News

1. Antidegradation Rule Changes Passed by DNR Board

2. Update on Salvage Logging from Georgia Water Coalition

3. New Assistant Director at EPD

4. Georgia River Network River Celebration Awards – Nominate Now

5. NALMS Call for Papers – Columbus, GA

6. Call for Papers – Intl. Conference on Rivers and Civilization – Wisconsin

Group Spotlight

7. Jackson Lake Homeowners’ Association

Workshops/Conferences/Calendar Items

8. Save the Date: GRN Annual Conference Date Set – Milledgeville

9. November/December DNR Board Meetings - Atlanta

10. Workshop on Election Year Activity for 501c3s - Online

11. Project Wet Workshop at the Georgia Aquarium – Atlanta

12. Webcast on Stormwater Phase II Requirements

Resources

13. Program Evaluation – An online article by TCGI

14. Resource to Create a Strategic Communications Plan

Fundraising Deadlines

15. Fundraising Deadlines

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1. Antidegradation Rule Change Passed by DNR Board
(Article thanks to Georgia Water Coalition)
The Board of the Natural Resources passed the proposed antidegradation rule change on October 26 at their meeting in Valdosta, rolling back water quality protections throughout Georgia. Georgia’s rule now requires the treatment of wastewater to be to the “highest statutory and regulatory requirements” instead of to the “highest and best practicable under existing technology”. It remains to be seen exactly what this standard means and how it will be applied in Georgia. Dr. Couch, Director of the DNR Environmental Protection Division (EPD), indicated that she intends to re-examine the state water quality standards during the course of the statewide water planning process to see if they need to be strengthened. Thank you to everyone who wrote letters and spoke at public meetings on this issue.

2. Update on Salvage Logging from Georgia Water Coalition

The Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) presented the draft Rule and Policy on Salvage Logging (i.e. Deadhead Logging) to the Board of Natural Resources at the October 25 Board meeting in Valdosta. Georgia Water Coalition (GWC) partners – including Georgia River Network - made a good showing and raised the following issues: (1) The need for regulations and not policy in order to ensure that if there are any changes to the program, it is done through an open and public process; (2) The need for good water quality monitoring; (3) The need to tighten inspection and verification procedures; (4) The need for more severe penalties for violations of the policies; and (5) Questions regarding whether the $1.28 price per board foot represents an under evaluation of deadhead logs that constitutes a gratuity, thereby violating the Georgia Constitution.

Although all of these issues are important, the GWC is focused on 3 main issues: (1) concerns for the environmental consequences of the logging and whether DNR has the resources to monitor the logging effectively; (2) whether the $1.28 price per board foot violates the gratuities clause of the Georgia constitution; and (3) the fact that this expensive program (estimates of $150,000-$200,000 per year) forces Georgia citizens to essentially subsidize the few companies that will benefit from the program. WRD is stretched thin enough without also having to create and implement a program that benefits so few.

WRD has formally proposed the rule 391-5-9-.08 that will set compensation for the logs at $1.28 per board foot, and they are seeking public comment. There are two final public hearings: November 29 at 7:00 pm at the Bainbridge High School cafeteria, and November 30 at 7:00 pm at the Altamaha Technical Institute in Jesup. Written comments must be submitted no later than December 4 and should be mailed to: Ted Hendricks, Department of Natural Resources, 2123 US Highway 278 S.E., Social Circle, Georgia. The DNR Board will vote on the proposed price at the December 7 Board meeting at 10:00 am in the DNR Board Room (Sloppy Floyd Building, East Tower, Suite 1252, 2 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, SE, Atlanta). Please write comment letters during the 30-day public notice period and attend the final public hearings to voice your concern.

3. New Assistant Director at EPD
Jim Ussery, has been named Assistant Director of Georgia’s EPD, beginning December 1st, replacing David Word upon his retirement.

