BEN - Bama Environmental News

Conservation Alabama's Endorsements - Higher Ground Roasters Contribute Over $50,000 to Environmental Groups - Wildlaw Protects Alabama Old Growth - Alabama's Oyster Reefs Worth $3 miilion in 2005 - $76,589 in 2009

Op-eds, Links and Videos

Conservation Alabama's 2010 Endorsements

Hit this hyperlink! - Help Fiery Gizzard TODAY! - Please support this important Land Trust for Tennessee project that is just over the Alabama stateline near the University of the South - Sewanee. Today (Oct. 29th) is the last day to contribute.

Baldwin County Stormwater Amendment Vote

http://blog.al.com/jdcrowe/2010/10/baldwin_co_stormwater.html

Join the Forever Wild Coalition

http://www.alforeverwild.com

Gulf Spill Restoration Website

http://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/

Big Canoe Creek BioBlitz (Video)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cN_T9E_s1as

Friends of Big Canoe Creek

http://www.bigcanoecreek.org/index.htm

New Organization: Conservation Photographers of Alabama

http://www.conservationphotographersofalabama.org/

Ocean's Foundation Releases New Gulf Restoration Fund (Please Donate)

http://www.gulfrestorationfund.org/

Legacy's Alabama Gulf Coast Environmental Recovery Fund

http://www.legacyenved.org/index.php/agcerf

Important Invasive Species Websites

http://www.invasive.org/south and http://www.cogongrass.org

News

Wildlaw Wins Protection for Old Growth Forests Within Alabama's National Forests

http://www.wildlaw.org/news/10222010.htm

Birmingham Meets 2010 Ozone Standard

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2010/10/birmingham_air_passes_epa_test.html

Alabama's Oyster Reefs Worth $3 miilion in 2005 - $76,589 in 2009

http://blog.al.com/live/2010/10/alabama_to_limit_oyster_harves.html

Alabama's Higher Ground Roaster Gives Over $50,000 to Environmental & Local Charities

http://bamanews2.blogspot.com/2010/10/higher-ground-roasters-gives-thousands.html

http://www.highergroundroasters.com

Southern Environmental Law Center's Alabama Wetlands Protection Project

http://www.southernenvironment.org/cases/wetlands_protection_project_al/

BEN Calendar

Ducks Unlimited Fundraising - Dinners and Banquets Throughout Alabama Nov-Feb.

http://www.ducks.org/states/31/events/index.html

Birmingham Botanical Gardens Presents an Evening with Paulett H. Ogard and Sara Bright - Authors of Alabama Butterflies - October 29, 5:30 at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens

Land Trust of Huntsville and North Alabama - Autumn Ramble

http://landtrust-hsv.org/2010-autumn-ramble-guided-hikes/

CAWACO Annual Meeting - Nov. 2-3

http://www.cawaco.org/?page_id=108

Get the Grant! Workshops - November 4th @ 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center, Spanish Fort

http://www.gulfalliancetraining.org/detail.aspx?Id=31

US Green Building Council Tour of Green Mountain Glass - November 5th, 11:30 in Huntsville

http://www.usgbcofal.org/event.php?cn=151

Canyon Fest - Nov. 6th at 10-3 at Little River Canyon Center in Fort Payne

http://www.jsu.edu/epic/EventCC.html

Moss Rock Festival - November 6-7

http://www.mossrockfestival.com/home/

Deepwater BP Oil Spill Natural Resource Damage Assessment & Restoration Public Involvement Meeting - November 11th, 6-8pm at the Five Rivers Alabama's Delta Resource Center

Postcards From the Gulf - At Saenger Theatre - Nov. 12th, 6:00 to 9:00pm

http://joinacf.org/join/events

Get the Grant! Workshop - November 16 @ Weeks Bay National Resource Center - "Tips for Writing Winning Grants"

http://www.gulfalliancetraining.org/detail.aspx?Id=31

Nurses and Environmental Health - Health Consequences of the Gulf Oil Spill - Nov. 19 - Univ. of South Alabama

http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07e32a6ekm9f545264&llr=75qcu5dab

