Improving Water Quality

fish-water

AWW Monitoring Training – Cheaha

October 2022 Alabama Water Watch Monitoring Training 

Registration is required: https://auburn.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2aChDxf7DLyhLuu

Training Description: Become a certified Volunteer Monitor through this hybrid (online and in-person) training opportunity! Available certifications include AWW Water Chemistry Monitoring and Bacteriological Monitoring. You must complete each of the steps outlined below to receive your monitoring certification.
 
Follow these steps to get started: 
1.  Register for training through this form by September 20th.
2.  Select the monitoring type(s) for which you would like certification through this form. 

On September 20th

  • Participate in the Kick-Off Zoom from 12-1 pm. This is not required for certification but will help you navigate the training process and meet AWW Staff.  
  • Use the link and instructions you receive via email following the Kick-Off Zoom to enroll in the Online Courses required for the certification type(s) you requested.   

By Midnight on October 4th 

  • Complete the self-paced, online coursework for the monitoring type(s) of interest.  
  • Introduction to AL Water Watch – This course is required for all monitoring types and must be completed to unlock all other AWW Online Courses. (1 hour) 
  • Bacteriological Monitoring Course (90 minutes) 
  • Water Chemistry Monitoring Course (2 hours) 

On October 7th 
Attend the in-person Field Day at the Cheaha State Park Interpretive Center where you will demonstrate your ability to conduct monitoring tests under the observation of an AWW Trainer. Participants will be expected to follow CDC guidelines regarding in-person gatherings during the trainings. 

Field Day Schedule:  
9:45 am Check-In for Bacteriological Monitoring Session 
10:00 am Bacteriological Monitoring Session 
12:00 pm Lunch Break (bring a sack lunch)
12:45 pm Check-In for Water Chemistry Monitoring Session 
1:00 pm Water Chemistry Monitoring Session 
4:00 pm Adjourn 

You will receive additional details for each of these steps once you register.  
Contact AWW with any questions: 1-888-844-4785 or awwprog@auburn.edu.

AWW Monitoring Training – Enterprise

September AWW Workshop Logos

September 2022 Alabama Water Watch Monitoring Training 

Registration is required: https://auburn.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2rQXrEf7H1k0HoW

Training Description: Become a certified Volunteer Monitor through this hybrid (online and in-person) training opportunity! Available certifications include AWW Water Chemistry Monitoring and Bacteriological Monitoring. You must complete each of the steps outlined below to receive your monitoring certification.

This workshop is provided in conjunction with Alabama Watershed Stewards (AWS), a statewide science-based educational program that promotes healthy watersheds, increases understanding of water pollution, and provides the knowledge to prevent and resolve local water quality problems. AWS is funded by a Clean Water Act 319 Partnership grant through the Alabama Department of Environmental Management and EPA Region 4.

Follow these steps to get started: 
1.  Register for training through this form by September 13th. 
2.  Select the monitoring type(s) for which you would like certification through this form. 

On September 13th

  • Participate in the Kick-Off Zoom from 12-1 pm. This is not required for certification but will help you navigate the training process and meet AWW Staff.  
  • Use the link and instructions you receive via email following the Kick-Off Zoom to enroll in the Online Courses required for the certification type(s) you requested.   

By Midnight on September 27th

  • Complete the self-paced, online coursework for the monitoring type(s) of interest.  
  • Introduction to AL Water Watch – This course is required for all monitoring types and must be completed to unlock all other AWW Online Courses. (1 hour) 
  • Bacteriological Monitoring Course (90 minutes) 
  • Water Chemistry Monitoring Course (2 hours) 

On September 30th
Attend the in-person Field Day at Enterprise State Community College in Enterprise, AL where you will demonstrate your ability to conduct monitoring tests under the observation of an AWW Trainer. Participants will be expected to follow CDC guidelines regarding in-person gatherings during the trainings.

