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Coosa Riverkeeper asks Gadsden to sponsor river swim-guide testing and economic impact survey
Summary
A representative of Coosa Riverkeeper requested city sponsorship for the organization's summer swim-guide water testing program and described an ongoing economic impact survey of river users.
Richard Rybka, representing Coosa Riverkeeper, asked the City of Gadsden to consider sponsoring the organization's swim-guide program and described an ongoing economic-impact survey of river and lake users.
Rybka said the organization is conducting an economic impact survey to learn how people use the river — fishing, boating, paddling or living on the river — and that the study covers the waterway from Weiss Lake Dam to Wetumpka (5 lakes included). "We have about 300 responses now, and we would like to get more like 700 to a thousand," he said, and added the survey will continue through the year.
On the swim-guide program, Rybka said the group runs testing from Memorial Day to Labor Day at 50 sites; interns collect samples Thursdays and run E. coli tests on Fridays, then report results publicly (he described a green/amber/red system for swim advisories). He said the full program costs about $100,000 per year and offered options for partial or full sponsorship of sites or lakes. "We would sure appreciate it if you'd help us, bring out this important public health information," Rybka said.
President Beck invited Rybka to email the clerk's office with the sponsorship request; Beck noted the attorney's office must review discretionary fund requests for compliance with state law before the city can commit funds.
