News

1. Endangered Species Act Weakened

2. Public Meetings on Submerged Logs

3. Antidegradation Vote on October 25

4. National Wetlands Awards

Workshops/Conferences/Calendar Items

5. October DNR Board Meeting - Valdosta

6. Save the Date: GRN Annual Conference Date Set - Milledgeville

7. Run for the River – Duluth

8. Sierra Club Citizen Summit for Sustainable Communities – Atlanta

9. Worry Free Lobbying – Online Course

10. Save the Date: River Rally – New Hampshire

11. Seminar – Dispelling Old Myths: African American Concern for the Environment - Atlanta

Resources

12. Determining Deductible Amounts for the Cost of Tickets to Fundraisers

13. Clean Water Campaign Brochures Online

14. EPA NonPoint Source News Notes

15. Porous Pavement Article

16. Georgia Aquarium Mail List for Educators

17. Sediment Assessments Methods Website

18. Google Earth Mapping Tools

19. EPA Releases Wetlands and Riparian Areas Nonpoint Source Management Measures

Fundraising

20. Fundraising Deadlines

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1. Endangered Species Act Weakened
Despite public outcries, the House passed H.R. 3824, a bill that severely weakens the Endangered Species Act, by a vote of 229-193. A compromise amendment offered by Representative George Miller (D-CA) and Science Committee Chairman Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY) lost by a vote of 206-216. The bill, sponsored by House Resources Committee Chairman Richard Pombo (R-CA), includes comprehensive changes that authorizes payments to private landowners for complying with the law, places a 2-year time limit on species recovery plans, increases the requirements to list a species, rescinds the act’s critical habitat requirements, exempts some projects and actions from independent review, and eliminates a Cabinet-level panel that can be called for species emergencies. The bill now heads to the Senate.

2. Public Meetings on Harvest of Submerged Logs
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) announces a third series of scoping meetings to develop regulations and a program for harvest of submerged logs from the Flint and Altamaha rivers. These meetings will be held in two locations and will give interested persons an opportunity to provide additional input to the Department. These meetings will be held at the Bainbridge High School cafeteria in Bainbridge on October 18, 2005, and in the Auditorium at the Altamaha Technical College in Jesup on October 19, 2005. Both meetings start at 7:00 pm. The Georgia legislature passed a bill (S.B. 283) allowing the recovery of submerged logs from the Flint and Altamaha rivers, and Governor Perdue signed this bill into law. The bill directs the Department to establish a program to allow recovery of sunken logs from these two rivers through January 1, 2008. The bill includes certain provisions such as annual permits for recovery of deadhead logs from an exclusive two mile section of river, a $10,000 permit fee, additional fees to be determined by the Board of the Department of Natural Resources, and a $50,000 bond for damages. For more information, contact the Department of Natural Resources at (770) 918-6406 (Atlanta), (912) 285-6094 (Waycross), or (229) 430-4256 (Albany).

3. Antidegradation Vote on October 25
A vote will take place at the October 25 Board of Natural Resources meeting in Valdosta on proposed changes to Georgia’s antidegradation rules. It is important to attend the October 25 meeting in Valdosta to voice opposition to the proposed change. EPD has rejected a suggestion to include additional language from EPA in the rule. EPD is now proposing to convene a stakeholder group following passage of the rule that would develop new water quality standards for high quality waters. Georgia Water Coalition is concerned that such a stakeholder process would not result in an outcome that would be as protective of Georgia’s water quality as the current antidegradation rule. Therefore, Georgia Water Coalition remains opposed to the rule change. For additional information on this issue, visit http://www.gwf.org/gawater/additionalresources.html and scroll down to comment letters.

4. National Wetlands Awards ~ Nominations due by Dec. 16
National Wetlands Awards recognize individuals from across the U.S. who have demonstrated extraordinary effort, innovation, and excellence in the area of wetlands preservation. Education and Outreach is one of the award categories. Nomination deadline is December 16, 2005. Complete Details www.eeingeorgia.org, click “what’s new” and then “contests and awards”.

5. October DNR Board Meeting
The next regularly scheduled DNR Board meetings are expected on Tuesday and Wednesday, October 25th and 26th. 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.

6. Save the Date: Georgia River Network Annual Conference and Awards
The Georgia River Network Annual Conference and River Celebration Awards Ceremony will take place February 10-12, 2006 at Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville. Save the Date!

