2022 Georgia Adopt-A-Stream Confluence

On March 19-20, I attended the annual Georgia Adopt-A-Stream Confluence which is a conference for water quality monitoring volunteers. It was here that I received the “Nymph Award” for new volunteers to recognize my water quality monitoring work at Jamestown Landing on the Satilla River. I had a really good experience at the conference learning from experts and talking with other volunteers. The conference really put into perspective all the people who are passionate about protecting our rivers and the importance of the data we collect. Here’s an overview of my experience at the conference.

The conference started with the keynote speaker, Gordon Rodgers, who talked about his work as Satilla and Flint Riverkeeper and working at Georgia DNR. Through his work with fish, he learned to love the rivers and understand the importance of water quality. He also discussed the importance of water quality data and how it can be used. It was eye-opening to me that water quality data I collect and enter can be used in lawsuits or projects across the state.

The keynote address was followed by a split off into different workshop sessions. I focused on topics that I generally don’t know much about, so I learned a lot. First, I chose a combined session that focused on birds led by Gabe Andrle from the Georgia Audubon and mussels led by Keith Ray from Reinhardt University. One of the most interesting things I learned was how some freshwater mussels create a “fishing rod” to lure fish into transferring their offspring called glochidia. Glochidia must attach to fish’s gills in order to continue their development and eventually settle to grow into adult mussels.

After that, I attended the Water Policy, Protection, and Planning session. April Lipscomb from the Southern Environmental Law Center discussed recent state legislation that has an influence on our water quality. For instance, one bill involves allowing companies to store their coal ash without proper lining in their ponds, which means all the toxins from the coal ash could potentially leak into water systems. On the flip side, the state also has a bill trying to reduce prices for solar energy. Not all bills pass and become law, but I found that it’s good to know what is happening within your government related to our environment.

Up next was the Coastal Topics Panel. This included educators, researchers, and students highlighting their important work throughout Georgia. First, Kate Higgins with the University of Georgia discussed plankton and how it can be monitored. Next, Samantha Alvey with the Southern University talked about her project taking sand from well known unsafe areas to swim and looked at the bacteria inside the sand. I found it fascinating that the bacteria settles at the bottom of the sand, and the more you stir it, the more it can become a harm to humans. Joy Davis with the Tybee Island Marine Science Center talked about how she teaches water quality to her students. She even made a joke that when students are lost they stare at you like a sheepshead fish…

The one I found the most interesting was a talk on the deep-water reef off Georgia’s coast called Grey’s Reef. A study was conducted that found that Grey’s Reef is made of a type of coral that can withstand pH changes in the water that result from ocean acidification. The coral can regulate its own pH separate from the outside water. Though climate change is an issue with many factors including ocean acidification, I found this research a sign of hope for the future of our reefs.

Finally, on the final day of the summit, we went to Unicoi State Park to learn about the importance of lighting in nature photography. I found it therapeutic to go into nature and examine the landscape. It was fun to play around with the lighting. The most important thing I learned was the difference between harsh and soft light. If a light source is directly hitting an object, it’s harsh light and that can reduce the quality of your pictures. I don’t think I will ever look at shadows and lighting the same way again.

In and between these sessions, I was able to learn from and network with scientists, teachers, and volunteers from all over the state. It was so interesting to hear different people’s experiences with water monitoring and how their work connects with it. Some were more enticing than others (E. coli is not a fun thing to measure or even think about), but overall I really enjoyed this summit. I learned a lot about water quality and how it affects organisms and people, and I enjoyed meeting new people. I couldn’t be more thankful for this opportunity.

Special thanks and congratulations to our Satilla Riverkeeper Chris Bertrand and Water Quality Coordinator Trish DuBose for the Satilla Riverkeeper’s Watershed for a Non-governmental Organization Award, as well as for my nomination and helping me in my water quality journey.