Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Little River Canyon To Be Expanded


Good news for the Little River Canyon National Preserve and for wildlands across the nations.

Check out the latest on the passage of the Omnibus Public Lands bill  from the Birmingham News - here.

Friday, March 20, 2009

BEN 2009 Event Calendar (Updated)

Birdwatching in a Park

View of O'Neal Bridge, Tennessee River and Florence, Alabama


Below is the latest BEN 2009 Event Calendar.

Schedules - Visit these websites to access up to date calendar of events in your community:

Environmental Education Centers: Museums, Zoos and Gardens

Dauphin Island Sea Lab -
http://www.disl.org
Friends of Locust Fork River -http://www.flfr.org
Huntsville Botanical Garden - http://hsvbg.org/events.htm
Landmark Park in Dothan - http://www.landmarkpark.org
Birmingham Botanical Gardens - http://www.bbgardens.org
Ruffner Mountain Nature Center - http://www.ruffnermountain.org
Dauphin Island Sea - http://www.disl.org
McWane Center - http://www.mcwane.org
Burrtitt in the Mountain - http://www.burrittonthemountain.com
Alabama Museum of Natural History - http://amnh.ua.edu/events.html

Environmental Education Hikes, Outings, Tours, Clean-ups, Tree Plantings

Freshwater Land Trust - http://www.freshwaterlandtrust.org
Jones Valley Urban Farm - http://www.jvuf.org
Alabama Chapter of the Sierra Club - http://alabama.sierraclub.org
Alabama Hiking Trail Society - http://www.hikealabama.org
Land Trust of Huntsville and North Alabama - http://www.landtrust-hsv.org
Shoals Earth Month - http://www.shoalsearthday.com
Alabama Power's Renew Our Rivers - http://www.alabamapower.com/lakes/schedule.asp
Alabama Wildlife Federation/Alabama Nature Center - http://www.alabamawildlife.org
Alabama Coastal Foundation - http://www.joinacf.org
Alabama Wildlife Center - http://www.awrc.org

Camps/Environmental Education Centers
Coastal Wonders - Environmental Education Programs at Beckwith - http://www.coastalwonders.org
Sumatanga Camp and Conference -http://www.sumatanga.org/env-education.php
Southern Environmental Center - http://www.myecoscapes.com

Special Fundraisers
Alabama Wildlife Federation (Wild Game Cook-Offs) - http://www.alabamawildlife.org/eventscalendar

State & Federal Events and Tours

Department of Conservation's Special Programs -
http://www.outdooralabama.com/Programs/
Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge Tours - http://www.fws.gov/bonsecour/wintertours.html

Television Schedule

Discovering Alabama -
http://www.aptv.org/Schedule/nolaschedule.asp?NOLA1=DSAL

*************************************************



February - June - Land Trust of Huntsville and North Alabama's Spring Burst Hikes - Visit http://www.landtrust-hsv.org/events for the schedule.

WRATT Emission's Testing Schedule - The Waste Reduction the Technology Transfer Foundation has released their 2009 auto emissions testing schedule in jefferson and Shelby counties. Check out the schedule at http://www.alabamacleanair.com/testing.html


Shoals Environmental Alliance Spring Nature Outings Schedule - Last week, The Shoals Environmental Alliance has released their 2009 Spring Nature Outings Schedule. Visit their website at http://shoalsenvironalliance.netfirms.com for details.


March 25-26 - Southeast Land Trust Alliance Conference - The 2009 Southeast Land Trust Conference - Auburn University's Dixon Conference in Auburn, Alabama. Check out the conference schedule and details at
http://www.lta.org (visit "events" on the webpage)

March 27 - Mobile Baykeeper Private Screening/Benefit - Mobile Baykeeper will be presenting Grand Canyon Adventure: RIver at Risk on the big screen on March 27, 2009 from 7-9 PM at the IMAX Gulf Exploreum. The evening will begin with a reception and followed by a brief presentation by the Mobile Baykeeper and the film. Tickets are $20. There will be refreshments provided by Budweiser-Busch Distributing of Mobile and Mobile Popcorn. Seating is limited and only advance sales tickets will be accepted. Call Mobile Baykeeper at 251-433-8197 for details or visit http://www.mobilebaykeeper.org

March 28 - Montgomery Tree Committee - The Montgomery Tree Committee will be holding the Spring Cypress Pond Walkabout, May 28th, 10:00 AM. Meet at the end of the Communications Parkway and wear boots! For details call 334-834-4848.