4. Georgia River Network Seeks Nominations for River Celebration Awards
Georgia River Network seeks nominations for the second annual Georgia River Network River Celebration Awards. The award program was designed to celebrate the successes and dedicated efforts of river activists in Georgia. Award recipients will be honored during a ceremony at the 2006 Georgia River Network Conference in Milledgeville on February 11, 2006. Honorees will receive a scholarship to attend the conference, a plaque of commendation, acknowledgement on Georgia River Network’s website and newsletter, and a 1-year complimentary membership. Award Categories include River Conservationist of the Year, Watershed Group of the Year and Volunteer of the Year. Individuals and organizations who successfully work to improve and protect Georgia’s rivers are eligible. Nominees are not required to be members of Georgia River Network. The deadline for nominations is December 3, 2006. Nomination materials can be found at www.garivers.org or by calling 706-549-4508.

5. NALMS Call for Papers for SE Lake & Watershed Management Conference
This conference will be held in Columbus, Georgia March 8-10, 2006. Abstracts are being accepted through December 1, 2005. The program offers sessions on technology, policy, and performance metrics that are being developed, combined, and applied for lake and watershed management. Session tracks include Outreach and Education, Watersheds, Water Quality and Technical. Link to the conference web page from the Georgia River Network calendar at www.garivers.org.

6. Call for Papers for International Conference on Rivers and Civilization - Wisconsin

This conference will be held June 25-28, 2006. It is targeted for a multidisciplinary audience from the sciences, arts, and humanities, as well as other groups who manage and use riverine resources. The organizers anticipate that the program will feature a broad array of topics concerning rivers, their basins, and their human populations and may include (but not be limited to) the topical areas listed below. Submissions that extend beyond the topics listed, or are inherently cross-disciplinary, are encouraged.

* Historical Use and Development of Rivers

* Rivers in Literature and Arts

* Socioeconomic Impact and Sustainability

* Ecological Restoration and Management

* Rivers in Mythologies, Religion, and Spirituality

* Human Influences on Riverine Ecosystems

* Ecology of River Basins

* Contemporary Water Resource Use

* Restoration of Historical Riverfronts

Abstracts must be submitted electronically via the abstract submission template, which is available on the conference website. The deadline for submission of abstracts is December 1, 2005. Visit the website at www.rivers2006.org.

7. Group Spotlight - Jackson Lake Homeowners Association
(Full article to appear in the Fall 05 issue of Confluence)
The Upper Ocmulgee River Basin is a 1450 square mile area with the South River rising on the east side of the City of Atlanta and the Yellow River and Alcovy rising at Hog Mountain in Gwinnett County. These rivers empty into Jackson Lake, a man-made impoundment created by a Georgia Power hydroelectric power plant. In the lake’s nearly 100 years of existence, the basin has experienced the unbelievable growth of Atlanta and produced two of the fastest growing counties in the United States (Henry and Newton). Progress brings many new issues to this narrow lake including siltation from upstream erosion. In l989, it was reported that Jackson Lake was 40% silted in. Other issues include floatable trash and logs from upstream, noise and light pollution, erosion from boat wake, and increased violations of rules by personal water craft and other boats. The residents of Jackson Lake and Georgia Power work closely to keep the lake clean and safe, and several elected officials in the surrounding counties are Jackson Lake homeowners. The ten-year-old Jackson Lake Homeowners Association (JLHA) owns three trash barges for owners to use and conducts several cleanups during the year. JLHA meets four times a year for dinner, publishes the Jackson Lake Sun to keep members informed, performs water sampling a few times a year , keeps an eye on the Clean Water Act, and has a new website under construction at www.JLHA.org. Georgia Power and JLHA work hand in hand with the power company sharing the cost of the Association’s best barge. The organization has committees that can address issues as they come up. Rumors about upcoming developments send neighbors scurrying to Planning and Zoning meetings. A meeting was recently held to get the three counties together on rules and regulations for building and zoning. In addition, the Association is studying bladder boats and their effects. As the lake’s 100th anniversary fast approaches, it’s no longer the sleepy little lake of fishing cabins receiving polluted water out of Atlanta. It has been discovered and will continue to see change due to the proximity to the metro Atlanta area. The Association works to make sure that the growth and progress that occurs leads to a lake that is clean and free of trash. To contact JLHA President, Lou DuFresne, call 770-775-3662 or email todufresne@aol.com.

