You might have seen the exciting news: Cahaba River Society and Cahaba Riverkeeper have merged to create Cahaba River Coalition. While we are entering a new chapter in protecting the Cahaba, our organizations have been working together long before unifying as one nonprofit. One joint initiative that started this year is the Cahaba Blueway Cleanup Series. 

This series focuses on maintaining and preserving key river access sites created through the Cahaba Blueway Initiative. Since their opening in April 2019, these access points have become popular gateways for exploring the Cahaba River. Each site provides clear signage, safety guidance on water levels, and water quality information; making the river more accessible for everyone. But with high use comes new challenges: litter, invasive species, and occasional damage to trails and infrastructure. 

In response to these challenges, Cahaba River Society and Cahaba Riverkeeper began hosting monthly cleanup events, each focused on a Blueway site in need of extra care. So far, we have conducted six events, with multiple in the spring being cancelled due to a very rainy season. Events have included litter cleanups, invasive species removals, and basic trail maintenance. In that time, nearly 50 volunteers have helped us remove more than 1700 pounds of litter and invasive species from the Cahaba River and its banks. This is truly a collaborative effort. Our May Blueway Cleanup event brought together four partner organizations to remove silt fencing at the Moon River Access Point. All of these efforts support access to the river, while ensuring these spaces remain healthy habitats for the plants and wildlife that call the Cahaba home.

The Cahaba Blueway Cleanup Series is just one example of how Cahaba River Coalition is stronger together—combining expertise, resources, and people power to care for the river we all love. Join us for future Blueway Cleanups – September 20 at Hoover East Blueway Access Point for a taro removal or a partnership event on October 12 at the Buck Creek Festival. 

If you visit a Cahaba Blueway site and notice litter, invasive plants, or damage to an access point, we want to hear from you! Please reach out to Zachary Fitzgibbon, and we’ll work with you to keep these sites safe, clean, and accessible for everyone.

Tags: Blueway Initiative, community, volunteering