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The program is aimed at presenting new or existing small farmers, pasture managers, and equine producers with topics that will assist them in their daily management and long term operations. University of Georgia Cooperative Extension agents, along with representatives from the US Department of Agriculture-Natural Resource Conservation Service, and local veterinarians are scheduled to present. These organizations will provide information on topics including basic herd health and equine nutrition, soil fertility, grazing management, USDA NRCS programs and more.
When: Saturday, July 31, 10 am - 2 pm
Where: Chukkar Farm Polo Club Event Facility
1140 Liberty Grove Rd., Alpharetta, GA 30004
Cost: $10 (includes lunch). Participants must pre-register to allow time for ordering lunches.
Pre-Register Deadline is Thursday, July 29, 2010. Call: 770-479-0418, Fax: 770-479-0565, or e-mail: uge1057@ugs.edu. For more information, here
Sponsored by:
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Adopt-A-Stream is a State-wide program designed to train citizens to monitor streams physically,
chemically and biologically. The data collected is uploaded to Google Earth and tracks the condition of the
streams monitored throughout the State.
When: Saturday, July 31, 9am -1 pm
What: Training in Biological Assessment
Where: Poole's Mill Park
7725 Poole's Mill Road, Ballground (Forsyth Co.)
Cost: FREE!
Who: Any citizens or citizen groups that would like to learn how to evaluate and monitor the condition of a stream segment of their choice.
Class size is limited, so sign up early! For more information and to sign up, please call Lori Forrester at
770-355-6477.
Future workshop dates: For more information and training dates for September, here
Sponsored by:
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The Coosa River Basin Initiative (CRBI) and Upper Etowah River Alliance (UERA) will
host a canoe/kayak paddle on the Etowah River July 31 from East Cherokee Drive to
Boling Park in Canton. The trip will allow local residents to explore a 15-mile stretch of the Etowah in Cherokee County highlighted by several Native American fish weirs and other historic sites.
When: Saturday, July 31
Where: East Cherokee Drive to Boling Park in Canton
Cost: Free to CRBI and UERA members. Joint membership of CRBI and UERA is $35.
To Register: Call: 706-291-7449, e-mail: ibwheelin2@yahoo.com, or visit www.coosa.org. For more information, here.
Sponsored by:
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The need for water is becoming a serious issue in today's world of drought and population increase. Water restrictions make it difficult to maintain green yards. Collecting stormwater runoff from our roofs is a natural way to make water available for your use in the yard. It can also help prevent erosion caused by downspout runoff. Plan to join us for a rain barrel workshop.
When: Friday, August 6, 10 am to noon
Where: The Upper Etowah River Alliance Office
180 McClure Street, Canton
(next to the Am. Legion and Fairgrounds)
Cost: $25, includes all materials (barrels are 55 gal) and assistance
Who: Anyone interested in collecting FREE water
Space is limited to 10. To sign up, call Diane Minick at 770-704-5479.
Future workshop dates: First Friday of every month, 10 am to noon
Forth Saturday of every month, 10 am to noon
Sponsored by:
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September 18, 2010
On September 18, 2010, the Lake Allatoona Preservation Authority (LAPA) will host the 25th Annual Great Lake Allatoona Cleanup (GLAC). Thousands of volunteers from the Lake Allatoona watershed will cover hundreds of miles of Lake Allatoona and Lake Acworth shoreline in this one-day event that celebrates National Public Lands Day. Last year over 4,200 volunteers collected over 42 tons of trash, debris and tires from over 250 miles of shoreline in an effort that provides environmental stewardship to this valuable resource. Our volunteers consist of boy & girl scouts, lease holders around the lake, private clubs, marinas, boaters, fishermen, environmentalists and families that are vigilant in wanting to improve the water quality and protect the quality of life around Lake Allatoona.
When: Saturday, September 18, 2010
To Register: Click Here. Registration ends Sept. 10.
More Information: call: 404-405-0584, e-mail: Michael Marchbanks
After the cleanup there will be a huge picnic at Riverside Park where there will be lots of food; games; music and a ton of prizes to be given away!
