News
Project to Move Forward Despite Increasing Opposition DothanEagle-PermittingProcessNotSlow.pdf
404 Permit Application Work Scheduled to Begin September 1 - source, CPYRWMA meeting from Joe Paul, Jr.
Choctawhatchee Riverkeeper Article in Alabama Voices - AlabamaVoices-DamBadChoice.pdf
Geneva Council Opposes Reservoir - Genevacouncilopposesreservoirproject.mht
ADPH Issues Fish Consumption Advisories for the Choctawhatchee and Pea Rivers - 2008fishconsumptionadvisory.pdf
ADPH Issues Fish Consumption Advisory for Lake Jackson (Lake Jackson SP, Florala) - 2008fishconsumptionadvisory.pdf
How Can Folks Downstream Can Help Stop the Proposed Dam?
Those of you who live downstream in Florida can help to stop the proposed Little Choctawhatchee River dam by contacting your U.S. representative and your U.S. senator and urging them to oppose any authorization of funding for the proposed reservoir in the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) or any other appropriations bill to which such funding might be attached.
Upcoming Events
April - June, 2009 Spring Patrol Season - Your Choctawhatchee Riverkeeper will be patrolling the river and its tributaries from about April 17 through mid-June. Some patrols will be one-day trips and others will be overnight 2- or 3-day trips. Volunteers are needed to patrol with the Riverkeeper. If you are interested please contact the Riverkeeper at riverkeeper@troycable.net
Sponsor a Patrol Day or a Patrol of a Particular River Segment - Contact the Riverkeeper for Details Including Cost and Public Recognition Opportunities riverkeeper@troycable.net
Recent Events
April 11, 2009 - Over 30 CRK members friends and others removed from between 40 and 50 cubic yards of trash from four recreational access sites on Judy Creek and the East and West Forks of the Choctawhatchee River. Details are provided in the attached pdf file - 041209SpringCleanupPressRelease2.pdf
Some additional images can be accessed at - 100_2970.jpg 100_3006.jpg 100_3023.jpg 100_3024.jpg
September 13, 2008 - Patrol Report, Lower East Fork and Upper Choctawhatchee. The Choctawhatchee Riverkeeper and four members paddled from Dale CR 67 on the East Fork to Newton. Except for a couple of places showing some signs of bank or channel instability and litter including illegal tire dumping the East Fork was found to be in good shape. On the main channel from the junction to Newton there are a couple of tributaries contributing large amounts of sediment to the river. One site where cattle are causing bank erosion was documented and reported to the NRCS and ADEM. Approximately a canoe or a couple of kayaks full of cans, bottles and other litter was removed from the river. Some photos are attached - Patrol091408.pdf
August 10, 2008 - Choctawhatchee Riverkeeper, Conservation Alabama and Alabama Rivers Alliance "Town Hall" Meeting 2 p.m. at the Auditorium at Landmark Park in Dothan. The meeting will include presentations on environmental concerns, threats and opportunities in the Choctawhatchee Basin, the impacts of and alternatives to dams and environmental and conservation matters at the agency and legislative levels in Alabama. There will be opportunity for public input on environmental concerns in SE Alabama and response from the panelists from Choctawhatchee Riverkeeper, Conservation Alabama and the Alabama Rivers Alliance.
PRESS RELEASE August10TownHallMeetingPressRelease.pdf
VIDEO FROM THIS MEETING CAN BE FOUND ON U-TUBE VIA THE FOLLOWING LINKS:
Alternatives to Dams For Water Storage- Off-stream Reservoirs
DaltonUtilitiesRiverRoadReservoir.ppt
Impacts of Dams (Summary)
Ecological Impacts of Dams
- Water Quality
The ponds created by dams is often poorly shaded and as a result warms up significantly during the summer. At locations with top draw outlets, warm surface water from the headpond spills over the dam, potentially impacting downstream aquatic communities that are more adapted to cooler water temperatures. This is particularly important on coldwater streams where significant increases in water temperature may eliminate the coldwater community. - Sediment Transport
In a natural system, sediment carried by the stream is moved downstream and deposited when the water velocity can no longer move the suspended material. The presence of a dam creates an artificial situation where water velocities are reduced and material being moved by a stream settles out and is deposited. Should the dam fail when it is full of unconsolidated material, and the sediment washes downstream, there may be a significant impact to the system. Downstream of the dam, the watercourse may be "starved" of sediment and begin to erode it's bank or bed to replenish the supply of sediment. - Fish Passage
Dams can prevent upstream fish passage completely. In some cases where undesirable fish species are not wanted upstream, this can be beneficial. Often, though, the upstream movement of desirable species is also restricted. This habitat fragmentation may restrict or eliminate access to historic spawning or rearing areas and can affect both resident and migratory fish species. It also can prevent recolonization of habitats of freshwater mussels that depend upon juvenile, parasitic forms hitching a ride on the gills of fish to move up and down streams and rivers.
Riverkeeper Opinion
Water Management - Alternatives to Dam: PoorPublicKnowledgeofWaterResourcesa.doc
Failing Alabama Agencies: AgenciesResponsibleforPollutionContr.doc
Choctawhatchee Work Saving - Anniston Star Article - AnnistonStarJanuary2006ChocRivArticl.pdf
For the latest news on ADEM visit environmental attorney David Ludder's website : http://www.enviro-lawyer.com
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