Going Batty About Wildlife

Hey there, Water Conservation Station readers. I am one of the new interns in the Athens-Clarke County Water Conservation Office and I am excited to share my thoughts on water conservation with you guys. For my first blog, I would like to share a topic that is close to my heart: wildlife. More specifically, how drought can affect wildlife. 

The western United States has been in a drought similar to the one we are facing in the south. However, they are facing a unique challenge: drowning bats. I know that sounds backwards.  If they are in a drought, how can bats be drowning?

Here is some bat biology to help you understand how bats drown during droughts. Bats drink in flight by swooping down to the waters surface. In large lakes and ponds, this is done very easily for bats; however, these natural sources of water are starting to disappear.

So where do the bats turn? Livestock drinking stations.

Livestock drinking station 
(photo courtesy of: Stanley Howe http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cattle_drinking_trough_-_geograph.org.uk_-_602555.jpg)

Livestock drinking stations are much smaller than lakes or ponds, and are surrounded by structures which make it difficult for bats to drink safely. As the water levels in these drinking stations go down, the bats can get stuck in the station. When they can’t get out and are tired of swimming, they often drown.  To alleviate this problem, ranchers have installed "bat escape ramps" to help trapped bats escape.  

Example of a bat escape ramp 
(photo courtesy of: Kary Schlick http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/lwm/aem/news/climate_change_and_herpetofauna.html)

Just like the ranchers out west are helping the bats, we can help our Georgia wildlife. Two groups of wildlife that are closely tied to water are birds and frogs.

Birds need water to help cool off during the hot Georgia summers. Birdbaths are great for local birds. They provide a place for them to clean and cool off during the summer. Placing the birdbath near brush cover gives the birds a place to preen once they are done cooling off. But you have to make sure that no predator can sneak up on the bathing beauties. The lower the bath, the more open area is needed around the bath to ensure that the birds are safe from any stealthy predators. Also, baths need to be cleaned frequently to help prevent the spread of diseases among the birds. Clean with 1 part bleach to 9 parts water and make sure to wear rubber gloves.

Frogs need water to stay healthy. Like Nicole said a few weeks ago, frogs breathe through their skin, so keeping it moist is essential. Backyard ponds can be a great habitat for a wide variety of animals, including frogs, turtles, birds and lizards. Ponds can help these animals survive when water around the state is difficult to find. And who doesn’t want to look out into their backyard and see a turtle sunning itself by your pond?

To keep your baths and ponds full, you can collect rain water with rain barrels. Or, while you wait for your shower water to warm up, you can collect the cold water in a bucket and use it to refill the baths. 

I’m looking forward to my time here at the Water Conservation Office! Talk to you again soon!

~Lauren
Water Conservation Intern

Transportation and Public Works

Stop 2. Transportation and Public Works

Our journey continues in search of buildings, businesses, and organizations that demonstrate water conservation methods in Athens-Clarke County.  The next stop is the Transportation and Public Works building at the corner of West Dougherty Street and Lumpkin Street.  The water conservation method highlighted here is a rain chain.  The  side of the building (facing Lumpkin Street) has a rain chain attached to a rain barrel. 

 

What are rain chains? Rain chains are alternatives to downspouts.  They visibly guide rain water from the roof down chains to the ground, a drain, or storage container like a rain barrel (remember the ones at Sandy Creek Nature Center, our Stop #1?).  The collected rain water can be used to water flowers and gardens.  The Transportation and Public Works rain chain supplies water for a rain garden. Some organizations suggest rain chains should replace downspouts, claiming they fulfill the same purposes of downspouts, but also break the flow of water as it hits the ground, mitigating its impact. 

History of rain chains.  The Japanese have used rain chains for hundreds of years.  Today the chains are used to direct the rain water from their roof to storage units for later use in household chores.  The Japanese are also known for incorporating large decorative rain chains into their temple design.  

The style. The styles of rain chains vary from traditional chains to cups to decorative flowers.  Link, cup, and flower chain styles are far more attractive than traditional downspouts and often add to the decor of a building rather than detract from it.  Many people make their own rain chain from recycled materials such as clay pottery, pebbles, and even pine cones.  Look at this website for inspiration and installation tips. 

For more information on rain chains visit here.

Check in next month as we visit another place in ACC!

Love Story

Love is in the air! As Valentine's day approaches us, we are reminded of just how important our loved ones are to us and how delicious those mini candy bars are. There is one relationship though that I don't feel gets enough credit; our relationship with water. This relationship not only tugs at our heart strings but keeps us alive. It is our friend, our life line, our home, and so much more; but in times of drought, like any normal  relationship, it can be strained. With the rains that have encroached on our great city of Athens, the concept of drought is far from our minds. It is important to note that although we have gotten some influx of rain into the Oconee River, the impacts of years of persistent drought can still be seen. Although this lack of water can be detrimental to our community, it is usually the animals in the area that feel it first.

