Friday, May 30, 2008

BEN - May 27, 2008 #304

Climate Change and the Future of Hunting and Fishing


Eight of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership's partner hunting, fishing and conservation organizations have released Season's End, a new report detailing the impacts of climate change on the habitat and distribution of fish and game in the U.S. and implications for sustainable hunting and fishing.


The contributing partners include: Ducks Unlimited, Trout Unlimited, BASS/ESPN Outdoors, Izaak Walton League of America, Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Coastal Conservation Association, American Sportfishing Association, Pheasants Forever, and Wildlife Management Institute.


Check the website at:  http://www.seasonsend.org


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Sen. Sessions Energy Tour - This week, Senator Jeff Sessions will be holding an ambitious 15 event statewide energy tour of Alabama outlining his vision for conservation and energy efficiency and a transition to advanced technology.  Some of the events include:


May 27, 8:00 AM - Tour of the LEED Certified Social Security Administration Building with Green Alabama Members


May 29, Tennessee Valley Corridor Summit - Huntsville


May 30,  11:15-12:45 - Auburn University Energy Forum/Lunch


For information about Sen. Session's entire schedule call 202-224-3121.



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1. Forever Wild Adds 154 Acres to Monte Sano State Park in Huntsville - Last week, Forever Wild and the Land Trust of Huntsville and North Alabama announced the preservation of 154 acres on Monte Sano Mountain in Huntsville, Alabama.


The Land Trust nominated the property known as the "Terry Tract" to Alabama's Forever Wild conservation program.  It is located on the north end of Monte Sano Mountain and connects The Land Trust's Monte Sano Preserve and Monte Sano State Park.  The Terry Tract is home to a long section of the much loved "Flat Rock" trail which features rock formations and waterfalls.  The new addition, which will be a part  of  Monte Sano State Park was made possible by a partnership between the city of Huntsville, the Land Trust and Forever Wild.


Since 1994, Forever Wild has purchased and preserved more than 138,000 acres of land in Alabama for wildlife management, nature preserves, additions to state parks and outdoor recreation.


2. TVA Sets New Environmental and Energy Goals - In celebration of TVA's 75th Anniversary, through the adoption of a new broad environmental policy, the federal utility's board of directors pledged to reduce its carbon footprint while meeting the region's growing electricity demand.


The new policy calls for TVA to generate half of the agency's power needs from renewable and clean energy sources by 2020, up from 35% today.  The agency also plans to spend as much as $1 billion over the next several years on energy conservation and efficiency programs.  TVA's goal is to reduce growth in peak demand by up to 1,400 megawatts by the end of 2012.  That would exceed the output of one new nuclear reactor.


According to the Associated Press, TVA also expects to complete a seventh nuclear reactor in Tennessee, by 2012, and is studying whether to build a next generation twin-reactor plant in Alabama.


3. Mobile Register: Plan to Open Dams to Restore Fish Migrations - According to Sunday's Mobile Register, a coalition of federal and state regulators, and environmental groups are working on a plan to restore fish migrations between the Cahaba River to the Gulf of Mexico, by helping the fish get around dams.


The plan in Alabama follows a similar effort in Georgia which "opened up" navigation locks to allow flow, in lieu of spending millions of dollars and building complicated fish ladders.  By restoring the fish migrations and reconnecting the Cahaba to the Gulf, conservationist hope to "recover" a multitude of fish and mussel species whose populations have declined drastically since the locks were built in the late 1960s.


Check out the entire story about this exciting new conservation project from the Mobile Register - here


4. Freshwater Land Trust Partners With FoodSource Lures - Here is a creative way to raise funds for conservation.  The Freshwater Land Trust and FoodSource Lures have created the Alabama Rivers  series of fishing lures named after Alabama waterways.  The first lures in the series include:


1) the 2-inch Turkey Creek Darter, named for Turkey Creek in Pinson, Alabama

2) the 3-inch Little Warrior, named for the Little Warrior River, a tributary of the Black Warrior River

3) the 4-inch Coosa Flick, named for the Coosa River.


FoodSource has agreed to donate a portion of the proceeds from the sale of lures to help the Freshwater Land Trust fulfill its mission of acquisition and stewardship of lands that enhance water quality and preserve open space.  For more information about this program, contact the Freshwater Land Trust at 205-226-7900.


5. BEN Notes:  Job Openings: Red Mountain Park Director, Mobile Bay NEP Program Director, 4-H Asst. Manager,   Cahaba Lily Festival, Black Warrior Riverkeeper Concert, Dauphin Island  Sea Labs Summer Programs, Waterfootprint.com


Job Openings: Red Mountain Park Director, Mobile Bay NEP Program Director, 4-H Asst. Manager


Red Mountain Park Executive Director - The new Red Mountain Park in Birmingham is seeking its first executive director.  For information about the position contact Wheless Associates, Morley Alexander at 205-531-6925 or forward your resume and biography to Morley@WhelessAssociates.com


Mobile Bay NEP Program Director - The Mobile Bay National Estuary Program is seeking a Program Director to implement its many community based programs.  To obtain a complete job description visit - http://www.mobilebaynep.com or http://www.disl.org


4-H Asst. Manager - The 4-H Youth Development Center of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System located in Columbiana, Alabama is seeking an Assistant Manager, Education and Programming.  To obtain forms and information concerning this position, call 334-844-5324 or visit http://www.aces.edu/hr


Cahaba Lily Festival - Join us in West Blocton at the Cahaba Lily Festival on May 31st.  This year there will be a dulcimer and bluegrass concert and a story telling event.  For details visit http://www.cahabalily.com/CahabaLilyFestival.htm


Black Warrior Riverkeeper Concert - The Black Warrior Riverkeepers will be holding a benefit concert featuring Rollin in the Hay - June 5th at Bottletree in Birmingham, Alabama.  Tickets are $10.  For additional call 205-458-0095 or visit http://www.blackwarriorriver.org


Dauphin Island  Sea Labs Summer Programs - Dauphin Island Sea Lab still has openings for its summer programs for students of all ages  Check them out at http://www.disl.org or call 251-861-2141.


Waterfootprint.com  -  We have all seen those websites calculating your carbon footprint.  Check out this new site which measures your "water footprint".  Visit http://www.waterfootprint.org

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