WHAT’S SO SPECIAL ABOUT THE CAHABA RIVER?

The Cahaba River is the heart of ’s globally-significant biodiversity and imperiled freshwater life, with more species of fish per mile than any other river of its size or larger in North America; 11 Cahaba fish & mussel species are threatened or endangered; 69 freshwater/land species are rare or imperiled. Did you know there are more native and total fish species in the small 1818 square mile Cahaba watershed than in the entire Columbia River basin, 140 times its size? The River and its groundwater are also essential to the diverse people of , providing drinking water sources for most Birmingham area residents and businesses.

From the southern Appalachians to the rural Black Belt, the Cahaba’s diverse lands encompass cities, rich forests, prairies, oxbow swamps, farms, "lost world" glades of wildflowers found nowhere else, and river shoals white with the largest stands of Cahaba Lilies on Earth. The River gives us unique recreation, educational, and tourism opportunities to build knowledge, health, and economic stability for central Alabama people and communities.

CRS GOALS AND PROGRAMS IN BRIEF

Founded in 1988, CRS’ mission is to restore and protect the Cahaba River Watershed and its rich diversity of life. We impact our central Alabama watershed, the Birmingham metro area, and policy at the state, regional, and national level. Our programs achieve three goals:

1. Connecting people with the Cahaba for education, recreation, and stewardship ~ CLEAN - bringing diverse youth into the River for hands-on education ~ Cahaba Blueway system - increasing River recreation and tourism ~ Volunteer stewardship - restoring forests, cleaning up trash, & building river access ~ Science - spreading understanding & excitement about biodiversity & other Cahaba values, challenges and solutions 2. Building water-smart communities that sustain the River for people and wildlife ~ Low Impact Development - strengthening policies, codes, permits, & collaborating with developers on model projects ~ Restoration rebuild – promoting green infrastructure in older urban areas ~ Pollution clean-up - engaging with responsible parties to take action 3. Growing our strength, partners, and impact to achieve our mission

CRS is a small and strong organization that can multiply our impact because of our diverse partners, members and supporters. With your help we can build our community support, the effectiveness of our strategies, and the partnerships that help us get so much done. www.cahabariversociety.org

Connecting people with the Cahaba for education 2

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In 2015, CRS’ Shane Hulsey CLEAN Environmental Education Program served 2,293 students, teachers, and community volunteers with hands-on river field trips, in-school water education programs, and 9 restoration projects! We’ve made great progress to increase CLEAN’s capacity, outreach, and services for urban disadvantaged youth; 70% of all youth served last year were in this group, compared with 58% in 2014. New relationships with the Birmingham Board of Education & Village Creek Society helped us 31,500 students and teachers in the River since 1996! promote CLEAN to urban school administrators & teachers. CLEAN staff also serve on the advisory council for Woodlawn High School’s Arts & Environmental Science Academy, helping with program design and curriculum enrichment. Through these partnerships we can guide the next generation of environmental scientists and engineers.

Summer Adventures In Learning (SAIL) is a funder collaborative that invests in summer youth programs to strengthen math and reading skills and improve learning retention over the summer break. CLEAN was selected as a SAIL enrichment program in 2013-15 to support these goals through fun, interactive, outdoor science learning. We’ve received overwhelmingly positive feedback on CLEAN’s educational effectiveness and are serving more SAIL providers each year. Last summer we delivered 25 field and classroom CLEAN programs to 8 SAIL providers and 578 youth!

CLEAN’s impact is growing because of the funders who made it possible to bring Environmental Educator La’ Tanya Scott on as a full-time CRS staff member in November 2014. La’Tanya is an exciting teacher who helps urban youth feel comfortable and safe in nature and ready to learn. We thank lead funders Vulcan Materials Company Foundation, Independent Presbyterian Church Foundation, Mike & Gillian Goodrich Foundation, The Coca-Cola Foundation, International Expeditions, Joseph S. Bruno Charitable Foundation, and the SAIL funders! Now we can provide more field trips and classroom programs and introduce more youth to the outdoors and the importance of the Cahaba as a Environmental Educator drinking water source, world-class biodiversity hotspot, and nature playground. La’Tanya Scott helps CLEAN reach more youth

At its May meeting, The Little Garden Club of Birmingham presented Gordon Black, CRS Education Director, with the Garden Club of America’s Elizabeth Abernathy Hull Award. Little Garden Club members including Carey Hinds (right, in photo) and Nancy Long (left) shared Gordon’s thrill at receiving a national award that recognizes the outstanding achievements of educators who honor Miss Hull’s common sense approach to environmental awareness by inspiring children under 16 to appreciate the beauty and fragility of our planet.