Last week, I was extremely lucky to have visited one of my favorite places in Athens: Bear Hollow Zoo. It is located on S. Milledge Ave., and, if you have never been, I highly recommend it. While I was there watching all the different animals, I was reminded just how important water is to them. Humans and most animals can actually survive longer without food than they can water. Talk about a strong relationship! 

Animals, such as the beaver, call water their home, shelter, and livelihood. These great creatures are typically found along river beds and spend the majority of their time in the water.

Frogs, such as the green tree frog seen here, actually breathe through their skin! Not only is the quantity of water around them important, but the quality as well.  When there are more contaminants in the water, it is much more difficult for them to breathe, thus hurting the frog. 

Last, but certainly not least, are my favorite animals at Bear Hollow. Black Bears are much like humans in their water needs. They use water mainly to drink, to bathe, and for hunting. Black bears not only need water themselves, but also feed on insects, fish, and plants that need water to survive.

Moral of this story? Water is our most important relationship to consider this Valentine's Day.  Spread the love, but save the water!

Sincerely,

Nicole, WCO Intern

**Photos courtesy of Wade Sheldon of Bear Hollow Zoo.

Drought: Will it result in the "Stormwater Apocolypse"?

With the Walking Dead returning in less than a week, I can’t help but think about the zombie apocalypse. Okay, I am not really worried about zombies, but there is another kind of apocalypse that can affect our streams and rivers and it is much more realistic: The "Stormwater Apocalypse". The good news is that it is preventable. The "Stormwater Apocalypse" refers to what can happen to our water as a result of drought and the rains that follow.

There is more to drought than water supply shortages. There are important environmental impacts that most of us don’t think about very much. These indirect impacts can be very damaging. Our natural systems become more vulnerable to things like wildfires, habitat loss, invasive species, plant diseases and pests during a drought. All of these things can lead to the Stormwater Apocalypse! (Think from a frog or fish's point of view.)

Over the last several years local ecosystems have become weakened as a result of our drought. When it finally does rain, these systems do not protect our waterways as well as they used to. Think about it, weakened trees and plants are more susceptible to disease and pests. When root systems die more pollution enters our streams when it rains. This is because runoff can more efficiently dislodge and transport sediment (aka dirt) because there are fewer plant roots holding the soil in place. This additional sediment covers rocks and sand that aquatic life depends on. Sediment can contains things like fertilizers, pesticides, oil, and other pollutants, and dirty water can be a problem for critters that rely on clear water to survive. All these problems can lead to a "Stormwater Apocalypse" in our fragile streams and rivers. (These systems provide Athens with our drinking water.  So, even if you are not a fish or frog, you need to care about these things.)

That brings me to the good news! By eliminating litter and dumping, using smart landscaping, rain gardens, detention ponds, rain catchment systems, porous pavers, and other water-smart strategies we can protect our waterways from the stormwater apocalypse. In fact, there are great examples all around Athens. Here is a gallery of local projects that protect water, look great, and are fantastic examples of things we all should do. (These photos are from Fowler Drive Elementary School.) Tell us about your projects! Individuals and businesses are doing cool things all around Athens-Clarke County to protect our water. What can you do today?

Stumped? Check out the Athens-Clarke County Stormwater Division for ideas!

And, I would be remiss if I didn’t remind you to “Conserve: WATER u waiting 4?”

-Marilyn Hall

ACC Water Conservation Coordinator

Drink Up! It is Super Bowl Time!

We are just days away from the biggest game in professional football; the Super Bowl. February 3rd at 6:00 pm E.T. the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens will compete for the title of Super Bowl XLVII.

Photo Courtesy of Microsoft Word

Whether you watch the game for the expertly performed plays or the outrageous commercials you will notice one thing: Water is in ALL of it! You may be rushing to the grocery store Saturday night to stock up on the necessary food and drinks for the day's festivities but the players are on a much different schedule.

The night before any physically active day, it is EXTREMELY important to hydrate (ask any athlete!). NFL players know their sweat rates and hydrate themselves accordingly. A sweat rate is more than simply drinking according to thirst. An individual's sweat rate can range from 1 to 4 pounds per hour; the variation is attributed to the sport, an individual's weight, and environmental conditions. You will notice 10 minutes prior to kickoff athletes are not drowning themselves in water in order to get hydrated. It is hugely important the night before a big game, or even a few hours before the start, that athletes are hydrating themselves properly  so that the kidneys are able to process the water in a efficient manner and muscle strength can be improved. Water is used throughout all of the our body; blood is about 93 % water, muscle is about 73% water and body fat is about 10% water.

Now that you know just how important water is to an athlete's performance you may be wondering how these players are able to take in that much water. The water straight from your tap is a great way to hydrate but it isn't the only way!

