Cahaba River Basin Educational Newspaper Insert

LIVING IN THE
Cahaba River
ALABAMA CLEAN
WATER PARTNERSHIP
WAT E R S H E D
Cahaba River Historical Park in Centreville at Height of 2007 Drought
photo by Paul Johnson, Alabama Aquatic Biodiversity Center
Inside:
Photo by
Paul Freeman
What Is A Watershed?
Benefits of the Cahaba River
Water Conservation Tips
Natural Resource Inventory
of the Upper Cahaba
Points of Interest in the
Lower Cahaba
Alien Invaders
Endangered Species
Low Impact Development
Photo courtesy of Friends of Shades Creek
Cahaba National Wildlife Refuge,
photo by Hunter Nichols
This publication was made possible with grant funds and services provided by the following:
Alabama Association of Resource Conservation and
Development Councils
Auburn University Environmental Institute
Alabama Clean Water Partnership
Cawaco Resource Conservation &
Development Council, Inc.
Alabama Cooperative Extension System
Delaney Consultant Services, Inc.
Alabama Department of Economic and
Community Affairs - Office of Water Resources
Legacy, Partners in Environmental Education, Inc.
Alabama Department of Environmental Management
Alabama Soil and Water Conservation Committee
Alabama Press Association
US Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4
Media General
Tombigbee Resource Conservation &
Development Council, Inc.
Acknowledgements
This publication was made
possible, in part, with grant funds
from the Cawaco and Tombigbee
Resource Conservation &
Development Councils and
Alabama Cooperative Extension
System, and from the Alabama
Clean Water Partnership through
Clean Water Act Section 319
Grants from the Alabama
Department of Environmental
Management and the U.S.
Environmental Protection
Agency, Region 4.
Special appreciation is
extended to the following
organizations for their
contribution of article content:
Alabama Clean
Water Partnership
Alabama Cooperative
Extension System
Alabama Department
of Conservation and
Natural Resources
Alabama Department of
Economic and Community Affairs,
Office of Water Resources
Alabama Department of
Environmental Management
Alabama Forestry Commission
Alabama Power
Alabama Soil & Water
Conservation Committee
Alabama Water Watch
Bibb County Commission
Birmingham Water Works Board
Cahaba River Authority
Cahaba River
Clean Water Partnership
Cahaba River Society
Cawaco Resource Conservation
& Development Council
WELCOME!
The Alabama Clean Water Partnership, Cahaba River Basin Clean
Water Partnership, and Cawaco Resource Conservation &
Development Council, in cooperation with multiple partners, are proud
to bring you this informative insert. Our intention is to provide
information about our incredible natural resource - the Cahaba River
Basin - and the many innovative projects underway to enhance and
protect the quality and quantity of the water that flows past our towns
and homes. The Cahaba River is a vital lifeline for all who live in the
watershed, with citizens depending on it for drinking water,
agricultural production, recreational opportunities, and manufacturing.
The Cahaba River Clean Water Partnership is part of the statewide
river basin management initiative called the Alabama Clean Water
Partnership (ACWP), a coalition of public and private individuals,
companies, organizations and governing bodies working together to
protect and preserve water resources and aquatic ecosystems
throughout the state and in the shared watersheds of neighboring
states. The goals of the ACWP are to link local basin efforts in order to
maximize resources, encourage public and private investment, and
empower citizens to become involved in watershed protection.
Representatives from each river basin, as well as representatives from
diverse interest groups, serve on a statewide board of directors. In
each of the ten delineated river basins, such as the Cahaba, a steering
committee composed of local stakeholders with assorted interests in
water resources and aquatic life is working to foster, coordinate, and
encourage communication throughout the basin, and to provide
guidance in the prioritization of resources.
The Cahaba River Clean Water Partnership, established in 2001, is
sponsored by the Cawaco Resource Conservation & Development
Council, with Cary Prather of the Birmingham Water Works leading
the Steering Committee. To find out more about the Alabama Clean
Water Partnership and its associated basin initiatives, go to
www.cleanwaterpartnership.org or call: Kellie Johnston, Cahaba
Basin Facilitator at (205) 251-8139 or Allison Jenkins, ACWP
Statewide Coordinator at (205) 266-6285.
If you like what you see in this insert, and want to support Alabama
Clean Water Partnership efforts, please consider making a donation.
Donations are tax deductible and can be earmarked for a specific
project (or group initiative) in a specific river basin. Donations can be
made by sending your check, along with the completed donation form
below, to: The Alabama Clean Water Partnership, P.O. Box 3623,
Montgomery, AL 36109.
The Cahaba River
Clean Water Partnership
The Cahaba River Clean Water Partnership works
through its neutral forum to make positive impacts
throughout the river basin. Services and projects include:
Education and Outreach - Newspaper articles, online newsletters, a website (cahabacwp.org) and meetings
and workshops are used to inform citizens about
successes, challenges/threats, partnering opportunities,
and strategies/capital needed to protect or improve the
river basin.
Renew Our Rivers - The Partnership coordinates the
volunteer, award-winning "Renew Our Rivers" clean-up
program on Bankhead and Holt Lakes and provides
support on Smith Lake, Locust Fork, and Village Creek.
(www.alabamapower.com/lakes/renewourrivers.asp)
Implementation of Best Management Practices Threatened and impaired areas in need of protection or
restoration are identified and actions taken to implement
corrective measures.
Remediation is usually in
cooperation with other partners using grants and costshare funding.
Funding - Grant funding is aggressively pursued to
support environmentally protective and economically
viable initiatives. Incentives may be available for
stakeholders to plan and implement large scope and scale
basin-wide projects, or smaller watershed-specific
activities.
What Is RC&D?
This project was funded in part with grant funds from
assorted Resource Conservation and Development
(RC&D) Councils, with a mission of helping citizens
protect and develop their economic, natural, and social
resources in ways that improve their area’s economy,
environment, and quality of life. Local RC&D Councils
provide ways for people to plan and implement projects
that will make their communities a better place to live.
They bring together people, needs, concerns,
opportunities, and solutions. Find out more about RC&D
at www.al.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/rcd
City of Hoover
Delaney Consultant Services
Support Clean Water in Alabama through your donation to the Alabama Clean Water Partnership
Friends of Cahaba Refuge
Please mail this card and your donation to: Alabama Clean Water Partnership, P.O. Box 3623, Montgomery, AL 36109
Geological Survey of Alabama
Name:
Office of Surface Mining / Vista
Organization / Affiliation:
Mailing Address:
Old Cahawba Archaeological
Park
Telephone:
US Environmental Protection
Agency, Region 4
The Alabama Clean Water Partnership is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. All donations are tax deductible.
Learn more about the Alabama Clean Water Partnership at www.cleanwaterpartnership.org
USDA Natural Resource
Conservation Service
2
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Email:
I want to learn more about becoming involved in the Alabama Clean Water Partnership.
Levels of Giving
Clean Water Friend
Clean Water Patron
$100.00
$500.00
Clean Water Supporter
$1,000.00
Clean Water Donor
$2,500.00
Clean Water Sponsor
$5,000.00
Clean Water Founder
$10,000.00
Other
_________
Donation Designation
Statewide Support
Basin Support
YES, I would like my donation
dedicated to the support of the
subbasin the basin I checked.