Alabama-Mississippi Bays and Bayous Symposium in Mobile - December 1-2

http://www.mobilebaynep.com/baysandbayous

Alabama Clean Water Partnership Annual Conference - December 8th in Clanton

http://cleanwaterpartnership.org/events/?eventID=71&date=12/08/2010

Save the Date - 2011 Watershed Leadershed Conference - March 11-13 at Camp McDowell

http://www.alabamarivers.org/

EEAA's Annual Conference "Learning Among the Longleafs" April 14-16 - Call for Proposals

http://www.eeaa.us/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=115:learning-among-the-longleafs-helping-ee-grow-2011&catid=48:conference&Itemid=173

Little River Canyon Field School 2010 & 2011 Schedules

http://www.jsu.edu/epic/docs/JSU_Field_Schools_2010_Calendar_of_Events_May_26_2010.pdf

http://www.jsu.edu/epic/docs/2011_Field_School_Programs_Updated_10_04_10.pdf

Grants and Resources Available

Gulf Guardian Nominations - Applications

http://www.epa.gov/gmpo/

Migratory Bird Grants - Deadline November 1st.

http://www.fws.gov/birdhabitat/Grants/NMBCA/index.shtm

Starbucks Youth Grants - Shared Planet Youth Grants

http://www.starbucksfoundation.com/index.cfm?objectid=998EF1C4-1D09-317F-BBF7F71F7B681A12

Recovered Oil Fund for Wildlife

http://www.nfwf.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Charter_Programs_List&TEMPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=17427

Dauphin Island Sea Lab Teacher and Student Resources

http://dhp.disl.org/resources.html

Higher Ground Roasters Gives Thousands to Alabama Groups

Alabama's Higher Ground Roaster's promotes (on their own product!) and contributes to many environmental and local non-profit organizations. In the past few years, the company has given over $50,000 to the following 17 organizations.

1. Appalachian Trail Conference

2. Black Warrior Riverkeeper

3. Alabama Rivers Alliance

4. Alabama Environmental Council

5. War On Hunger

6. Freshwater Land Trust

7. Aids Alabama

8. Jones Valley Urban Farm

9. Cahaba River Society

10. Literacy Council of AL

11. Access Fund

12. Tenn. Org Growers Assoc

13. Southern Environmental Center

14. Alabama Blues Project

15. Greater B'ham Humane Society

16. Mercy Corps International

17. The Wilderness Society (added this Summer)

Check out this wonderful company out of Leeds, Alabama and the good works they do at:

http://www.highergroundroasters.com/

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

BEN - October 20, 2010 #338

An Alabama Fairy House

* Special In this Edition: Check out Green Jobs, Grants and Resources

Op-eds, Links and Videos

Ocean's Foundation Releases New Gulf Restoration Fund (Please Donate)

http://www.gulfrestorationfund.org/

Legacy's Alabama Gulf Coast Environmental Recovery Fund

http://www.legacyenved.org/index.php/agcerf

Alabama Wildlife Center Release Owls On Forever Wild Land (Video)

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2010/10/alabama_wildlife_center_releas.html

News

Birmingham News Interviews Gubernatorial Candidates on the Environment (Videos)

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2010/10/the_race_for_alabama_governor.html

Hoover Creates "Plastic Island"

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2010/10/island_of_plastic_drink_bottle.html#incart_hbx

Scientists Grade Gulf's Health

http://blog.al.com/live/2010/10/scientists_lower_gulfs_health.html

Alabama Ranks 49th Nationally on Energy Efficiency

http://blog.al.com/birmingham-news-stories/2010/10/alabama_brings_up_the_rear_as.html

Willdfires on the Increase in Alabama

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2010/10/wildfires_scorch_alabama.html

http://www.forestry.state.al.us/communities_at_risk.aspx?bv=1&s=4

Shepherd Bend Mine Receives Permit

http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20101020/NEWS/101019528/1007?Title=Panel-grants-permit-for-strip-mine

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2010/10/permit_granted_to_mine_near_bi.html

Alabama - Florida Coastal Cleanup

http://www.northescambia.com/?p=32168

BEN Calendar

Land Trust of Huntsville and North Alabama - Autumn Ramble

http://landtrust-hsv.org/2010-autumn-ramble-guided-hikes/

Interfaith Environmental Iniative of Alabama Energy Forum in Birmingham - October 21

http://www.interfaithenvironmental.org/?page_id=310

Electronic Recycling - Technical Knock Out - October 24th, 1-4, Whole Foods Birmingham

