1) Southern Pine Beetle Epidemic has Destroyed More Than 900,000 Trees in Bama
2) New Study Ranks Alabama 49th Among Green Indicators
3) Birmingham News Water Use Series Warns of Water Shortages
4) Governor Siegelman Opens Hunting and Fishing Trail for People with Disabilities
5) Water War Mediator Chosen, Talks Continue
6) Project CATE: An Exciting New Environmental Curriculum
7) BEN Notes: Camp McDowell Job Openings and BEN Fundraising Appeal

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1. Southern Pine Beetle Epidemic has Destroyed More Than 900,000 Trees in Bama - The year 2000 will go down in Alabama history as one of the most devastating years for Southern Pine Beetle (SPB) population infestation. The numbers are staggering.

In May 2000, detection flights showed 34 counties with SPB populations with 23 of those counties reaching the "epidemic" category. Within the 34 counties, 1,949 SPB spots were identified containing 65,572 infested trees.

Just released October 2000 Southern Pine Beetle Data from the Alabama Forestry Commission confirms the unprecedented SPB emergency. According to the latest figures, 63 of Alabama's 67 counties now have SPB populations with 57 counties reaching the "epidemic" category. Within the 63 counties, 14,290 SPB spots have been identified containing 903,828 infested trees.

The SPB emergency is rapidly becoming an Alabama environmental tragedy. To learn more about the SPB statewide emergency visit the Alabama Forestry Commission site at: http://www.forestry.state.al.us/beetle_spots_statewide.htm

2. New Study Ranks Alabama 49th Among Green Indicators - A new study, titled "Gold and Green 2000," conducted by the Institute for Southern Studies, uses two separate lists of indicators to evaluate each state's economic performance and the stresses on the natural environment. The 20 environmental indicators range from toxic emissions and pesticide use to energy consumption and urban sprawl. The 20 economic measures include annual pay, business start-ups and workplace injury rates.

The report ranks states on each indicator, and the sum of ranks produces a state's final score. Comparing the two lists reveals remarkable correlation's. Seven states rank in the top 15 for both economic and environmental health. Vermont, Rhode Island and Minnesota rank in the top six on both lists. Other top performing states include Maryland, Maine, Colorado and Wisconsin.

In contrast, states that perform poorly on economic indicators tended to rank near the bottom on environmental protection. Alabama ranked 49th on the environmental (Green) indicators and 47th on economic (Gold) indicator according to the study. Louisiana was the only state that topped Alabama on both the environmental and economic score. States listed in the cellar along with Alabama include Texas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Indiana, Arkansas, West Virginia, Kentucky and South Carolina.

To read the final Gold and Green 2000 rankings and state by state profiles, please visit http://www.southernstudies.org

3. Birmingham News Water Use Series Warns of Water Shortages - In their three day Nov. 19-21 Special Report, "The Water We Drink", Birmingham News reporters Katherine Bouma, Mike Bolton and Patrick Hickerson documented the struggle water managers in Birmingham are facing to keep the region's water among the best in the state. Decreasing water quality and dwindling supply in a community that is experiencing explosive growth are just a few of the battles the region's water managers face.

The series, which was the work of several months of research, made the following findings:

* The state's number one licensed polluter (Goldkist) pours more than 250 tons of toxins every year into a tributary that flows into the Cahaba River and becomes part of the area's drinking water supply. ADEM has cited Goldkist 41 times for exceeding discharge limits on the Cahaba tributary but yet to fine the company.

* Sprawling cities are altering the hydrology of the river basin, decreasing the water supply above and below the surface by sinking wells and paving over areas that could be recharging the Cahaba River.

* Water managers say demand will outpace supply within the decade.

* Alabama takes almost no role in ensuring a safe and adequate water supply for its cities. The State has no laws governing watershed protection. Alone in the Southeast, Alabama has no system to limit withdrawals, leaving cities and counties helpless to prevent their neighbors from sucking rivers dry.

To learn more about the findings and this groundbreaking Birmingham News series, visit: http://www.al.com/news/birmingham/Nov2000/22-e430003b.html.

4. Governor Siegelman Opens Hunting and Fishing Trail for People with Disabilities - Here is an innovative program. Last week, in a press conference in Mobile, Governor Don Siegelman officially opened Alabama's Hunting and Fishing Trail for People with Disabilities. The trail, which is the first of its kind in the nation, consists of 39 sites that have been
modified to accommodate people with physical disabilities. There are 12 hunting sites, seven sport shooting sites and 20 fishing sites.

For more information about this new and exciting trail, contact the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources at 1-334-242-3465.

5. Water War Mediator Chosen, Talks Continue - In an effort to jump start the stalled "water war" talks between Alabama, Georgia and Florida, the three states have employed Talbot "Sandy" D'Alemberte, the president of Florida State University, as the mediator who will try to help representatives of the states' governors reach a voluntary settlement in the decade-old water war.

An eight-day mediation effort started last week in Tallahassee. The groups are trying to meet a December 30 deadline to reach an agreement in sharing the waters of two river basins, the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint (ACF) and the Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa (ACT). If the mediation fails, the next stop could be the U.S. Supreme Court.

6. Project CATE: An Exciting New Environmental Curriculum - Project CATE (Conservation Action Through Education), a non-profit, conservation and environmental education foundation out of Mobile has produced and is making available "Ribbit's Big Splash," a CD-Rom interactive disk/program. This program, focuses on water and is geared toward K-6 grades. The program is very well done. Most importantly for educators, the program meets the State education standards for reading, writing mathematics, science, computer science and language arts. BEN has had several environmental education teachers review the program, and they have been very impressed.

For information about Project CATE and "Ribbit's Big Splash" contact Neil Johnston at P.O. Box 123, Mobile, Al. 36601 or 334-694-6247.

7. BEN Notes: Camp McDowell Job Openings and BEN Fundraising Appeal

Camp McDowell Job Openings - Camp McDowell is seeking instructors to work at the 700 acre+ camp in Winston County. The instructors will be teaching earth science, forest and water ecology, Native American history and group building skills. The positions run from mid February to late May. Salary: $190/week + room and board. To apply: Mail resume and references to Jennifer Arnold, Director, 105 DeLong Road, Nauvoo, Al 35578 or call 205-387-1806. you can also visit Camp McDowell's webpage at: http://www.campmcdowell.com/cmec

BEN Fundraising Appeal - The deadline for this year's BEN Fundraising Appeal is fast approaching (November 30th!) We look forward to hearing from you! Here are the 3 groups we are asking for support in 2000.

Southern Environmental Center at Birmingham Southern College
900 Arkadelphia Road
Birmingham, Alabama 35254
205-226-4934

Camp McDowell Episcopal Church Camp (Pat Byington Scholarship)
105 DeLong Road
Nauvoo, Alabama 35578
205-387-1806

American Lung Association of Alabama
900 18th Street South
Birmingham, Alabama 35205
205-933-8821

Please share BEN with friends and fellow conservationists. If you have any questions or comments about this publication, contact Pat Byington, the author and publisher of BEN at 205-226-7739 or pkbyington@aol.com To receive back issues of BEN, please go to our website at: http://www.BamaNews.com