A growing CLEAN program means more wear and tear on equipment. You can support CLEAN and enjoy a tangible benefit by helping us to replace these needed items: 3 new canoes (for $900, we will gladly affix your name or any name you would like to honor – as appropriate for a youth program of course), and 22 personal floatation devices.

people with the Cahaba for recreation & restoration Connecting 3 2

The first Cahaba Blueway site – Grants Mill – officially opened in 2016, with Moon River and Pratts Ferry to follow soon! The Cahaba Blueway will improve public recreation access and information along the entire River. Under the savvy leadership of Blueway Coordinator Brian Rushing, funded by UA’s Center for Economic Development, the Cahaba Blueway team - CRS, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), AL Innovation Engine, the Freshwater Land Trust (FWLT), and the National Park Service Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program - propelled the Blueway forward in 2015. We also completed an inventory of potential Blueway sites, ID’d sites ready to be part of the system, completed standard signage design, and applied for funds. Officials in places such as

Centreville, Hoover, Mountain Brook, and Vestavia were engaged to plan Blueway access. To maintain forward momentum, the team is seeking New Grants Mill Blueway launch has rock steps to funds for long term staff, website and River access development. existing rocks at the river’s edge. Installation disturbed very little bank and the launch is usable at any safe water level.

The new, 1st Cahaba Blueway site, a greatly improved canoe/kayak launch at Grants Mill in Irondale, models the Blueway access values: safe, The old Grants Mill launch isn’t usable at most low impact, and durable. Our sincere thanks and admiration go to Paul water levels. Paddlers must climb down a steep Freeman of TNC (project manager), The Community Foundation of bank, which adds to erosion. Greater Birmingham (lead funder), Goodwyn Mills & Cawood (design), Father Nature Landscapes (construction), FWLT (landowner), and the City of Irondale (maintenance). CRS, FWLT, and Brian Rushing advised the design. All Blueway launches can have similar design quality and teamwork to make them happen!

Engaging people in volunteer river restoration is an important way to build commitment to environmental stewardship. CRS Replanting riverbanks at the Refuge. See more works with environmental, school, civic, and business partners photos at flickr.com, search cahabariversociety to organize river restoration projects, such as invasive plant removal, tree planting, and clean-ups. In 2015, CRS engaged 290 volunteers in 9 restoration projects.

In spring and fall 2015, CRS, partners, and volunteers came together for two replanting projects to restore the riverbank forest at the Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge (CRNWR). There was an excessive repair job on the Refuge road beside the River in 2014. At 2 locations totaling about 1000 feet, all vegetation was cut down and the Cahaba's banks were covered in gray rip rap rock. The road was stabilized, but wildlife habitat and the lovely natural backdrop to one of the Cahaba Lily shoals were severely degraded. CRS is teaming with Birmingham Botanical Gardens (BBG) and The Nature Conservancy to replant the rip rap with trees and understory that are native to this part of the Cahaba. Learn more at www.cahabariversociety.org. Cahaba Riverkeeper & the Friends of the CRNWR are also organizing Refuge plantings. CRS also submitted comments on the CRNWR Comprehensive Conservation Plan, which will guide management for the next 15 years. We encouraged US Fish & Wildlife Service to devote more resources to the Refuge and support recreation without degrading the River’s special natural values. communities that sustain their rivers & water supplies Building 4

As the economy rebounds, a surge of new development and infrastructure projects are being proposed for the upper Cahaba watershed. Because of CRS’ work, the region is becoming better prepared for growth that can be more sustainable for our drinking water and our valuable river than it ever has been in the past. This will take an unprecedented level of commitment, creativity, and collaboration between government, business, and citizens. CRS is one of your region’s expert resources to help leaders achieve this through widespread use of Low Impact Development (LID), better stormwater management, and environmental site design. The Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham is lead funder of this vital work.