7. Run For the River - Duluth
Support Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper by participating in Run for the River on October 29 in Duluth. Visit http://www.chattahoochee.org/getinvolved5g.htm.

8. Sierra Club Citizen Summit for Sustainable Communities - Atlanta
Saturday, November 12, 8-4pm at the Perimeter Center Marriott Hotel
Attendees will learn how to take action at home, in their neighborhood and their community to create more sustainable communities. How Much: $35 fee includes lunch (discounts available to students). Who: Anyone interested in better managing growth, protecting the environment or sustainable living. The Citizen’s Summit is organized by the Georgia Chapter of the Sierra Club in partnership with the Atlanta Regional Commission, Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership, Citizens for Progressive Transit, Georgia Conservancy, Georgia River Network, Perimeter Go, Perimeter Center Community Improvement District and Southface. The Citizen’s Summit is an opportunity to learn about key environment, growth and development issues. The Citizen’s Summit will bring together everyday citizens, community activists, planning and building professionals to make the connections, gain the knowledge and create the vision for a more sustainable future. You can find out more and get registration materials on the web at www.georgia.sierraclub.org/summit or call 404-607-1262.

9. Worry Free Lobbying Online Course
Wednesday, October 19th, 2005: 2pm
Want to know what your 501(c)(3) organizations can accomplish 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 lobbying training. This one-hour web-based training will cover the rules for 501(c)(3) lobbying activity, including lobbying limits, definitions of lobbying, and some notable lobbying exceptions. 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. Once you've registered, you will receive two e-mails: the first will be automatically generated letting you know your registration is complete, the second will be sent two days before the training and will include instructions on how to log in to the training (if you do not receive the instructions please e-mail rpowers@afj.org). Cost: $30. To register, contact Robin Powers at rpowers@afj.org or 202/822-6070.

10. Save the Date: 7th Annual National River Rally
New Compelling Issues and Advanced Workshops! The 2006 River Rally will be held at The Mount Washington, a hotel and resort in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire (www.mtwashington.com). The 2006 National River Rally will bring together hundreds of river and watershed organizations from throughout the nation and beyond for professional and personal development, education, organizing and celebration. Nonprofit organizations, tribal and government representatives working on freshwater issues are invited and encouraged to attend. River Rally brochure and registration/scholarship applications will be available January 10. Visit www.rivernetwork.org/rally for more information.

11. Seminar – Dispelling Old Myths: African American Concern for the Environment

Wednesday, October 19 at 4pm, Spelman College, (Cosby Bldg., LL Room 30) and Thursday, October 20, 4 pm, Emory University, (Math and Science Center, Rm N306) Dr. Paul Mohai's article "Dispelling Old Myths: African American Concern for the Environment," is based on extensive social survey data and other sources that conclude African Americans are strong environmentalists whether measured by expressed concern, individual actions, membership in environmental groups, or votes by African American members of Congress. Dr. Mohai will present research from the article and other recent work on environmental concerns among African Americans. An analysis of extensive national and Detroit area data reveals fundamental flaws in the idea that white Americans care more about a healthy environment than do African Americans. Discussion will explore what the implications of these findings are for the people of the United States, and what direction these findings take the U.S. environmental movement.

12. Determining Deductible Amounts for the Cost of Tickets to Fundraisers
Information from fundraisinginfo.com: What is the formula for determining the tax deductible amount for the cost of tickets to a fundraiser? This is done by determining the fair market value of all goods and services ticket buyers will receive and this can be tricky. It's tricky because your cost and fair market value are not the same thing. For example, what if all of the food was donated? Is the fair market value of the food equal to zero? Of course not. As it relates to entertainment, a better way to estimate fair market value is to consider what would a person or a couple pay to see this entertainment in a similar venue. If it would normally cost me $20, than that is closer to the fair market value than your total costs divided by the number of people in attendance. Visit www.garivers.org and click “what’s new” for useful links on this topic.

13. Clean Water Campaign Brochures
The Clean Water Campaign has several brochures available on various stormwater topics. Some are available in Spanish. Visit http://www.cleanwatercampaign.com/resources/printable.html.

14. EPA Non-Point Source News Notes
News Notes is a periodic report on the condition of the water-related environment, the control of nonpoint sources of water pollution, and the ecological management and restoration of watersheds. http://www.epa.gov/owow/info/NewsNotes/ is a link to view news notes and sign up for email notification.

15. Porous Pavement Article
An article on advances in porous pavement from Stormwater Magazine can be found at http://www.stormh2o.com/sw_0503_advances.html.

