Cahaba River Society’s mission is to restore and protect the Cahaba River watershed and its rich diversity of life. This diversity includes not only the river’s diverse freshwater life, but also the diverse people of central Alabama who rely on the Cahaba for clean, low-cost drinking water. CRS emphasizes education and consensus-building among all interests. Combining expertise in the science of river ecosystems with a practical understanding of the forces of urban growth and development, CRS builds partnerships to increase the resources brought to bear on river problems.
Web | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
About Cahaba River Society
- We believe in creating a healthy environment for all the region’s residents, regardless of income, race, or where they live
- We safeguard the quality and supply of our drinking water
- We are committed to educating youth and adults to improve environmental decision-making
- We advocate solutions that are aligned with the restoration of the Cahaba and the growth of our communities
- We are committed to a balanced, science-based approach to our work
- We believe in creating positive partnerships to be a successful consensus builder in the community
CRS serves not only the population of the Cahaba watershed but also all people living and working in the Birmingham metropolitan area. The Cahaba is the main drinking water source for the Birmingham Water Works Board, which serves about one-fifth of Alabama’s people. This “peopleshed” of residents and businesses who depend on and value the Cahaba River encompasses over a million people. In addition, CRS works with many statewide partners to strengthen water resource protection policies at the state level benefiting all the people of Alabama. While the bulk of our members live in the watershed or “peopleshed,” we also have the support of many members from throughout the state and across the nation and encourage the growing support of those who value the Cahaba River and believe in our work.
Our work also serves the diverse freshwater creatures who depend on the Cahaba. The Cahaba has more species of fish per mile than any other river in North America and is considered to be nationally and globally significant for freshwater biodiversity by conservation groups such as The Nature Conservancy and The World Wildlife Fund.