by:  Mat Campbell, President  Lake Watch
 Appeared in January 2024 issue of Lake Magazine

Lake Watch of Lake Martin, Inc., works as an affiliate of the Alabama Water Watch statewide organization to recruit and train volunteer monitors, who provide chemical and bacteriological water quality testing at sites across Lake Martin and in the river and streams throughout the middle Tallapoosa River watershed. Lake Watch volunteer monitors post the testing results to the Lake Watch Swim Alert webpage and to the AWW statewide database. Our testing in 2023 confirms excellent water quality throughout Lake Martin, as befits our “Treasured Alabama Lake” status. 

In the big picture, we celebrate the good health of the entire Tallapoosa River watershed and its tributary streams. The Tallapoosa is remarkable for its clean water, scenic beauty and recreational value, as well as the general good health of its aquatic and riparian flora and fauna. Its shoal habitats support amazing biodiversity in populations of native fish and other unique Alabama critters.

Fishing, kayaking and eco-tourism on the river contribute economic value to our rural economy. The pure recreational value of our river and streams is fundamental to our Alabama heritage and our lifestyle; however, we must all recognize sources of pollution in the river and streams and address measures that will protect and improve our clean water and protect the health of the river. Lake Watch testing on the tributary streams of the Tallapoosa River often shows high E. coli measurements that do not meet the applicable minimum standards of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management quality, particularly following rain events. Too many streams in the Tallapoosa basin are on ADEM’s 303(d) list as water quality impaired.

This is generally because of non-point source pollution that occurs when stormwater runoff carries surface-applied waste and pollutants into streams. Stormwater runoff also creates muddy water turbidity from soil erosion. Apparent sources of this pollution are the expanding poultry industry in our watershed; stormwater runoff from cattle pastures, agriculture and forestry; and shortcomings in community wastewater treatment.

Another villain has caught our eye as well. Lake Watch opposes the surface disposal of sludge onto the fields and forests of our watershed as an ostensible beneficial use as fertilizer. We urge all involved to stop this dreadful practice.

Friends of the Tallapoosa

On several occasions in 2023, Lake Watch joined representatives from other community conservation groups and other state and local watershed stakeholders to build a partnership of Friends of the Tallapoosa. We are grateful to Martha Hunter, Alabama Rivers Alliance director of community partnerships, for coordinating these events. The Friends of the Tallapoosa wants to develop clean water advocacy throughout the river watershed. We want to speak with a common voice to protect Alabama’s freshwater resources and to promote best practices and outdoor recreation on our waters throughout the Tallapoosa. Our Tallapoosa watershed meetings included representatives from Alabama Rivers Alliance (alabamarivers.org), Auburn University Water Resources Center (aaes.auburn.edu > wrc), AWW (aaes.auburn.edu/alabamawaterwatch), Lake Watch of Lake Martin (lakewatch.org), Save Our Saugahatchee, Native Fish Coalition (nativefishcoalition.org), East Alabama Fly Fishing (eastalabamaflyfishing.com), Lake Wedowee Property Owners Association (lakewedoweepoa.com), Yates Lake homeowners, state legislators and others.

Lake Watch and our partners advocate a watershed approach to protecting Lake Martin and all the waters of the Tallapoosa. Everyone on the river and on Alabama Power reservoirs needs to consider their own best practices and up their games. Individual citizens and property owners, farmers, foresters, business owners, industry, land developers and local government are urged to join the Friends advocacy group and to help develop best practices to prevail throughout our entire watershed.

Lake Watch 2024 general meeting

The Lake Watch of Lake Martin general meeting is set for Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at New Water Farms, 460 Civitan Rd., Dadeville. The public is invited. We will report our activities, hear a science-based program and socialize.  

Lake Watch urges all stakeholders to partner in the Tallapoosa watershed clean water advocacy as Friends of the Tallapoosa. To get involved and to join Lake Watch as a member, monitor or partner, visit the Lake Watch website (lakewatch.org). Above all, get out on the waters of Lake Martin or the Tallapoosa River. It will make your heart happy.

Matt Campbell is president of Lake Watch of Lake Martin, Inc., a non-profit, all volunteer, 501(c)(3) environmental organization working to protect the clean water of Lake Martin and the Tallapoosa watershed through water quality testing, public advocacy for water policy and environmental education. Learn more at info@lakewatch.org.