Irondale and Birmingham have comprehensive land use planning processes underway to guide growth in the Cahaba and Shades Creek watersheds. CRS staff serves on the Irondale On the Move working groups outlining policies and projects for sustainable growth, river restoration, recreation, open space, and trails. CRS is also a stakeholder in Birmingham’s Southwest and Northeast Framework Plan, covering lands near Lake Purdy, the Cahaba drinking water intakes, and the Oxmoor Valley. To get involved or learn more, contact Beth Stewart: [email protected] or 205-322-5326 x411.

Sediment is the River’s main pollutant, and urban runoff – both during and Riverbank collapses caused by urban runoff after construction – is the cause. At the Cahaba Connections Conference are damaging Cahaba habitat & water quality. last spring CRS’ Field Director, Dr. Randy Haddock, presented his analysis of 30 years of data on the River, using software developed by The Nature Conservancy. The study shows that, as urbanization of the upper Cahaba watershed increased, storm flows became far more “flashy.” Increased runoff volumes from hard surfaces cause the river to rise more rapidly, to higher levels, and then drop quickly. That erodes and collapses the river’s banks, widens and deepens tributaries, and adds mud that fills up habitat and increases drinking water costs. The study also shows that the River’s base flows, fed by groundwater during dry weather, are decreasing in the upper watershed. Hard surfaces and conventional stormwater structures prevent replenishment of shallow groundwater, and during dry weather more of the water in the River is treated sewage. The study supports CRS’ ongoing campaign to promote LID stormwater design to meet the Cahaba’s water quality restoration goal of reducing mud pollution by 48%.

CRS is serving on statewide Focus Area Panels to research and craft state water policy regarding drinking water efficiency and instream flow/water supplies. In 2016 the panels will advise the process to develop Alabama water policy and legislation. CRS thanks Alabama Rivers Alliance for sharing Stable riverbanks protect water quality, funding to support CRS’ contributions to state water policy. wildlife habitat in and around the river, and

natural beauty.

As the economy rebounds, local governments are planning new roads to accommodate more growth in the Cahaba watershed. ALDOT is building the Birmingham Northern Beltline Phase I and planning Phase II through the Cahaba watershed. The goal of finding alternative routes to Highway 280 is part of two road proposals that would spur growth in highly sensitive lands in the upper Cahaba watershed and drinking water source area. Cities are jointly funding a study to identify a new 50 mph major route from Hwy 119 to I-459 replacing Grants Mill Road. Shelby County wants to replace Cahaba Beach Road (currently a narrow dirt/paved road with a closed 1-lane iron bridge) with a 4-lane road proposed as a 280 reliever route from Valleydale Rd. to Sicard Hollow Rd. (Learn more at www.cahabariversociety.org) CRS is building on our collaborative relationship with ALDOT to call for thorough environmental studies with public involvement considering full impacts of The old iron bridge on Cahaba Beach Road is development build-out, and to advise better road / stormwater design if our outdoor CLEAN classroom and a favorite projects proceed. recreation spot. Studies are underway to 4-lane the road and bridge.

water quality and wildlife habitat Restoring 5

CRS’ steady focus has been to improve stormwater design in urban development. That’s the key to reducing the River’s mud pollution, preventing habitat loss from instream erosion and bank collapses, controlling flooding, and safeguarding drinking water quality and supply. To achieve this, cities and counties must require better management of long-term runoff from hard surfaces in new development and redevelopment. CRS recommends Low Impact Development (LID) practices that infiltrate rain to groundwater, filter pollutants, and reuse stormwater, at a lower cost than conventional stormwater infrastructure.

In 2015 ADEM finally began revising the 5-year stormwater permits of Birmingham metro area cities and counties, an essential opportunity. CRS and Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) are co-leading the AL Stormwater Partners to impact permit requirements. With support from leading Southeastern freshwater biologists, we achieved a major victory. The 1st local permit - Shelby County’s - has precedent-setting requirements to reduce the volume and pollutants of post-construction runoff and to encourage LID practices. However, the standard is not fully at the level needed to halt the problem of instream erosion and sediment pollution. CRS and partners will work to improve more city/county permits as ADEM drafts them in 2016-17. We are also coordinating with American Rivers, River Network, and SELC to impact a national stormwater rule being crafted by EPA for mid-sized cities/counties, which could set positive precedent for Alabama permits.

CRS has awarded many metro area developments for successfully using LID to reduce runoff, filter pollutants, and protect water resources. The Dunn Building Co. office (right photos) is an urban redevelopment with pervious paving and bioswales. B. L. Harbert International (left photos) built a suburban campus with stream setbacks, floodplain protection, bioswales, and grass pavers.