Alabama/Tombigbee
Conecuh-Sepulga
Black Warrior
Coosa
Cahaba
Coastal
Chattahoochee-Chipola
Tallapoosa
Choctawhatchee-Pea-Yellow
Tennessee
WHAT IS A WATERSHED?
A watershed (or drainage basin) is an area of land
that drains to a central location. That location can
be as small as a puddle or a small
drainage ditch in your
backyard, or as large as a
river, like the Cahaba.
Source: www.sourceprotection.net,
Courtesy of Conservation Ontario
Benefits of the Cahaba
River To Residents
The Cahaba River Watershed, is 1,870 square miles of
interconnecting springs, creeks, and smaller rivers feeding
into the Cahaba River. It covers portions of Jefferson, St.
Clair, Shelby, Bibb, Tuscaloosa, Chilton, Perry, and
Dallas Counties.
Extending from the lower Appalachian Mountain
range, down to the Gulf coastal plain, the Cahaba
River Valley is one of the most diverse geological,
physiological and ecological regions in North
America. The valley holds a tremendous variety
of plant and animal life and abundant supplies of
coal, iron ore, and limestone.
Public Water Supply
The Cahaba River, its tributaries, and aquifers
account for 196 square miles of drinking water
that is primarily used by the metro Birmingham
area. The Cahaba drinking water supply
provides an average of 53 million gallons per
day of residential water.
There
is
growing
recognition of the value
of protecting the high
quality of waters that
are a source of drinking
water as a means of
reducing the cost of
treatment
systems
required under the Safe
Drinking Water Act.
Map Courtesy of
Alabama Department of
Environmental Management
Recreation
The Cahaba
River Watershed
has a multitude of
resource
and
water-related
recreational
opportunities, including hunting,
fishing, hiking, canoeing, kayaking,
and rafting. The value of recreational
activities, specific to the Cahaba is
difficult to estimate. However, State
revenue generated by recreational activities
cannot be ignored. Examples of recreational
areas within the Cahaba River watershed include
The Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge, Lake
Purdy, Tannehill State Park, West Blocton’s Coke Oven’s Park
and Wildflower Trail, and Barton’s Beach, to name a few.
Photo by Hunter Nichols
3
Land Use in the Cahaba Basin
The Upper Cahaba River drainage
basin has been one of the most rapidly
developed urban areas in the state of
Alabama since 1980 due to expansion of
the Birmingham metropolitan area to the
south and southeast.
Completion of Interstate 65 to the
south and the Interstate 459 Bypass to
the south and east has facilitated
development of suburban communities
such as Cahaba Heights, Homewood,
Hoover, Inverness, Pelham and Vestavia
Hills. Population growth in the Upper
Cahaba River drainage basin has been
accompanied by increased impacts to
the river. Water quality and habitat
degradation, in addition to faunal
declines in the Cahaba River, are
symptomatic of the pollution problems
the Cahaba River has experienced both
in the past and the present. Rapid
urbanization in the Jefferson-Shelby-St.
Clair County area is the primary force
shaping water quality conditions and
biological communities, both directly in
the Upper Cahaba River basin and
indirectly in the Lower Cahaba River
basin, through material and pollutant
transport.
Development in the Lower Cahaba
River system is in stark contrast to the
upper part of the watershed. With
Centreville and Marion as the largest
urban areas, the Lower Cahaba River
system has not experienced the urban
expansion of the upper system.
Centreville’s economy is based around
the forest products industry, small
manufacturing companies, and support
of surrounding farm businesses. The
Talladega National Forest, Oakmulgee
Division, is located south of Centreville
and occupies much of the watershed in
this area. The economy of Marion is
based on small manufacturing,
education (Marion Institute and Judson
College), and farming. Farming and
animal production are the major land use
features in the Lower Cahaba River
basin south of Marion.
Better Water Quality in Forests
Did you know that there are 22.5 million forested acres in Alabama?
Properly managed forests protect and can even improve water quality in a
watershed, making it imperative that forest owners, loggers and associated
contractors be knowledgeable about forestry best management practices
(BMPs). The Alabama Forestry Commission recommends professional
assistance with BMPs during planning, conducting and maintaining silvicultural
practices, paying special attention to the proper planning, location, and
maintenance of roads, maintenance of healthy streamside management zones
(strip of land immediately adjacent to a drainage, stream, creek, river, or other
body of water), and stream crossings, which have the most direct potential for
damaging water quality. Mandatory federal BMPs are required to be followed.
And, advanced planning for a successful timber harvest and regeneration can
protect water quality by minimizing soil disturbance as well as reducing the cost
for regeneration practices. Government resource professionals such as the
Alabama Forestry Commission (forestry.alabama.gov), Natural Resource
Conservation Service, County Extension Service, and organizations such as the
Alabama Forestry Association (alaforestry.org) can provide on-site
recommendations to landowners.
Source: Alabama Forestry Commission
Municipal Storm Water Management
Requirements and Contacts
Stormwater discharges are generated by runoff from land and impervious
areas where water doesn't soak in (such as paved streets, parking lots, and
building rooftops) during rainfall events and often contains pollutants in
quantities that could negatively affect water quality.
Municipalities that have a population greater than 100,000 people and a
population density of 1,000 people per square mile are required by law to comply
with stormwater permit requirements. The regulations require municipalities to
develop and implement stormwater management programs employing best
management practices (BMPs) to adequately address six minimum control
measures. These include:
1. Public Education and Outreach
2. Public Involvement and Participation
3. Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination
4. Construction Site Storm Runoff Control
5. Post-Construction Stormwater Management, and
6. Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping for Municipal Operations
Municipalities within the Cahaba River Watershed
under these requirements include:
City of Birmingham
SWMA (Jefferson County)
Shelby County
(205) 254-2479
(205) 943-5739
(205) 669-3737
Impaired Waters of the Cahaba River Basin
Having an impaired stream in your area can negatively affect:
 Future growth, development and land-use decisions
 Recreational activities and opportunities
 Municipal wastewater plant and industrial discharge permits (including
the recruitment of new industry)
 Storm water discharge permits
 Fish & wildlife living in or near stream
Assorted causes contribute to streams being impaired. Streams containing fish
consumption advisories issued by the Alabama Department of Public Health are
also added to the list. The following streams in the Cahaba River Basin are
currently listed as impaired by the Alabama Department of Environmental
Management:
Bibb County:
Cahaba River
Dallas County:
Childers Creek
Jefferson County: Cahaba River
Shelby County:
Buck Creek, Cahaba River, Cahaba Valley Creek,
Lee Branch
St. Clair County:
Cahaba River
Once a steam is listed as impaired, a "pollution budget" or Total Maximum
Daily Load (TMDL) must be developed for that stream segment for each pollutant
causing impairment. River segments in the Cahaba River Basin that currently have
approved TMDLs in place include:
Bibb County:
Cahaba River
Dallas County:
Dry Creek
Jefferson County: Cahaba River, Cooley Creek, Mill Creek, Mud Creek,
Patton Creek, Shades Creek
Shelby County:
Cahaba River, Patton Creek
St. Clair County:
Cahaba River
Source: Alabama Department of Environmental Management, Final 2008 303(d) List
of Impaired Streams. For additional information visit: www.adem.alabama.gov/
WaterDivision/WQuality/303d/WQ303d.htm; Alabama Department of Public Health Fish
Tissue Advisories: http://adph.org/tox/index.asp?id=1360
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CAHABA RIVER WATERSHED FACTS
 The Cahaba River is the state’s longest freeflowing river and is the third largest tributary
to the Alabama River.
