The Apalachicola Riverkeeper’s mission is to provide stewardship and advocacy for the protection of the Apalachicola River and Bay, its tributaries and watersheds, in order to improve and maintain its environmental integrity, and to preserve its natural, scenic, recreational and commercial fishing character.  The Apalachicola Riverkeeper was established in 1999, is licensed by the Waterkeeper Alliance, and is one of 196 waterkeeper organizations worldwide.  

The Apalachicola Riverkeeper’s financial support comes from individual and business donors, private foundations, and government grants.   The work of the Apalachicola Riverkeeper is accomplished by three staff members, independent contractors including attorneys and technical experts, and dedicated volunteers.  

The Apalachicola Riverkeeper will fill this position by May 1, 2011.   The position is part-time with an expectation of growth to full time by 2012 or sooner.   Compensation: competitive with health care insurance available.    AR provides opportunities to applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or military status.

Please review the Job Description at http://apalachicolariverkeeper.org/DeputyDirector.   Send qualifications and letter of interest by no later than 8 April 2011to: riverkeeper@apalachicolariverkeeper.org or by mail to Apalachicola Riverkeeper, Box 8, Apalachicola, FL 32329.  All responses should be clearly marked “Application for Deputy Director”.

Morning sessions cover the most important topics in the industry as well as providing new ways of raising money through grants. The afternoon lets participants explore mobile workshops with tours of gardens, ‘The Plein Air Experience’ and a River-Boat ride. We’ll finish the evening with dinner in the park.

 RiverWay South is looking to change how it operates. In essence, we are proposing that CVBs and Chambers with tourism entities throughout the ACF partner with and join Riverway South to sustain the organization so it continues to help promote sustainable tourism using the river systems.

The timing couldn’t be better. New RWS regional offices are springing up throughout the ACF river systems with RiverWay South –Apalachicola-Choctawhatchee Inc. leading the way.  Additionally, RiverWay South -Historic Chattahoochee Commission and RiverWay South – Columbus are promoting strategies to reach even more ACF communities. Furthermore, with leadership coming out of the Albany Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Flint region is pulling together a network of Flint watershed participants. 

Friday’s agenda looks at the upcoming year for RiverWay South and where our associations with tourism will take us. We will adjourn around 1:00 PM March 11.

 Don’t miss this opportunity to become part of RiverWay South as we move toward new strategies to protect, promote and preserve the ACF watershed.

 Go to registration here on this website to reserve a place and make your lodging reservations while discounts are still available (through January 31^st 2011).  Go to www.waterstreethotel.com for special rates as long as they last.

This is a contract position that RWSAC will fill by February 1, 2011.   Compensation: competitive.   RWSAC provides opportunities to contractors and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or military status.

Please review the Deliverables and Notice  at www.apalachicolariverkeeper.org/RWSAC_ProjectManager.   The Project Manager will be responsible for all RWSAC/OTTED and RWSAC deliverables.

Send qualifications and letter of interest by 24 December 2010 to: Andy Smith, Vice President, RWSAC, via andy@apalachicolariverkeeper.org. 

Nonetheless, good things have come out of it, one being our  Oil SPill Recovery (OSPREY) project developed by Robin Rickel Vroegop.    Please take a few minutes today and everyday between now and August 31^st to vote for our OSPREY Video-monitoring project!  And send this message to your friends.   It’ll make a real difference in the protection of Apalachicola Bay and other waters of the world.

YOU CAN HELP us win a $50,000 grant!   VOTE NOW at:

http://gulf.refresheverything.com/apalachicolabaycitizenscientistsvideomonitoring

 THANKS!

Andrew Jubal Smith

Executive Director & Attorney

andy@apalachicolariverkeeper.org

850-653-5183

Apalachicola Riverkeeper

PO Box 8

Apalachicola, Florida 32329

232-B Water Street

Apalachicola, Florida 32320

850-653-8936

fax 850-653-1718

www.apalachicolariverkeeper.org

October 23– November 5, 2010

Week one: Departs Columbus Oct 23, 2010 arrives Chattahoochee FL Oct 29

Week Two: Depart Chattahoochee FL Oct 30, arrive in Apalachicola for Apalachicola Seafood Festival November 5^th

Support vessels follow the paddlers down the river. Camping is arranged at

state parks and sand bars along the river, no shuttling to other

locations.

·  Meals are included.

·  36FT Catamaran support boat has kitchen, bathroom and shower.

·  Shuttles from the Atlanta, Columbus & FL locations included.