The updated stormwater permits require cities/counties to implement new post-construction stormwater design programs and codes for development. Because of our relationships with local governments, CRS has been invited as a resource to help achieve this. CRS staff serve on 2 advisory committees for revising development codes in the metro area. Birmingham has researched the stormwater requirements of 6 similar cities across the country to recommend best practices and revise the City’s codes. Jefferson County is devising changes to the zoning and subdivision codes to encourage more flexible, cost- effective development while also conserving open space and improving water quality. The revised codes can be models for other area municipalities. In 2015 CRS also worked with developers and cities to encourage LID design of major projects, such as Vestavia Hill’s development of the Altadena Country Club property, a residential project in Trussville, and Hidden Valley, which the City of Hoover turned down in part because of unacceptable stream impacts.

Early in 2015 Jefferson County met with CRS, EPA and the Department of Justice to update us on their progress under our 1996 sewer Consent Decree and the work still to be done. The County believes that, under the bankruptcy settlement, sufficient funds will be available for repairs and maintenance to fully meet the Consent Decree requirements in coming years, although the overall project is far behind schedule. Substantial repairs have been done, and a strong tracking system for sewer overflows is in place to prioritize repairs and maintenance. The County is now focused on the challenges of repairing the oldest parts of the system, such as in the Valley Creek and Five Mile basins. Because most remaining sewage overflow problems are in the Black Warrior, CRS brought Black Warrior Riverkeeper into the process as advisors to us and EPA, encouraged BWRk’s meetings with the County and shared information. Repeat overflows in the Shades Creek basin are also still a concern. CRS’s oversight of the Consent Decree must continue until the Cahaba and all basins are in compliance. Growing our strength, partners, and impact 6

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CAHABA LILY ~~ $10,000 - $49,999

ABAHAC, Inc. Daniel Foundation of Alabama Curtis & Edith Munson Foundation Amerex Corporation Mike & Gillian Goodrich Foundation Three S Fund Joseph S. Bruno Charitable Foundation Independent Presbyterian Church Foundation Vulcan Materials Company Foundation Coca-Cola Foundation Hugh Kaul Foundation Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham Robert R. Meyer Foundation

WATER SPIRIT ~~ $5,000 - $9,999

Coca-Cola Bottling Co. United Junior League of Birmingham Frank J. Nuckols Dr. Cameron Vowell Insinkerator Charles McPherson Patagonia Whatley Charitable Trust Ken Jackson McWane Foundation Protective Life Foundation

RIVER REDHORSE ~~ $2,500 - $4,999

David & Laura Cunningham Goodwyn Mills Cawood C. Eugene Ireland Fdn Norcross Foundation Merrill Stewart Davis Architects Nature Conservancy of AL Cheryl Morgan St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church Mark Styslinger EBSCO International Expeditions Nature Conservancy of AL Steiner Foundation

SOUTHERN POCKETBOOK ~~ $1,000 - $2,499

Rucker & Margaret Agee Fdn Brasfield & Gorrie Dunn-French Foundation Milo’s Famous Tea Nancy & Murray Smith Alabama Outdoors Hirschowitz Family Fund Marion Renneker Fennell Dan & Pamela Monroe Thomas Spencer America’s 1st Fed. Credit Union Frazier Christy Bruno & Ouida Fritschi Dick & Dana Pigford J.T. Stephens Jim C. Barton, Jr. City of Vestavia Hills Will & Maura Goodwyn Kimberly Powell Stewart Perry Co. Vance Blackburn Lyndra Daniel Marguerite & Samuel Gray James Proctor Bob & Ann Tate BlueCross BlueShield of AL Jemison Investment Co. Hancock Forest Management A.B. Riser Michelle F. Blackwood Neil Davis Hulsey Family Fund ServisFirst Bank

GOLDLINE DARTER ~~ $500 - $999

E.R. Agee, Jr. John Brock Allan & Betsy Dobbins Ross Forman Alan Mathis O’Neal Industries Robert & Gail Pless Robert & Kathy Angus Cahaba Medical Care John & Kathy English T.R. Gray, Sr. Maynard Cooper & Gale Lori Oswald & Hans Paul Gates Shaw J.H. Berry & Gilbert Children’s Health System Marty & Helon Everse Nancy Long Brad McLane Van Perry Beth K. Stewart Boatright Railroad Products Dr. Peter DeFranco June Fletcher Cliff & Cindy Martin Medical Properties Trust Jay & Courtney Pigford Dr. Thomas Wilson

