May 10, 2006
#262
1) Huntsville Earns Top 10 Green City Recognition
2) State Opens New Alabama Aquatic Biodiversity Center
3) Study Reveals Submerged Grasses Loss in Alabama
4) BEN Notes: Land Trust of Huntsville Executive Director Position, Ruffner Mountain Seeking Naturalist, Share the Beach/Adopt A Nest Sea Turtle Program, Building Communities Conference, ACF's 4th Annual Crawfish Craze, Alabama Water Watch Annual Picnic, Cahaba River Ramble, Dog River - Dog Paddle
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"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win."
Mahatma Gandhi
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1. Huntsville Earns Top 10 Green City Recognition - Last month, before Earth Day, the city of Huntsville was recognized by a national publication as one of this country's top 10 "Green Cities" with a population over 100,000 residents.
The Green Guide, a publication based in New York City is billed as the "go to source" for information about earth friendly living. The publication placed Huntsville in the top 10 for doing the best job providing clean, healthy, energy efficient living. The city is the only representative from the South in the top listing. Cities were awarded points for air, and water quality, electricity use, and production, the importance of environmental concerns to local residents, efforts to improve the environment, green buildings design, green space, recycling, public health and socioeconomic factors.
To check out the ranking/report go to http://www.thegreenguide.com or https://ssl.thegreenguide.com/docprem.mhtml?i=113&s=top10cities
2. State Opens New Alabama Aquatic Biodiversity Center - Alabama Governor Bob Riley and Conservation Commissioner Barnett Lawley announced this week the opening of the new $2 million Alabama Aquatic Biodiversity Center located in Marion, Alabama. The Biodiversity Center will be home to the largest state aquatic wildlife restoration program in the United States.
One of the new center's stated goals is to protect and restore snail and mussel species that are threatened with extinction. According to the Alabama Department of Conservation 67 mollusk species have become extinct over the past 80 years. The Center which is located in Perry County, sits on 36 acres near the Cahaba River and is adjacent to the Marion State Fish Hatchery, Perry Lakes Park, and The Nature Conservancy's Barton Beach Preserve. Along with protecting and restoring snails and mussels, the center will also function as a research center, according to Paul Johnson, the program supervisor, who is the former director of the Tennessee Aquarium Research Institute.
3. Study Reveals Submerged Grasses Loss in Alabama - According to a story in this month's "Alabama Current Connection," in a report prepared by the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program, Alabama has lost significant acreage of Submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) - under water plants that grow in relatively shallow waters along the coast.
The study found:
* Between 1940 and 2002, areas in Mobile County decreased from 1,924 acres to just 855 acres of SAV. Most of the loss was south of Dog RIver, 691 fewer acres along the western shore.
* Baldwin County analysis revealed a disturbing 88.3% loss between 1955 to 2002.
* Between 1966 and 2002, the northeastern shore of Mobile Bay lost 328 acres or a 71% decrease.
Why are submerged aquatic grasses important? SAV's are like underwater meadows, providing critical "nursery" habitat and food for the young of many commercially and recreationally important species of fish, shrimp and crabs. The plants also act as natural sponges for various pollutants thus acting as water and sediment filters.
You can learn more about these studies and efforts to restore SAV by visiting the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program's website at http://www.mobilebaynep.com , click on publications.
4. BEN Notes: Land Trust of Huntsville Executive Director Position, Ruffner Mountain Seeking Naturalist, Share the Beach/Adopt A Nest Sea Turtle Program, Building Communities Conference, ACF's 4th Annual Crawfish Craze, Alabama Water Watch Annual Picnic, Cahaba River Ramble, Dog River - Dog Paddle
Land Trust of Huntsville Executive Director Position - The Land Trust of Huntsville and North Alabama is seeking a new executive director. To learn more about this opening go to: http://www.landtrust-hsv.org/Executive%20Director.htm
Ruffner Mountain Seeking Naturalist - Ruffner Mountain is seeking a new Naturalist for it's outdoor activities. For more information go to http://www.ruffnermountain.org/support.html#jobs
Share the Beach/Adopt A Nest Sea Turtle Program - Without any assistance, only 1 out of 1000 sea turtle hatchlings survives to reproduce. Learn how to become a Sea Turtle Volunteer by calling 251-540-7720 or visiting http://www.alabamaseaturtles.com
Building Communities Conference - On May 11-12 at the McWane Center in Birmingham, The Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham and Region 2020 is holding a 2 day conference in Birmingham highlighting the social, economic and environmental value of quality placemaking and the importance of developing good public spaces. To register, call 205-264-8480.
ACF's 4th Annual Crawfish Craze - Please join the Alabama Coastal Foundation in celebrating their 4th Annual Crawfish Craze on Thursday, May 11th from 6:30-10:00 at the Bluegill. Tickets are $40 per person and $65/couple. For more information about this wonderful event contact the ACF office at 251-990-6002 or order tickets online at http://www.joinacf.org
Alabama Water Watch Annual Picnic - Alabama Water Watch will be holding their 14th Annual Picnic on May 20th from 9:30 to 2pm in Baldwin County. This year's event is hosted by the Wolf Bay Watershed Watch and the Weeks Bay Water Watch. Activities will also be held the entire weekend the 19th-21st. For more information visit http://www.alabamawaterwatch.org or http://wolfbaywatch.org
Cahaba River Ramble - What is the Cahaba River Ramble? Check it out on the Cahaba River Society website at http://www.cahabariversociety.org/CahabaRiverRamble/homepage.htm . Looks like an exciting event.
Dog River - Dog Paddle - The Dog River Clearwater Revival will be holding their Annual Dog Paddle on June 10th. For information about this fun summertime event, contact Valerie Blankenship, 472-8383 or 510-0403. You can also check out their website at http://www.southalabama.edu/geography/fearn/DRCR.htm