Volunteers sought to help monitor health of the county's waterways
Editor:
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Some of our citizens who would like some adventure in 2008 will be able to participate in the Columbia County Adopt-a-Stream's Getting Started Workshop.
The next workshop will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday at Reed Creek Park Interpretive Center. Those interested should contact me by phone at (706) 868-0296 or e-mail at jopagr@comcast.net to register.
No prior training or experience is necessary, but we are often pleased to discover hidden talents and experience that make our efforts easier.
I would like to take this opportunity to call attention - with thanks, pride, and confidence - to the many efforts of our volunteers this past year. Our goals: to increase public awareness, foster meaningful partnerships with our local stakeholders (county officials, developers, other business persons, and residents); acquire assessment skills and equipment; and collect critical water quality data.
On any given monthly visit a volunteer, as part of a team, will spend two to five hours making assessments visually, chemically, and biologically. Volunteers have ranged in age from 7 to 77.
With the close support of Columbia County water quality officials, we have been able to identify problems requiring their follow-up. We have also met citizens in a bacterially challenged area, with the hope of inspiring them to actions they could take. Recently, with our oversight, 16 citizens collected more than 220 pounds of trash near our streams.
John Graham
Trainer/Coordinator
Columbia County
Adopt-a-Stream