Sponsored by:
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Commissioner Hubbard Supports Girl Scout
Troop 2199 in Earning Silver Award for
Cherokee County Stormdrain Stenciling Event
Cadette Troop 2199 of Hickory Flat recently hosted an community involvement event in conjunction with the Cherokee County Stormwater Division. These Cadettes organized an educational and awareness program for volunteers from the community to help stencil storm drains in the area and distribute flyers regarding the importance of keeping debris and pollutants out of storm drains.
Volunteers from the community which included a large group from Sequoyah High's ROTC program and other girl scout troops from the area came out to spend the day placing stencils or markers on storm drains. Together the volunteers were able to label 447 storm drains and distribute over 1000 flyers in the community.
This community service project was a culmination of work by Cadette Troop 2199 in order to earn the Silver Award, the 2nd highest award a Girl Scout can receive, and the highest at this age level. Over the past three years, Troop 2199 has helped to label 738 storm drains and distribute over 2000 educational flyers to the community.
Receiving their Silver Award are: Maya Freeman, Melissa Freeman, Taylor Foster, Courtney Millican, Ashley Hufford, Claire Bailey, Alexandra Cornelius, Samantha Standridge, and Christina Herd.
We would like to thank Commissioner Hubbard for his support of this project; Marjorie Hicks from Cherokee County Stormwater Division; Ben and Linda Statham from Rivers Alive; Publix Supermarkets; and all the many volunteers who so willingly gave their time.
The Cherokee County Recycling Center has teamed up with Waste Management to bring many positive changes to the Cherokee County Recycling Center. The biggest change is the implementation of single stream recycling, which is where residents do not have to separate their recyclables before bringing them to one of the two recycling centers within the County. Another positive change that has occurred is now plastics #1- 7 are accepted for recycling. To view the Channel 2 Action News video about single stream recycling in Cherokee County, click here.
Effective January 1, 2009, the Recycling Center will no longer accept metals, appliances, tires or motor oil. These items will only be accepted on Amnesty Days in the Spring of 2009. Dates to be announced later. Recyclables can be dropped off at 470 Blalock Road, Canton, Tues-Weds noon to 6 pm, Thurs-Fri 9 am to 6 pm, and Sat 8 am to 4 pm, or at Hobgood Park in Towne Lake from 9 am to 5:30 pm seven days a week.
The annual Little River Clean-Up held on October 24th, 2009, hosted 62 participants. Volunteers picked up 126 bags of trash totaling approximately 890 pounds from 3 miles around Little River and Rubes Creek. Volunteers included citizens, girls from a Girl Scout Troop in Marietta and members of the Atlanta Outdoor Club.
THANKS go to the sponsors below for sponsoring these important events. A great boost for clean water and protection of our waterways.
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The 8th Annual Etowah River Clean-Up held on September 12th, 2009, hosted 53 participants. Trash was collected from the banks of the Etowah River and recyclables were taken to the Recycling Center. Of all the trash picked up along the river, Diane Minick, Watershed Director of the Upper Etowah River Alliance said,
"The oddest thing I saw was a drum with a ballet skirt on it. Also, bags and bags of shingles, probably containing asbestos, that were tossed under the bridge near the entrance to the park. The most gratifying thing was to see the number of students who came out. Many of them were from Crossroads High School and from Mrs. Shari Tolan's AP Environmental Science class of Cherokee County High School. Mrs. Tolan was UERA's 2009 Environmental Educator of the Year award recipient. It also seems as if every year we find less and less trash. That is a hopeful sign that more folks are getting the message about the importance of keeping our river clean."
THANKS go to the sponsors below for sponsoring these important events. A great boost for clean water and protection of our endangered fish species, the Etowah Darter, Cherokee Darter and Amber Darter.
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And the winner is...
The 2009 Clean Water Campaign/Water Use It Wisely Essay contest winner for Cherokee County is Brittany Robertson, 7th grader at Dean Rusk Middle School.
Students who entered the contest composed a 300 to 500 word essay about ways in which citizens can participate in water conservation and pollution prevention both at home and in the community. The main goal of this program is to encourage students to create inventive solutions to water conservation and water quality in metro North Georgia.
CONGRATULATIONS BRITTANY!