March 28 - Final race of the Alabama Cup "Locust Fork Classic" - King's Bend, Cleveland, Alabama, 9-5 - 205-706-4376 - sam@flfr.org

March 28-April 9 -Hummingbird Spring Banding at Fort Morgan State Historical Park, Fort Morgan, Alabama -Hours are from dawn until mid-afternoon - Contact Bob and Martha Sargent at 205-681-2888 or Rubythroat@aol.com - Visit
http://www.hummingbirdsplus.org

April 2- 13th Annual Green Tie Affair - The Alabama Environmental Council will be holding their 13th Annual Green Tie Affair on April 2nd, 6:30pm at the Flower Stems Loft, 213 Richard Arrington Blvd. South in Birmingham, Alabama. Tickets are $50. For event details visit - http://www.aeconline.org


April 2 - Sibyl Goes Green - The Sibyl temple Foundation in partnership with the Vestavia Hills Garden Club will be holding "Sibyl Goes Green" a day of eco-living to benefit the Sibyl Temple Foundation. The event is scheduled for April 2nd, 9:30a, to 4:00pm at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. National eco-living expert Laura Turner Seydel will on hand. For complete details visit http://www.sibylgoesgreen.com


April 3 - Darwin Bicentennial Symposium with E.O Wilson - The Association of Southeastern Biologists will be holding a symposium on April 3rd, 1:00pm to 5:00pm titled Natural Selection in Past, Present and Future - The Darwin Bicentennial Symposium and Tributes to E. O. Wilson. The event will be held at the Birmingham Civic Center. Dr. E. O. Wilson is scheduled to speak. For additional info, visit http://www.asb.appstate.edu/meeting.php The Friday afternoon symposium is open to the public. There will be a $40 charge at the door.


April 4 - Black Warrior Riverkeeper Benefit - The Locust Fork Band will be playing a charity concert for the Black Warrior Riverkeeper at Bottletree Cafe in Birmingham on Saturday, April 4th, 3-6 PM. For details call 205-458-0095.

April 4-5 - Paddle Alabama - Thomasville, Alabama - http://www.alabamascenicrivertrail.com

April 8 - Nobel Prize Winner Susan Solomon - "The Ireland Lecture - A World of Climate Change Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow - 5:30pm at the Alys Stephens Center on the UAB campus

April 14- "Road Kills on Battleship Parkway and the new Alabama Red-bellied Turtle Fence" presented by Dr. David Nelson, University of South Alabama 7:30 at 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center

April 17-18 - STICKS Country Music Festival, Palmer Hill in Auburn - visit http://www.conservationalabama.org for details.

April 18 - Dauphin Island Sea Lab's Discovery Day - Discovery Day 2009 will celebrated at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab this spring on April 18th, 10am-2pm . For details visit http://www.disl.org and hit the "What's New" banner link.

