Tracy Delaney, director of the Lower Coosa River Basin Management Plan, addressed the Calera City Council recently about threats to the state waterway.

The Lower Coosa River Basin includes 2,000 square miles in seven counties and 15 municipalities.

Three waterways within the Lower Coosa River Basin are listed among Alabama’s impaired waterways, including Lay Lake, Lake Mitchell and Buxahatchee Creek.

The lower basin also serves as home to several endangered species such as the Pitcher Plant, the Tulotoma Snail and the Coosa Moccasinshell.

Delaney said the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) awarded a grant for the basin management plan in spring of 2002. Delaney and organizers came up with an 18-month project with two phases of public awareness.

According to Delaney, the main target of the project for the Coosa River is non-point source pollution, which includes storm water runoff.

She said this type of pollution has to be addressed on a volunteer basis, unlike regulations levied to control industrial pollution.

Delaney asked the council to consider compiling a list of volunteer measures that citizens could follow to limit non-point source pollution.

She said she will return to the council in the spring to discuss the proposed measures.

In other news from the Calera City Council:

Calera Police Chief Jim Finn is searching for a new police officer, after an officer resigned several weeks ago. Finn told the Calera City Council on Monday he expects to fill the position by Dec. 3.

Finn also talked with council members about getting an ATM for the courthouse lobby. Finn said the ATM could help people paying fines, and would be of no cost to the city.

Finn asked the council for authorization to sign the city’s old police dog, ‘Cheetah’, back over to the original owner. He said the city already has a new trained police dog.