Meet the teams who are frying down to protect and restore the Cahaba River! Catch some fish-cooking tips along the way. These folks are working hard to try and win this year’s competition, so be sure to vote for your favorite.
Read this month’s edition to find out about virtual Cahaba learning, a victory in protecting our headwaters, how you’re helping get the Cahaba safe for swimming, and more.
The Cahaba River Society will host its 12th annual Cahaba River Fry-Down Catfish Cookoff and Festival virtually in 2021. While the nonprofit hoped to bring the community back together in-person this year, the current surge in the pandemic has required a return to the online format that made the 2020 festival the widest-reaching event in the organization’s history.
We’re looking for photos of you, your family, or friends swimming in the Cahaba or its tributaries to show that water quality standards must be upgraded to ensure they are protective of human health. We need to show ADEM that swimming (and other water-contact sports) happen YEAR-ROUND in the Cahaba River.
Learn about what our team has been working on this summer; find out what fish are unsafe to eat; read Cahaba River Society’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion statement; help get lead out of drinking water; join us for the Cahaba River Fry-Down 2021, & more!
Fishing is a popular activity along the Cahaba and its tributaries, and many anglers rely on this food source to supplement their family’s diet. These people deserve to be able to rely on the fact that the fish they are eating are safe. Right now, it is unlikely that consuming fish from the Cahaba River more than one time per month is safe. In some places on the Cahaba, the Alabama Department of Public Health recommend not eating any fish.
Cahaba River Society and Cahaba Riverkeeper, represented by the Southern Environmental Law Center, have filed a notice of appeal with the Alabama Supreme Court in ongoing efforts to enforce a settlement agreement intended to protect land crucial to safeguarding a major source of Birmingham’s drinking water.
The Cahaba River Ramble 2021 VIRTUAL Trail Race is an online challenge of 5- and/or 10-mile runs that encourage socially-distant support of runners of all ages. Runners: Challenge yourselves to either race and go at your own pace. We encourage participants to explore their local outdoor areas, running paths or trails by the river. You can do it
CONTENTS:
Program Update from River Sustainability Director
Alabama Black Belt National Heritage Area Bill introduced in US House and Senate
UA Honors College Students fundraiser for Perry Lakes Park
Irondale Residents: your input is wanted!
Book your 2021 CLEAN Environmental Science Field Trip–Virtual and In-Person options available!
Upcoming Events:
Exploring Cahaba Lilies with Dr. Randy Haddock and Hoover Public Library (May 25)
Cahaba River Ramble (June 19-26)
Cahaba River Fry-Down (Oct 3)
Our much-loved Guided Cahaba Lily Canoe Tours will resume!
Cahaba River Society offers guided float trips on the Cahaba River. We can supply canoes, paddles, life jackets, and a naturalist with the expertise to allow you a unique, up-close experience with the Cahaba River.
