Environmental Justice Archives - Cahaba River Society

January 25, 2023

Cahaba Current: January 2023

Cahaba River Society’s board and staff are thrilled to host our 2023 annual meeting in-person at Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Vestavia (3775 Crosshaven Drive, Vestavia Hills, AL 35223), on

August 18, 2022

Cahaba Current: Summer 2022

This June, CRS joined environmental and community organizations from across the nation urging the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold the longstanding scope of the Clean Water Act and reject industry attempts to eliminate federal clean water protections that have kept families, communities, and rivers and lakes safe from pollution for decades.

On April 29 & 30, 2022, over 150 participants joined Cahaba River Society for a BioBlitz at Camp Fletcher, an historic outdoor retreat and nature preserve founded in 1926 by Pauline Bray Fletcher, the first African American registered nurse in Alabama, as a haven for inner city Black children and families to explore nature and the outdoors.
May 17, 2022

Cahaba River Society BioBlitz uncovers 345 different species at historic Camp Fletcher

Over 150 participants recorded over 600 observations of various birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, insects, trees, plants, and other life on the 300-acre Fletcher Nature Preserve at Camp Fletcher, an historic outdoor retreat and nature preserve founded in 1926 by Pauline Bray Fletcher, the first African American registered nurse in Alabama, as a haven for inner city Black children and families to explore nature and the outdoors.

January 28, 2022

Cahaba Current: January 2022

Celebrating Education Director Gordon Black, updates on State & Federal Policy, Shades Creek Greenway Restoration Partnership, commemorating the life of Dr. EO Wilson, and more!

November 19, 2021

Giving Tuesday 2021: Water Is Life

Cahaba River Society, Alabama Rivers Alliance, Greater Birmingham Ministries and SWEET Alabama are partnering to focus #GivingTuesday efforts to help people in the Birmingham metro area directly impacted by water inequality.

Clean, healthy, affordable drinking water is a human right essential to life β€” and there are people in our communities who are denied access to this right because they can’t afford to pay high water bills. There are families who have had their water shut off or face that threat – a serious health and economic problem at any time, but especially in a pandemic.

November 09, 2021

Joint Statement From Organizations to the Birmingham Water Works Board Regarding Rate Evaluation Process and Proposed Rate Increase

We recommend the BWWB be proactive in seeking federal funds to meet system needs, to minimize
rate increases on ratepayers, and to factor in potential federal funding already available or in the
approval process as part of your rate evaluations. We urge the Board to research models for water
rates and system financing that ensure equity and encourage water efficiency.

April 13, 2021

Cahaba Current: Spring 2021

This edition includes: Welcoming Ben Wegleitner, River Sustainability Director ~ A legal action to protect Birmingham Water Works Board lands that preserve our drinking water ~ CLEAN Environmental Education programs available ~ Army Corps commits funding to fish passage study ~ Catherine Coleman Flowers & The Guardian partner on sewage survey ~ Exploring Southeastern Biodiversity with Dr. Scot Duncan, & more!

June 04, 2020

Statement of Solidarity Against Racism

We are listening to and sharing in the pain, anger, frustration, hope, and calls for urgent action on racial justice and systemic reform that are being expressed in public protests

May 05, 2020

Cahaba River Society and Black Belt Citizens partner to bring water donations to Uniontown, AL

The Covid-19 crisis is causing the most harm to minority and low income communities, exposing deep inequities in our society. One reason is lack of access to clean, affordable water.

Cahaba River Society was glad last week when Adam Johnston, Coordinator with Black Belt Citizens Fighting for Health and Justice, reached out for help finding water donations for Uniontown residents. This economically-disenfranchised Black Belt community is struggling with multiple environmental justice issues that degrade health, quality of life, and economic potential, such as a coal ash landfill and failing sewage treatment system.