April 18 - Flint River Conservation Association Earth Day at the Hays Nature Preserve - visit http://www.flintriverconservation.org

April 18 - Lowndes Citizens United for Action Earth Day - in the Haynesville Town Square - 10am to 2pm - for details contact barbara@wildlaw.org

April 19 - Earth Fest - Tuscaloosa's Annual Earth Day Event on the University of Alabama campus - http://bama.ua.edu/~UAEC/

April 18 - Grow Alabama's Earth Day on the Farm - Blount County - For details, visit http://www.growalabama.com/events.shtml

April 19 - Party for the Planet Earth Day Celebration at the Birmingham Zoo - visit http://www.birminghamzoo.com

April 21-22 - Earth Day Safari at the Montgomery Zoo - http://www.montgomeryzoo.com

April 19 - Earthbound's Earthfest - to benefit the Black Warrior Riverkeeper - from 1:00pm to Sundown at the Bessie Estelle Park near the UAB campus - call 205-458-0095 for details

April 22 - 18th Annual Auntie Litter Parade and Celebration - Birmingham -
http://www.auntielitter.org

April 23 - Earth Day at Samford University - visit http://www.samford.edu/earthday/

April 25 - Earth Day Mobile Bay 2009 - 19th Annual Mobile Bay Earth Day - 10:00am to 7:00pm - Fairhope Pier Park, Fairhope, Alabama.

April 25 - Shoals Earth Day and Earth Month - April 25th, 11:00 to 6:00 at Wilson Park in Florence, Alabama - Visit
http://www.shoalsearthday.com or contact NancyMuseSea@aol.com or 256-767-2909.

April 25 - "A view from the Earth" 3rd Annual Earth Day Celebration in Collinsville, Alabama - visit http://www.dreamfieldproduction.net or call 256-844-8235

April 25 - Earth Day at Bellingrath Gardens in Mobile with Mobile Baykeeper - 9:00AM to 3:00PM - for details visit http://www.bellingrath.org/earth-day.html

April 25 - Wildlaw Presents Earth Day in Tuskegee National Forest at the Taska Recreation Center - 11am to 1pm - details, barbara@wildlaw.org or http://www.wildlaw.org

April 26 - Earth Day at the Gardens - 12th Annual Earth Day at the Gardens - Birmingham Botanical Gardens -
http://www.bbgardens.org

April 28 - Coastal Kids Quiz in Daphne, Alabama - Contact the Alabama Coastal Foundation for details at 251-990-6002.

May 2- Outdoor Alabama Expo 2009 - The Department of Conservation will be holding the 2009 Outdoor Alabama Expo, 9:00 to 5:00 at Oak Mountain State Park.

May 2 - Learn to be an Oyster Gardener - The Mobile Bay Oyster Gardening Program will be holding Oyster Gardening workshops on April 18th - 10:00am, at the Alabama Gulf Coast Convention and Visitor Bureau in Orange Beach and May 2nd - 10:00am at the Auburn Shellfish Laboratory on Dauphin Island. Contact PJ Waters at 251-438-5690 for details and to reserve a seat.

May - June - Cahaba River Society will hold canoe trip each weekend to view the Cahaba lilies - contact them at http://www.cahabariversociety.org for details.

May 7-10 - 32nd Annual Audubon Mountain Workshop - Mentone, Alabama - http://www.birminghamaudubon.org

May 13-14 - 5th Annual State of Our Watershed Conference at the Betty Carol Graham technology Center, Central Alabama Community College, Alexander City, Alabama - for conference info, visit
http://www.twp.auburn.edu

May 30 - Spring Hill Medical Grandman Triathlon - Event benefiting Mobile Baykeeper - Visit Mobile Baykeeper at
http://www.mobilebaykeeper.org for details

May 30 - The Cahaba Lily Festival in West Blocton, Alabama -
http://www.cahabalily.com

June 11-13 - Paddle Alabama at Coosa Weiss Lake - for details, visit http://www.alabamascenicrivertrail.com

June 23-25 and July 13-16 - Alabama Forestry Foundation's Teacher's Conservation Workshops - visit
http://www.alaforestry.org

July 28-29 - Take Pride Statewide Conference 2009 - http://www.auntielitter.org/takepridestatewide.html

September 25-26 - Green Coast 2009 - Pensacola, Florida - 251-928-2309 -
http://www.smartcoast.org

November 7-8 - Paddle Alabama at Claiborne Dam , Alabama River - for details http://www.alabamascenicrivertrail.com

BEN - March 20, 2009 #319




Headwaters Gathering Deadline Today


Don't miss this great gathering of inspirational environmental writers and speakers.  Join us March 27-29 in Asheville, North Carolina for the Headwaters Gathering.  


