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CPYR Watershed Authority
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Clean Water
Partnership |
The Alabama Clean Water Partnership (ACWP) was created
through a Clean Water Act Section 319 grant from the U.
S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region IV, and the
Alabama Department of Environmental Management.
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The ACWP is a group of public and private individuals,
organizations, governing bodies, companies, and agencies
working together to protect and preserve water resources
and aquatic ecosystems in the State of Alabama. The
goal of the ACWP is to link local basin efforts in order
to maximize resources, develop comprehensive basin
management plans, encourage public and private
investment and empower citizens to become involved in
watershed protection.
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The ACWP is a statewide non-profit organization
incorporated in July, 2001. The organization serves as
an umbrella for the individual river basin
partnerships. Representatives from each river basin, as
well as representatives from diverse interest groups,
serve on the Board of Directors. |
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Why is a Clean
Water Partnership Necessary? |
We depend on our rivers, streams and lakes for drinking
water, recreation, transportation, agricultural
irrigation, aesthetics, wildlife habitat, industrial
processes and waste removal. Government regulations and
the changes in our growing communities are focusing the
attention of planners and policy makers on the need to
protect and, in some cases, restore water resources and
aquatic life. Utilities, private industries, community
and environmental groups, citizens and branches of
government all have a responsibility for and an interest
in protecting water quality. |
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The
Choctawhatchee, Pea, and Yellow Rivers Clean Water
Partnership |
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The Choctawhatchee, Pea
and Yellow Rivers Clean Water Partnership was
established in April, 2003 and is one of ten basin
organizations in the ACWP. The Choctawhatchee, Pea and
Yellow Rivers basin is located in southeastern Alabama,
including all or parts of the counties of Barbour,
Bullock, Coffee, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Geneva,
Henry, Houston, and Pike.
For each of the ten river basins, one river basin
steering committee and several river sub-basin
stakeholder committees have been formed. Members of the
Choctawhatchee, Pea and Yellow Rivers
Steering Committee have basin-wide interests in water
resources and aquatic life. The focus of the Steering
Committee is to foster, coordinate, and encourage
communication throughout Alabama and provide guidance in
prioritization of resources.
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Some of the issues and concerns identified in the Action
Plan developed by the Steering Committee are:
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Addressing
impaired streams on the 303(d) list
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Severe
sedimentation problems across the basin
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Litter and illegal
dumping
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Erosion due to
illegal access locations along waterways
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Looking Toward
The Future |
Funding and resources are being sought through grants
and donations in order to accomplish these goals.
Currently, education/information programs and materials
are being provided to schools, civic organizations, new
media, and other interest groups in order to promote
local awareness of opportunities to become involved in
protecting water quality.
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