8. Save the Date: Georgia River Network Annual Conference and Awards
" Knowing Your Resources"

February 10-12, 2006 at Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville, GA

The conference will feature:

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Carol Couch, Director of the EPD

Three informative tracks on Saturday:
• Land Protection Strategies -Featuring presentations on tools for land protection, conservation and land use planning.

• Understanding Your Watershed-Featuring presentations on data interpretation, invasive and native species and more.

• Technical Resources-Featuring presentations on erosion and sedimentation and septic system issues.

Sunday will feature sessions on Issues and Solutions for Georgia’s Coast.

Also, you can look forward to:

A Saturday night party featuring a live and silent auction, the 2nd Annual River Celebration Awards, River Jam, food and drinks

A Friday night Pizza social at Amici's

Friday Field Trips - Conservation Flights by Southwings and more TBA

Pre-Conference Workshops on Friday – including “Get the Dirt Out”

Networking opportunities

Exhibits

Look for a detailed agenda and registration information in early December at www.garivers.org.

9. November / December DNR Board Meetings
The next regularly scheduled DNR Board meetings are expected on Tuesday, December 6th beginning at 1:00 p.m., and Wednesday, December 7th, at 10:00 a.m. in the DNR Boardroom, Suite 1252, East Tower, 2 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, Atlanta (Sloppy Floyd Building). NOTE: No regular meetings are scheduled for November. For details on DNR Board Meetings, visit http://www.gadnr.org/ (bottom left corner of home page). For an archive of the Georgia Environmental Council’s reports on board meetings, visit www.garivers.org and click on advocacy.

10. Election Year Activity for 501(c)(3)s
Want to know what your 501(c)(3) organization can do in an election year but don’t have time to attend a training outside of the office? Sit at your desktop in your office or home and join the Alliance for Justice for a virtual election law training. This one-hour web-based training will cover the rules for election-related activity including candidate elections, voter guides, voting records, and candidate debates and forums. It will be held Wednesday, November 16, 2005, 2:00 pm. You will need a computer with internet access and working computer speakers in order to participate. Questions will be taken through an online chat mechanism, but not through voice, so you do not need a microphone. Cost: $30. Visit http://allianceforjustice.org/nonprofit/index.html and scroll to bottom of page to view additional information on workshops and registration.

11. Project Wet Workshop at the Georgia Aquarium
Join Georgia Project WET for a 2 day Facilitator workshop focused on the Urban Watershed on December 1 & 2 at the brand new Georgia Aquarium. The workshop will include a tour of the education floor of the new Georgia Aquarium in downtown Atlanta, the largest aquarium in the world! As a participant, you will become certified as a Project WET facilitator, a member of the State training team for a national environmental education program! The workshop will begin at 9:00 AM on Thursday, and will finish at 4:00 PM on Friday. 1 PLU credit will be available. Upon completion of this workshop, you will be certified to teach Project WET to other adults through educator workshops. As a certified facilitator, you will be asked to conduct one teacher workshop per year. Registration fee: $50.00 for Environmental Education Alliance of Georgia members and $55.00 for nonmembers. An optional admission ticket to the aquarium is also available. Registration includes the Project WET Curriculum and Activity Guide, the new Urban Watershed supplement, facilitator notebooks, educational resources, lunch and snacks both days. Space is limited for this incredible aquatic learning opportunity at the aquarium and registration will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. You must be able to attend the entire workshop to be certified. Registration deadline is November 18, 2005. For information, call 404-675-1762.

12. Webcast on Stormwater Phase II Requirements
The Watershed Academy Presents a Webcast Learning Session on Wednesday, November 16, 2005 from 1-3pm on Stormwater Phase II Requirements: Improving Quality Over the Long-term, featuring Nikos Singelis with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Wastewater Management.
This Webcast will open with an overview of the Phase II requirements, noting particular areas where watershed groups can participate. The second part of the Webcast will focus on this measure and will provide an overview of what municipalities need to do to put these programs in place. It will also discuss how new ideas such as low impact development and smart growth can be integrated into these programs to help ensure that real water quality benefits are achieved. For more information, visit www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/wacademy/.

