Canoe the Cahaba

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The State of Alabama does not routinely monitor inland (freshwater) swimming areas/beaches. Several recreational water areas are monitored by Cahaba Riverkeeper Myra Crawford, David Butler, and Shaun Crawford. Cahaba Riverkeeper volunteers also monitor at sites where there is significant recreational use. Samples are collected year round. However the regular summer monitoring season starts early May and ends Labor Day Weekend. From May through September sites are sampled on a weekly basis, typically on Thursdays. Sites may be sampled at additional times if deemed necessary. Water at all sites is sampled for e. coli bacteria, as well as for dissolved oxygen and temperature. Sample results are posted on Cahaba Riverkeeper’s facebook and twitter accounts, as well as on Swim Guide as soon as they become available. Monitoring is done using methods (protocols) developed by the Alabama Water Watch Program that have been approved by Region 4 of the U.S. EPA (the EPA-approved AWW bacteriological monitoring plan is available at www.alabamawaterwatch.org/resources/publications.html ). The AWW criterion for acceptable levels of E. coli in waterbodies that are relatively safe for human contact is: AWW Criterion: 200 E. coli/100 mL of water (Note: ADEM Criterion: 235 E. coli/100 mL; EPA BAV: 235 E. coli/100 mL) A beach is marked GREEN when the single-sample result (average of triplicate readings) indicates a bacteria count of zero to 200 E. coli/100 mL of water. A beach is marked RED when single-sample results indicate bacteria counts greater than 200 E. coli/100 mL of water. A beach is marked GREY when reliable information is not available AWW volunteer monitors throughout Alabama continue monitoring sites as long as resources and trained volunteers are available. All bacteriological monitoring data is routinely uploaded to the AWW online database and is available to the public in chart format.