Visit http://www.headwatersgathering.org  to register.  


*********************************************


Headwaters: A Journey on Alabama Rivers


Order online this amazing book of 150 photographs from Alabama's "Ansel Adams" Beth Maynor Young.  This visually stunning book is complimented by the narration of master storyteller John C. Hall.  Order your book today at http://www.KingfisherEditions.com - hit the "news" link.


**************************************** 


1. National State of the Birds Report Released - Yesterday, the Department of Interior released  "The State of the Birds - United States of America 2009" report. 


Here are some of the report's findings:


First some good news.


Wetlands: Although many wetland birds show troubling declines, conservation programs have protected millions of acres and contributed to thriving populations of hunted waterfowl, herons, egrets and other birds.  Lesser Scaup, Northern Pintail and several sea ducks are showing troubling declines, but most geese are increasing dramatically and many ducks have held steady.


Waterfowl: On the whole 39 species of hunted waterfowl have increased by more than 100% during the past 40 years.


Some Troubling News


Oceans: At least 39% of U.S. birds restricted to ocean habitats are declining and almost half are of conservation concern, indicating deteriorating ocean conditions.


Coasts: Half of all migrating shorebirds have declined, indicating stress in coastal habitats besieged by development, disturbance and dwindling food supplies.


Forests: Representing eastern, western, boreal, and subtropical forests, the forest birds indicator dropped by roughly 10% from 1968 through increased slightly.  In eastern forests, the indicator dropped by nearly 25%.


To read the entire report  - visit http://www.stateofthebirds.org


2. Huntsville and Auburn Fastest Growing Cities in 2008 - According to the Birmingham News, two Alabama metro areas, made the Census Bureau's list of the fastest-growing metro areas from 2007 to 2008.  The metro areas were Huntsville (ranked 27th) and  Auburn -Opelika (ranked 54th).


The Birmingham-Hoover metro remains Alabama's largest population center increasing 6.3% since 2000 to reach 1,117,608 people.  The region is the 48th largest metro area in the U.S. 


Other interesting figures of note:  Limestone County was the fastest growing county with a 3.1% increase, followed by Shelby, Madison, St. Clair, Coffee, Lee, Blount, Baldwin, Houston and Franklin counties.  Statewide, Alabama has increased its population from 4,447,355 in 2000 to 4,661,900 in 2008.


Visit http://www.tuscaloosanews.com and go to their "special sections" links to access the entire Alabama Census database.


3. Fox 6 Reports on Ruffner Mountain and the Clover Crawl + Canyon Center Opening Video - Fox 6 - a television station in Birmingham produced in past two weeks three environmental news segments about the new buildings and expansion at Ruffner Mountain and a preview about this weekend's Clover Crawl in Homewood. 


Check them out at the links below:

http://www.myfoxal.com/dpp/features/20090311_FOXe_Report_Ruffner_Mountain_Nature_Center

http://www.myfoxal.com/dpp/features/20090318_FOXe_Report_Clover_Crawl

http://www.myfoxal.com/dpp/gda_publish/20090320Jeh_Jeh_Live_Green_Friday


Also - In late February the Little River Canyon Center held it's grand opening.  More than 4000 people attended the special event.  Here is a video captured by the Birmingham News/al.com 

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2009/02/canyon_center_opens.html


4. Autauga County's Bluebird Trail - In last week's  Montgomery Advertiser, a wonderful story was written about a great movement occurring in Autauga County - the creation of the Autauga Bluebird Trail.


According to the Advertiser, in the spring of 2006, 14 bluebird nest boxes were placed along Alabama 14 in Autauga County.  This year, the nesting boxes have spread into Elmore and Coosa counties for a total of 225 boxes aimed at increasing the number of eastern bluebirds.  Local high students at Stanhope Elmore and Wetumpka high schools will be monitoring the boxes.  


