Extremely dry conditions have recently developed across many parts of Alabama and are having a significant impact on Alabama Power reservoirs. Many streams that feed Alabama Power lakes are approaching record low levels of flow for this time of year, particularly in the Coosa and Tallapoosa river basins.

Since late last year, Alabama Power has taken a number of steps in preparation for dry conditions normally associated with La Nina weather events. Among them:

• The company received a variance from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to temporarily raise the winter level at Lake Martin by 3 feet.

• The company received a variance from The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to raise Lake Harris earlier than normal.

• As conditions worsened over the last three weeks, Alabama Power has taken additional steps to try and fill our lakes, including:

The Alabama Wildlife Federation is offering the "Going WILD in the Forest" workshop with Project WILD and Project Learning Tree Activities Guides!  Educators who would like to learn a wide variety of environmental education activities directly connected to Alabama's wildlife and forests will find this workshop highly beneficial.

When you complete this one-day workshop you will receive BOTH the Project WILD and the Project Learning Tree Activity Guidebooks!  (Normally a 6 hour workshop is required for each of these with 12 hours total training but they are being offered together through a partnership between the AWF, the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and the Alabama Forestry Association.)

This workshop will be offered at six different locations across Alabama:

• Tuesday, April 24  -  Lawrence County Extension Office in Moulton
• Wednesday, April 25 

Wild pigs have become a big problem in the Southeast as they destroy billions of dollars in crops annually, compete with other native wildlife species, and wreak havoc on forests, pastures and food plots. An Auburn University professor and his colleagues have created a book to help landowners manage the rapidly increasing population of wild pigs.

The joint publication of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System and the Mississippi State University Extension Service provides practical information to landowners on managing wild pig populations.

A print copy of the book can be ordered for $5 from the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, or a free downloadable copy is available. For either format, click here.

Read full article here.

Source: Auburn University Office of Comunications and Marketing