SUSTAINING THE FLOW

A newsletter for partners of the Alabama Rivers Alliance

Happy holidays and welcome to the November 2023 edition of ARA's monthly partner newsletter! Our partner newsletter's purpose is to help us all sustain the flow & keep moving forward together in our respective work in Alabama. Open us up this month to read about upcoming events, comment opportunities, job postings, funding opportunities, and news from folks working to #DefendRivers across the state.

 

REGULATORY NEWS & COMMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Relevant environmental regulatory updates & opportunities to let agencies know how their decisions can impact your work.

 

ADEM ADMINISTRATIVE CODE REVISION HEARINGS

ADEM is hosting two public hearings in Montgomery on December 14 at 10 am and 1 pm to hear public comments on proposed changes to the waste/remediation program. These changes to Division 1 (General Administration) and Division 15 (Voluntary Cleanup Program) of the ADEM Administrative Code deal with voluntary clean up fees, Title V emission fees, annual determination of fee levels, and the creation of a process for voluntary clean up of brownfield sites. Read the proposed rule revisions and details on ADEM's public notice.

 

USFWS PROPOSES LISTING CAHABA SNAIL

The US Fish & Wildlife Service is proposing to list the oblong rocksnail (Leptoxis compacta), a freshwater snail native to the Cahaba River, as an endangered species. This species was previously declared extinct but was rediscovered in 2011, and is only known to occur at a few sites near Birmingham. Comments due by 1/2/24 at the Federal Register, learn more.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS IN ALABAMA

November 29 - See Fl*shing Injustice in Lowndes County

  • Head to the Lowndes Interpretive Center for an afternoon Southern Exposure screening

November 30 - Pints & Prints with SALT

  • Come out to Braided River to support your local brewery, land trust, & photographers

December 5 - Trap Democracy Artist Showcase

  • Join Shake the Field for the 2023 Trap Democracy hip hop showcase

December 5 - Southern Exposure in Mobile

  • CoastAL folks can catch this year's SE films at the 5 Rivers Delta Center

December 6 - Powering Up Your Class with Energy Education

  • Calling all educators for empowering virtual professional development

December 7 - Connecting to What’s Next: A Design Vision for the Future of the Red Rock Trail System

  • An evening with Freshwater Land Trust

December 9 - "Holly Jolly" Cleanup

  • Join Mobile Baykeeper for a clean up or DIY your own this merry season

December 21 - Winter Solstice Sunset Picnic & Campfire

  • Celebrate the shortest day of the year and first day of winter with Wild Alabama!

AROUND THE ARA OFFICE

  • Pictured above: This November we cohosted statewide legislative strategic planning with Conservation Alabama to discuss legislative priorities for the environmental community and ways we can work collaboratively in the Alabama legislature. 
  • The final Environmental Impact Statement for the Coosa hydropower relicensing came out in October including a recommended dissolved oxygen standard of 5.0 mg/L at all time below all Coosa dams. This means Alabama Power will have to do more to give aquatic species enough oxygen in the water at all times, not just when generating power. This is a HUGE victory for the Coosa River system after decades of hard work!
  • Staffing updates: ARA is so thrilled to welcome Charles Miller to our team as our Policy Director! Charles will be starting this January focusing on government affairs and leading our policy advocacy work. We are also excited for Jack West's new role as Director of Special Projects! Jack will focusing on the intersection of energy and water issues, including his continued successful leadership of our hydropower relicensing work. Read more about Charles and our transition here!
  • Two more chances to see the new Southern Exposure films at a theater near you in 2023! Catch one at Lowndes Interpretive Center on Wednesday 11/29 and all of them at the Five Rivers Delta Center in Mobile / Spanish Fort on 12/5! Reach out to Kelly to bring the Southern Exposure films to your community!
 

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!

  • Congrats to Friends of the Locust Fork on their new project, the Taylor Canoe Park! FLFR seized the opportunity to develop a public paddling put-in on the Locust Fork at the Hwy 26 crossing in Blountsville, Alabama. Read more about the project here.
  • Africatown environmentalists, Dr. Joe Womack & Ramsey Sprague, were invited to view and discuss solutions for the terrible flooding situation created by ALDOT for the Shiloh community near Elba. Read more.
  • Happy 50th anniversary to the Endangered Species Act! See some highlights from what the ESA has accomplished in 50 years here.
  • Get outdoors this winter and join a group hike with Wild Alabama! Sign up here.
  • Coosa Riverkeeper is raising awareness about rock quarry plans near Mt. Cheaha, and there's now an extended comment period deadline! Read more details from AL.com.
  • On behalf of the City of Birmingham, Freshwater Land Trust is seeking qualified consultants to provide design & engineering services for the Valley Creek Rails-to-Trail. Learn more about what work is needed here.
  • ICYMI: Help scientists find hog droppings? A University of Alabama biologist needs help collecting feral hog poop to study potential impacts to waterways, with help from Black Warrior Riverkeeper, Cahaba Riverkeeper, and Coosa Riverkeeper. Read more.
  • Need any nonprofit bulk mailing stamps? The Friends of the Locust Fork River has 2,000 extra stamps available for $100, or half off to the right buyer! Contact Mari if you are interested.
  • Help us plan a great Alabama Water Rally 2024 weekend! Do you have a session, keynote, workshop or presentation you would like to present or hear? Submit your ideas 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

FUNDING OPPORTUNTIES

  • EPA Community Change Grants Notice of Funding Opportunity under the Inflation Reduction Act (Technical Assistance in applying available)
  • David Bayne Scholarship for Graduate fisheries & aquatic sciences studies, apply by 1/12/24
  • The MAP Fund competitive grant competition for live performance artists, apply by 12/19
  • ExtremeTerrain’s Clean Trail Grant Program offers $250 grants for trail restoration

TRAINING & LEARNING

EMPLOYMENT & INTERNSHIPS

Alabama Rivers Alliance
2014 6th Avenue North, Suite 200 | Birmingham, Alabama 35203
205.322.6395 | info@alabamarivers.org

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