Auburn University
PAE-19: Community Sustainability Partnerships

Auburn University has several recently completed and current sustainability partnerships. Alabama Water Watch is a citizen-based water quality monitoring program that is operated in the Fisheries Department, in partnership with civic groups, schools, and governments in communities throughout Alabama to train and engage citizens to conduct scientifically reliable water quality tests in the lakes, rivers, streams, and bays of Alabama. Water Watch has a 20-year record of collected data, and conducts monitoring, education, and training workshops that citizen-group partners use to conduct advocacy, protection, and restoration efforts on behalf of their local waters. https://fp.auburn.edu/icaae/index.aspx The Tallapoosa Watershed Project and the Wolf Bay Watershed project were conducted between 2008 and 2010, and each consisted of an interdisciplinary team of researchers, technicians, and outreach specialists investigating past, present, and future conditions and trends of these watersheds. The teams collaborated with local government and civic partners to assess conditions and trends and engage local communities in dialogue about appropriate watershed management practices for the future. http://aaes.auburn.edu/water/IWP.php Auburn University has a Memorandum of Understanding with the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo to provide technical assistance in helping the zoo to develop operational systems such as energy, waste diversion and elimination, water treatment, etc., that are done using the principles and practices of sustainability. http://www.alabamagulfcoastzoo.org/Assets/pdfs/AGC_Press_Release_April_2011.pdf College of Architecture, Design and Construction Green for Life demonstration project with the Boykin Community Center: Thanks to efforts of more than 100 College of Architecture, Design and Construction graduate and undergraduate students, children at the Boykin Community Center now have a more beautiful place to play and the Saugahatchee watershed is healthier. This Green for Life! demonstration project created by the CADC students was awarded the Best Community Design Award by the Alabama Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects in Birmingham on March 26, 2011 and received the Outstanding Team Project Award from the Alabama Chapter of American Planning Association on April 1, 2011. http://cadc.auburn.edu/apla/lists/aplanews/dispform.aspx?ID=8