Shoals Environmental Alliance

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SEA is an environmental activities and watch-dog alliance established to promote the preservation of the natural resources, scenic
beauty, and recreational opportunities of the Shoals area of northwest Alabama. .Our mailing address is:

                               Shoals Environmental Alliance
                               P.O. Box 699
                               Sheffield, AL 35660

SEA is partnering with TVA and other local groups to enhance the recreational and educational values of TVA’s Muscle Shoals Reservation. Our first major project is the establishment of a Native Plant Garden, located by the handicap-accessible trail in the TVA Nature Trails Area. The Native Plant Garden is a cooperative effort by TVA, Shoals Environmental Alliance, Alabama Wildflower Society of the Shoals, Shoals Master Gardeners and Men's Garden Club of the Shoals.

Other goals of the SEA partnership with TVA include removing invasive pest species such as privet and kudzu that crowd out native plants, sowing wildflower seed, picking up litter, helping maintain walking trails and producing trail maps and brochures.

SEA also works to encourage responsible economic growth that preserves the public green spaces, recreational opportunities, and wildlife habitat of the Shoals area. Other SEA programs will include the monitoring of water quality in local waterways, historic preservation, and group outings such as bird watching, camping, canoing, and hiking.

SEA meets monthly on the last Tuesday of each month at Florence-Lauderdale Public Library, 350 N. Wood Ave., Florence, AL. 5:30-7:00pm preceded by a social at 5:00pm.

Need more information or help in organizing to oppose an environmentally destructive project on public land? We can help. Contact us at: ShoalsEnvironmentalAlliance@yahoo.com

Future SEA events, activities and items of interest:

Tuesday, July 29 -- Shoals Environmental Alliance Meeting

SEA meets in the conference room at the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library, 350 N. Wood Ave., the last Tuesday of each month. The public is always welcome.

5:00pm --- Refreshments & informal discussion
5:15pm --- Business meeting
5:30pm --- Viewing of film, "Revolution Green"

"Revolution Green" is a revealing documentary about the renewable energy called biodiesel and it’s importance to the world economy. Biodiesel is a fuel produced from plant-based oils, and suitable for use in diesel engines. Biodiesel is a renewable fuel because it is made from a renewable source like plants. Biodiesel is produced from vegetable or fatty oils. These oils can be obtained from waste vegetable oil, like used cooking oils and restaurant grease. But it can also be made from raw virgin oils pressed from plants like soybeans, canola seeds, sunflower seeds, cotton seeds, safflower, jatropha, flax seed, palm oil, hemp seeds, and even algae. Rendered animal fats such as lard, tallow, and fish oil can also make biodiesel. Biodiesel is a cleaner-burning, safer alternative to petroleum diesel. It is as biodegradable as sugar, less toxic than salt, and less flammable than petroleum diesel. It is a fuel suitable for all diesel engines without modification. More about the film at: http://www.revolutiongreen.com/

Wild Wednesday Hike, July 30

There is one more Wild Wednesday in this July, the last one for the summer.   On July 30 we will re-visit Caney Creek Falls in the Bankhead National Forest, then, for those who want to hike a little more, will stop at Payne Creek on the way back to Wren.

The hike to Caney Creek Falls is an easy 1 mile walk, mostly downhill, with a few yards of steep descent into the canyon at the very end of the trail. This is a year-round waterfall, one of the most beautiful in the state, with a first-class swimming hole. There is no better place on a hot summer day. The sandy beach under a sandstone bluff makes an easy, safe wade into the swimming hole, where children can catch minnows, look for crawdads and salamanders, and play in the water. We will also take the time explore downstream a short distance, talk about the geology of the area and the plants and animals that live there.

Afterwards, those who wish to may make the short hike into Payne Creek canyon. The trail begins on the east side of Highway 33 just north of the Sipsey River. This hike is only about a mile round trip. Payne Creek runs through a very deep canyon that contains large bluff shelters that were used by the Native Americans.

All ages are welcome on our Wild Wednesday hike, a great summertime outing opportunity for families.
To sign up for Wild Wednesday or to ask questions contact Janice at janice@wildsouth.org or 256-974-6166.

After signing up, meet at the Warrior Mountains Trading Company in Wren, Alabama (2 or 3 miles south of Moulton on Highway 33 at the intersection with Highway 36) at 9:30 a.m. Please park on the south side of the building and come into the store. There will be sign-in sheets at the tables in the center of the store.

