We are pleased to announce that Karen Bareford, Ph. D., has joined the Cahaba River Society team. As our River Sustainability Director, she will lead efforts to restore the Cahaba River by advocating for clean water, biodiversity, green infrastructure, and natural flows.

Karen brings an educational background in urban planning and outdoor recreation. She has more than 20 years of experience engaging partners and stakeholders in planning for natural and water resources in Alabama, Florida, and Texas. Most recently, she led the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium with NOAA at the University of Alabama. Karen has helped government, citizen, business, and nonprofit partners find collaborative solutions to complex environmental challenges at the local, state, and national levels. 

Karen will work closely with Ben Wegleitner on innovative policies and projects to restore the Cahaba River. Ben, a former Cahaba River Society staff member, leads the Urban Rivers Restoration Collaborative at The Nature Conservancy.