·  Paddling averages 20 miles daily with flat water. Breaks can be

taken on support vessels

·  You can paddle either week or both

·  Educational tours, special parties and guest speaker programs

about the Apalachicola/Chattahoochee River system

One week pricing, $595.00 per person, or $995.00 for the

2 week adventure! Many other features are included in

the price, visit:

www.ammfl.org  Apalachicola River Trips

For additional information, trip details and to sign up.

Trip is limited to the first 40 paddlers.

Lee Garner and Homer Hirt have arranged for a catered meal. There will be no charge because the Lake Seminole Association and City of Chattahoochee have agreed to cover the cost. Therefore it is essential we know how many are attending in advance so the number can be confirmed with the caterer. We don’t want the association to absorb any of the costs of those who don’t RSVP.

This meeting will highlight the Chattahoochee/Sneads Project RiverWay in 2009 as seen through the eyes of Lee Garner and Homer Hirt (or their designated narrator).  The agenda will include a report from RiverWay South – Apalachicola;, an update on RiverWay South Summit 2011 (March 10 and 11 in Apalachicola); a report from the USDA RBOG grant and the implications for RiverWay South if we do receive the grant or if we don’t;  a report from RiverWay South - Apalachicola; a report from the ACF Stakeholders June meeting at Lake Lanier; and a look at the Annual Meeting coming up Monday, December 7^th at Bagby State Park.

Additionally, Lee is arranging a tour of the Jim Woodruff Dam around 2 PM EST for those who want to view this magnificent dam. This earthen dam is over one mile (1.6 km) long. The Jim Woodruff Dam, located about 1,000 feet (300 m) south of the original confluence of the Chattahoochee River, Flint River and Spring Creek to form the Apalachicola River and with a spillway 2,224 feet (678 m) wide is a hydroelectric and navigational dam named in honor of James W. Woodruff, Sr., a Georgia businessman who spearheaded the development of the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint Project. If you haven’t seen it before, you don’t want to miss it.  Please respond to me if you wish to take the tour with your RSVP for attendance.

Events begin Friday September 25th in Downtown Marianna, Florida at 8:00 AM with self guided walking tour of historic Marianna along with shopping and dining opportunities.

This special reenactment concludes Saturday, September 26 at Citizens Lodge Park noon -9:00 PM with the Living History Camp, Bluegrass Festival Music and with all vendors, arts and crafts exhibits open.

Contact brunner@cityofmarianna.com for more information.

Pasaquan consists of a series of vividly painted concrete walls and buildings that portray the artists' vision of the future. Pasaquan is a prime example of 20th-Century visionary art in America.

Pasaquan is located 5.5 miles west-northwest of Buena Vista, the Marion County GA seat of government.

An agenda of board items (including Project RiverWay May 2009 updates as well as reports on the new Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau ACF boat)will be posted by mid-July with directions to the site and details of related events. As usual, you are invited to bring spouses and friends but, you do need to let us know how many will be in your party. E-mail Carole Rutland if you have questions.

For more information on Pasaquan go to: http://www.pasaquan.com

The huge amount of information on these posters can be viewed in detail using Adobe Acrobat, printed in small format on a desktop printer, or sent to a local print shop and reproduced in full 24-inch X 36-inch format. 

The posters tell the story of each watershed through illustrations, graphics and text. Great for grammer schools, middle schools, high schools, and any environmental group.

RiverWay South Summit 2009

Program Highlights

Take advantage of this great opportunity to join over 60 counties and their representatives as we explore ways to connect our communities using the Apalachicola, Chattahoochee, Flint (ACF) River system as a transportation route. 

It’s all happening March 5th and 6th at the RiverWay South Summit 2009 with speakers from Georgia, Alabama and Florida who will cover a variety of  the watershed’s most urgent issues. All are committed to the preservation, protection and promotion of the ACF watershed and also come with experience and extensive knowledge of tourism, cultural heritage, natural resources, preservation, grant writing and community economic development.

Schedule at a Glance

First day events begin at 9:00 AM EST March 5th, with registration and coffee. All summit sessions and meals will be located in the Lake Blackshear Resort Conference Center. 

Afternoon tour locations and times will be available in the conference registration packet. Signups are on a first come, first served basis for Guided Boat Tours, Hydro Plant Tours, and other local tours at the 9:00 AM registration. 

Sessions begin at 10:00 AM Thursday morning and are designed to keep you on your toes the entire conference.  If you’re attending to get good, sound advice on how to strengthen age old connections with the ACF and revitalizing your local community, you won’t be disappointed.

