The Year of Alabama Water Watch

Proclamation
By the Governor of Alabama
WHEREAS, Alabama is blessed with over 130 thousand miles of streams and rivers and world class aquatic biodiversity; and
WHEREAS, clean, reliable water and healthy aquatic resources are critical to the livelihoods, well-being and happiness of Alabamians; and
WHEREAS, no state or locality has adequate resources to fully monitor water quality and the ecological health of its waters and aquatic ecosystems; and
WHEREAS, , the Alabama Department of Environmental Management had the insight to partner with Auburn University to create the Alabama Water Watch Program and to help to fund the program for many years; and
WHEREAS, thousands of Alabama citizens have been trained to become citizen volunteer monitors collecting tens of thousands of water quality records, records that have been used to supplement data collected by state agencies and universities; and
WHEREAS, this citizen data has been used to support solutions to water quality concerns and reclassification of water body uses; and
WHEREAS, citizen volunteers have formed an Alabama Water Watch Association to support the program. Additionally, Auburn University and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System have partnered with Alabama Water Watch to educate many thousands of young Alabamians about the importance of water; and
WHEREAS, Alabama Water Watch has been repeatedly recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for its citizen volunteer monitoring and education efforts; and
WHEREAS, this is the 25th Anniversary of the Alabama Water Watch Program and the efforts of program staff and citizen volunteers that benefit all Alabamians:
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Kay Ivey, Governor of Alabama, do hereby proclaim 2017, as
The Year of Alabama Water Watch
in the State of Alabama. I urge Alabamians to help protect our splendid water resources by becoming involved in the Alabama Water Watch Program by becoming a monitor, educator, or by supporting the Alabama Water Watch Association.
Given Under My Hand and the Great Seal of the Office of the Governor at the State Capitol in the City of Montgomery on the 28th day of April 2017.
Kay Ivey
Governor