 The Cahaba River Watershed includes parts of
Shelby, Bibb, Tuscaloosa, Chilton, Perry, St.
Clair and Dallas Counties and encompasses
approximately 1,870 square miles.
 The Watershed originates in the foothills of
the Appalachian Mountains in St. Clair

County, then extends 191 miles to the south to
join the Alabama River in Selma.
 The Cahaba River has 48 mussel species, 24
snail species, and 131 different fish species.
The World Wildlife Fund and the Nature
Conservancy have noted the Cahaba River as
one of only eight “Hotspots of Biodiversity” in
the world.
 Over 100 miles of the Cahaba River’s 190
mile length have been placed on a list of
waters that do not meet water quality
standards due to habitat alteration caused by
excessive amounts of sediment and nutrients.
 The Cahaba River has more fish species per mile
than any other river of it’s size in North
America, with 69 rare and imperiled species.
U.S. Drought Monitor
Conditions for the
Cahaba River Basin
February 10, 2009
10 WAYS TO SAVE 10 GALLONS
OF WATER EACH DAY
(Source: Water Line, Vol. 10, September 1990, Clemson University Cooperative Extension System)
Source: Alabama Department of
Economic and Community Affairs Office of Water Resources
Why Conserve Water?
The oceans hold about 97 percent of the earth’s water; but, it’s salt water and
cannot be used without costly treatment. Another 2 percent is frozen in the
polar ice caps. Therefore, only 1 percent of all the water on the planet is readily
usable for drinking, cooking or other daily activities. And, no new water is
being made! We’re using the same water that has always been here.
During droughts we can put a huge burden on our reservoirs, lakes, streams
and rivers. It’s important to everyone to do what they can to conserve it!
Turn off the tap while
you brush your teeth
2 brushings = 10 gallons
Use the hose a minute less
when you wash your car
1 minute = 10 gallons
Turn off the tap while you shave
1 shave = 10 gallons
Sweep, instead of washing
off the driveway
1 minute = 10 gallons
Shorten your shower by 2 minutes
2 minutes = 10 gallons
Wash full loads of clothes
1 load = 10 gallons
Place a water-filled bottle or
bag in your toilet tank
6 flushes = 10 gallons
Water your plants a minute less
1 minute = 10 gallons
Use short cycle on your dishwasher
1 wash = 10 gallons
10 gallons saved per day = 3,650 gallons saved per year!
Water conservation saves money and energy.
Conservation of all natural resources enhances our quality of life.
YES, I would like to do my part to conserve water during this time of drought.
Please send me my free water conservation kit!*
Name
(Please Print)
Address
The severe drought in the summer of 2000 lowered lake levels dramatically. When
this photo was taken, Lake Purdy, which is the Birmingham Water Works Board's
major source of water for communities in southern Jefferson and northern Shelby
counties, was less than half full. Photo by David Haynes.
City
State
Zip
*Limit one Kit per household, available to Alabama residents only.
Quantities are limited and will be provided on a first request basis.
Send to AUEI, 1090 S. Donahue Dr., Auburn University, AL 36849
www.cleanwaterpartnership.org
5
Polluted Stormwater Runoff -Americans support protecting the nation’s rivers but lack a good understanding of how watersheds work, according to a poll
conducted by the National Geographic Society.
 Protecting and conserving rivers was important for 98 percent of the respondents. But only 15 percent knew that the greatest
source of river pollution comes from the actions of individuals. Nearly three times as many, 44 percent, incorrectly identified
industrial sources as the biggest culprit in polluting waterways.
 Just 36 percent knew that nonpoint-source pollution - contamination from many sources that is carried by runoff - is the
largest source of water-quality problems for rivers.
 42 percent incorrectly thought water that goes down storm drains is treated at waste water treatment plants.
Stormwater runoff occurs when
precipitation from rain or snowmelt
flows over the ground. Impervious
surfaces like driveways, sidewalks, and
streets prevent stormwater from
naturally soaking into the ground.
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Source:
“After the Storm,”
Jan. 2003,
EPA 833-B-03-002.
6
Stormwater can pick up debris, chemicals,
dirt, and other pollutants and flow into a
storm sewer system or directly to a lake,
stream, river, wetland, or coastal water.
Anything that enters a storm sewer system
is discharged untreated into the waterbodies
we use for swimming, fishing, and
providing drinking water.
Polluted stormwater runoff can
have many adverse effects on
plants, fish, animals and people.

Sediment can cloud the
water and make it difficult
or impossible for aquatic
plants to grow. Sediment
also can destroy aquatic
habitats.

Excess nutrients can cause algae blooms.
When algae die, they sink to the bottom and
decompose in a process that removes oxygen
from the water. Fish and other aquatic
organisms can't exist in water with low
dissolved oxygen levels.

Bacteria and other pathogens can wash into
swimming areas and create health hazards,
often making beach closures necessary.

Debris - plastic bags, six-pack rings, bottles, and cigarette butts washed into waterbodies can choke, suffocate, or disable aquatic
life like ducks, fish, turtles, and birds.

Household hazardous wastes like insecticides, pesticides, paint,
solvents, used motor oil, and other auto fluids can poison aquatic
life. Land animals and people can become sick from eating
diseased fish and shellfish or ingesting polluted water.

Polluted stormwater often
affects drinking water sources.
This, in turn, can affect human
health and increase drinking
water treatment costs.
Auto care
Residential
Recycle or properly dispose of household products that
contain chemicals, such as insecticides, pesticides, paint,
solvents, and used motor oil and other auto fluids. Don't
pour them onto the ground or into storm drains.
Lawn Care
Excess fertilizers and
pesticides applied to lawns
and gardens wash off and
pollute streams. In addition,
yard clippings and leaves
can wash into storm drains
and contribute nutrients and
organic matter to streams.
 Don't overwater your lawn. Consider
using a soaker hose instead of a sprinkler.
 Use pesticides and fertilizers sparingly.
When use is necessary, use these
chemicals in the recommended amounts.
Use organic mulch or safer pest control
methods whenever possible.
 Compost or mulch yard waste. Don't
leave it in the street or sweep it into
storm drains or streams.
 Cover piles of dirt or mulch being used
in landscaping projects.
Commercial
Agriculture
Forestry
Washing your car and degreasing auto
parts at home can send detergents and
other contaminants through the storm
sewer system. Dumping automotive
fluids into storm drains has the same
result as dumping the materials directly
into a waterbody.