The goal of the group?  Create an Alabama bluebird trail following Alabama 14 as it crosses the state from Georgia to Mississippi.  Check out their efforts at http://www.autaugabluebirdtrail.com


5. BEN Notes:  GRCA's Clover Crawl, Cahaba River Society Headwaters Book Debut Benefit, Mobile Baykeeper Private Screening/Benefit, Montgomery Tree Committee, Green Tie Affair, Sibyl Goes Green, Darwin Bicentennial Symposium with E. O. Wilson, Black Warrior Riverkeeper Benefit, Dauphin Island Sea Lab's Discovery Day


GRCA's Clover Crawl - The Green Resource Center for Alabama will be hosting their annual Clover Crawl Green Home and garden Expo 2009 on Saturday, March 21st, 10am -4pm at Vulcan Park and Museum.  Check out the details at http://www.greenalabama.org .  


Cahaba River Society Headwaters Book Debut Benefit - Join the Cahaba River Society in celebrating the debut of Headwaters - A Journey on Alabama Rivers by photographer Beth Maynor Young and storyteller John Hall.  The event will be held Thursday, March 26th at O'Kafe's, Martin Biscuit Building, 2901 2nd Ave. South in Birmingham.  A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Cahaba River Society.


Mobile Baykeeper Private Screening/Benefit - Mobile Baykeeper will be presenting Grand Canyon Adventure: RIver at Risk on the big screen on March 27, 2009 from 7-9 PM at the IMAX Gulf Exploreum.  The evening will begin with a reception and followed by a brief presentation by the Mobile Baykeeper and the film. Tickets are $20.  There will be refreshments provided by Budweiser-Busch Distributing of Mobile and Mobile Popcorn.  Seating is limited and only advance sales tickets will be accepted.  Call Mobile Baykeeper at 251-433-8197 for details or visit http://www.mobilebaykeeper.org


Montgomery Tree Committee - The Montgomery Tree Committee will be holding the Spring Cypress Pond Walkabout, March 28th, 10:00 AM.  Meet at the end of the Communications Parkway and wear boots!  For details call 334-834-4848.


13th Annual Green Tie Affair - The Alabama Environmental Council will be holding their 13th Annual Green Tie Affair on April 2nd, 6:30pm at the Flower Stems Loft, 213 Richard Arrington Blvd. South in Birmingham, Alabama.  Tickets are $50.  For event details visit - http://www.aeconline.org


Sibyl Goes Green - The Sibyl temple Foundation in partnership with the Vestavia Hills Garden Club will be holding "Sibyl Goes Green" a day of eco-living to benefit the Sibyl Temple Foundation.  The event is scheduled for April 2nd, 9:30a, to 4:00pm at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. National eco-living expert Laura Turner Seydel will on hand.  For complete details visit http://www.sibylgoesgreen.com


Darwin Bicentennial Symposium with E.O Wilson - The Association of Southeastern Biologists will be holding a symposium on April 3rd, 1:00pm to 5:00pm titled Natural Selection in Past, Present and Future - The Darwin Bicentennial Symposium and Tributes to E. O.  Wilson.  The event will be held at the Birmingham Civic Center.  Dr. E. O.  Wilson is scheduled to speak.  For additional info, visit http://www.asb.appstate.edu/meeting.php  The Friday afternoon symposium is open to the public.


Black Warrior Riverkeeper Benefit - The Locust Fork Band will be playing a charity concert for the Black Warrior Riverkeeper at Bottletree Cafe in Birmingham on Saturday, April 4th, 3-6 PM.  For details call 205-458-0095.


Dauphin Island Sea Lab's Discovery Day - Discovery Day 2009 will celebrated at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab this spring on April 18th, 10am-2pm.  For details visit http://www.disl.org  and hit the "What's New" banner link.

