04/30/2009

State of the Watershed Conference Set for May 13-14

AUBURN, Ala.—The fifth annual State of Our Watershed Conference for the Tallapoosa River Basin—entitled Moving Toward More Effective Water Policy—will be held at Central Alabama Community College in Alexander City on Wednesday and Thursday, May 13 and 14, and is open to anyone interested in learning more about the current and future status of the watershed.

Previous conferences have focused on the current status of the watershed, but this year’s event will address the future of the watershed and how best to manage the land and water in the Tallapoosa Basin to meet the needs of people and nature equitably and sustainably. The ultimate goal of the conference is to achieve an ecologicallyand economically healthy and sustainable Tallapoosa Watershed.

The timing of the conference is significant because the Legislature recently established the Permanent Joint Legislative Committee on Water Policy and Management. State Sen. Kim Benefield, D-Woodland, chair of that committee, will be the conference’s keynote speaker.

At the conference, participants will review the existing and dated Tallapoosa River Basin Management Plan written in 2005 and consider what needs to be included in a comprehensive and effective Tallapoosa Watershed management plan. They also will explore how a watershed management authority might work as an appropriate implementation tool and will have the opportunity to share their input through small group sessions and conversations.

This year’s organizers and sponsors include the Auburn University Water Resources Center, Alabama Water Watch, the Middle Tallapoosa Clean Water Partnership, Lake Watch of Lake Martin, the Montgomery Water Works and Sanitary Sewer Board and Central Alabama Community College.

The conference is free, but those who wish to attend must register by Monday, May 11. The conference registration form, the agenda and publications that include the 2005 Tallapoosa River Basin Management Plan are available online. Go to www.twp.auburn.edu and click on the 5th Annual State of Our Watershed Conference link listed under TWP Highlights. To speak with someone about the conference, call 334-844-4785.

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OFFICE OF AG COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING
Auburn University College of Agriculture
Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station
3 COMER HALL, AUBURN UNIVERSITY
AUBURN, AL 36849
334-844-4877 (PHONE) 334-844-5892 (FAX)
AgComm@auburn.edu