1. Nature Conservancy Purchases the Walls of Jericho in Jackson County - Nearly 12 years ago, when the Alabama Forever Wild Land Acquisition Constitutional Amendment was being debated on the floor of Alabama legislature, advocates for the new law cited the need to purchase and protect the "Walls of Jericho" in Jackson County, as one of the primary reasons for such a groundbreaking law.

A decade later, the "Walls of Jericho" are now protected.

Thanks to the Nature Conservancy, through a partnership with Alabama's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' Forever Wild Program, more than 21,453 acres will be protected in Alabama and Tennessee. The Alabama portion of the property was purchased by the Nature Conservancy of Alabama in December 2003. Forever Wild intends to purchase the 12,510 acres from the Nature Conservancy of Alabama at the March 2004 Board meeting. A subsequent public use and protection plan will then be developed. The Tennessee Chapter of the Nature Conservancy will hold its 8,943 acre portion, with hopes that Forest Legacy federal funding can be secured to implement a transfer to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.

Not only will the purchase of this area restore public access to the "Walls of Jericho," it will protect the headwaters of the Paint Rock River, home to 100 species of fish and about 45 different mussel species. Five globally imperiled mussels and 12 globally rare mussels are also found in the Paint Rock and its tributaries. The Doris Duke Charitable Trust and the Lyndhurst Foundation have supported the Nature Conservancy's efforts to protect this important and precious watershed.

For more information about this history making project, please contact Mark Driskill, Nature Conservancy at 205-251-1155 ext.101.

2. Christmas and Trash: The Numbers in Huntsville Might Surprise - How much trash is generated after Christmas?

In a recent Huntsville Times article, the number of "extra tons" of waste disposed of days after the holiday were documented. On the Monday and Tuesday after Christmas this year, Huntsville sanitation crews collected more than 1700 tons (or 3.4 million pounds) of garbage and trash. That's almost twice the 973 tons normally collected on "non-Christmas season" days. This year's numbers are also well above last year's Christmas 2002 total of 1,379 tons.

3. Legacy Funding Opportunities Deadlines Announced - Legacy, Partners in Environmental Education, have announced their annual funding opportunities schedule. Grant and sponsorship applications can be downloaded from Legacy's website http://www.legacyenved.org. Here is the 2004 listing:

Earth Month Sponsorships - Deadline: February 27
Mini-Grants - Deadline: April 30
Competitive Grants - April 30
Hazardous Waste Cleanups Sponsorships - On Going

If you have any questions or would like to receive a hard copy for the application, call 1-800-240-5115.

* Remember these grants are made possible by individuals who purchase a Legacy car tag.

4. BEN Notes - Wolf Bay Watershed Annual Meeting, Sheffield Smart Growth Conference, WaterQuest 2004, 4th Annual Cypress Tree Planting Project, 2004 Locust
Fork Canoe/Kayak Races Volunteers Needed, Legacy Environmental Education Conference, Green Buildings Workshop, ADEM TMDL Video Available

Wolf Bay Watershed Annual Meeting - Wolf Bay Watershed Watch will be holding their Annual Meeting on January 17th, 10:00 a.m. at the Miflin Community Center in Fairhope. The nearly completed Wolf Bay Management Plan will be presented. For more info about the meeting, contact Liz Langston at 251-441-6637.

Sheffield Smart Growth Conference - The Shoals Environmental Alliance will be hosting a Smart Growth and Sustainable Cities presentation at the Sheffield Public Library in Sheffield, Alabama on January 25th at 2 p.m. For more information about the public forum, contact Charles Rose at 256-381-2826 or Nancy Muse at 256-767-2909.

WaterQuest 2004 - The Business Council of Alabama and the Alabama Department of Environmental Management will be holding WaterQuest 2004 and Nonpoint Source Watershed Forum 2004, February 10-11 at the HealthSouth Conference Center in Birmingham, Alabama. Topics will range from TMDL's to Watershed protection efforts. An informative and very well attended conference by water quality advocates throughout the state. Additional conference info can be found online at http://www.bcatoday.org and click on BCA Events.

4th Annual Cypress Tree Planting Project - The Alabama Coastal Foundation has a better way for folks to spent Valentine's Day this year. Instead of buying candy or flowers, spend $10 on the purchase of a Cypress Tree, you can plant in your loved ones honor. Along with the gift, you can help celebrate by helping plant the trees at sites designated by the Foundation. For info about a donation or volunteering call Cathy Barnette at 251-990-6002 or visit their website at http://www.alcoastalfoundation.org.

2004 Locust Fork Canoe/Kayak Races Volunteers Needed - Friends of Locust Fork River are seeking volunteers to help two popular canoe/ kayak races on the river. The events are the 13th Annual Locust Fork Invitational on February 7th and the 12th Annual Locust Fork White Water Classic on March 27th. Volunteers are urged to attend training sessions on February 3rd, 6:00 pm at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens and February 5th, 7:00 pm in Oneonta at the Old Train Depot. For more info call Sam Howell at 205-681-4751 or e-mail showell@brescoinc.com.

Legacy Environmental Education Conference - Mark your calendar today to attend the Legacy, Partners in Environmental Education Annual Environmental Partnership Conference, February 18-20 at the Marriott's Grand Hotel in Point Clear, Alabama. Visit http://www.legacyenved.org for registration information.

Green Buildings Workshop - The Alabama Organizing Group will be holding "Funding Green Buildings: Sources and Strategies" a workshop presented by Jan McAdams on February 27th, 10-4 at the offices of Brasfield and Gorrie in Birmingham, Alabama. For more info about this workshop and how to register online, go to - http://www.fundinggreenbuildings.com or call 702-407-0017.

ADEM TMDL Video Available - What is a TMDL and why should you care? ADEM's award winning TMDL video called "Water Smart" which answers that very important question is available for viewing by the public. For more information, contact the ADEM Office of Education and Outreach, 334-394-4360.