 Use a commercial car wash that treats or recycles
its wastewater, or wash your car on your yard so
the water infiltrates into the ground.
 Repair leaks and dispose of used auto fluids and
batteries at designated drop-off or recycling
locations.
Septic
Systems
Leaking and poorly
maintained septic
systems release
nutrients and
pathogens (bacteria and viruses)
that can be picked up by
stormwater and discharged into
nearby waterbodies. Pathogens can
cause public health problems and
environmental concerns.
 Inspect your system every 3
years and pump your tank as
necessary (every 3 to 5 years).
 Don't dispose of household
hazardous waste in sinks or
toilets.
Dirt, oil, and debris that collect in parking
lots and paved areas can be washed into the
storm sewer system and eventually enter
local waterbodies.
 Sweep up litter and debris from
sidewalks, driveways and parking lots,
especially around storm drains.
 Cover grease storage and dumpsters
and keep them clean to avoid leaks.
 Report any chemical spill to the local
hazardous waste cleanup team. They'll
know the best way to keep spills from
harming the environment.
Pet Waste
Pet waste can be a
major source of
bacteria and excess
nutrients in local
waters.
 When walking
your pet, remember to pick up
the waste and dispose of it
properly. Flushing pet waste is
the best disposal method.
Leaving pet waste on the
ground increases public health
risks by allowing harmful
bacteria and nutrients to wash
into the storm drain and
eventually into local
waterbodies.
Recycle or properly dispose of household
products that contain chemicals, such as
insecticides, pesticides, paint, solvents, and used
motor oil and other auto fluids. Don't pour them
onto the ground or into storm drains.
Residential Landscaping
Permeable Pavement—Traditional concrete and
asphalt don't allow water to soak into the ground.
Instead these surfaces rely on storm drains to divert
unwanted water. Permeable pavement systems allow
rain and snowmelt to soak through, decreasing
stormwater runoff.
Rain Barrels—You can collect
rainwater from rooftops in
mosquito-proof containers. The
water can be used later on lawn or
garden areas.
Rain Gardens and Grassy
Swales—Specially designed areas planted with
native plants can provide natural places for rainwater
to collect and soak into
the ground. Rain from
rooftop areas or paved
areas can be diverted
into these areas rather
than into storm drains.
Vegetated Filter Strips—Filter strips are areas of
native grass or plants created along roadways or
streams. They trap the pollutants stormwater picks up
as it flows across driveways and streets.
Erosion controls that aren't maintained can cause excessive amounts
of sediment and debris to be carried into the stormwater system.
Construction vehicles can leak fuel, oil, and other harmful fluids
that can be picked up by stormwater and deposited into local
waterbodies.
 Divert stormwater away from disturbed or exposed areas of the
construction site.
 Install silt fences, vehicle mud removal areas, vegetative cover,
and other sediment and erosion controls and properly maintain
them, especially after rainstorms.
 Prevent soil erosion by minimizing disturbed areas during
construction projects, and seed and mulch bare areas as
soon as possible.
Lack of vegetation on streambanks can lead to erosion. Overgrazed pastures can also contribute
excessive amounts of sediment to local waterbodies. Excess fertilizers and pesticides can poison
aquatic animals and lead to destructive algae blooms. Livestock in streams can contaminate
waterways with bacteria, making them unsafe for human contact.
 Keep livestock away from streambanks and provide them a
water source away from waterbodies.
 Store and apply manure away from waterbodies and in
accordance with a nutrient management plan.
 Vegetate riparian areas along waterways.
 Rotate animal grazing to prevent soil erosion in fields.
 Apply fertilizers and pesticides according to label instructions
to save money and minimize pollution.
Improperly managed logging operations can result in erosion and sedimentation.
 Conduct preharvest planning to prevent erosion and lower costs.
 Use logging methods and equipment that minimize soil disturbance.
 Plan and design skid trails, yard areas, and truck access roads to
minimize stream crossings and avoid disturbing the forest floor.
 Construct stream crossings so that they minimize erosion and physical
changes to streams.
 Expedite revegetation of cleared areas.
Construction
Automotive
Facilities
Uncovered fueling stations allow spills to be washed
into storm drains. Cars waiting to be repaired can
leak fuel, oil, and other harmful fluids that can be
picked up by stormwater.
 Clean up spills immediately and properly
dispose of cleanup materials.
 Provide cover over fueling stations and design
or retrofit facilities for spill containment.
 Properly maintain fleet vehicles to prevent oil,
gas, and other discharges from being washed
into local waterbodies.
 Install and maintain oil/water separators.
7
8
History of the
Cahaba River
 Alabama’s first capital was
located along the banks of
the Cahaba River at the town
of Cahawba. The Cahaba
River joins the Alabama
River at this site just south of
Selma, which is now home to
the Alabama Historical
Commission’s Old Cahawba
Archaeological Park.
 Back in the 1800’s, Village
Creek was Birmingham’s
major source of drinking
water. In the late 1880’s,
Village Creek could no
longer supply the city’s
water. In 1890, Birmingham
began to tap the Cahaba
River and constructed the
Cahaba Pumping station,
which still stands today. The
pumping station was totally
self-sufficient, and had it’s
own coal mine for fuel as
well as housing for
employees. After the
pumping station was
completed, the 18 employee
houses were relocated to
protect the drinking water
from polluted runoff. The
houses were moved to a spot
that came to be known as
New Merkel, which then
became Cahaba Heights.
(Source: Birmingham Water
Works)
 Alabama produced 70
percent of the South’s iron
supply during the Civil War.
Iron furnaces built at
Tannehill, Brierfield,
Brighthope, Irondale, and
Oxmoor are all within the
Cahaba River basin.
Illustration to the left courtesy of the City of
Hoover; created by Cheryl Morgan, Auburn
University Urban Studio.
9
Points of Interest in the Lower Cahaba Watershed
The Alabama Aquatic Biodiversity Center. Located near Marion, Alabama in rural Perry County,
the Alabama Aquatic Biodiversity Center houses the largest state aquatic wildlife restoration program in the
United States. The four-building complex sits on 36 acres near the Cahaba River and adjacent to the Marion
State Fish Hatchery, Perry Lakes Park and The Nature Conservancy's Barton's Beach Preserve.
Barton's Beach Cahaba River Preserve. As the Cahaba River flows through Perry County in the
upper coastal plain, the floodplain broadens and creates areas of bottomland hardwood forests, oxbow lakes
and extensive sand and gravel bars. Bald cypress, wreathed in Spanish moss, blow in the breeze bringing a
distinctly southern feel as you hike along the trail to the Beach, which is really a large sand and gravel bar
that has long served as an important nesting area for turtles. For additional information visit www.nature.org.
(Source: www.nature.org.)
Cahaba River Historical Park. Located in Centreville, Cahaba River Historical Park ia a beautiful
little park, with antique farm equipment displayed throughout, old buildings (general store and such), several
picnic areas (one covered), a small lake, a boat landing on the river, and public bathrooms. It is located on
Highway 25, about one mile north of the “River Bridge Junction” of Highways 82, 219, and 25 in Centreville.