Monday, March 16, 2009

BEN - March 16, 2009 #318




Gulf of Mexico Survey - Please take a few minutes and submit your comments today!


The Gulf of Mexico Alliance has been developing their next Gulf regional plan.  The draft is currently available for comment:  They need Alabama's input.  Comment peroid closes Friday, March 20, 2009.  Here is the survey:


http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=JxpweEqgvvqLdm_2f35MGcQg_3d_3d 


***********************************************


The Wilderness Society will be holding a national climate change conference March 27-29 in Asheville, North Carolina.  You will not only learn about the challenges of climate change, at this gathering, but also expect be inspired  to take action. 


Visit  http://www.headwatersgathering.org  for details.


**********************************************


Check out the Locust Fork News-Journal's story about the TVA Coal Ash Spill Clean Up which begins on March 20th.  The article also includes an onsite video of the disaster.


http://blog.locustfork.net/2009/03/04/tva-to-begin-coal-ash-spill-cleanup-march-20/


********************************************


1. Conservation Alabama's Legislative Hot List - Each week, Conservation Alabama releases their legislative Conservation Hot List  of bills in the Alabama legislature.  Below is a sampling of their top legislative priorities.


Legislative Priority #1 - HB193/SB388 - Provides for a sales tax holiday for energy star products.

Legislative Priority #2 - HJR37 - Eatablishes waterways designated outstanding by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management as Alabama Scenic River through the Alabama Bureau of Tourism and Travel.


Legislation Supported

HB13 - Requires ADEM to identify environmentally high impact areas on a county basis and compile data on toxic releases into the environment 

HB165 - Creates an Independent Transportation Commission

HB185/SB65 - Provides for Green Fleet legislation

HB186/SB66 - Eliminates certain regulations on the manufacture and transprtation of ethyl achohol

HB188/SB288 - Establishes income tax cedits for installation of energy efficiency equipment

SB72/HB632 - Solid waste disposal management plan. Request considered denied if not acted upon 90 days.

HB 449 - Prohibits any new rock quarry from operating two miles of a school.


Legislation Opposed

SB163/SB279 - Would take $1 billion from Alabama Trust fund over the next ten years to fund road and bridge construction

SB217 - Gives ALDOT greater ability to seek private partnerships for toll road and expand access to funding to build more toll roads and bridges

SB437 - Allows replacement of billboards in certain geograpic areas if they are destroyed by an act of God.


To view the entire list of environmental legislation and Conservation Alabama's positions, go to http://www.conservationalabama.org or here .


2. Alabama Environmental Projects in the Federal Omnibus Appropriations - According to various press releases from Senator Richard Shelby's office, several environmental programs and projects received federal funding in the Federal Omnibus Appropriations legislation that was passed by Congress and signed into law last week.  Here are some of the projects that were funded:


Alabama National Forests  - These monies will assist in the purchase of land with in the boundaries of Alabama's National Forests - $1.25 million


Auburn University Alternative Fuel Source Study of Cement Kilns - A private/public partnership that will study the conversion of alternate fuel sources for cement production while minimizing waste and discharge into the environment. - $1.47 million


Old Cawaba Visitor Center - A center, which 35,000 people visit annaully, was destroyed by fire.  State  and private monies will match the re-bulilding of this important site.  $300.000


4-H Environmental Science Education Center - $500,000


Check out the entire list of projects at Senator Shelby's website at http://shelby.senate.gov/public/


3. City of Huntsville to Launch Sustainable Industry Council - New Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle announced last week that he will be forming a Sustainable Industry Council, in an effort to make Huntsville a more environmentally friendly community.  


The program, which will be launched on Earth Day April 22nd,  will be charged to make recommendations that will make city government  more environmentally conscious. Some of the activites may include switching to energy and water saving technologies in city buildings, engage the city in more green thinking, improve recycling and public transportation efforts, and  recommend ways for local industries can do their part such as using solar power systems and clean-burn technologies.