13. Program Evaluation
This article outlines the basics of program evaluation and provides information on different types of evaluations.
Visit http://www.tgci.com/magazine/03fall/guide1.asp.

14. Resource to Create a Strategic Communications Plan
The SPIN Project has a great resource center to help with your communications planning. They have several step-by-step tutorials to help you build relationships with reporters or create a strategic communications plan. They also offer a Strategic Communications Plan Generator where you can create a communications plan and get free feedback from a SPIN Project Strategist. You can access their resource page at http://www.spinproject.org.

15. Fundraising Deadlines
The following foundations are either new to our list of grants or have upcoming deadlines to submit proposals. To view grant makers that give throughout the year, visit our website at www.garivers.org and click on “Grants”.

Anheuser-Busch and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation are seeking applications for the 2006 Budweiser Conservation Scholarship Program. This competitive scholarship program supports and promotes innovative research or study that seeks to respond to today’s most pressing conservation issues. The Conservation Scholarship Program is designed to respond to many of the most significant challenges in fish, wildlife and plant conservation in the United States, whether it is the sustainable use of natural resources, including sportfish and game, recovery of an endangered species, or control of invasive exotic species, by providing scholarships to eligible graduate and undergraduate students who are poised to make a significant contribution to the field of conservation. The Foundation welcomes applications from all qualified students. Under the 2006 Budweiser Conservation Scholarship Program, a minimum of ten scholarships of up to $10,000 each will be awarded to cover students’ expenses for tuition, fees, books, room and board and other direct expenses related to their studies. The complete application package must be submitted to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and be postmarked no later than January 27, 2006. An announcement of the successful scholarship recipients will be made in May 2006. Visit http://www.nfwf.org/budscholarship/.

EPA Region 4 is soliciting proposals for projects to address regional and state strategic priorities that meet national Regional Geographic Initiative (RGI) and Environmental Priorities Program (EPP) funding criteria. Region 4 will provide assistance for projects selected under this solicitation through grants or cooperative agreements. One of 4 priorities is: healthy communities through watershed protection.

What they are looking for:

Examples of outputs for Healthy Communities projects awarded under this announcement include but are not limited to:

• comprehensive characterization of all sources and causes of water quality impairment within a watershed that will allow recipients to develop a restoration plan

• final project report that documents and quantifies restoration activities

• enhanced multi-sector partnerships that are capable of leveraging resources from multiple sources to implement planned restoration actions

• training or outreach to community or sectors in the community

Examples of outcomes for Healthy Communities projects awarded under this announcement include but are not limited to:

• implemented projects that improve riparian and in-stream physical, chemical or biological health, such as miles of stream channel restored, miles of riparian vegetative buffer, or pounds of pollutant loading reduced

• improved water quality as measured by pre- and post-project monitoring of water chemistry, physical habitat or biological indicators.

Visit Georgia River Networks website at www.garivers.org and click on “Grants” to link to the full RFP.

Beldon Fund - Beldon funds projects that emphasize "Human Health and the Environment". The Beldon Fund seeks to build a national consensus to achieve and sustain a healthy planet by supporting nonprofit advocacy organizations. The Fund's Human Health and the Environment program supports projects throughout the United States that engage new constituencies in exposing the connection between toxic chemicals and human health and in promoting public policies that prevent or eliminate environmental risks to people's health. Letters of inquiry will be accepted between January 25 and March 1, 2006. Click www.beldon.org for more information.

Bring Back the Natives: Restoring Populations of Native Aquatic Species
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is pleased to request pre-proposals from nonprofit organizations, universities, Native American tribes, and local, state, and federal agencies interested in restoring native populations of sensitive or listed aquatic species. This funding requires a $2 non-federal match for each federal dollar requested by applicants. The BBN program seeks projects that initiate partnerships with private landowners, demonstrate successful collaborative efforts, address watershed health issues that would lead to restoring habitats and are key to restoring native aquatic species and their migration corridors, promote stewardship on private lands, and that can demonstrate a 2:1 non-federal to federal match. Pre-proposals should be submitted electronically through the online application form available on the website by December 2, 2005. Be sure to indicate that you are applying for the BBN program. Pre-proposals will be evaluated by members of the BBN Review Committee. If a pre-proposal is successful, a request for a full proposal from the applicant will be invited by December 23, 2005, with further instructions and must be received by February 3, 2006. Full proposals should also be submitted electronically using the full proposal template which will be available on the NFWF website. For more information or questions about the application process, please contact Corey Grace, NFWF Southwest Office, 415-778-0999, corey.grace@nfwf.org. Visit the website at http://www.nfwf.org/programs/bbn.htm.

