Upper Coosa’s biological diversity takes stage at Membership Meeting Auburn University biology professor, Dr. George Folkerts, will take CRBI members on a visual tour of global and local aquatic biodiversity at the Annual Membership Meeting to be held Tuesday, Jan. 17 at the Rome-Floyd County Library.

The Upper Coosa River Basin is known as the most biologically diverse river system in North America with 30 different endemic species of fishes, mussels, snails and crayfish. These special creatures live here but no where else on the planet, and share their water with us daily. Dr. Folkerts will highlight this biodiversity in a visual presentation that takes species diversity from the global level to the local level.

Also at the meeting, the membership will elect new board officers who will serve two year terms, ending in January 2008. The 2005 Annual Report will be presented and several CRBI members will be recognized for their volunteer efforts on behalf of the organization during 2005.

Dr. Folkerts teaches biology at Auburn University. He has wandered around in the waters, woods, and wetlands of the continent for more than 45 years. With tongue in cheek, he says “I’m an interested in nature and have never gotten out of the frog-in-the-pocket stage of development. My very sophisticated research methods include looking around while wandering, swimming, wading, standing and sitting.”

Refreshments will be served at 6:30 with the program beginning at 7 p.m. Please plan to attend this meeting to celebrate CRBI’s accomplishments and learn more about the special river basin that we call home.