Field Day Schedule:  
8:45 am Check-In for Water Chemistry Monitoring Session 
9:00 am Water Chemistry Monitoring Session 
12:15 pm Lunch Break (bring a sack lunch)
12:45 pm Check-In for Bacteriological Monitoring Session 
1:00 pm Bacteriological Monitoring Session 
3:00 pm Adjourn

You will receive additional details for each of these steps once you register.  
Contact AWW with any questions: 1-888-844-4785 or awwprog@auburn.edu.

AWW Monitoring Training – Prattville

Alabama Water Watch Monitoring Training

Registration is required: https://auburn.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bQHdbm9ap43IK3A

**This registration is for new monitors seeking certification who will go through the Online Courses and participate in an in-person Field Day. If you are seeking recertification, please contact the Alabama Water Watch Office.

Training Description: Become a certified Volunteer Monitor through this hybrid (online and in-person) training opportunity! Available certifications include AWW Water Chemistry Monitoring and Bacteriological Monitoring . You must complete each of the steps outlined below to receive your monitoring certification.

Follow these steps to get started:
1.  Register for training through this form by August 2nd.
2.  Select the monitoring type(s) for which you would like certification through this form.

On August 2nd

Participate in the Kick-Off Zoom from 12-1 pm. This is not required for certification but will help you navigate the training process and meet AWW Staff. 
  • Use the link and instructions you receive via email following the Kick-Off Zoom to enroll in the Online Courses required for the certification type(s) you requested.
By Midnight on August 16th
  • Complete the self-paced, online coursework for the monitoring type(s) of interest.
    • Introduction to AL Water Watch – This course is required for all monitoring types and must be completed to unlock all other AWW Online Courses. (1 hour)
    • Bacteriological Monitoring Course (90 minutes)
    • Water Chemistry Monitoring Course (2 hours)
On August 19th
Attend the in-person Field Day in Prattville – Trustmark Bank Community Room where you will demonstrate your ability to conduct monitoring tests under the observation of an AWW Trainer. Participants will be expected to follow CDC guidelines regarding in-person gatherings during the training.

Field Day Schedule: 8:45 am Check-In for Water Chemistry Monitoring Session

9:00 am  Water Chemistry Monitoring Session

12:00 pm Lunch Break (bring a sack lunch)
12:45 pm Check-In for Bacteriological Monitoring Session
1:00 pm Bacteriological Monitoring Session
3:00 pm Adjourn

You will receive additional details for each of these steps once you register. Only your name, email, phone number, and mailing address are required to register for this event. We ask for optional information so we can better understand our effectiveness in serving all Alabama citizens and for reporting general, anonymous statistics to our federal and state funders. We do not share any specific information you provide. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn University) is an equal opportunity educator and employer. Everyone is welcome! Please let us know if you have accessibility needs.Contact AWW with any questions: 1-888-844-4785 or awwprog@auburn.edu.

2022 AWW Annual Meeting

Celebrate 30 years of Alabama Water Watch with us at the 2022 Annual Meeting! – Registration Now Open

When:

Saturday, June 11, 2022 from 10am – 3pm

Where:

Center for Advanced Science, Innovation, and Commerce (CASIC) Building

559 Devall Drive

Auburn, AL 36849

Schedule:

10:00 am – Welcome and Introductions
10:30 am – Program Updates from AWW, the AU Water Resources Center, and Global Water Watch
11:00 am – AWW at Work: Highlights and Opportunities with Tom McCauley (Auburn University Risk Management & Safety), Morgan Counts (Dog River Clearwater Revival), Scott Rogers (Alabama Dept. of Transportation), and Natalie Parsons (Alabama Dept. of Public Health – Lee County).
12 pm – Lunch
12:45 pm – 30 Years of AWW – guest presentation by Dr. Bill Deutsch
1:30 pm – AWW Awards Ceremony & Special Presentation
2:45 pm – Closing Comments
3pm – End

Registration Fees:

  • Registration is $30 for adults and $20 for youth 18 and under.
  • For couples and families, the fee for an add-on registration is $20 per additional person.
  • Each registration includes a catered lunch from Chappy’s Deli and a one-year membership with the Alabama Water Watch Association.
  • Registration closes on June 6th. 