16. WARSSS Sediment Assessment Methods Web Site Completed

The Office of Water recently finalized a new technical methods website designed to help watershed managers assess and restore waters with suspended or bedded sediment problems. The centerpiece of the WARSSS website (Watershed Assessment of River Stability and Sediment Supply) is a step-by-step, three-phase assessment methodology developed by Dr. David L. Rosgen for detecting sediment problems and source areas, estimating excessive sediment loads, and planning to restore normal sediment dynamics in streams and rivers. Besides the WARSSS methodology, the site also contains the entire sediment model WRENSS, a stream classification tutorial, and a large collection of links to clean sediment information and tools. Visit the WARSSS Web site at http://www.epa.gov/warsss and if you have any questions, please contact Doug Norton at norton.douglas@epa.gov.

17. Georgia Aquarium Mailing List for Educators
Sign up for the educator’s mailing list to receive the latest information on: educational opportunities for students; professional development opportunities for teachers; supplemental materials available online, in print, or on video; and much more! Visit http://www.georgiaaquarium.org/educatorsRegistration/index.aspx.

18. Google Earth Mapping Tools
Google Earth is a free utility for PC Windows that combines satellite imagery and aerial photos with Google mapping tools. Visit http://earth.google.com/.

19. EPA Releases Wetlands and Riparian Areas Nonpoint Source Management Measures

EPA recently published National Management Measures to Protect and Restore Wetlands and Riparian Areas for the Abatement of Nonpoint Source Pollution, a technical guidance and reference document for use by state, territory, and authorized tribal managers as well as the public in the implementation of nonpoint source (NPS) pollution management programs. The new guidance contains information on the best available, economically achievable means of reducing nonpoint source pollution through the protection and restoration of wetlands and riparian areas, as well as the implementation of vegetated treatment systems. For more information about the guidance or to download the document (in PDF format) visit http://epa.gov/owow/nps/wetmeasures/. You can receive a free copy of this guidance by contacting the National Service Center for Environmental Publications via phone at 1-800-490-9198 or via the Web at www.epa.gov/ncepihom and requesting Publication # EPA 841-B-05-003.

20. 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”.

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 September 28 and November 2, 2005 and between January 25 and March 1, 2006. Click www.beldon.org for more information.

Ben and Jerry's Foundation provides grants ranging from $1,000 - $15,000 for grassroots organizing that leads to environmental change and addresses the root causes of environmental problems. Letters of inquiry must be submitted ten weeks prior to the grant cycle deadline for full proposals. Deadlines to submit a full proposal (for invited applicants only) are: March 1st, July 1st, November 1st. For more information: http://www.benjerry.com/foundation/guidelines.html

BoatU.S. Foundation is dedicated to promoting safe and environmentally sensitive boating. Grants of up to $4,000 are provided to local volunteer organizations for the promotion of boating safety education and clean boating education. Visit http://www.boatus.com/foundation/Grants/index.htm. Deadline: November 1, 2005.

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.

Con Agra Foods Foundation
The mission of the ConAgra Foods Foundation is to improve the quality of life in communities where ConAgra employees work and live throughout the U.S. (To find out if your organization has a ConAgra Foods facility nearby, consult your local phone directory or contact your Chamber of Commerce.) The Foundation provides support to organizations or projects that provide solutions for specific community needs. Grants are focused in the following areas: arts and culture; civic and community betterment; education; health and human services; and hunger, nutrition and food safety. Proposals must be received by the last working day of January, April, July and October. To link to the ConAgra website, visit www.garivers.org and click on grant resources.

The Environmental Careers Organization (ECO) is now accepting

applications from interested organizations for the ECO/EPA 2005 Community Intern

Program (CIP). In 2005, 30 community organizations will be selected to receive a student intern from ECO, through the generous funding of the EPA Office of Environmental Justice. The interns will receive a $450 per week stipend, plus $500 for relocation or project travel, and will travel to Washington, D.C. to participate in ECO's annual Environmental Career Conference. The Community Intern Program allows community-based organizations, to build their capacity while mentoring the next generation of environmental leaders. The deadline to apply is January 31, 2005. The application and additional program information can be found on our website at: http://www.eco.org/epa/Communityinternprogram/main.html. The site also has information for students interested in becoming CIP interns. Please note that the definition of a community-based organization has been revised: this program is for local, grassroots, non-profit, community-based organizations only. Tribal, state and local governments; universities or other educational institutions; water districts or

similar entities; and large non-governmental organizations such as national environmental groups or environmental justice networks are not eligible

to apply. See the 2005 Community Intern Program Announcement at http://www.eco.org/EPA/communityinternprogram/Programannouncemnt.html

for more information on eligibility requirements for participation in the program. The Office of Environmental Justice created the Community Intern