ALLIGATOR SNAPPING TURTLE ~~ $250 - $499

Alabama Eye Clinic Nelson & Liz Brooke Barbara Epting Henry Hughes & Lois Woodward Arlan Lewis Russell & Linda Reeves Elton Stephens Alektra RunWear Jeff & Rebecca Cohn First Commercial Bank IPC LeaAnn Macknally Stuart & Valerie Roberts Ann & Donald Sweeney ArchitectureWorks Charles & Patsy Collat Carey Gilbert Jason T. Kirby Meg & Bill North Lynn Rosenfeld Lucille Thompson Black Market Bar Corporate Realty Pat & Charles Goodman Living River James & Ruth Ozment Marjorie White Richard & Cissy Brockman Dr. Eleanor DelBene Susan & Wyatt Haskell Matt Leavell Jim Pewitt, LLC Bob & Donna Shepard Chris Williams

CAHABA PAINTBRUSH ~~ $100 - $249

Thomas & Pam Allison Ray & Trixie Clark Paul & Virginia Freeman Mike & Jodi Jackson Pauline & Richard Mayne David & Beth Potts Juanelle Strain Gail Andrews Brian & Sheri Coffee Bernard Frei Greg D. Jackson Dr. Eleanor DelBene Taylor Preston Deborah Tabor Earl & Phyllis Bailey Charles & Patsy Collat Will D. French Greystone-in-the-Gates Dr. Charles A. McCallum Marilyn Raney George & Sherry Tobia David Bains Dr. Edward & Memily Colvin David & Yvonne Gauntt V. Ellen Jackson Rich McRoberts Jane Reed Ross Kathy Hinkle & Herb Trotman Dan Barksdale Hope & Mitchell Cooper David & Robin Gellner Leland & Marty Keller Max Michael Elberta Reid Marie Vicinanzo Don & Betty Binder Colin Coyne Anne Goodwyn Kreider John Kinney Jane P. Miller Rachel Reinhart Laura Wainwright Duncan & Marie Blair Norman & Carolyn Crocker Jennifer Greer Marilyn Kurata Vic Modic Rosemary Riley John Waits Chris & Jean Boles Ralph & Mary Helen Crowe Jeff Hansen Joyce & Jerry Lanning Rob & Susan Morpeth Rojo Charles L. Watkins Vicki & O’Neal Browder John B. Dunbar, III Sam & Fontaine Haskell Goodman G. Ledyard Joe & Nita Owings Allen D. Rushton Hollie & George Watts Scott Buttram Scot & Virginia Duncan Robert Hay Mark Lester Virginia Patterson John Saad Alice M. Williams Gayle & Mike Byrne Dunn Foundation Heath Hood Jeff & Sherry Loper Greg Pence Jennifer Sanders Thomas Wilson Gerda Carmichael Julie & Scott Fee Mary Hopkins John & Debra Losey Betty Pewitt James & Katherine Shepherd Carole & Michael Yester Justin & Katie Carroll L.B. & Pat Feemster Peter Horn Sonja Lother Jim & Angela Pewitt Hatton Smith George Zorn, Jr. Sam Cartner Brent Flavin Fred Huey & Pam Belrose Ken Marion Debbie Pezzillo Clifford & Rita Spencer Hafiz Chandiwala Tom & Martha Forsee Donald & Billie Sue Hulsey Helen & Fred Martin Bill F. Potter Robert Sprain, Jr.