4. BEN Notes: ARA Watershed Leadership Conference, EEAA Conference, Cahaba River Society Headwaters Book Debut Benefit, Mobile Riverkeeper Private Screening/Benefit, Montgomery Tree Committee, Black Warrior Riverkeeper Benefit, Dauphin Island Sea Lab's Discovery Day,  "Growing Roots" Connecting Educators and their Children to Nature", Learn to be an Oyster Gardener,  WRATT Emission's Testing Schedule, Shoals Environmental Alliance Spring Nature Outing Schedule


ARA Watershed Leadership Conference - The Alabama Rivers Alliance will be holding their 11th Annual Watershed Leadership Conference on March 20-22 at beautiful Camp McDowell.  Visit http://www.alabamarivers.org for details.


EEAA Conference - The Environmental Education Association of Alabama will be holding their Annual Conference - titled "Woods and Water: Connections in Nature" from March 19 to March 21 at the Alabama 4-H Center in Columbiana, Alabama.  For information about the event, visit http://www.eeaa.us   or call 256-426-5871.


Cahaba River Society Headwaters Book Debut Benefit - Join the Cahaba River Society in celebrating the debut of Headwaters - A Journey on Alabama Rivers by photographer Beth Maynor Young and storyteller John Hall.  The event will be held Thursday, March 26th at O'Kafe's, Martin Biscuit Building, 2901 2nd Ave. South in Birmingham.  A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Cahaba River Society.


Mobile Baykeeper Private Screening/Benefit - Mobile Baykeeper will be presenting Grand Canyon Adventure: RIver at Risk on the big screen on March 27, 2009 from 7-9 PM at the IMAX Gulf Exploreum.  The evening will begin with a reception and followed by a brief presentation by the Mobile Baykeeper and the film. Tickets are $20.  There will be refreshments provided by Budweiser-Busch Distributing of Mobile and Mobile Popcorn.  Seating is limited and only advance sales tickets will be accepted.  Call Mobile Baykeeper at 251-433-8197 for details or visit http://www.mobilebaykeeper.org


Montgomery Tree Committee - The Montgomery Tree Committee will be holding the Spring Cypress Pond Walkabout, 10:00 AM.  Meet at the end of the Communications Parkway and wear boots!  For details call 334-834-4848.


Black Warrior Riverkeeper Benefit - The Locust Fork Band will be playing a charity concert for the Black Warrior Riverkeeper at Bottletree Cafe in Birmingham on Saturday, April 4th, 3-6 PM.  For details call 205-458-0095.


Dauphin Island Sea Lab's Discovery Day - Discovery Day 2009 will celebrated at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab this spring on April 18th, 10am-2pm .  For details visit http://www.disl.org  and hit the "What's New" banner link.


"Growing Roots" Connecting Educators and their Children to Nature" - The McDowell Environmental Center and Legacy are teaming together to offer a free teacher workshop - "Growing Roots" Connecting Educators and their Children to Nature" .  the workshops will be held June 8-10 at Camp McDowell.  For info call Maggie Wade Johnston  at 205-387-1806 or Toni Bruner 334-270-5921.


Learn to be an Oyster Gardener - The Mobile Bay Oyster Gardening Program will be holding Oyster Gardening workshops on April 18th - 10:00am, at the Alabama Gulf Coast Convention and Visitor Bureau in Orange Beach and May 2nd - 10:00am at the Auburn Shellfish Laboratory on Dauphin Island.  Contact PJ Waters at 251-438-5690 for details and to reserve a seat.


WRATT Emission's Testing Schedule - The Waste Reduction the Technology Transfer Foundation has released their 2009 auto emissions testing schedule in jefferson and Shelby counties.  Check out the schedule at http://www.alabamacleanair.com/testing.html


Shoals Environmental Alliance Spring Nature Outings Schedule - Last week, The Shoals Environmental Alliance has released their 2009 Spring Nature Outings Schedule.  Visit their website at http://shoalsenvironalliance.netfirms.com  for details.