Adopt-A-Stream Workshop Is Next Week

DeKalb County’s Department of Watershed Management in collaboration with the Stone Mountain Memorial Association will host its next Adopt-A-Stream Workshop Saturday, July 13, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Stone Mountain Confederate Hall Historical and Environmental Education Center is located at 2003 Robert E. Lee Blvd., in Stone Mountain.

Participants will be trained on how to collect water samples from DeKalb County streams and perform chemical testing on these samples, analyze and interpret water quality data, and learn how to sample and monitor aquatic macroinvertebrates, which are insects and small organisms that live in streams, lakes and ponds. These macroinvertebrates are important indicators of ecosystem health and water quality.

Individuals who successfully complete the workshop will receive a Chemical QA/QC Volunteer Certificate that serves as professional certification in the area of water-quality monitoring. “DeKalb County has been recognized for its dedication to protecting and preserving its water resources,” CEO Burrell Ellis said. “Through our citizens’ water quality conservation efforts, we can play a major role in protecting our water resources.”

The workshop is part of the County’s ongoing efforts to educate residents about water-quality issues and protecting the water resources. There is no registration fee for participation, but preregistration by July 8, 2013, is required and limited to 20 participants. For more information or to register, contact Michael O’Shield, DeKalb County’s Environmental Education Specialist and Adopt-A-Stream Coordinator at 770-724-1456 or msoshield@dekalbcountyga.gov.

DeKalb County’s Adopt-A-Stream Program is a volunteer-based water quality program coordinated by the DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management in conjunction with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.