*We are offering a 2-hour Green Infrastructure Tour in Auburn on Friday (6/10/22) at 2pm, but spaces are limited. See more details in the registration form. If you are only interested in participating in the Green Infrastructure Tour on Friday afternoon, June 10th, email the AWW Office at awwprog@auburn.edu for registration options.

WRC Water Webinar – Smoke on the Water: Fire Effects on Black Rails and Other Coastal Marsh Birds

Smoke on the Water: Fire Effects on Black Rails and Other Coastal Marsh Birds featuring Dr. Jim Cox and Heather Levy of the Stoddard Bird Lab at Tall Timbers Research Station (TTRS).

Jim Cox heads up the Stoddard Bird Lab at TTRS. The focus of the award-winning lab ranges from assessing how fire management affects habitat for several birds that inhabit coastal marshes and upland pine forests to performing hands-on activities that benefit Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Brown-headed Nuthatch, and Frosted Elfin (an imperiled butterfly).

Heather Levy is an avian biologist in the Stoddard Bird Lab at TTRS. She has been studying Florida avifauna associated with fire for over 5 years, focusing on endemic and endangered species conservation and habitat management.

Registration is free and required: https://auburn.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0sduurpzspGdJFBQGEd_uwo9T2qyZbVvXA

AWW Monitoring Training – Birmingham

May 2022 Alabama Water Watch Monitoring Training 

Registration is required: https://auburn.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_42BtOaeeIuBNqrs

Training Description: Become a certified Volunteer Monitor through this hybrid (online and in-person) training opportunity! Available certifications include AWW Water Chemistry Monitoring and Bacteriological Monitoring. You must complete each of the steps outlined below to receive your monitoring certification.
 
Follow these steps to get started: 
1.  Register for training through this form by April 19th. 
2.  Select the monitoring type(s) for which you would like certification through this form. 

On April 19th

  • Participate in the Kick-Off Zoom from 12-1 pm. This is not required for certification but will help you navigate the training process and meet AWW Staff.  
  • Use the link and instructions you receive via email following the Kick-Off Zoom to enroll in the Online Courses required for the certification type(s) you requested.   

By Midnight on May 3rd

  • Complete the self-paced, online coursework for the monitoring type(s) of interest.  
  • Introduction to AL Water Watch – This course is required for all monitoring types and must be completed to unlock all other AWW Online Courses. (1 hour) 
  • Bacteriological Monitoring Course (90 minutes) 
  • Water Chemistry Monitoring Course (2 hours) 

On May 6th 
Attend the in-person Field Day in Birmingham where you will demonstrate your ability to conduct monitoring tests under the observation of an AWW Trainer. Participants will be expected to follow CDC guidelines regarding in-person gatherings during the trainings. 

Field Day Schedule:  
9:45 am Check-In for Bacteriological Monitoring Session 
10:00 am Bacteriological Monitoring Session 
12:00 pm Lunch Break (bring a sack lunch)
12:45 pm Check-In for Water Chemistry Monitoring Session 
1:00 pm Water Chemistry Monitoring Session 
4:00 pm Adjourn 

You will receive additional details for each of these steps once you register.  
Contact AWW with any questions: 1-888-844-4785 or awwprog@auburn.edu.

WRC Water Webinar – Fostering a Successful Future for the Water Resources Field in Alabama

A panel of water resources professionals discuss their educational and professional paths, roles in the water resources field in Alabama, and the most pressing needs for water resources research in Alabama and beyond.