Alabama Urban Forestry Association's Annual Conference - Oct. 27-29 in Birmingham

http://www.aufa.com/id64.html

CAWACO Annual Meeting - Nov. 2-3

http://www.cawaco.org/?page_id=108

Get the Grant! Workshops - November 4th @ 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center, Spanish Fort

http://www.gulfalliancetraining.org/detail.aspx?Id=31

Moss Rock Festival - November 6-7

http://www.mossrockfestival.com/home/

Postcards From the Gulf - At Saenger Theatre - Nov. 12th, 6:00 to 9:00pm

http://joinacf.org/join/events

Get the Grant! Workshop - November 16 @ Weeks Bay National Resource Center - "Tips for Writing Winning Grants"

http://www.gulfalliancetraining.org/detail.aspx?Id=31

Nurses and Environmental Health - Health Consequences of the Gulf Oil Spill - Nov. 19 - Univ. of South Alabama

http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07e32a6ekm9f545264&llr=75qcu5dab

Alabama-Mississippi Bays and Bayous Symposium in Mobile - December 1-2

http://www.mobilebaynep.com/baysandbayous

Alabama Clean Water Partnership Annual Conference - December 8th in Clanton

http://cleanwaterpartnership.org/events/?eventID=71&date=12/08/2010

Save the Date - 2011 Watershed Leadershed Conference - March 11-13 at Camp McDowell

http://www.alabamarivers.org/

EEAA's Annual Conference "Learning Among the Longleafs" April 14-16 - Call for Proposals

http://www.eeaa.us/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=115:learning-among-the-longleafs-helping-ee-grow-2011&catid=48:conference&Itemid=173

Little River Canyon Field School 2010 & 2011 Schedules

http://www.jsu.edu/epic/docs/JSU_Field_Schools_2010_Calendar_of_Events_May_26_2010.pdf

http://www.jsu.edu/epic/docs/2011_Field_School_Programs_Updated_10_04_10.pdf

Jobs, Grants and Resources Available

4-H Center Assistant Manager Education Programming

https://ssl.acesag.auburn.edu/posannc/detail.php3?job=ZDQ3azN8MTYyfG45ajRr

Watershed Coordinator -319 Coordination on the North River (Black Warrior drainage) - contact Kellie Johnston, Watershed Coordinator for CAWACO - 205-264-8461 for details.

Gulf Guardian Nominations - Applications

http://www.epa.gov/gmpo/

Migratory Bird Grants - Deadline November 1st.

http://www.fws.gov/birdhabitat/Grants/NMBCA/index.shtm

Starbucks Youth Grants - Shared Planet Youth Grants

http://www.starbucksfoundation.com/index.cfm?objectid=998EF1C4-1D09-317F-BBF7F71F7B681A12

Recovered Oil Fund for Wildlife

http://www.nfwf.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Charter_Programs_List&TEMPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=17427

Dauphin Island Sea Lab Teacher and Student Resources

http://dhp.disl.org/resources.html

Monday, October 11, 2010

BEN - October 11, 2010 #337

Higher Ground's Wilderness Society Blend

Op-eds, Links and Videos

Ocean's Foundation Releases New Gulf Restoration Fund (Please Donate)

http://www.gulfrestorationfund.org/

Legacy's Alabama Gulf Coast Environmental Recovery Fund

http://www.legacyenved.org/index.php/agcerf

Gulf Oil Spill Articles by Locust Fork Journal's Glynn Wilson

http://blog.locustfork.net/2010/08/who-should-the-people-of-the-gulf-coast-trust-for-payback/

http://blog.locustfork.net/2010/09/thousands-of-people-along-the-gulf-coast-suffer-bp-crud/

http://blog.locustfork.net/2010/08/the-big-picture-the-five-stages-of-grief-on-the-gulf/

http://blog.locustfork.net/2010/08/lsu-professor-brings-independent-science-to-the-table/

Take a Hike in Tennessee Valley (photos)

http://blog.al.com/living-times/2010/10/take_a_hike_and_explore_the_te.html#incart_hbx

