1. presented by Mitch Reid | Program Director | Alabama Rivers Alliance | mreid@alabamarivers.org | @RiverDefender

2. Agenda  2016 Session Information  Budget  Water Policy  Dam Safety  Fishers Rights  Open Government  Opportunities and Resources

3. presented by Mitch Reid | Program Director | Alabama Rivers Alliance | mreid@alabamarivers.org | @RiverDefender Session information  Legislature Website: www.legislature.state.al.us www.legislature.state.al.us  Regular Session  Convenes: Tuesday February 2 nd  The length of the regular session is limited to 30 meeting days within a period of 105 calendar days.  There are usually two meeting or "legislative" days per week, with other days devoted to committee meetings.  Important Dates:  Alabama Primaries: Tuesday, March 1 st  Spring Break: March 28 th -April 1 st (or thereabouts)  Rivers of Alabama Day: Tuesday April 12th  Special Sessions :  Called by the Governor, with the Proclamation listing the subjects which the Governor wishes considered. These sessions are limited to 12 legislative days within a 30 calendar day span.

4. presented by Mitch Reid | Program Director | Alabama Rivers Alliance | mreid@alabamarivers.org | @RiverDefender Budget  “Rough Shoals Ahead”  Budget chairs: Sen Trip Pittman (R-Montrose), Rep. Steve Clouse (R-Ozark)  Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM)  $154 M budget comprised of Trust Funds, EPA grants, and Permit Fees (Budget hearing Feb. 3 rd )  2015 budget essentially eliminated General Fund contributions  Watch for further raids on Trust Funds  Advocate for restoration of General Fund $  Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR)  Most of DCNR from ear marks and fees  2015 reduced budgets for State Parks  Watch for Attacks on Wildlife Programs including fish hatchery work  Forever Wild  2015 fended off raids on Forever Wild  Monitor and oppose further attempts to go after Forever Wild $

5. presented by Mitch Reid | Program Director | Alabama Rivers Alliance | mreid@alabamarivers.org | @RiverDefender Water Policy  Alabama Water Agency Working Group (AWAWG)  http://adeca.alabama.gov/Divisions/owr/awawg/pages/default.aspx) http://adeca.alabama.gov/Divisions/owr/awawg/pages/default.aspx  Focus Panels in progress: Riparian Rights, Instream Flow, Permitting, Conservation/Efficiency, and Regional Planning  Water Resources Assessments  2015 budget: $750K (down from $1M)  Advocate for continued funding in 2016  Reports should be made to Focus Panels and Water Committee  Water Committee  No scheduled meetings  Advocate for at least one meeting during 2016 session to discuss AWAWG progress  Support Interbasin Transfer Moratorium until completion of water plan

6. presented by Mitch Reid | Program Director | Alabama Rivers Alliance | mreid@alabamarivers.org | @RiverDefender Dam Safety  2015 effort spear-headed by the American Council of Engineering Companies of Alabama (ACECA) and Association of State Dam Safety Officials (www.damsafety.org)www.damsafety.org  Draft bill pulled due to budget fight  Support Dam Safety legislation in 2016

7. presented by Mitch Reid | Program Director | Alabama Rivers Alliance | mreid@alabamarivers.org | @RiverDefender Fishers Rights  Considerable improvements in the 2015 fish consumption advisory published by the Alabama Department of Public Health (http://adph.org/tox/index.asp?id=1360)http://adph.org/tox/index.asp?id=1360  SELC Southern Exposure Film Fisherman’s Right to Know (http://www.southernexposurefilms.org/films/fishermens-right-to-know)http://www.southernexposurefilms.org/films/fishermens-right-to-know  No legislative effort in 2015  Support Coosa Riverkeeper’s “Fish Guide” and explore opportunities to expand statewide  No legislation anticipated in 2016

8. Open Government  2015 bill strengthened Alabama Open Meetings Act ; Sen. Cam Ward, (R- Alabaster)  Alabama Environmental Management Commission (AEMC) engaged in refining public participation at AEMC meetings (“day-of” comments, clarification of rules for “formal” presentations)  Support open meetings/ open government legislation  Monitor and oppose legislation that limits transparency or public participation presented by Mitch Reid | Program Director | Alabama Rivers Alliance | mreid@alabamarivers.org | @RiverDefender

9. Opportunities and Resources  Connect:  Facebook: Alabama.Rivers  Twitter: @AlabamaRivers  Rivers of Alabama Day (April 12)  Follow the issues:  Alabama Rivers Alliance (www.alabamarivers.org)www.alabamarivers.org  Conservation Alabama (www.conservationalabama.org)www.conservationalabama.org  Alabama Arise Citizens Policy Project Daily News Digest (http://arisecitizens.org/index.php/daily-news)http://arisecitizens.org/index.php/daily-news  Find Your Legislature:  http://capwiz.com/state-al/home/ http://capwiz.com/state-al/home/  Contact your legislator:  http://salsa4.salsalabs.com/o/51113/p/salsa/web/common/public/content?content_item_KEY=13616 http://salsa4.salsalabs.com/o/51113/p/salsa/web/common/public/content?content_item_KEY=13616