Alabama Aquatic Biodiversity Center, photo courtesy of Paul
Johnson, Alabama Aquatic Biodiversity Center.
Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge. The Cahaba River NWR is one of nation's newest National
Wildlife Refuges, the 540th in fact. Established September 25, 2002 for the purpose of protecting and
managing a unique section of the Cahaba River (over seven river miles located within the Refuge) and land
adjacent to it, it is home to five federally listed species including the Cahaba shiner, goldline darter, round
rocksnail, and cylindrical lioplax snail. The largest known stand of the imperiled shoals lily (known locally
as the Cahaba lily) also occurs within the Refuge. Additional information is available at www.fws.gov or
http://cahabafriends.org. (Source: www.fws.gov.)
Kathy Stiles Freeland Bibb County Glades Preserve. The preserve in Bibb County is a "botanical
wonder" and is home to 61 rare plant species. The Little Cahaba River, which flows through the preserve,
harbors dozens of rare aquatic creatures. The site also includes Brighthope Furnace, the earliest ironworks
built in the State of Alabama. This breathtaking site is truly a "lost world" of species.
Cahaba National Wildlife Refuge, photo courtesy of Paul
Johnson, Alabama Aquatic Biodiversity Center.
Old Cahawba Archaeological Park. Near Selma, Old Cahawba is the site of Alabama’s first State
Capital and most famous ghost town. The site has a welcome center, education room, picnic area, hiking
trails, interpretive signs, historic ruins and a handicap-accessible nature trail. Additional information can be
found at www.cahawba.com.
Orr Park. Located in Montevallo, the beautiful Shoal Creek meanders through Orr Park providing
opportunities for fishing, wading, canoeing, kayaking, and just "watching the creek roll by." A paved walking
trail follows the creek for much of its journey through the park. In 2003, Shelby County provided the City
with some exciting enhancements to the park. The brand new playground equipment and restrooms tie for
favorite among parents and children.
Perry Lakes Park. The Perry Lakes Park Recreational Area, positioned between the Marion State Fish
Hatchery and the Barton's Beach Cahaba River Preserve, is located five miles east of Marion, near the State
Fish Hatchery on State Highway 175. Originally constructed in 1935 by the Civilian Conservation Corps,
the restored and expanded park encompasses four oxbow lakes in an undeveloped West Central Alabama old
growth river bottom. Visitors will experience exceptional birding, hiking, interpretive nature trails, and
recreational opportunities in the three adjacent natural areas. Additional information is available at
www.perrylakes.org.
Perry Lakes Park, photo courtesy of Paul Freeman,
The Nature Conservancy.
Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park. With more than 1,500 acres in three counties set aside
for hiking, camping and outdoor recreation, it is difficult to take in all of Tannehill in one visit. From spring
through fall, the blacksmith, miller and craftsmen demonstrate their trades, with craft shops occupying
restored pioneer cabins where artisans chat with visitors from their front porches. The cotton gin, pioneer
farm and working gristmill preserve a long-gone way of life. Hiking trails retrace historic roadways and
artifacts of Alabama's 19th century iron industry displayed in the Iron and Steel Museum put in perspective
the massive stone furnaces, Tannehill's awe-inspiring centerpiece. Campground accommodations, both
primitive and improved, are plentiful and horseback riding excursions are available at Tannehill Trails. The
third weekend of each month, from March through November, shoppers and swappers come from far and
near to Tannehill Trade Days in search of tools, clothing, jewelry, knives, furniture and other treasures.
Additional information is available at www.tannehill.org or www.stateparks.com.
(Source:
www.tannehill.org.)
The University of Montevallo’s Ebenezer Swamp Ecological Preserve. Located on Spring
Creek, approximately 6 miles northeast of the University of Montevallo, Ebenezer swamp consists of 60
acres of wooded wetlands and is home to numerous species of fungi, plants, and animals.
10
2007 Cahaba Lily Festival in West Blocton,
photo courtesy of Linda Derry.
Old Cahawba Archaeological Park:
A ghost town in need of clean water
Barton’s Beach, photo courtesy of Cahaba River Society.
Chalk Cliffs along the Cahaba River,
photo courtesy of Linda Derry.
Paddling on the Cahaba River,
photo courtesy of Linda Derry.
Working Together in the Lower Cahaba
The Selma Renaissance Commission and the
support that its Environmental Committee provides
to the Old Cahawba Archaeological Park and the
protection of the Cahaba River is an example of
how organizations can work together to benefit
multiple needs and goals. The mission of the Selma
Renaissance Commission is:
“Take what we have and make what we need, by
working collaboratively with all entities to achieve
excellence in all areas of life in Selma and Dallas
County.”
The Cahaba River's long journey ends when it
enters the larger Alabama River in Dallas County.
Overlooking this confluence is Old Cahawba,
Alabama's most famous ghost town.
This town's spectacular rise and devastating
demise started with statehood and ended with the
Civil War and Reconstruction, and yet clues to its
mysterious story are still clearly visible in a
landscape full of moss-covered ruins.
Cahawba was created to be Alabama's first
capital city in 1819. It was carved out of the
wilderness and named after the river that surrounded
it on three sides. This early town played a major role
in the conversion of Alabama's native prairie into
wealthy antebellum cotton plantations because it was
here that many westward moving settlers obtained
land patents to the rich land of the Black Belt region.
The capital was moved in 1826, but the town
continued as the county seat. By 1860, based on
cotton and slavery, Dallas county and its county seat
had the 4th highest per capita wealth in the entire
United States. Many fine mansions were built at
Cahawba.
Within a single lifetime, most of Alabama's
prairies and canebrakes were replaced by cotton
fields where large amounts of topsoil and sediment
eroded into the Cahaba and other nearby rivers and
streams. By the Civil War, the loss of topsoil was
harming cotton production, and sediment in the
rivers was increasing the severity of flooding.
Ironically, the very actions that created wealthy
Cahawba may have destroyed it, because a severe
flood in 1865, caused the residents to flee the rising
rivers, and the town was abandoned in 1866.
However, Old Cahawba's story is not just a sad
story of destruction. Recently it is also a story of
renewal, restoration and possibility. Archaeologists
are restoring life stories that have been lost to history
while other preservationists are working on the ruins,
graveyards, and a few remaining structures.
Meanwhile, freshwater ecologists are restoring
aquatic wildlife to the rivers that surround the site on
three sides, and on the fourth side, along the entry
road to the park, the Nature Conservancy of Alabama
is taking steps to preserve one of the last large
remnants of the Black Belt prairie. Everyone in the
Cahaba River valley can help reclaim this historic
place by keeping the waters of the Cahaba River
clean and free from unnecessary silt.
Today, Old Cahawba is an important
archaeological site, a place of picturesque ruins, and
a gateway to some of Alabama best natural wonders.
Visitors are welcome at Old Cahawba, and are
encouraged to start at the visitor center where they
can view old pictures of the town, ask about
Cahawba's ghost stories, browse in the gift shop, and
obtain self - guiding tour maps and brochures.