EPA Environmental Education Grants ~ Apply by Nov. 23
This grants program supports environmental education projects that enhance the public’s awareness, knowledge, and skills to make informed decisions that affect environmental quality. Grants of $50,000 or less in federal funds are awarded in EPA’s ten regional offices, and grants over $50,000 are awarded at EPA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. Educational institutions, environmental and educational public agencies, and not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organizations are be eligible to apply. The deadline is November 23, 2005. For details, visit http://www.epa.gov/enviroed/grantsols.html.

Environmental Support Center - The Environmental Support Center empowers grassroots environmental activist groups by helping to improve their management, planning, funding and communications capabilities. Grants are reviewed monthly. Visit http://www.envsc.org.

Matching Grants for Wetlands Conservation
North American Wetlands Conservation Act Small Grants Program
The purpose of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) is to promote long-term conservation of North American wetland ecosystems, and the waterfowl and other migratory birds, fish and wildlife that depend upon such habitat. Through the NAWCA Small Grants Program, matching grants of up to $50,000 are provided to private or public organizations or to individuals who have developed partnerships to carry out wetlands conservation projects in the United States. Funds may be used for wetlands acquisition, creation, enhancement, and/or restoration. The application deadline is December 2, 2005. For more information visit http://www.fws.gov/birdhabitat/NAWCA/USsmallgrants.html.

Nathan Cummings Foundation is rooted in the Jewish tradition and committed to democratic values and social justice, including fairness, diversity, and community. The Foundation seeks to build a socially and economically just society that values nature and protects the ecological balance for future generations; promotes humane health care; and fosters arts and culture that enriches communities. The Foundation makes grants in the areas of arts and culture, environment, health, Jewish life, and inter-program initiatives for social and economic justice. Nonprofit organizations throughout the U.S. are eligible to apply. Funding priority will be given to projects having impacts at the state, multi-state, or national level. Letters of inquiry are accepted year-round. Organizations whose projects fit most closely with the Foundation guidelines will be asked to submit a full application. There are two Board of Trustees grants meetings per year--one in the Spring and one in the Fall. Most grant decisions are made during these board meetings. Visit http://www.nathancummings.org/about/index.html for more information.

Tourism Cares for Tomorrow is a nonprofit organization that benefits society by promoting the responsible use of the world's natural, cultural and historic treasures and supporting education and research to help secure the positive future of travel and tourism worldwide. As part of its mission, Tourism Cares for Tomorrow distributes grants to nonprofit organizations worldwide with one or more of the following goals: to protect, restore, and conserve sites of exceptional natural, cultural, or historic significance; to increase the traveling public’s awareness of and involvement in conservation efforts; and/or to promote conservation education within local host communities and to the traveling public. The remaining deadlines for 2005 are September 1 and December 1. Application guidelines are available on the website at http://www.tourismcaresfortomorrow.org/TourismCares/Programs/Grants.htm.

The Toyota Tapestry grant program, sponsored by Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. and administered by the National Science Teachers Association, will award 50 grants of up to $10,000 each and a minimum of 20 "mini-grants" of $2,500 each are available to K-12 teachers of science residing in the United States or U.S. territories. The deadline for submitting proposals in 2006 is January 19. Visit http://www.nsta.org/programs/tapestry/.

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Join Georgia River Network today. Visit www.garivers.org.

Dana Skelton
Director of Administration and Outreach
Georgia River Network
126 S Milledge Avenue
Athens, GA 30605
706/549-4508
706/549-7791 fax
http://www.garivers.org

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