RIVER OTTERS ~~ $50 - $99

P.J. Aguirre Joy Carter & Roy Sanders John Finley William Jones Dana & Linn Lower Henry Lynn Phillips Bill Tankersley & Laura Secord Matthew Akin Chenbei Chang Dr. Paul Forde Earl & Ann Jones H. Michael Maetz Vonnie Phillips Scott & Amy Tully John & Ginny Alexander Fred Chiesa Jessica Germany Ann Katholi Carrie McGrann Mary Beth Prude Christine G. Underwood Charles Allen Louise Chow & Thomas Broker Dr. Richard D. Glasgow Brian & Samantha Kelly Jane McGriff Jim Ranieri Phil Vander Kamp Lehman Alley William Clark Greg & Tammy Glover Michael & Lisa Kensler Foster Cook & Rowena McNabb Tom Richeson Dorothy Vines Said Assali Margaret Cobbs Lilla Goodwyn Dr. Kent & Enid Keyser David & Robin Minor Sandra Riggs Gregory Vitalis Betty Bagby Belton Y. Cooper Tyler Goodwyn Gottfried Kibelka Rick & April Nail Julia Rogers Elizabeth Waites Andrew Baker Courtney Corley Harlan Hobart Grooms, Jr. Suzanne Langley Jason Nelson Phil & Carolyn Sankey Laurie Weiss Pam & Robert Baugh Mike Cox Doug & Tracy Hale. Hilary Lanier John & Ericka Northrop Natalie & Ken Sansom Paul & Joanne West Pam Belrose William Daniel Nikki Harmon Becky Laurent Janet Ort Trent Scofield Ken & Mary Lee Wyatt Robin Bienvenu Andrea Dorais James W. Hodo Robbie Lightfoot Ben Osborne Jane & Jack Shalloop Mary Zvanut Kristi Breaux William Duncan William Hold Betty Likis Dina Owobu Rivon Smith Daniel Breland Burton Dunn Jaideep Honavar Alison Hulsey Lollar Randy Pewitt Sidney Smyer III James Brown, Jr. Johnathan Effinger Thomas Jacobs Carolyn Long Martha Pezrow Richard & Patricia Sprague

CAHABA CHAMPION ~~ $35 - $49

Kim Adams Patti Buksa Allen Dickerson Ange Goss Phillip Kilgore Rob & Amy Morgan Don & LeeAnne Riggins Connie Ulrich Timothy Adams Ruth Burchfield Glenn Dodd Emily Granstaff Rob & Martha Langford Alex Morrow Ellen Riley Jimmy Vineyard John Allison William A. Burnett Thomas Donald Griffin Greene Nichole Lariscy William H. Morrow Elisabeth Sanfratel Cabe & Courtney Waldrop Christina Andreen Monica Carmichael Robert Doonan Dr. Randy Haddock Andrew Larkin Steve & Janie Mothershed Laura Schrock Candy Wallace Billy Angell Charles & Wendy Chandler James Durant Lewis Harmon Heath Layfield Dayna Neece Charles Scribner Robert Watters Dr. Harold Arnold Sharon Chandley Christopher Engel Tom Harper Melinda Ledbetter Steve Nelko La’Tanya Scott Nathan Way Jeff & Ashley Bahr Erin Chelewski Ben Eubanks Brittain Heindl Aubrey Loftis Jim Nolan Janet Selvage Joe Weaver Samm Bartee Jeff Clark Melinda Evans Monica Henley Joanne Long Jeremy Olson Jack E. Shea Tyler Welch Richard Baugh Wes Clem Chip Ferrell Marianne Herman Cindy Lowry Russell Parrish Ralph & Tricia Sheets Cliff & Mary West Mark Beggs Jane Colburn Jacob Fike Susan Hill Kelly Marshall Cameron Parsons Lacy Smith David West Walter Berry Andrew Coleman Laura Findlay Todd Holder Holly Martin Elizabeth Pearson Ken Smith Meade Whitaker, Jr. Dr. Neal Berte Judy Cullinan Thomas Findlay Sharon Hope Paul Mathews Scott Peters Patrick Stark Janice Williams Carol Lynne Bevis Austin Davis James & Shirley Finley Steve Hunt Bill & Melinda Matthews Alison Pierce Leigh Steele Don Williams Jamie Bishop Robin Davis Kurt Funderburg David Hutchens Melonie McBrayer Marilyn & Keith Raney Nancy Stembridge Joe & Christine Wilson Gordon Black Laurel Davis Lester Gable Karen Hux T.J. McIntyre Mike Ray Brett Stiefel Jonathan Wilson Lisa Booher Audrey Davis Grant Gentry Sarah Johnson Mary Lee McMahon Bryan & Elizabeth Reed Corinna Stitt Connie Bowen Frank & Joan Dawson Kendel Gilchrest Jeremy Joseph Laura Menconi Ashley Rhea David Tenorio Vicki Briggs Chris Dean Awbrey Golden Martin Kearney Vic Modic Benjamin Rich Duke Tucker Kathryne Brugge Angela Dennison Cat Goodrich Edwin Kezar Carl & Marcia Montgomery Kim & Brad Riegel Kim Tyler our strength, partners, and impact 7 Growing 7