Five Rivers Delta Safaris (video & photo gallery)

http://blog.al.com/living-press-register/2010/10/a_day_on_the_delta_with_five_r.html

Gov. Riley & Speaker Hammett Op-ed on Coastal Recovery

http://blog.al.com/birmingham-news-commentary/2010/10/viewpoints_coastal_recovery_co.html

Anniston Star ADEM Editorial

http://annistonstar.com/view/full_story/9847453/article-ADEM-in-trouble-—-again--Protecting-better-than-managing-?instance=home_opinion

Southern Environmental Law Center Opens Birmingham Office

http://www.southernenvironment.org/about/offices/birmingham_office/

News

Biologists Fears White-Nose Syndrome in State

http://www.timesdaily.com/article/20101004/news/101009935

EPA Criticizes ADEM's Stormwater Standards

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2010/10/epa_criticizes_state_adem_over.html

ADEM's Scrap Tire Program Has Removed 5 million Tires at 40 Sites

http://www.adem.state.al.us/newsEvents/pressreleases/2010/ScrapTireMaterials.pdf

Glass Recycling In Huntsville - Green Mountain Glass

http://blog.al.com/huntsville-times-business/2010/10/huntsvilles_green_mountain_gla.html

http://www.greenmountainglassinc.com/

Alabama Rainbow Mussels Introduced in Choccolocco Creek (video)

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2010/10/mussels_returned_to_alabamas_c.html

BEN Calendar

Freshwater Land Trust -Our One Mile - October 12th 5:30-7:30pm

http://www.freshwaterlandtrust.org/our-one-mile

Land Trust of Huntsville and North Alabama - Autumn Ramble

http://landtrust-hsv.org/2010-autumn-ramble-guided-hikes/

7th Annual John L. Borom Alabama Coastal Birdfest - October 14-17

http://www.alabamacoastalbirdfest.com/

Interfaith Environmental Iniative of Alabama Energy Forum in Birmingham - October 21

http://www.interfaithenvironmental.org/?page_id=310

Electronic Recycling - Technical Knock Out - October 24th, 1-4, Whole Foods Birmingham

Alabama Urban Forestry Association's Annual Conference - Oct. 27-29 in Birmingham

http://www.aufa.com/id64.html

Moss Rock Festival - November 6-7

http://www.mossrockfestival.com/home/

Alabama-Mississippi Bays and Bayous Symposium in Mobile - December 1-2

http://www.mobilebaynep.com/baysandbayous

Alabama Clean Water Partnership Annual Conference - December 8th in Clanton

http://cleanwaterpartnership.org/events/?eventID=71&date=12/08/2010

Save the Date - 2011 Watershed Leadershed Conference - March 11-13 at Camp McDowell

http://www.alabamarivers.org/

EEAA's Annual Conference "Learning Among the Longleafs" April 14-16 - Call for Proposals

http://www.eeaa.us/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=115:learning-among-the-longleafs-helping-ee-grow-2011&catid=48:conference&Itemid=173

Jobs Available

4-H Center Assistant Manager Education Programming

https://ssl.acesag.auburn.edu/posannc/detail.php3?job=ZDQ3azN8MTYyfG45ajRr

Friday, October 01, 2010

BEN - October 1, 2010 #336

Don't Miss the Southern Environmental Center's EcoFest 12 - this Thursday, October 7th, 6-9 at Workplay. Purchase your tickets on PayPal. Visit

http://www.bsc.edu/sec/ecofest/efest12/index.cfm

Links and Videos

Ocean's Foundation Releases New Gulf Restoration Fund (Please Donate)

http://www.gulfrestorationfund.org/

Elton Stephens Jr. on 280 Alternatives - Op-ed

http://blog.al.com/birmingham-news-commentary/2010/09/viewpoints_theres_an_alternati.html

Strategies for Creating Livable Communities - Webinar

http://www.walkinginfo.org/training/pbic/lc_webinar_11-12-2009.cfm

Birmingham News Profiles Black Warrior Riverkeeper's Nelson Brooke

http://www.alabamarivers.org/press-room/headlines/the-riverkeeper-nelson-brooke-leads-effort-to-keep-alabamas-black-warrior-pure

