About CRS’s Watershed Conservation Development Awards

The Cahaba River Society believes that restoring the Cahaba and safeguarding our drinking water supplies can be achieved through transforming the way developments are designed and built. Our annual Watershed Conservation Development awards demonstrate the value of collaborative relationships with many partners to guide and promote development that protects and restores the Cahaba watershed.

Since 2007 CRS has given annual awards recognizing projects in our region that conserve water resources through:

• Environmental site design
• Effective construction best management practices
• LID (low impact development) or nature based solutions for post-construction stormwaterpractices
• Water harvesting and reuse
• Watershed restoration

These awards highlight model projects and prove the feasibility, cost-effectiveness, and value of these practices to water resources. The awards also honor the stewardship commitment of firms that invest in these solutions and government leaders who support them, as well as the capability of project team members to deliver quality water-smart development.

Award Criteria

Project demonstrates innovative design to restore, protect, or conserve water resources through Low Impact Development post-construction stormwater management, environmental site design, excellence in construction stormwater management, drinking water efficiency, water reuse, and/or watershed restoration.

Project is completed and proven. Completed phase of larger project is eligible if water-smart value can be demonstrated.
Located within the Cahaba watershed (Jefferson, Shelby, St. Clair, Bibb, Dallas and Perry County, generally) or Birmingham metro area
We are especially interested in projects that are influential in leadership for green building for our region, that have educational value, and that can demonstrate the economic value of water-smart approaches.

Application & Selection Process

Please download and complete CRS Conservation Development Awards – Call for Nomination 2023, send it via email, accompanied by up to 4 images (photographs, site plans, etc).

Your brevity will help us review your nomination! Submit electronically (PDF, MSWord or JPG files), submittal deadline January 18th, 2023 to: Ben Wegleitner, River Sustainability Director, [email protected].

With questions contact Ben via email, or call 205-322-5326 ext 412. Selection will be by a committee of CRS Board members and staff. Awards will be given at the Cahaba River Society Annual Meeting on Thursday, February 9th, from 5:30 to 8:00. Awardees will be notified in advance and will be our honored guests at the meeting. CRS seeks media coverage to celebrate the awardees.

PAST AWARD-WINNING PROJECTS

Over the past 10 years, CRS has honored 119 firms, institutions and governments for designing and delivering 25 water projects that meet growth goals while also protecting and restoring water resources.

2018

UAB Express Parking Lot #4

City of Vestavia Hills Meadowlawn Park

2017

Crowne at the Cahaba Apartments

2016

Trussville Civitan Park Cahaba Restoration

2015

Greenwood Park on Village Creek

Univ. of Alabama in Birmingham Water Recovery Program

2013

Children’s of Alabama Expansion Project

The Dunn Building Company Office

B.L. Harbert International Office & Warehouse

2012

Railroad Reservation Park Stormwater System

Alabama Power Company Water Efficiency Retrofit

Birmingham-Southern College Lakeview Residence Hall

Samford University Shades Creek Restoration

2011

The Shops of Grand River

Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest

Little Shades Creek Restoration

St. Vincent’s Birmingham Water Efficiency Retrofit

2010

Ruffner Mountain Nature Center

Birmingham-Southern College Urban Environment Park

2009

Bass Pro Shops

Stewart Perry Company Headquarters

Brasfield and Gorrie Headquarters Expansion