Published articles by Hurricane Creekkeeper:

http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007701210322 January 24, 2007

http://www.waterkeeper.org/magazines/WK Fall 05 Small.pdf

http://www.waterkeeper.org/magazines/WK Win 06 Small.pdf

http://www.waterkeeper.org/magazines/Sp 06 WK 60-61.indd.pdf

Hurricane CREEKKEEPER®

As the enforcement and investigative division of the Friends of Hurricane Creek it is the duty of the Creekkeeper to inspect the watershed at regular intervals in search of problems associated with all possible sources of pollution.

There are many sources from industrial development as well as residential development. It is my belief that developers should take every possible precaution in excavations anywhere in the Hurricane Creek watershed. Due to the sandy and gravel type soil there is an increased danger of erosion that clogs a large number of tributaries feeding the creek.

Most of the time, the Creekkeeper can simply talk to the developer and explain the nature of the problem and they will address it. There have been times when legal action was necessary to bring violators into compliance.

We use many surveillance tools while investigating complaints and suspicious activities. Aerial surveillance is an extremely useful tool when polluters hide their violations behind closed gates. With the help of SouthWings, whose mission is summed up in their slogan “Conservation through Aviation,” we have been able to regularly perform inspections of large scale developments and coal mining activities. Visit SouthWings at http://www.southwings.org.

Hurricane CREEKKEEPER® (red cap) with friends and board members along with SouthWings pilot at the Eye in the Sky conference hosted by Friends of Hurricane Creek

Another tool is the canoe. The Creekkeeper frequently paddles different stretches of the creek, looking at the various tributary entrances for telltale signs of mine waste pollution and sewage overflows. When a problem is found the Creekkeeper often reverts back to the aerial approach to find the source.

Hurricane CREEKKEEPER® with world renowned author and river photographer Tim Palmer on Hurricane Creek. Photo by Beth Maynor Young. For more of Beth’s photos visit http://www.cahabariverpublishing.com.

Advocacy plays an important role in the protection of Hurricane Creek. Another of the Creekkeeper's duties is to educate the general public about the need for a healthy and thriving stream embedded within a stone's throw from a major metropolis like Tuscaloosa. Within a bicycle ride from a major university lies a virtual living laboratory full of new and exciting opportunities for students and research scientists alike.

As members of the WATERKEEPER® Alliance (WKA) we have a special connection to a legal network of information concerning every facet of the Clean Water Act. WKA keeps us up to date on regulation changes and legal interpretations of different legislation as it occurs. This valuable service allows us to better assess our position and become more efficient in our legal strategies. The Creekkeeper takes seriously the tasks that are presented in protecting Hurricane Creek. With Friends like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the WATERKEEPER® staff of attorneys the job is getting much easier.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. President, WATERKEEPER® Alliance with Hurricane CREEKKEEPER® John Wathen on the Delaware River.

For more on WATERKEEPER® Alliance, visit http://www.waterkeeper.org.

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