AWF's Alabama Nature Center (Video)

http://www.alabamawildlife.org/videos/

News

Governor Riley's Oil Spill Commission

http://blog.al.com/live/2010/09/alabama_oil_spill_recovery_com.html

http://blog.al.com/live/2010/09/talbot_bob_riley_urges_oil_spi.html

Mobile County Receives $1.9 Million Energy Efficiency Grant

http://blog.al.com/live/2010/09/mobile_county_making_environme.html

Gulf of Mexico Alliance to Implement $500 Million Independent Research Fund

http://www.bp.com/genericarticle.do?categoryId=2012968&contentId=7065262

Three out of Four Gulf Residents Support Federal Legislators Who Support Funding Gulf Restoration

http://www.waltonfamilyfoundation.org/gulf-region-poll-results/

http://blog.al.com/live/2010/09/poll_alabamians_support_enviro.html

Windmills on Lookout Mountain Proposed

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2010/oct/01/windstorm-debate/

BEN Calendar

Solar Home Tours in Alabama - This Saturday, October 2nd

http://nationalsolartour.org/location/directory/AL

Creation Week at All Saints Episcopal Church in Homewood - Oct 2-9

http://www.allsaintsbirmingham.org/fellowship.html

Southern Environmental Center's EcoFest 12 - October 7th, 6:00-9:00 at WorkPlay

http://www.bsc.edu/sec/ecofest/efest12/index.cfm

Keep It Wild -Atlanta. Georgia - October 9th

http://keepingitwild.org/sixth-annual-gala-dinner

Land Trust of Huntsville and North Alabama - Autumn Ramble

http://landtrust-hsv.org/2010-autumn-ramble-guided-hikes/

Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham's 2010 Building Communities Conference

http://www.rpcgb.org/documents/2010_BCC_3pg.pdf

7th Annual John L. Borom Alabama Coastal Birdfest - October 14-17

http://www.alabamacoastalbirdfest.com/

Interfaith Environmental Iniative of Alabama Energy Forum in Birmingham - October 21

http://www.interfaithenvironmental.org/?page_id=310

Alabama-Mississippi Bays and Bayous Symposium in Mobile - December 1-2

http://www.mobilebaynep.com/baysandbayous

Save the Date - 2011 Watershed Leadershed Conference - March 11-13 at Camp McDowell

http://www.alabamarivers.org/

Jobs Available

4-H Center Assistant Manager Education Programming

https://ssl.acesag.auburn.edu/posannc/detail.php3?job=ZDQ3azN8MTYyfG45ajRr

Ruffner Mountain Positions

http://www.ruffnermountain.org/contact-info/career-opportunities.html

Friday, September 17, 2010

BEN -September 17, 2010 #335

Statue of Rachel Carson in front of the State Natural History Museum in Raleigh, NC

Links and Videos

Ocean Foundation Releases New Gulf Restoration Fund (Please Donate)

http://www.gulfrestorationfund.org/

Lionfish Sighted Off Alabama Coastline (video)

http://blog.al.com/live/2010/09/lionfish_predatory_species_sig.html

Conservation Groups Announce Plan to Restore Oyster Reefs and Marshes (video)

http://blog.al.com/live/2010/09/video_conservation_groups_unve.html

Glynn Wilson's Powerful Story About the "BP Crud" (video)

http://blog.locustfork.net/2010/09/thousands-of-people-along-the-gulf-coast-suffer-bp-crud/

Birmingham's New Railroad Park (slideshow & video)

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2010/09/downtown_birminghams_new_patch.html#incart_rh

Energy Star for Small Businesses and Congregations (Montevallo Presbyterian Church has won a National Award)

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=small_business.sb_congregations

News

Alabama's "Greenest" Bridge Dedicated at Little River Canyon

http://bamanews2.blogspot.com/2010/09/alabamas-greenest-bridge-at-little.html

UAB Saves $1 Million in 2009-2010 Through Energy Efficiency Measures

http://www.uab.edu/kscope/kaleidoscope-article-2601.html

Sen. Shelby Questions Cahaba River NWR Expansion

http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20100904/NEWS/100909908/1291/news03

TVA Releases Integrated Resource Plan

http://www.tva.com/environment/reports/irp/index.htm

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tva-releases-draft-integrated-resource-plan-and-environmental-impact-statement-103069984.html