FRECKLEBELLY MADTOM ~~ up to $34

Alex Allred Karen Bucher Russell Dubose Virginia Hillhouse Martha Long Katie Owens Dino Sarris Katrina Trotter Maggie Amsler Davis Burton Fred Duran Jennifer Hoggle Corey Mayer Rylee Parnell Gary Sashett Becky Tucker Lauren Anderson Kimberly Carter Kaydee Erdreich-Breman Jerry D. Ingram Andrew McCullough Laura Pate Carol Schaffhausen Elise Urban Paul Angell Kevin Chamblee Corey Finlay Amy Virginia Johnson Edward McGurk Katie Pezzillo Diane Schneider Taylor Vincent Caitlin Autry Elise Chapman Sean & Shannon Flynt Hannah Johnson Ellen McLaughlin Douglas Preston Debra Sexton Evans Katherine Walcott Mercedes Barger Michael & Suzanne Churchman Katie Ford Sharrah Johnson Davis L. Middlemas Amber Price David Shaw Jason Walker Joan Baucom Jon Clemmensen William & Peggy Gaines Adam Johnston Charles M. Miller Jason Pruitt Anne & Robert Shiller Jason Wallis Savannah Baxter Eric Cleveland Brandon & Jaclyn Gardner Lacy Kamber Dana Mims Joe & Rosemarie Putman Dale Smith Lavona Warmely Kayla Belcher Sarah Coker Mike Giles Chuck Kelly Gordon Morton Holly Rammel Marvin & Gail Snyder Greg Waters Emily Booker Richard Compton Bill Goggans Brianna Kendrick Charles Muddiman Bruce & Hallie Rawls Bethany Stabler Elias Watson Emma Leigh Borden Milan Davis Dana Graham Mary Kilpatrick Aleksandra Murawska Shelby Richardson Taylor Steele Louise Wooford Peter Braasch Daniel Dearing Ashley Guerrero Sharon Laborde Sau Nam Steven Ritchie Kelly Stephens Steve & Debbie Woods Jason Bradley Brandon Deihl Kim Hall Shay Lawson Jackson Neal Merritt Rogers Jana Stringfellow Jessica Bridges Samuel A. Denham Joshua Hamilton Blake Lee Deon Neighbors William A. Rose Owen Taylor Bill Bright Candise Denney Christine Harlan Shara Blackwell Legg Joanna Nicholson John Rusiecki Laura Thompson Barry Brock Teryn Dennis Haley Hester Ryan Leonard Renee’ Norrell Larry Sanders Joseph Thorne Charles Buchanan Katelyn Dickinson Larry & Melanie Hightower Drew Lolley Shirley Odom Mario Santana Chad Tillman

“WATERS FROM ABOVE” ~ OUR PLANNED GIVING BENEFACTORS THE CHOCTAW NAME FOR CAHABA RIVER ~ WATERS FROM ABOVE ~ REMINDS US OF THE ORIGIN OF RIVERS & SPEAKS TO THE SENSE OF THE SACRED THAT MANY OF US FIND DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE.

CRS is so deeply grateful for the opportunity to honor and celebrate the lives of Sonja Cobb and Carolyn King.

Their very generous bequests make it possible for us to sustain our efforts for the Cahaba into the future.

EVENTS ~ CRS is so thankful for the many partners, friends and supporters who help grow our capacity for the advancement of our mission. We are especially grateful to these businesses that hosted fun(d)raisers to benefit CRS this year: Amerex – Presenting Sponsor of the Cahaba River Fry-Down; Alabama Outdoors – Cahaba River Ramble and Party on the Porch; and Tonya Jones SalonSpa – Aveda Earth Month events.

tonyajones SALONSPA + Aveda

CRS and partners held the first annual Cahaba State of the Watershed conference on May 15, 2015 at the Presbytery of Sheppards a& Lapsley’s brand new Living River retreat on the Cahaba. Auburn U’s Water Resources Center led the event planning with CRS and partners such as Cahaba Clean Water Partnership, The Nature Conservancy, Cahaba Riverkeeper, Cahaba & McDowell Environmental Centers, Canoe the Cahaba, Water Watch, Birmingham-Southern College & The Nature Conservancy. Working sessions followed presentations on recreation, education, tourism, water quality and biodiversity and by CRS on urban growth impacts and solutions for reducing mud pollution. The 80+ participants gave enthusiastic feedback and many asked for the event to reoccur regularly. The Cahaba Connections Conference ended with a relaxing reception in the River.