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The two winners of the first-ever EPA water quality video contest were recently announced. In each of the categories, contestants entered videos aimed at educating the public on various water pollution issues and what the general public can do to prevent it. The winner of the 30-60 second video category was Lucas Ridley of Trenton, Georgia, whose video illustrated one way in which everyone can protect our watersheds through proper motor vehicle care. The winner of the 1-3 minute video category was Kelley Parren of Hinesburg, Vermont, whose video illustrated how runoff threatens our ecosystems and how everyone can do their part to help protect water quality. The EPA received more than 250 video submissions spanning a variety of topics related to water pollution. The two winners will receive a $2,500 cash reward and their videos have been posted on the EPA's web site. To view their videos, visit http://www.epa.gov/owow/videocontest.html.
Those involved in the business of water resources planning are keenly aware that ecosystem deterioration, water supply protection/conservation, waste load capacity, and loss of critical habitat for fish and wildlife are key issues facing the Lake Allatoona/Upper Etowah River Watershed. The economic environmental sustainability of the region is directly linked to protecting and preserving the priceless water resources of the basin.
Furthermore,
continued reliance on this critical water resource is intricately
tied to the ability of local citizens, businesses, interest groups,
and government agencies to develop mutually agreeable and realistic
approaches to managing the resources. Development and
subsequent implementation of this project make certain that
problems are solved at the watershed level.
For more
details, please visit: http://la-uewatershed.com/
Educational Resources for Teachers
To ensure that future generations do their part to help preserve the quality of our waters, they must be educated as to how they can do their part. Below are links/information for great resources for engaging your students in stormwater/water pollution prevention education through Language Arts and Science:
Fun resource for kids activities - for kids & teachers.
Adopt-A-Stream: Includes Curriculum Manual
A great way to get students interested in pollution prevention is for them to have a hands-on, real world experience. One way to do this is through the Adopt-A-Stream program. If your class or school is interested in adopting a local stream, this site will provide you with a cirriculum manual. The GLOBE Program
The GLOBE (Global Learning and Observation to Benefit the Environment) Program is a program founded by various US Government agencies
in an effort to promote and support students, teachers and scientists to collaborate on inquiry-based investigations of the environment. Students and teachers of "GLOBE schools" can gather information locally and submit it
on-line. There are various categories (including hydrology) for which studies and sampling can be performed. Not only will this make students aware of local water quality, but it will also further introduce them to the
sampling and research process. This is a great project for all grade levels especially high school students. SCIENCE WORKSHOP for Elementary Classrooms
Students learn about the water cycle while learning the harmful effect that pollution has on our rivers, lakes, and streams. This is a Be A Solution; Enviroscape Activity. Cherokee County has an Enviroscape Model that can be used for interactive classroom demonstrations and games. For more information contact Marjorie Hicks, Stormwater Coordinator at mhicks@cherokeega.com. Other Stormwater Education Web Pages:
Back to Top
Check out the information on this website below and these links to other websites to learn how:
Do It Yourself
Household Water Assessment
Is Your Yard as Green as You Think?
Fascinating Non-Point Source Pollution Facts (PDF)
Composting, Grass cycling, and Mulching at Home (PowerPoint)
For
more information, visit the Clean Water
Campaign
Now what do
I do with this old can of paint? ...or used
motor oil, or batteries, or other Hazardous Materials.
Click Here to find out how and where to dispose of Hazardous Materials.
I didn't
know that could be recycled!!
Used Motor Oil Used Oil Filters Brake Fluid Transmission Fluid Antifreeze Car Batteries For the
location nearest you, visit
www.earth911.org/recycling and enter the type of hazardous
material and your zip code at the top of the page. Or call
1-800-CLEANUP Pump It Out! ... every 3-5 years Click Here to view a brochure on Septic Tank Maintenance.
Water Saver
Home describes itself as a virtual encyclopedia of water saving tips. Great tips on
water conservation and steps you can take around your house to
reduce waste.
EPA Construction Site
Stormwater Runoff Control
EPA Concrete Washout Fact
Sheet
Georgia Stormwater Management Manual
Stormwater Quality Site Development Review Tool (Excel File)
Be A Solution to Water Pollution! - Grades Level: 3rd-6th
The Sprink Stormwater Education Campaign
Stormwater Coalition
Construction Sites
Cherokee County Ordinances and Regulations