Bring lunch, snacks, plenty of drinking water. Other things you may want to bring: hat, sun block, tick repellent, a net for gently catching and releasing critters, notebook or sketchpad and pen, Epi-Pen if allergies are a concern.
Wear hiking clothes that can get wet. There is no convenient place to change into and out of swimwear, so swim suits may be worn under clothes, or just swim in your clothes. Ticks and poison ivy are thriving, so long pants and closed-toes shoes are recommended, especially for the hike to Payne Creek. We will return to Wren by early to mid-afternoon. I hope to see you Wednesday for a fun, cool, wet day in the forest!

August 8-9 --- Shoals Solar Workshop Shoals Environmental Alliance invites you to attend the: Shoals Solar Workshop, "Using Solar Energy Now"

Sheffield Public Library
316 N. Montgomery Avenue
Sheffield Alabama
(256) 386-5633

There is no registration fee for attending.

Friday, August 8

9:00am --- Sign in
9:30am --- Welcome....Alan Hughes, Manager, Sheffield Utilities, and Mayor Billy Don Anderson
9:45am --- Giles McDaniel, Director, Shoals Entreprenurial Center   "Business Incubation Program for Renewable Energy Companies"
10:30am --- Susan H. Ross, TVA Chatanooga, Senior Manager, End Use Generation "Energy Efficiency and Demand Use Response, Green Power Switch & Generation Partners"
11:30am --- Larry Bradford, President, Southern Solar Systems, Huntsville "Solar Primer for Homeowners"
12:00noon --- Lunch, The Southland Restaurant, Sheffield
1:00pm --- UNA Habitat for Humanity "Habitat for Humanity Goes Solar"
1:45pm --- Susan D. Parker, Commissioner, Alabama Public Service Commission, Montgomery "Solar Energy Policy"
2:30pm --- Larry Bradley, President, Southern Solar Systems "Solar Energy for Industry and Small Businesses"
3:30pm --- Adjourn

Saturday, August 9

9:00am --- Meet at Sheffield Library to caravan to Habitat for Humanity solar home. Southern Solar Systems and Habitat construction supervisors will explain the photovoltaic system and solar water heater. Information will be available for anyone interested in using solar for residences or business.
Call Nancy Muse at (256) 767-2909 for more information.

Looking for a hike? Check http://www.localhikes.com/ which "...provides information on local hiking opportunities near both large and small metropolitan areas..."

OTHER LINKS OF INTEREST

http://home.hiwaay.net/~oliver/shoalswildflowersociety.htm
http://www.shoalsaudubon.com/
http://www.aloutdoors.com/florence.htm
http://www.wildsouth.org/
http://hikealabama.org/
http://www.freshairfamily.org/home.html

Charles L. Rose
President
Shoals Environmental Alliance
1206 N. Montgomery Ave.
Sheffield, AL 35660
H. (256) 381-2826
C. (256) 366-1937
chuckrivers@comcast.net

Click here for a Acrobat .pfd map of the TVA walking trails from the Scenic Shoals page on TheCatfishWrapper website. The page also contains photos of the Hall Memorial Native Plant Garden at TVA, Cane Creek Canyon Nature Preserve, and wildflowers at
Whippoorwill Hollow in Sheffield.

Click here to visit the Shoals Chapter of the Alabama Wildflower Society. They have some great photos of local wildflowers.

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We are currently attempting to schedule our speakers and programs for next year's SEA meetings. If you have any suggestions for speakers or topics, or any ideas about outings or other events, please contact me.

Charles Rose
(256) 366-1937 cell
(256) 381-2826 home
(256) 381-0801 fax

Click the logo at left to visit WildSouth.org If you are not on WildSouth’s e-mail list to receive information about their September through May monthly hikes and would like to be, contact Janice at janice@wildsouth.org or 256-974-6166. For additional information about WildSouth, please visit us at www.wildsouth.org

Hikes: Warrior Mountains Trading Company in Wren, Alabama is an excellent source of information about trails in the Bankhead Forest and Sipsey Wilderness. If you prefer to hike with a group, we suggest you connect with The Nature Wanderers, another local group. Call Ted Kuzma at 256-974-7771.

SEA Literature: SEA Membership Form Native Plant Garden General Information Brochure

If you have any questions, wish to receive e-mail notification of SEA activities and environmental issues, or if you would like a membership form mailed to you, contact Charles L. Rose at chuckrivers@comcast.net or (256) 381-2826.