Then they can roam the abandoned streets and
cemeteries, explore the moss-covered ruins, read the
interpretive signs, and contemplate Cahawba's
disappearance - or walk a nature trail to a scenic
overlook. In the fall, visitors can photograph the
blooms of the Old Cahawba Rosinweed, a rare
prairie plant that grows no where else in the world!
Or just relax, dip their toes in artesian well water, and
listen to the birds sing. Picnic tables and grills are
available, and canoe launch locations are available in
and near the park.
Old Cahawba Archaeological Park is a historic
site of the Alabama Historical Commission, and
recently , the Cahaba Foundation has been created by
concerned citizens to help save this special place.
The visitor center is open from Noon to 5 p.m. daily.
For more information call: 334-872-8058.
How to get to Old Cahawba:
Starting on Broad Street (US Highway 80 Business
Route West) in Selma: At the 4th red light from the Edmund
Pettus bridge, turn west onto Dallas Avenue (Highway 22).
Continue straight on Dallas Avenue/Highway 22 for 8.6
miles to County Road 9. Take a left onto County Road 9.
This road dead-ends into County Road 2 after 3.4 miles.
Turn left onto County Road 2. The Old Cahawba Welcome
Center is 1/3 mile ahead on the right. (Caution: directions
from online mapping programs are sometimes inaccurate.)
Left: Fambro - Arthur House. Courtesy of
Old Cahawba, Alabama Historical Commission;
photo by Jonathan Mathews
Below: Crocheron Columns. Courtesy of Old
Cahawba, Alabama Historical Commission
11
Cahaba Home to Rare Species--
Old Cahawba Rosinweed Only Found Near Cahaba River
Photo courtesy of Linda Derry
Have you seen these "Alien" invaders?
Alabama has a wealth of water resources with over 77,000 miles of perennial and intermittent
streams; 563,000 acres of ponds, lakes and reservoirs; and over 3 million acres of marshes and
wetlands. The state also boasts 50 miles of coast with over 400,000 acres of estuaries. This vast amount
of water resources acts as a conduit for the invasion of aquatic nuisance species (ANS), posing a major
problem to the State. ANS are species introduced outside of their native ranges that can grow in or are
closely associated with the aquatic environment.
These nuisance species can have harmful effects on the local economy, WHAT CAN YOU DO?
human health and/or ecology. For example, Cuban bulrush (Oxycaryum  Boaters should always
cubense) has recently invaded Alabama's waterways in the Mobile River check and wash boat
Basin. This species clogs and covers waterways, cripples boat traffic and hulls, motors and trailers
competes with native vegetation, creating a monoculture unsuitable for and check bilge water
closely when transporting
recreation, commerce, native fish and wildlife species.
Water Hyacinth
Dotted Duckweed
Photo by Asit Ghosh
Eurasian watermilfoil
Parrotfeather
Photo by Andre Karwath
(Source: Ala-Tom RC&D Council, USDA NRCS, and
AL DCNR publication. Photo by Catherine Wofford)
Source: Old Cahawba Archaeological Park
Photo by C. Smoot Major
Wild game is abundant throughout the
watershed and Alabama is one of the
premier states in the nation for hunting
white-tailed deer and Eastern wild turkey.
Alabama's generous hunting seasons and
bag limits are the envy of other states.
Across the state, over 400,000 deer are
harvested each year, resulting in tons of
waste. Unfortunately, this results in the
inappropriate disposal of entrails, hides
and skeletons. Such disposal as throwing
carcasses on roadways or stream banks, or
dumping into streams can pollute water,
cause serious health issues, and create a
poor perception of hunting.
An excellent method of proper disposal
of deer waste at a minimal cost is
composting. After approximately six
months, the composted waste can be
recycled by spreading it on the land as
fertilizer for wildlife food plots, flowerbeds
or gardens. A model of just such a project
is on display at the TurtlePoint
Environmental Center in Flomaton,
Alabama. For composter plans, visit
www.cleanwaterpartnership.org.
Photo by Alison Fox
Attention Deer Hunters!
Old Cahawba Rosinweed, a rare flower which is a
member of the Aster family, is only known to grow
within 13.5 km of the Cahaba River in Dallas and
Perry Counties. Appearing on the Alabama Natural
Heritage Program's Inventory List (2006) of Rare,
Threatened, and Endangered Plants & Animals of
Alabama, the Old Cahawba Rosinweed is considered
Critically Imperiled meaning that it is at a very high
risk of extinction due to extreme rarity (often 5 or
fewer populations), very steep declines, or other
factors.
Though there is still much to be discovered about
this flower, biologists believe that the flower may
have been spread by flooding of the Cahaba River.
One of the largest stands of the flower occurs on the
prairie adjacent to Old Cahawba (hence the name)
with the best viewing opportunities occurring during
the months of July through October. Additional
information can be found at www.cahawba.com
craft from one body of
water to another, to
minimize spreading.
 Never allow store
bought water garden
plants to enter the natural
environment - Let them
dry out and toss the plants
into garbage for disposal
at a landfill.
 To report sitings -Call Steve Rider at the
Alabama Department of
Conservation and
Natural Resources,
334-844-8978.
For more information about
invasive aquatic species:
Alabama Department of
Conservation and Natural
Resources at
www.outdooralabama.com/
education/generalinfo/ans/
Sources:
State Management Plan for Aquatic Nuisance Species in Alabama,
by the Alabama Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force, 2007.
Additional information regarding invasive aquatic species is
available at the Alabama Department of Conservation & Natural Resources - www.outdooralabama.com/education/generalinfo/ans/ and
USDA National Agricultural Library - National Invasive Species Information Center - www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/aquatics/main.shtml
12
Endangered Species of the Cahaba River Basin
The Cahaba River contains the greatest number of fish species per mile of any river in North America - of the
131 fish species reported in the Cahaba, 18 are found no where else but in the Greater Mobile River Basin. The
Cahaba River supports 69 rare and imperiled species, including ten fish and mussel species that are listed under
the U.S. Endangered Species Act. The Nature Conservancy's freshwater report ranks the Cahaba Watershed as
the 29th most critical out of 2,000 total watersheds in the United States for fish and mussels, and the Cahaba as
one of eight river "Biodiversity Hotspots" across the U.S. worthy of special preservation efforts.
Source: Cahaba River Basin Management Plan, ACWP, 2005
Threatened and Endangered species found in the Cahaba River Basin include:
Alabama canebrake pitcher plant
Alabama leather flower
Alabama moccasinshell mussel
Alabama sturgeon
Bald eagle
Cahaba shiner
Cylindrical lioplax snail
Fine-lined pocketbook mussel
Flat pebblesnail
Flattened musk turtle
Georgia rockcress
Goldline darter
Gray bat
Heavy pigtoe mussel
Indiana bat
Leafy prairie clover
Mohr's Barbara's buttons
Orange-nacre mucket mussel
Painted rocksnail
Plicate rocksnail
Red-cockaded woodpecker
Round rocksnail
Southern acornshell mussel
Southern clubshell mussel
Southern pigtoe mussel
Tennessee yellow-eyed grass
Triangular kidneyshell mussel
Tulotoma snail
Upland combshell mussel
Vermilion darter
Watercress darter
Wood stork
Cahaba Shiner
Photo Courtesy of US Fish and Wildlife
Red-cockaded Woodpecker
Flattened Musk Turtle
Mohr’s Barbara’s Buttons
Photo Courtesy of US Fish and Wildlife
Photo Courtesy of Dr. T. Wayne Barger
Photo Courtesy of US Fish and Wildlife
The Cahaba Lily
The Cahaba lily, a member of the spider lily or
amaryllis family, is known to exist in wide,
shallow, rocky shoals of southeastern rivers
located in the states of Alabama, Georgia and
South Carolina. Pollinated at night by the plebian
sphinx moth, seeds drop into the water and
become wedged between rocks, growing new
plants. The largest remaining stand (in the world)
of these beautiful and delicate flowers is located
on the Cahaba River just north of Centreville,
with smaller (but still impressive) populations of
the flower occurring in tributaries of the Coosa,
Tallapoosa and Black Warrior Rivers of Alabama.