CRS is a founding participant in the Collaborative Environmental Network of AL (C.E.N.A.). In 2015 C.E.N.A. planned and secured funding for collaboration trainings and resources. We held 4 trainings, facilitated by Clarus Consulting Group, exploring collaboration successes & lessons learned for utility, business, environmental and governmental participants such as CRS, ALDOT, Alabama Power, McWane, Inc., Vulcan Materials, & AL Rivers Alliance. In 2016 we will hold more trainings, refine resources and success stories to share on a website, and plan how to widen the impact of our trainings. water quality and wildlife habitat Restoring 8

The Cahaba is a biodiversity treasure, with more species of fish per mile than any other river of its size or larger in North America, and a similar richness of other freshwater life. Even though urbanization has degraded Cahaba habitat and species, the river is still resilient. If urban growth is better designed with LID stormwater practices, and if the river’s connection with the Gulf is restored, the Cahaba's life can bounce back.

Did you know that the Cahaba used to have spawning runs of “anadromous” fish coming from the Gulf of Mexico? And that the Cahaba is globally significant for biodiversity of both fish and mussel species, and their declines are linked? Migrating fish are important hosts that move mussel larvae upstream to new habitat. When dams were placed on the below the Cahaba’s mouth, most fish migration was blocked. CLEAN students are excited to find an As a result, for example, very few Elephant Ear mussels are now able to imperiled Fine-line pocketbook mussel in the reproduce. Most found in the river are 55+ years old. Little Cahaba River.

Here is a glimmer of hope! Staff with the Alabama Aquatic Biodiversity Center have found a precious few juvenile Elephant Ear mussels on rocky shoals near Centreville, indicating that at least some limited reproduction is still occurring in the Cahaba! Why now? Perhaps because the Army Corps of Engineers, with guidance from The Nature Conservancy, has been conducting ‘conservation flow’ releases through the locks during late winter and early spring when the mussel’s larval host fish, Alabama Shad and the Skipjack Herring, used to make up-river spawning runs. Flow restoration is happening and good things are happening with mussels. Are those linked or coincidence? Another “Mussel Survey” conducted in 2015 on the Cahaba below the Highway 280 diversion dam, by the AL Dept. of Conservation with help from the Alabama Aquatic Biodiversity Center, The Nature Conservancy and Randall Haddock with the Cahaba River Society, found 45 individuals of 11 species from 60 sample quadrats. Most were very old mussels, but there were a few juveniles, indicating that some successful reproduction is also occurring in the upper watershed.

The Cahaba’s remarkable biodiversity is getting national media attention, making appearances in print and on the radio in 2015. A wonderful new book from UAB’s marine biologist and noted Antarctica researcher Dr. James McClintock, A Naturalist Goes Fishing: Casting in Fragile Waters from the Gulf of Mexico to New Zealand’s South Island, has a chapter on the Cahaba River among its global highlights. McClintock also profiles the Cahaba River Society’s model of collaborative conservation. Amazon’s review says “This strikingly beautiful narrative is a must read for anglers and nature lovers alike.” Thank you, Dr. McClintock!

You might think that if a certain snail species had , rediscovered in the not been found for 70 years, it is pretty certainly Cahaba after 70 years by Dr. Nathan Whelan. gone from this earth. But wait! Sometimes scientists rediscover species long thought to be extinct! The Cahaba now has two such “Lazarus species.” In 2005, Dr. Stephanie Clark ‘rediscovered’ the Cahaba pebblesnail in the Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge after it had not been seen since 1933 and had been declared extinct in 1965. In 2012 Dr. Nathan Whelan rediscovered the Oblong Rocksnail, on a single remote rocky shoal in the

Cahaba River. It was last seen over 70 years ago. In 2015 Dr. Whelan’s discovery was featured to a national audience on NPR’s “Science Friday” radio program and website. For a link to listen in, see the online version of Photo: Thomas Tarpley, ADCNR. this report at www.cahabariversociety.org.