recommended to receive a $12 million grant from NOAA's 2023 Transformation Habitat Restoration and Coastal Resilience Grant Competition. Learn more here.
This newsletter is created by a small team with limited resources, please use reply to this email or click below to submit newsletter items from your organization! | | | | | | | | FUNDING | LEARNING | EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES | | | | | | Alabama Rivers Alliance
2014 6th Avenue North, Suite 200 | Birmingham, Alabama 35203
205.322.6395 | info@alabamarivers.org | | | | | | | | | | | |