The biggest threat to the Cahaba lily is
sedimentation from runoff of nonpoint source
pollution (see page 6 & 7) which collects in the
shoals allowing competing vegetation to grow and
overtake the lilies. Other threats include the
gathering or collection of the plants by collectors
(the plants do not survive without the fast-flowing
water of the shoals) and damming and
channelization of the creeks and rivers where the
plant is found.
These impressive flowers can be easily
viewed from mid May until mid June on the
Lower Cahaba River near West Blocton.
Organized by the West Blocton Improvement
Committee, the Cahaba Lily Festival, held each
year in West Blocton on the last Saturday in May,
is a perfect opportunity to learn more about and
view these impressive flowers. Additional
information is available from the The Bibb
County Chamber of Commerce 205-926-5222,
the Alabama Department of Tourism
(www.alabama.travel/yooa/scenic/lilies.cfm), and
from the Cahaba River Society at
www.cahabariversociety.org.
Alabama Sturgeon
Tennessee Yellow-Eyed Grass
Photo by Patrick O’Neal Courtesy of Geological Survey of Alabama
Photo Courtesy of Dr. T. Wayne Barger
Wood Stork
Gray Bat
Alabama Leather Flower
Photo Courtesy of US Fish and Wildlife
Photo Courtesy of Dr. T. Wayne Barger
Photo Courtesy of US Fish and Wildlife
Photo courtesy of Cawaco RC&D Council
13
Low Impact Development
Low Impact Development (LID) is an innovative stormwater management approach with a basic
principle that is modeled after nature: manage rainfall at the source using uniformly distributed
decentralized micro-scale controls. The goal of LID is to mimic a site's predevelopment hydrology
by using design techniques that infiltrate, filter, store, evaporate, and detain runoff close to its source.
Techniques are based on the premise that stormwater management should not be seen as stormwater
disposal. Instead of conveying and managing/treating stormwater in large, costly end-of-pipe facilities
located at the bottom of drainage areas, LID addresses stormwater through small, cost-effective
landscape features located at the lot level. These landscape features, known as Integrated
Management Practices (IMPs), are the building blocks of LID. Almost all components of the urban
environment have the potential to serve as an IMP. This includes not only open space, but also
rooftops, streetscapes, parking lots, sidewalks, and medians. LID is a versatile approach that can be
applied equally well to new development, urban retrofits, and redevelopment/revitalization projects.
What if all of the roofs in Birmingham were green?
Green roofs or "living
roofs" are a thin layer of
vegetation installed on top of a
roof, capturing water instead of
allowing it to run off, washing
pollutants into nearby streams
and rivers. They have a great
potential for the remediation of
an urban area’s air and water
quality issues, including the
reduction of flooding, heat
island
effects,
carbon
particulates, increased energy
savings and so much more.
To explore the extent of this
potential, Giang Tong, Doctoral
Candidate at UAB's Department
of
Environmental
Health
Engineering was asked to
conduct a trial in Birmingham
to determine the impact of flat
roofs in an urban and built up
area and what would the
potential impact be for green
roof in a typical intersection in
downtown? Three continuous
square blocks of downtown
Birmingham were randomly
chosen for this analysis. An
aerial caption from Google
Earth was used to determine the
land usage and a model was
used to determine source area
percentage contribution and the
reduction in pollutant loading.
Results indicated that there
is tremendous potential for the
rehabilitation of the metro
environment by looking 'above'
for solutions showing the
An Educational Program for
Local Officials and Citizens
About Polluted Stormwater Runoff
Call Today to Schedule a Free Workshop!
ADEM Office of Education and
Outreach
(334) 394-4350 Patti Hurley
adem.alabama.gov
14
NEMO AL Cooperative
Extension System
(334) 844-3927 Eve Brantley
www.aces.edu/waterquality
Action
Benefit
Rain Barrels, Native Plant
Landscaping
Conserves water
Rain gardens, Grass swales,
Pervious roadway &
driveway, Green rooftops,
Bioretention circle, Open
space design, No-mow zone
Catches stormwater to slow it
down and trap pollutants
before they get to our
streams, rivers, lakes, and
bays
Green Rooftop
following reductions:
 35% storm water runoff,
 21% lead,
 52% zinc,
 23% particulate phosphorus
 40% nitrate
Green roofs can be attractive,
functional, and cost-effective!
The future Dr. Tong is an intern
of Cawaco RC&D Council and
is supported by the Regional
Planning Commission of Greater
Birmingham.
LID -- It’s easier to do than you may think!
Check out practices that can
be placed around your home
and neighborhood.
Rain Barrels
Rain Gardens
Photos courtesy of NEMO Connecticut
Native Plants
Learn More About:
The link between land use and water quality
The impact of local land use policies
Enhancing the quality of life in communities
Natural resource based planning
Protective site design
Responsible land stewardship
Who Should Attend?
Elected Officials
Planning Agencies
Developers
Construction Industries
Businesses
Educational Institutions
Education and Outreach Organizations
Engineers and Technical Professionals
Citizens and Community Leaders
How Low Impact Design Helps
Open Space Design
Grass Swales
Pervious and
Shared Driveway
Bioretention
“circle”
Pervious Roadway
Benefits of Natural Areas
for Water Quality
Trees and other vegetation near streams help filter pollutants before
they enter the water. Trees provide shade which helps keep water cooler,
and provides more oxygen for fish and other aquatic life. Forests do a great
job of filtering water because they allow rain to seep slowly through
decaying leaves on the forest floor. When rain falls on bare ground, it can
wash soil into streams, making them muddy. When rain falls on a roadway
or parking lot, the oil, gas, and other chemicals wash down storm drains
and into streams. But the forest canopy, as well as the leaves and fallen
branches on the ground, protect soil from the full force of rain. Leaves
catch up to 60 percent of precipitation, drops slide down through leaves and
branches and the roots hold soil in place so it doesn’t wash away.
The moisture then can be absorbed and replenish the groundwater.
Groundwater may exist hundreds of feet down in the earth or be very close
to the surface. Clearing vegetation for construction, logging or farming,
and draining wetlands are all activities that can increase erosion and
negatively affect water quality if not done properly. Planting trees,
implementing conservation-minded forestry, farming and landscaping, and
restoring wetlands are ways we can help keep water healthy.
