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About ARA

Alabama Rivers Alliance is a statewide network of groups working to protect and restore all of Alabama’s water resources through building partnerships, empowering citizens, and advocating for sound water policy and its enforcement.

Click here to read a summary of our 2023 – 2027 Strategic Plan.

Latest News

Meet the 2026 Southern Exposure Film Fellows!
ARA’s Deputy Director Recognized with Unsung Hero Award!
Tell Birmingham City Council Don’t Water Down the Data Center Ordinance!
This legislative session was a doozy!

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We are THRILLED to announce the selection of the 2

We are THRILLED to announce the selection of the 2026 #SouthernExposure film fellows: Moses Aubrey, Ethan Kauffman, Anna Lueck, Callie Mejia, and Grace Sullivan!

This summer, these ultra talented filmmakers will create five short documentaries telling powerful stories about Alabama’s special people, places and wildlife. The films will feature Alabamians who are dedicated to protecting and restoring our rich biodiversity, while highlighting solutions for complex issues for audiences all over the state and region.

We can't wait to welcome them to Alabama! Stay tuned this summer to see pieces of their work as they explore all four corners of Alabama, and beyond.

#Alabama #FilmAlabama #WaterIsLife #AlabamaRivers #DefendRivers #Film #DocumentaryFilm #EnviroDocs #documentary

HUNTSVILLE, we'll see you Wednesday at @campus805'

HUNTSVILLE, we'll see you Wednesday at @campus805's cafeteria with @hsv_environment and the NEW #SouthernExposure Films! We'll also have a discussion afterwards with @revcbgilliam. Learn more about the films and see the trailers from our bio.

Wednesday, May 13 at Campus 805’s Cafeteria Mix and Mingling at 5:30 pm | Films start at 6:30 pm | Q&A + Discussion After| Delicious Food While It Lasts – Plus Cash Bar!

Created in six weeks during the summer, the Southern Exposure Films celebrate special people and nature in Alabama, while discovering hidden treasures and exploring complex issues.

#SouthernExposure #Huntsville #MadisonCounty #hsv #AlabamaRivers #Alabama #Madison #DefendRivers #WaterIsLife #DataCenters #BelleMina #Salamanders #Salabama #RiversGift

Earlier this week, we had the honor of recognizing

Earlier this week, we had the honor of recognizing Kelly Marshall, ARA’s Deputy Director and Southern Exposure’s Impact Producer, with the *UNSUNG HERO* award for her outstanding public service, and so much more at UAB Department of Political Science (@uabpspa) and Public Administration’s Alabama Public Service Training Initiative annual celebration dinner.

Michele Forman (UAB’s Director of Media Studies and Southern Exposure Film’s Series Producer), Cindy Lowry (ARA’s executive director) and David Butler (Cahaba River Coalition) all separately nominated her, which illustrates her reach across the environmental community and beyond. Take a look at some excerpts from her nomination letters in the photos below and join us in saying HIP HIP HOORAY to Kelly and her work throughout Alabama protecting and defending our rivers and streams!

Last week, Birmingham City Council heard that Birm

Last week, Birmingham City Council heard that Birmingham residents want more stringent controls on data center development, including larger setbacks from residential neighborhoods and more specific requirements on how data centers use shared resources like our drinking water, electric, and wastewater systems. The City Council also heard from big business that the Council should remove the “special exception” process that allows communities to have a voice when hyperscale data centers are proposed in certain areas of the city.

The city council decided to delay a final vote on Birmingham’s data center regulations so they can incorporate citizens’ feedback. PLEASE TAKE THE TIME NOW TO tell them to maintain the proposed protections, and to continue to allow citizens to have input through the special exception process for hyperscale data centers in light industrial and office park areas.

Send your letter from the link in bio and tell your Birmingham City Councilors what you want to see in a data center ordinance!

#WaterIsLife #DefendRivers #AlabamaRivers #DataCenters #BirminghamAL #Birmingham #Bham

Join ARA and @southernenvironment tomorrow (Tuesda

Join ARA and @southernenvironment tomorrow (Tuesday, April 28) at @auburnuufellowship to learn more about the proposed SSE4 pipeline expansion through #LeeCounty!

Repost from @auburnuufellowship
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A proposed methane gas pipeline expansion is coming straight through Lee County, and your community deserves to know the facts.