Many foods have a high water content. Some examples of this are:
Coffee: 99.5 percent water
(new research has found that coffee taken in normal doses hydrates as well as water)
Broccoli is 89 percent water
Lettuce is 96 percent water
Watermelon is 92 percent water
Strawberries are 92 percent water

You can not function without water whether you are on the field or in the stands. As the highly anticipated day comes upon us, make sure to drink up!

~Nicole
ACC Water Conservation Intern

Sandy Creek Nature Center

Are you ready for a road trip???  

If so, join the Water Conservation Office as we travel around Athens-Clarke County in search of buildings, businesses, and organizations that demonstrate cool water conservation methods!  Every month we will visit a new place and learn about how they conserve water.  We will share with you what we have learned and give tips on how to conserve water in your own home or business!  So buckle up and let the journey begin...

Stop 1. Sandy Creek Nature Center

Sandy Creek Nature Center (SCNC) is known for being home to over 4 miles of trails that go through the woodlands and wetlands of Georgia’s Piedmont.  Live reptiles, amphibians, marine and freshwater fishes also call SCNC home.  SCNC has recently expanded and includes various interactive exhibits on everything from composting to water conservation (our favorite part).  Now you might know all of that, but there is one thing that you might not know about Sandy Creek Nature Center...

Sandy Creek Nature Center is the proud home of two 500 gallon rain barrels!  A rain barrel collects and stores rainwater from a downspout.  This collected rainwater can be used on lawns, gardens, and even for washing cars and windows.

The first rain barrel is located in the front of the nature center as you walk in. 

The sign in front of the rain barrel informs readers that this is a rain water capture system that collects rain water runoff from the exhibit hall roof.  SCNC conserves water by using the collected rainwater to water plants instead of using tap water.  This system also reduces erosion and flooding by slowing down runoff from the roof and slowly releasing it to the ground.  

The second rain barrel is located behind the nature center near the trail heads.  This rain barrel collects rainwater from the roof and condensate from the air conditioning system. SCNC uses this water for gardens around their property.

Some of the benefits of using rain barrels include:

~Providing an alternative to using tap water for outdoor watering,

~Reducing stormwater runoff that can cause floods,
~Slowing stormwater runoff so that it can replenish groundwater and soil moisture,

~Saving money on your water bill, and                             

~Rainwater is often softer than tap water, which is better for plants.

Most rain barrels around homes are 55 gallons.  You can find rain barrels at local garden centers or you can build your own.  Here is some more information on rain barrels from the Environmental Protection Agency and you can see how local artists have turned rain barrels into works of art at www.rolloutthebarrels.org.

Finally, visit Sandy Creek Nature Center and check out their awesome rain barrels and gardens! 

Check in next month as we continue our journey around Athens-Clarke County!

Four More Years!

Last week I celebrated my four-year anniversary as the Water Conservation Coordinator here in Athens-Clarke County.  Even though I had been working in Environmental Planning since the mid 1990s, focusing on water has been eye-opening.    

First, making “Water Conservation” interesting and exciting is hard!  When the Water Conservation Office visits classrooms or hosts a festival, we do more than tell people to turn off the water when they brush their teeth.  We try to get people thinking about water in ways they never have before.  Water sustains life, provides fire protection, drives our economy, transports waste, provides wildlife habitat, makes farming possible, has magical physical properties…  the list goes on and on.  It is also a limited resource.  When people truly understand how important water is and how scarce it can be, they will not need to be told to turn off the tap.  They will just do it.

Another thing I have learned is there is more to drought than just the level of the Bear Creek Reservoir.   I believe soil moisture is the most important drought indicator.  When soil moisture is low the river dries up.  When the river is low, the reservoir cannot be replenished and it also gets low.  Soil moisture is affected by a lot of things, including groundwater tables.  That is why when someone says, “I can use all the water I want to because I am on a well,” I remind them that their water-use can affect the water available to everyone. 

Something else I have learned seems obvious to me now.  When the demand for water is the highest, our supply is the lowest.  The demand is highest in the summer when people are irrigating their lawns, growing gardens, cranking up cooling towers, and playing in the sprinklers.  Late summer is also the time of year when river levels naturally are their lowest.  Thirsty trees draw water up through roots and water evaporates from the rivers under the hot sun.  Increased human demand combined with natural summer pressures can lead to water shortages.  That is why the Water Conservation Office continually reminds everyone to be water smart in the summer.

Everyone’s needs are different and the supply is not always reliable.  Ensuring that Athens has enough water to meet its needs is complicated.   It is challenging and rewarding to work in water conservation.   Think about how you and everyone else uses water and you will understand. I am lucky to have such a meaningful job.   I hope my next four years will be as satisfying as the first.

And please, turn the water off when you brush your teeth.

-Marilyn Hall

ACC Water Conservation Coordinator