With many businesses closed, Alabamians are getting outdoors more, and that is leading more people to notice new things in their environment.

And that is leading to an increase in complaints about water pollution to both state regulators and environmental watchdogs.

Heavy rains have caused sewer overflows in many parts of the state since the coronavirus shutdown. And with so many people at home to notice, and with more people than usual out on waterways, water pollution complaints filed with the Alabama Department of Environmental Management are up significantly from the same timeframe last year.

ADEM external affairs chief Lynn Battle said the state received 95 citizen complaints about water pollution issues from March 16 to April 22, compared to 67 over the same timeframe in 2019.

“Much of that increase can be attributed to the heavy rains this spring, which have led to more occasions of overflows of sanitary sewer systems as well as more instances of stormwater runoffs from construction sites,” Battle said. “Some of the complaints involved the same incidents, but they came from multiple citizens.

“As is the normal process, ADEM has investigated or is in the process of investigating the complaints.”

Alabama’s Riverkeeper groups say they’re also getting more complaints than normal from people who report spills to them.

Coosa Riverkeeper executive director Justinn Overton said her group has received 24 complaints from the public so far in March and April, compared to just seven over both months last year.

Black Warrior Riverkeeper Nelson Brooke said that while Alabama’s air may be getting a break, from decreased traffic on the roadways, the rivers still have many of the same stresses applied to them.

“Agriculture, mining, muddy water runoff from logged and developed areas, all that stuff is still happening, so the river is still getting nice and muddy,” Brooke said. “We're still having tons of sewage spills, especially with all this rain. So I would lean more towards ‘business as usual.’”

Plus, with many people unable to work, activity at Alabama’s outdoor hot spots has skyrocketed.

Through the end of March, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources says its 23 public fishing lakes across the state had already seen 12,500 more angler trips than last year. In April, those lakes are on pace to see a 30 percent increase in visitors from last year, according to ADCNR spokesman Kenny Johnson.

Hunting on public lands is also much more popular this year. Turkey season began in most counties on March 28, and Johnson said reported turkey harvests are up 45 percent from last year.

Johnson also said that while exact numbers were not immediately available, state parks like Oak Mountain State Park near Birmingham are experiencing high traffic, and golf courses appear to busier than usual. Use is also higher in state parks with trail systems, as well as state Forever Wild lands, such as the Walls of Jericho in Jackson County, Cahaba River Park in Shelby County, and the Perdido River WMA tract in Baldwin County

“We are happy to be able to provide outdoor recreational opportunities during this time when they are most needed,” said Chris Blankenship, Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. “However, it is very important to practice social distancing and follow current hand washing guidelines when you participate in outdoor recreation.

“We want you to enjoy Alabama’s outdoors, but we want you to do it safely.”