by Ashley Campbell, CPESC, Environmental Program’s Manager, City of Daphne
The City Daphne is an ADEM permitted Phase II Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4). As part of the City’s implementation of its Stormwater Management Program Plan, the City purchased water test kits to introduce citizens to volunteer water monitoring.
Youth Leadership Program environmental field trip with local high schools – the City provided a safe location and AWW test kits for the outing.
By sponsoring the Alabama Water Watch kits, the City is increasing citizen awareness and participation in watershed stewardship. In August of 2014, the City sponsored a two-day Alabama Water Watch training event, where 25 local volunteers received their Alabama Water Watch certifications. Several of these volunteers will be sampling in the D’Olive Watershed, Daphne’s most impaired watershed.
Anna Bryant, an AWW volunteer monitor, introduces water quality monitoring to high school students using AWW test kits provided by the City of Daphne.
The D’Olive Watershed has five impaired streams. These streams do not meet their Fish & Wildlife use classification, which basically means the streams do not support healthy fish and wildlife populations, in this case, due to the excessive siltation (sediment from severe stream erosion). The City and other local partners are working hard to restore the D’Olive Watershed. The Water Watch data will be used along with other monitoring efforts to determine the success of the watershed restoration. The City is proud to sponsor the Alabama Water Watch effort and plans on offering continued support in the future.