Alabama Water Watch: 20 Years and Just Getting Started!

Through the Alabama Water Watch Program citizens are empowered to collect their own scientifically credible data and use it to protect and restore their local waters. Throughout the years there have been numerous success stories associated with this program and the AWW water data that range from discovering and addressing a local sewage problem, to successfully pushing for stricter policies to protect a local water body. In addition, the AWW methods have been extended to students who have undoubtedly seen science in a new way because of their experiences with AWW.

Our fundraiser title is “20 Years and Just Getting Started” and we are working for this to become our reality! Unfortunately, due to funding cuts this past year, the challenges facing this program are quite serious. What would Alabama look like if there hadn’t been over 6,000 citizen volunteers monitoring water quality on 800 water bodies and what will the next 20 look like if there is no funding to support their efforts? As state agencies are being cut, there will only be less vigilance of the health of our water resources. This is the time that Alabama needs qualified citizen volunteers more than ever! Please help to keep Alabama Water Watch strong into the next 20 years and beyond. Your contribution will truly make a difference in the future of Alabama’s water quality!

Keywords: water quality, restoration, protection, monitoring, environmental education, empowerment, policy change, rivers, streams, coast, training, statewide