Panelists include:
Sandy Faulkner | Montgomery Water Works & Sanitary Sewer Board
Chris Johnson | Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM)
Tom Littlepage | Alabama Office of Water Resources
Sabra Sutton | Alabama Association of Conservation Districts

Registration is free and required:https://auburn.zoom.us/meeting/86242204845

AWW Monitoring Training – Camp McDowell (Nauvoo, AL)

March AWW Workshop

March 2022 Alabama Water Watch Monitoring Training 

Registration is required: https://auburn.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2rQXrEf7H1k0HoW

Training Description: Become a certified Volunteer Monitor through this hybrid (online and in-person) training opportunity! Available certifications include AWW Water Chemistry Monitoring and Bacteriological Monitoring. You must complete each of the steps outlined below to receive your monitoring certification.
 
Follow these steps to get started: 
1.  Register for training through this form by March 7th. 
2.  Select the monitoring type(s) for which you would like certification through this form. 

On March 7th

  • Participate in the Kick-Off Zoom from 12-1 pm. This is not required for certification but will help you navigate the training process and meet AWW Staff.  
  • Use the link and instructions you receive via email following the Kick-Off Zoom to enroll in the Online Courses required for the certification type(s) you requested.   

By Midnight on March 22nd

  • Complete the self-paced, online coursework for the monitoring type(s) of interest.  
  • Introduction to AL Water Watch – This course is required for all monitoring types and must be completed to unlock all other AWW Online Courses. (1 hour) 
  • Bacteriological Monitoring Course (90 minutes) 
  • Water Chemistry Monitoring Course (2 hours) 

On March 25th
Attend the in-person Field Day at Camp McDowell in Nauvoo, AL where you will demonstrate your ability to conduct monitoring tests under the observation of an AWW Trainer. Participants will be expected to follow CDC guidelines regarding in-person gatherings during the trainings. 

Field Day Schedule:  
8:45 am Check-In for Water Chemistry Monitoring Session 
9:00 am Water Chemistry Monitoring Session 
12:00 pm Lunch Break (option to purchase boxed lunch)
12:15 pm Check-In for Bacteriological Monitoring Session 

12:30 pm Bacteriological Monitoring Session 
2:30 pm Adjourn *Participants who also plan to attend the ARA River Rally will finish at 2pm*

You will receive additional details for each of these steps once you register.  
Contact AWW with any questions: 1-888-844-4785 or awwprog@auburn.edu.

 

WRC Water Webinar – Impacts of Invasive Wild Pigs, Sus Scrofa, on Water Quality and Wetland Ecosystem Health

Impacts of Invasive Wild Pigs, Sus scrofa, on Water Quality and Wetland Ecosystem Health featuring Auburn University’s Elizabeth Bradley.

Registration is free and required: https://auburn.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0sc-6spj4pG9Tr5agIBM5LMj6qA0VqR8Iq

Elizabeth A. Bradley is a PhD student in Dr. Graeme Lockaby’s lab at Auburn University’s School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences. She received her BS in Biology with High-Distinguished Honors from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Bradley’s PhD project explores the impacts of invasive wild pigs on water quality, wetland ecosystem health, and the resulting implications on pathogen transmission.

Red Algal Citizen Science – A Search For Alabama’s Unknown Red Algal Biodiversity

There is incredible biodiversity in the state of Alabama – including freshwater snails, mussels, fish, and turtles. However, much of our biodiversity remains enigmatic. One group of organisms we lack critical information about are freshwater red macroalgae. Though rarely truly red in color, they provide food and habitat for macroinvertebrates and may serve as indicators of good water quality. However, they are not included in current biodiversity surveys in Alabama. To better understand the ecological role and potential usefulness of these algae as bioindicators, we first need to figure out where to find them.

This is where Alabama Water Watch monitors come in! We are asking for your help in identifying potential freshwater red algal habitat by taking photos of your monitoring sites. Our lab will examine the photographs to assess whether they may provide good freshwater red habitat and to determine if they should be included in our surveys. In the future, we plan to provide training and supplies for interested AWW monitors to collect and send algal samples to the Krueger-Hadfield lab at The University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Free Registration