Alabama Water Watch is a statewide citizen
volunteer water quality monitoring program that
provides training, data management, information
exchange and other means of support for the public to
become personally involved in water issues. Since
1992, AWW has accumulated the following:






1,200 free workshops in water testing for the public
4,800 certified monitors in 250 citizen groups on 750 waterbodies
54,000 data records from 1,900 sites in an online database
5 volumes of Citizen Guide to Alabama Rivers
Exploring Alabama’s Living Streams classroom curriculum
2 EPA approved water monitoring protocols
Get Involved!
Alabama Water Watch
250 Upchurch Hall, Auburn University, AL 36849
Telephone (toll free): (888) 844-4785
Fax: (334) 844-3666
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.alabamawaterwatch.org
Addressing the Litter Problem:
Roadside litter, which eventually reaches streams
and rivers, was a concern identified by stakeholders
during the development of the Black Warrior
Watershed Management Plan. The Partnership is
working to address this issue through participation and
support of the Jefferson County Health Action
Partnership Environmental Quality Committee. The
Our Cause is Noble Our Efforts are Local.
Renew Our Rivers has grown
from a single river cleanup event in
Gadsden, Alabama to a nationally
recognized cleanup campaign that
now includes Alabama, Georgia,
Mississippi and the Florida
panhandle, six river systems and
brings together more than 10,000 volunteers.
Alabama's rivers are cleaner, thanks to the awardwinning Renew Our Rivers, cleanup program.
Renew Our Rivers is one of the largest organized
river-system cleanup programs in the Southeast.
The 2009 cleanup schedule for the Cahaba River
Watershed is available at www.alabamapower.com.
To get involved simply take a look at the schedule
of cleanups, select the one nearest you and show up.
Bring your family, friends or community group to
volunteer.
Committee is taking a three prong approach which is
being implemented under separate initiatives:
ELIMINATION: The Committee supports local
river and roadside clean ups including the Renew Our
Rivers Clean Ups and other clean up initiatives.
ENFORCEMENT: The Committee encourages
enforcement of current litter laws coupled with media
attention. It has been confirmed that if enforcement is
publicized during initial implementation, litter is
reduced. Implementation of the Assign-A-Highway
program will provide the best opportunity for
enforcement. The Assign-A-Highway Program takes
criminal defendants that are on probation and assigns
them a section of highway that is to be cleaned up
every two weeks. This Program uses a previously
untapped resource to help keep roadside litter picked
up along primary and secondary roads.
EDUCATION: A grant received from the
Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham
engaged high school and college students in the
development of a targeted media campaign addressing
litter. The purpose of the project is to develop an
innovative social marketing campaign, targeting the
“MySpace®” generation (approximately 124,000 1624 year olds per the US Census) in an effort to evoke a
change in behavior and reduce litter. This group has
been identified as apathetic, persistent litterers and has
yet to be targeted for education to change behavior.
Focus groups from four schools (high school and
college) were polled regarding their litter habits, with
all participants stating that they litter on a regular basis
and don't believe that their contribution to the problem
is significant. This project will design and implement
an innovative marketing program to educate the target
audience and general public about litter and its
environmental effects in communities through print,
"MySpace®" Generation
Anti-Litter Campaign
Find out more at www.whatislitter.com
film, broadcast, and internet media.
The project, in direct response to the Jefferson
County Department of Health initiative, "Our
Community Roadmap to Health" (www.jcdh.org),
utilized focus groups to identify areas of concern.
Roadside litter was identified as an issue by these
focus groups and was also listed as the primary area of
concern by stakeholders during the development of the
Black Warrior River Watershed Management Plan.
Current partners include the Jefferson County
Department of Health, The Modern Brand, Black
Warrior River Clean Water Partnership, and Cawaco
Resource Conservation & Development Council, Inc.
Additional partners and funds are needed if the
program is to be expanded across the state - Contact
Kellie Johnston for additional information at (205)
251-8139 or [email protected].
Students model www.whatislitter.com t-shirts that
coincide with a media campaign that will run on
TV, YouTube and other media venues. The back of
the t-shirt gives a message, such as: Plastic Bottle I am litter. I am easily recycled, but I have 38
billion friends in landfills.
15
How Much Do You
Know About Water?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
What Percentage
of the earth’s water
is fresh?
a. 10%
b. 3%
c. 20%
What is the source
of energy for the
hydrologic, or
energy cycle?
a. Sun
b. Wind
c. Rain
What are possible
sources of
groundwater
contamination?
a. Landfills
b. Septic tanks
and sewers
c. Animal waste
d. All of the
above
What is the
chemical symbol
for water?
a. CI
b. H20
c. Pb
8.
9.
What is the
wearing down or
washing away of
the soil by the
action of water,
wind or ice?
a. Erosion
b. Erasing
c. Melt down
10. What is the
constant circulation
of water from the
atmosphere to the
land and
waterways and
back again?
a. Twister
b. Water
(hydrologic)
cycle
c. Weather
HOW MUCH WATER
IS USED:
What is the name
of a smaller stream
that flows into a
larger stream?
a. Peninsula
b. Delta
c. Tributary
Which is NOT one
of the ten largest
oceans?
a. Pacific
b. Indian
c. Arctic
Which is NOT one
of the Great
Lakes?
a. Ontario
b. Superior
c. Heron
d. Tahoe
1.(b) 2.(a) 3.(d) 4.(b) 5.(c) 6.(c) 7.(d)
8.(c) 9.(a) 10.(b) How Much Water is
Used: taking a shower (c); watering the
lawn (e); washing dishes (g); washing
clothes (b); flushing the toilet (f); brushing
your teeth (a); drinking (d); to process one
can of fruit (j); to make one ton of steel (i);
to manufacture a car and four tires (h).
Answers:
16
What is the
process by which
liquid becomes
vapor?
a. Perspiration
b. Evaporation
c. Condensation
taking a shower
watering the lawn
Start
Stormwater
Route
Water from
storms soaks
into the
ground or
flows into
gutters.
The stormwater
system channels rain
into gutters, which
drain into streams
and rivers. When
people pollute
stormwater, they
also pollute our
natural waterways.
Help Droplet journey
through the
stormwater system
without becoming
contaminated by
Sludge or Toxic.
Littering
Lawns
Don’t throw
litter into
gutters.
Keep grass,
leaves, yard
chemicals out
of gutter.
Construction Sites
Contain dirt and debris
so they don’t wash
into waterways.
Driveways
Sweep
driveway dirt onto the
lawn, not into the
gutter. Wash cars
on the grass.
Street Runoff
Proper car
maintenance helps
prevent fluid
leaks.
washing dishes
washing clothes
flushing the toilet
brushing your
teeth
Pet Waste
Dispose in trash
or down toilet.
drinking
to process one
can of fruit
to make one ton of
steel
to manufacture a
car and four tires?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
1 gallon
30 gallons
15-30 gallons
½ gallon
180 gallons
4-7 gallons
20 gallons
39,090 gallons
62,600 gallons
9.3 gallons
Finish