Former Director of the WC Bradley Foundation, Peggy Theus, opens the conference by providing a blueprint for cities that wish to grow without destroying their unique heritage and environment. Mrs. Theus, who was largely responsible for the original RiverWay South vision, also chaired the original River Front Development Committee for the Columbus Chamber of Commerce and ultimately led to the phenomenal Columbus RiverWalk Project.

Susan Peacock, Senior Community Economic Development Consultant, Georgia Electric Membership Corporation, is back again with ACF economic development success stories and to make certain we’re all in place for door prizes and introductions. She’ll also guide workshop participants as they describe their community’s most magnificent attractions. 

Alabama Dept. of Tourism’s Grey Brennan examines tourism from a marketing perspective.  Grey is a former broadcaster and life long resident of Alabama and has worked for the Alabama Bureau of Tourism and Travel since 2001. Brennan has a keen eye for tourism challenges and rewards throughout the ACF…especially in the diverse and unique environments so typical of our ACF watershed. Brennan is Marketing Manager and Supervisor of the Marketing and Group Travel Division, International Liaison and Regional Director for the Metropolitan Tourism Region. 

Morning sessions conclude with lunch at 12:30 PM and your registration includes lunch and dinner prepared by the outstanding culinary and service teams of the Lake Blackshear resort…regionally renowned for its fine cuisine.  

Don’t miss the afternoon keynote by Bruce Means who takes us on a virtual eco-tour of a National Biodiversity Hotspot as he explores the wonders of the coastal and marine ecosystems of Florida. Dr. Means is Executive Director of Coastal Plains Institute and Adjunct Professor, Biology at Florida State University.

Additionally, Thursday afternoon’s sessions feature University of Georgia’s Fanning Institute and Danny Bivens who outlines Project RiverWay and three years of outstanding achievements along the Chattahoochee and Apalachicola River towns.  This year’s Summer Studio Project takes off in Chattahoochee/Sneads FL and includes the confluence of the Apalachicola, Flint and Chattahoochee rivers. It will be the first time we’ve explored all three rivers in the same study. Find out how your community can become involved. 

If you still need to figure out how to fund those dreams and goals for your small town, United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development Specialist, Patricia Simmons will show you how to get the money you need to complete your community projects and fulfill dreams of renewed economic success and sustainability. She’ll have you writing your own grants in no time.

Around 4:30 PM, take the opportunity to participate in a variety of afternoon activities including local tours, golf, river recreation, turkey hunting, fishing, and a nature trail which is easily accessed and well marked. Information and signup sheets will be available at the registration desk. 

Friday, March 6th begins at 8:30 AM with a continental breakfast and opportunity to meet Wade Harrison from the Nature Conservancy who will provide insight into Preservation and Protection of the environment. Learn how the conservancy and RiverWay South strive to protect, promote and preserve the ACF and how your community can be involved. Wade will also explore how to meet the challenges of sprawling, uncontrolled growth. 

Friday morning is jam-packed with essential information vital to the protection of our heritage …both natural and cultural. National cultural heritage expert, Fred Fussell examines why we need to protect our cultural heritage. Fred reminds us of the wealth of cultural resources that exists throughout the ACF watershed. From the obvious to the often overlooked, our communities are rich in regionally distinctive attributes. He’ll help you recognize the amazing cultural treasures we have right here in our own backyards (including the ones you're sometimes a bit hesitant to claim).

To present yet another crucial component of quality community growth, Carol Couch, Georgia Environmental Protection Department (GPD) Director addresses water concerns that seem to be driving so many of our state decisions. Carol is scheduled for our final Friday keynote and the timing couldn’t be better as Georgia, Alabama and Florida continue to sit and wait on judges’ and courts’ decisions on how to interpret our water flow rates, water usage and the fate of our watershed.

The Summit will adjourn at 12:30 PM Friday.

You can register online here.

You can also mail in your registration. Send your registration to RiverWay South using the form included here.

For questions or more information, e-mail Carole Rutland (crutland@knology.net) or call 706.566.5257.

Explore options and find assistance to implement your own plans for specific community needs during this two day conference. Hear regional and national experts discuss innovative grant writing possibilities, sustainable economic development ideas, water issues, cultural heritage tourism, river recreation, nature based tourism and preservation.

Additionally, The University of Georgia will present spectacular findings from their ACF River Corridor Study, Project RiverWay, an exploratory trip from Bainbridge to Apalachicola. You'll be amazed at the final product.

You can register online here.

You can also mail in your registration. Send your registration to RiverWay South using the form included here.

For questions or more information, e-mail Carole Rutland (crutland@knology.net) or call 706.566.5267.