SUSTAINING THE FLOW

 Happy Fall, y'all! Thank you for subscribing to ARA's partner newsletter, featuring highlights from our 100+ partners and organizations around our network to help keep us collaborating, informed and engaged. Read through for comment opportunities, events, partner highlights, and updates from the ARA team; along with funding, training, and hiring opportunities. See past editions of the newsletter here.

Hello ARA partners + friends,

As we all know, policy + advocacy work to protect our waterways and communities in Alabama is a marathon, not a sprint. We must always be looking at what is coming up, and planning our strategies to be ready to act when opportunities arise. 2026 is a particularly important year for our state because it is an election year for all of our state officials - from legislators to the Governor's office. It is also mid-term elections for our federal congressional delegation. All of these elected positions play a huge role in making decisions that impact our environment, our health and our communities. As nonprofits, most of us cannot get directly involved in elections by endorsing candidates, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be involved and engaged. Voter education is a very important opportunity to ensure that candidates are hearing about the environment and that voters are voting for the environment when they go to the polls.

In addition to the 2026 elections, we are preparing now for the new class of elected officials that will take office in Alabama. Those elected in November 2026 will kick off their new four-year terms in February 2027. We want them to know that the environment has a strong movement behind it in Alabama and that we have priorities we want them to tackle. That first year is an extremely important time to put priority issues in front of legislators. 

Last but not least, before all the madness of elections kicks off, there is still one more legislative session where we will try to get some important bills introduced. All of this is why we need to hear from you, our partners and members, about what you care about and what you want us to focus on during these three key advocacy opportunities: the 2026 legislative session, 2026 voter education building up to the elections, and the development of our movement's environmental agenda for the new quadrennium.

Please take a moment to fill out this important survey to help us build out our strategies as an alliance! 

FEDERAL AND REGULATORY NEWS / COMMENT OPPORTUNITIES

ADEM'S PUBLIC HEARING ON ARROWHEAD LANDFILL

There is a joint public hearing and public availability session for proposed issuance of a Major Source Operating Permit (MSOP) under the Alabama Air Pollution Control Act and the proposed modification of a municipal solid waste landfill permit under the Alabama Solid Wastes and Recyclable Materials Management Act. November 18 at 6 pm in Uniontown. Click here for more information.

ADEM PUBLIC NOTICES FOR RECENT WATER APPLICATIONS

The Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) has released notices for applications to discharge into waters of Alabama and opened these up for comment. These joint notices, issued periodically, include new and renewed NPDES permits under the Clean Water Act. Click here to view statewide notices for industry, mineral extraction, wastewater, and drinking water waste discharge applications. 

PARTNER HIGHLIGHTS FROM ACROSS ALABAMA

Amplifying the voices of river defenders in Alabama by celebrating news, wins of all sizes, milestones and ways others could use support. Submit your news so we can share!

• Partners from across the state gathered last week to meet with the new Director of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management - Ed Poolos. We all had a very open, engaging conversation about all four corners of the state and how to best work together to protect our state's natural resources. Poolos told us, "We can have economic development AND a clean environment and I'm committed to that in Alabama!" We wholeheartedly agree and look forward to a better working relationship with ADEM!
• Earlier this month, Black Warrior Riverkeeper filed a lawsuit against PB Services, LLC for violating the federal Clean Water Act at Bessie Mine and Locust Fork Red Rock in Jefferson County. PB Services operates the red rock mining and iron ore waste reclamation facility in Adamsville that also conducts dry processing of the materials it mines and reclaims. Read more here.
• Congratulations to DRIFT Fund recipient SALLIE'S ASHES for opening at the Fairhope Film Festival as part of a double feature on November 13! This film features 80-year-old Sallie Smith, who is facing terminal lung cancer, as she rallies an unlikely team of fellow Alabama grandmothers to fight for the removal of a toxic coal ash pit threatening the waters of their beloved Mobile Bay. Click here to learn more. PLUS! See six of the past Southern Exposure Films on Friday, November 14 as part of the Shorts Block!
• Energy Alabama's New Report Shows Alabama Could Unlock Jobs, Growth, and Investment Through Solar Development. Read more about the report, plus see the full report here.
• The People's Justice Council launched a MinusAI (-AI) campaign this month, with the goal to generate momentum and transform the mindset of approximately twelve (12) million individuals across the nation, while simultaneously engaging major corporations within the AI industry. Click here to learn more, and here to sign up your organization in their campaign. Click here to see a toolkit of shareable images, videos, and more.
• Alabama Arise has unveiled their 2026 roadmap for change in Alabama.
• The Nature Conservancy in Alabama presented the fourth annual Cameron Vowell Excellence in Conservation Award, honoring Maggie Johnston. Maggie has dedicated her life to Alabama's special places, previously with both Wild Alabama and Camp McDowell. Newly retired, she hasn't stopped advocating OR working, serving on boards, including Alabama Rivers Alliance!
• The newly merged groups of Cahaba Riverkeeper and Cahaba River Society, the Cahaba River Coalition, unveiled their new logo this month! Check it out here.
• The Citizens' Climate Lobby (CCL) held a Climate Lobby Workshop this month, and are preparing for their Virtual Fall Conference. They look forward to keeping the momentum going as they rebuild the Birmingham Chapter of Citizens Climate Lobby. 
• Alabama Water Watch announced their 2026 dates for Bacteriological and Water Chemistry Monitoring Trainings happening across the state. Click here to find one near you or to share with your members and volunteers.
• Huntsville Environmental Coalition (HEC) has been selected by the Community Foundation of Huntsville for their impact on Huntsville! Watch their story of impact here. The City is matching all donations to their organization when you give at this link by November 30. Learn more about the Share Your Story Grant Catalog here.
• Speaking of HEC, they shared this cool Smart Surfaces Policy Tracker with us, which can help you discover model ordinance language from peer cities, compare regulatory metrics in different communities, and understand the landscape of Smart Surfaces policy in the U.S.
• River Network is excited to convene the 26th River Rally in San Antonio, Texas May 11-14, 2026. A gathering at the intersection of water, climate, and justice, this event brings together our nationwide network for an infusion of learning, inspiration, and celebration. 
• "Alabama Roots" won the BETTER ENVIRONMENT Award at last weekend's Better Cities Film Festival! This film, featuring Native Habitat Project and UWA's Biodiversity Center, along with other Southern Exposure Films, will now go on tour at events across the country. The Better Cities Film Festival collects, curates and presents the very best films on the theme of making better cities, towns, and neighborhoods. Check out the awesome review of the film from their jury here! 
• In partnership with Senator Robert Stewart, ARA, Southern Environmental Law Center and BlackBelt Women Rising hosted the first in a series of community meetings about the expansion of the SSE4 pipeline throughout the Black Belt. Learn more here.

Please reply to this email or click below to submit newsletter items from your organization. We'd love to share your news with our 100+ partners across the region!

FUNDING | LEARNING | EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Having trouble viewing this email? View it in your web browser