Southern Alliance for Clean Energy's Response to TVA's Plan

http://www.cleanenergy.org/index.php?/Press-Update.html?form_id=8&item_id=193

UAB/UA Students Protest Proposed Coal Mine

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2010/09/ua_uab_other_students_to_prote.html

Cahaba River Society Praises Trussville Development

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2010/09/what_youre_saying_11.html

Alabama Rivers Alliance Director Named to National Clean Water Board

http://www.alabamarivers.org/press-room/headlines/for-immediate-release-ara-director-elected-to-national-board

Butterflies in the Shoals

http://www.timesdaily.com/article/20100911/articles/309119994

Coldwater Mountain Near Anniston Receives Trails Grant

http://www.annistonstar.com/view/full_story/9384010/article-Bicycling-groups-get-grant-for-trails?

BEN Calendar

Land Trust of Huntsville and North Alabama’s Moon Over Three Caves Dance – September 18 in Huntsville.

http://landtrust-hsv.org/moon-over-three-caves-dance-sept-18/

23rd Annual Alabama Coastal Cleanup - September 18th

http://www.alabamacoastalcleanup.com/clean-up.html

Cahaba River Society “Fry- Down” – September 25, 10:00am to 4:00pm

http://www.cahabariversociety.org

Southern Environmental Center's EcoFest 12 - October 7th, 6:00-9:00 at WorkPlay

Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham's 2010 Building Communities Conference

http://www.rpcgb.org/documents/2010_BCC_3pg.pdf

7th Annual John L. Borom Alabama Coastal Birdfest - October 14-17

http://www.alabamacoastalbirdfest.com/

Alabama-Mississippi Bays and Bayous Symposium in Mobile - December 1-2

http://www.mobilebaynep.com/baysandbayous

Sweetwater Beer and Black Warrior Riverkeepers Team Up Again in September

http://savetheblackwarrior.com/

Jobs Available

NWF Southeast Regional Representative

https://careers.nwf.org/ext/detail.asp?jobid=nwf2061-525295293

Gulf Coast Regional Coordinator - Waterkeeper Alliance

http://www.saveourgulf.org/updates/career-opportunity-gulf-coast-regional-coordinator-waterkeeper

Ruffner Mountain Positions

http://www.ruffnermountain.org/contact-info/career-opportunities.html

Alabama's Greenest Bridge at Little River

From the Alabama Department of Transportation:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 15, 2010

New Little River Canyon Bridge Officially Dedicated

Cherokee and DeKalb counties, Ala. – Transportation Director Joe McInnes today joined federal, state and local officials to dedicate the new Little River Canyon Bridge on State Highway 35 connecting Cherokee and DeKalb counties. The event, held on the east side of the bridge in Cherokee County, signals the completion of the $7.6 million project that combines functional and sustainable construction with aesthetics to enhance the natural beauty of the already breathtaking Little River Canyon National Preserve.

The new Little River Canyon Bridge replaces the old State Highway 35 Bridge built in 1948. Due to its structural integrity and environmentally-sensitive design, the bridge project has paved the way for similar projects in the future.

“We’re excited to unveil this new project as the first of its kind in the state,” McInnes said. “ALDOT’s intent was to integrate the bridge design into the environment and natural terrain of the Little River National Preserve. I’m proud to say we were successful. The new bridge exhibits a sense of continuity with its natural surroundings, and we will look for opportunities in the future where we can design bridges that fit into the local environment.”

With a driving surface 53 feet above the riverbed, the new bridge is 465 feet long. The new bridge has only one pier set in the middle of the streambed, which causes the least possible amount of impact to the natural flow of the river. Support beams and rebar were manufactured using recycled steel, and recycled asphalt was used to pave the driving surface. The bridge has a fully-developed pedestrian lane featuring three viewing areas with benches overlooking the scenic Little River Canyon and falls. Another unique aspect of the bridge is its 11,800 square feet of simulated stone masonry, adding overall artistic value and visual appeal. Additionally, materials from the old bridge will be recycled and reused in future road construction projects.

Construction on the project by contractor Highways Inc. of Brentwood, Tenn., began April 8, 2009. The project, originally slated for completion in November 2010, came in ahead of schedule. The bridge opened to traffic Aug. 27, 2010.