Alabama Rivers Alliance (@alabamarivers ARA) is joining forces with BlackBelt Women Rising @blackbeltwr, Senator Robert Stewart, and local leaders to host a series of community meetings along the pipeline’s path. The Lee County meeting is coming up, and you are invited.

Tuesday, April 28 | 5:30 – 7:30 PM
Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
450 E Thach Ave, Auburn AL
Free pizza and drinks provided.

At this free public meeting, you will see up-to-date maps of exactly where the new pipelines would go, learn how the project could impact your property, and get a clear explanation of the FERC process and how to formally participate.

All are welcome.

Please share with friends, family, and neighbors in the Auburn and Lee County area.

#AuburnAL #alabamarivers #auburnalabama #LeeCounty PipelineAwareness CleanEnergy CommunityMeeting FERC TakeAction alabamariversalliance blackbeltwomenrising auburnuufellowship

THIS TUESDAY (April 28), at 9:30 am, the Birmingha

THIS TUESDAY (April 28), at 9:30 am, the Birmingham City Council will decide whether to adopt a new ordinance regulating data centers within the city limits. This comes a few months after the city passed a first-in-Alabama temporary moratorium on data centers.

The proposed regulations would be some of the strongest in the Southeast. They would require closed-loop cooling systems in larger data centers, minimizing the use of water in these facilities and preventing increased demands on drinking water supplies that can drive up water utility bills.

Birmingham residents, please send your city councilors an email [from the link in bio!] (or text or call if you know them personally!) letting them know that you support the proposed ordinance, and celebrating the fact that Birmingham has an opportunity to be among the first cities in the state to meaningfully protect their residents from the impacts of all hyperscale data centers. It’s critical to let the city council know that not only do you support the ordinance, but you also support efforts to ensure no big tech company gets a blank check from Birmingham.

WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO?

If you’re able, you can also join us and testify in person at the City Council meeting this Tuesday, April 28 at 9:30 am! We recommend arriving about 30 minutes early to ensure that you can grab a seat. City Council meets on the 3rd Floor of City Hall, located at 710 20th Street North in downtown Birmingham.

#DataCenters #Bham #Birmingham #WaterIsLife #DefendRivers

Alabama's 2026 legislative session has ended, and

Alabama's 2026 legislative session has ended, and boy was it a doozy!

Traditionally, election years are quiet affairs in the Alabama Legislature. Legislators want to get down to Montgomery, pass budgets quickly, and get back out on the campaign trail. They typically try to avoid controversial topics and deliver some meaningful wins for their constituents.

I say traditionally, because that was definitely not the case in 2026! Big-money lobbyists from Montgomery and DC, whose purse- and puppet-strings are controlled by powerful interests (including some from outside our state) had other ideas. They packed committee agendas and House and Senate calendars with a multitude of bills to benefit the special interests that pay them. Unfortunately, some legislators chose to listen to them over the people of Alabama.

Read the full legislative recap from Charles Miller (@crmiv), ARA's Policy Director, on our website, from the link in bio.

FIRST PIC: Alabamians from all over dropped what they were doing and joined ARA and our partners in Montgomery on extra short notice to tell our elected officials face to face how dangerous this bill will be to our rivers and streams. They joined the thousands of voices online!

SECOND PIC: We Dare Defend Our Rivers and Our Rights!

THIRD PIC: After two hours of robust opposition, thousands of letters, and countless phone calls and meetings, unfortunately SB 71 has passed. Do you see how your House Rep voted?

#WaterIsLife #DefendRivers #ALPolitics #Alabama #AlabamaRivers

Happy Rivers of Alabama Day from ARA and our 100+

Happy Rivers of Alabama Day from ARA and our 100+ partners across the state! We hope you are able to take a moment today to celebrate our 132,000+ miles of rivers and streams by dipping a toe in a creek, toasting to our unmatched biodiversity, thanking a River Hero, letting our elected officials know you want our drinking water protected from polluting industries and more!

HUGE thank you to Ms. Blackwell's class for sharing with us what they learned last week about Alabama's great seal and our amazing rivers!

Learn more about Rivers of Alabama Day from our link in bio and let us know how you plan to celebrate!

#RiversOfAlabamaDay #AlabamaRivers #RiversAlabama #WaldorfSchool #DefendRivers #WaterIsLife #ALPolitics #Alabama

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