Program in 2000 to provide student internships with nonprofit organizations across the country. Since the program was created, more than 130 diverse

students have experienced environmental issues at a grassroots level through EJ projects including health education; air and water quality monitoring; urban reforestation; recycling programs; and other community outreach and advocacy activities. ECO administers the Community Intern Program internships along with other internships under our cooperative agreements with EPA. If you have any questions, please contact: Carly Villari with ECO, at 617.426.4375 x145 or via email at cvillari@eco.org.

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.

Fujifilm Corporate Giving Program - The goal of the Fujifilm Corporate Giving Program is to enhance the quality of life in the communities where company employees live and work. (Major facilities are located in California, Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, and Texas.) Contributions are concentrated in the areas of the environment, education, arts and culture, and health and human services. Nonprofit organizations in communities with company facilities are eligible to apply. Applications are accepted throughout the year. Fujifilm also makes product donations to educators and educational institutions throughout the U.S. through its PhotoPro Product Donation Program, Products for Learning, and QuickSnaps For Learning programs. Visit the above website for more information. www.fujifilm.com/jsp/fuji/epartners/AboutGiving.jsp

Fund for Wild Nature supports projects premised on effective and intelligent biocentric strategies, that focus on issues not receiving adequate (national) attention, and that may not be fundable through mainstream sources. The Fund seeks proposals with visionary, radical, and realistic goals to create tangible change. The Fund always looks for opportunities to foster cross-movement alliances and generate ‘ripple effects’ which may lead to other campaigns for long-term, systemic change. All proposals must be highly cost-effective. They rarely fund proposals from organizations with annual budgets greater than US $250,000. The Fund prioritizes efforts to save native species and wild ecosystems. Broader areas we support include: wilderness defense; protecting biodiversity and ecosystem integrity; teaching the action-based ethics of biocentrism; efforts to reduce human population growth and commodity consumption; cultural arts that transform awareness and encourage action; exposing and opposing the anti-ecological, anti-wilderness ‘wise use’ agenda; and indigenous peoples’ activism. Visit http://www.fundwildnature.org/. Deadline: November 5, 2005.

Lowes’s K-12 Science Education Grants
Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation: Outdoor Classroom Grant Program
The Outdoor Classroom Grant Program, sponsored by Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation, International Paper and National Geographic Explorer, provides outdoor, hands-on science education to students in grades K-12. This school year, the program will award grants of up to $2,000 to at least 100 schools. In some cases, grants for up to $20,000 may be awarded to schools or school districts with major outdoor classroom projects. The grants can be used to build a new outdoor classroom or to enhance a current outdoor classroom at the school. All K-12 public schools in the United States (excluding Puerto Rico) are welcome to apply. Online requests may be submitted at any time. Visit www.lowes.com. Click “about lowes” and “commitment to community”.

National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council: Challenge Cost-Share Grant Program The National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council, serving in an advisory capacity to the Secretary of Agriculture, seeks to establish sustainable urban and community forests by encouraging communities of all sizes to manage and protect their natural resources for this and future generations. Through the Challenge Cost-Share Grant Program, the Council supports innovative urban and community forestry projects that have national or widespread impact and applicability. Grants are made in the following categories: urban and community forestry for and with minority and underserved populations; urban forest resource management; projects that communicate the value of urban and community forestry; and urban and community forestry research and technology development. All grants must be matched at least one-to-one with non-federal funds, including in-kind donations, volunteer assistance and monetary contributions. Non-federal organizations operating within the United States or its territories may apply. A request for proposals goes out each October. Visit http://www.treelink.org/nucfac/.

North American Wetlands Conservation Act Small Grants
The purpose of the 1989 North American Wetlands Conservation Act, as amended, 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. http://www.fws.gov/birdhabitat/NAWCA/USsmallgrants.html.

Techsoup - Discounted Computer Software
Click on this website to purchase computer software at great prices. Must be 501c3. Visit www.techsoup.org.

Join Georgia River Network
If you find news stream and other information and services provided by Georgia River Network useful, we would appreciate your financial support! Visit www.garivers.org and join today!