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Georgia Adopt-A-Stream

Introduction

Georgia Adopt-A-Stream

4220 International Parkway

Suite 101

Atlanta, Georgia 30354

www.GeorgiaAdoptAStream.com404.675.6240

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Georgia Adopt-A-Stream

What is it? Georgias volunteer water quality monitoring program

Program Goals Increase public awareness of the state's nonpoint source

pollution and water quality issues

Provide citizens with the tools and training to evaluate

and protect their local waterways

Encourage partnerships between citizens and their local

government

Collect quality baseline water quality data

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Water Quality Issues In Georgia

Control of toxic substance in rivers,streams and lakes

Reduction of nonpoint source

pollution

Increase public involvement in waterquality improvement projects

Continued implementation of acomprehensive water managementplan

Source: Water Quality in Georgia, 2008, Chapter 1,Executive Summary

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What Is Point Source

Pollution?Industrial Discharge

Sewage treatment plant

Exposed leaking sewer pipe

Regulated by EPD through the

NPDES permitting process

Pollutant source more easily

identified (point to source)

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Nonpoint Source Pollution

Erosion/Sediment

Fertilizers, pesticides

Animal wastes

Runoff from roads and parking lotsIllicit spills and illegal dumping

Leaking septic systems

The #1 cause of water quality problems in Georgia

No easily identifiable source and everyone contributes

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Why Is Monitoring Water

Quality Important?

Our quality of life is directly related to the quality

of the rivers, streams and wetlands around us

Regular monitoring provides specific information

about the health of our local streams and other

water bodies

All the water we have now is all the water well

ever have (Water Cycle)

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Getting Started

Register a Group Name

Register your monitoring

site on our online database

Set up a monitoring

schedule

Notify your localgovernment

Decide who will receive

your data

Find local partners

Develop a Who To Call list

Conduct at least one

cleanup and one outreach

activity annually

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Getting to Know Your Watershed

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Watershed Survey and Map

Assessment

What

Map your watershed andconduct a comprehensive surveyof the land uses, potential andactual pollution sources,geography and history of your

waterbody and its watershedWhy

Getting to know your watershedis the first step to understandingyour stream, wetland, lake, orcoastal water

The health of your waterbody isdirectly impacted by land usesand activities

When

Every year

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Biological Monitoring

What

Inventory ofmacroinvertebrates in thestream

Why The overall health of the

stream can be determined bythe diversity ofmacroinvertebrates found.

The presence of

macroinvertebrates indicatethe quality of both water andhabitat

When

Quarterly or once every

season

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Chemical Monitoring

What

Testing for pH, dissolved oxygen,temperature, and conductivity

Advanced tests include nutrientsampling, Secchi disk, salinity, turbidity,and settleable solids

Why

Provides snap shot of water quality

Oxygen is needed for respiration

Temperature is directly related tobiological activity

pH measures the acidity or alkalinity ofthe water

Conductivity measurements indicatepotential inorganic or organicpollutants

When

Once a month

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Bacterial Monitoring

What

Sampling for E. coli bacteria

Why

Indicates presence of diseasecausing agents in the waterbody

Indicates the safety of the

waterbody for recreationaluses

When

Once a month

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Quality Assurance Project Plan

Quality Assurance

Quality Control

(QAQC)

Onlyindividuals

are certified

Certification is

valid forone year

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Organizational Levels Of Georgia

Adopt-A-Stream

Local Coordinators & Trainers

Individuals or groups who monitor a stream,

wetland, lake or coastal waters

State Coordinators

Partners who act as local contacts and

provide assistance to monitoring groups

Advisory Board

Citizens who participate in a cleanup or other outreach activity

organized by any of the above mentioned groups of people

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Equipment for Georgia Volunteers

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Georgia Adopt-A-Stream Resources

Websiteatwww.georgiaadoptastream.com

Getting To Know Your WatershedManual

Visual Stream SurveyManual

Biological and Chemical Stream MonitoringManual

Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Field Guide for Georgias Streams

Wetland MonitoringManual

Adopt-A-LakeManual

Adopt-A-Stream Educators Guide Georgia Outdoors: Georgia Adopt-A-Stream & Rivers AliveVideo

Getting Started: Watershed and Visual Stream Assessment workshops

Biological (Macroinvertebrate) Monitoring workshops

Chemical & Physical Monitoring workshops

Bacterial Monitoring workshops

Train The Trainer workshops You Are The Solution To Water PollutionPoster and Brochure

Life at the Waters Edge: A guide to stream care in Georgia

Online Water Quality Database

Newsletter

Teacher PLU Credits

Technical and logistical support for volunteers and communities

http://www.georgiaadoptastream.com/http://www.georgiaadoptastream.com/