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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

See the NEW Southern Exposure Films in Birmingham September 25
Welcome Abigail Franks to the ARA Team!
Comprehensive Map of Data Centers in Alabama Just Published!
PRESS RELEASE: FERC ignores statutory obligation to public

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Repost from @theweatherlo • The debate over data c

Repost from @theweatherlo
•
The debate over data centers in Alabama has hit new highs in recent months, with more than a dozen projects underway or proposed across the state.

That surge in data center development is driven in part by the explosive growth of generative AI like ChatGPT and Claude.

While backers of data centers tout them as boosters to the community, bringing jobs and tax dollars, public opposition continues to increase over environmental concerns and a lack of transparency from developers and political leaders.

TL;DR? Here’s 5 things you need to know about data centers. ✍🏻

Link to the fully story in the bio.

Defending Rivers in #Alabama happens in all sorts

Defending Rivers in #Alabama happens in all sorts of locations from local governments to convention centers to the banks of our rivers! Last week, ARA staff had their toes in all of those fronts.

We had the immense honor of joining Paul Johnson and the Alabama Department Of Conservation And Natural Resources team, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Beagle Charitable Foundation, The Nature Conservancy in Alabama, and state leaders Senator Steve Livingston and Representative Mike Kirkland to reintroduce endangered mussels on the Paint Rock River. This awesome group helped Paul reintroduce Pale Lilliput, Tennessee Bean, and Cumberland Moccasinshell to the Paint Rock and, as you can tell from the photos, a splendid time was had by all!

We were also in Lowndes County last week alongside the community fighting against a new proposed data center in their neighborhood. While Alabama's cities and towns continue to discuss how to regulate these facilities requiring unprecedented energy use and water impacts, we will continue to work closely with community leaders to help advocate for common sense regulations.

And earlier in the week, we were with other partners from Alabama in Washington DC at @policylink's Summit 2026 to convene with other leaders across the country to focus on critically important issues like water and infrastructure to help develop a Governing for All Blueprint: one that reflects both the urgency of this moment and the practical realities of legal, regulatory, and structural reform.
We love a busy week protecting our rivers and streams!

TAKE ACTION! Tell EPA you oppose their approval of

TAKE ACTION! Tell EPA you oppose their approval of Alabama's coal ash permit program. Across Alabama, there are more than 117 million tons of toxic coal ash in unlined pits next to our waterways at nine different sites with more than 50 groundwater violations. (Coal ash is the toxic waste that remains after coal is burned. It contains high concentrations of heavy metals, including mercury, arsenic, selenium, chromium, and lead which are hazardous to human health, wildlife, and waterways near coal ash pits.)

Alabama Power, TVA and PowerSouth own these unlined pits, and they are polluting our rivers and reservoirs. What EPA decides here shapes what happens to all of them.

Learn more, plus see a sample letter and how to submit comments from our bio.

#CoalAsh #Alabama #DefendRivers #WaterIsLife #AlabamaRivers

Join Alabama Rivers Alliance and our partners acro

Join Alabama Rivers Alliance and our partners across the state for the FREE World Premiere of the NEW Southern Exposure Films in Birmingham! Don't miss this eagerly awaited night of storytelling that will inspire, ignite and unite us all as we work together protect Alabama's rivers and streams, our communities, and our land and air.

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.

Friday, September 25
at The Altamont School in Birmingham
Mix & Mingle at 5 with food and drinks (while it lasts)
Films start at 6:30
Q&A + Discussion After

Learn more about the films + see trailers coming soon at the link in bio!

#SouthernExposure #DefendRivers #WaterIsLife #EnvironmentalDocs #EnviroDocs #Birmingham #BirminghamAL #FilmBirmingham

Are you planning to attend Sidewalk Film Festival

Are you planning to attend Sidewalk Film Festival this weekend? Be sure to check out two of the 2025 Southern Exposure Films while there! See HYPERSCALED on Sunday, August 30 at 10 am as part of the "From River to Clay" block at the @carvertheatrebham

ABOUT HYPERSCALED
Increased energy and water demands from the seemingly overnight rapid development of large data centers, and driven by technological advancements like “AI”, are increasing threats to communities across the Southeast, including Alabama. HYPERSCALED unearths the real world cost of AI as residents fight to get answers about the environmental, community, and other costly impacts of this water and energy sucking industry. Much like a vampire, the proposed “Project Marvel” is projected to consume unprecedented amounts of water and energy – right in their backyards. Directed by Maya Estrera.

Are you planning to attend Sidewalk Film Festival

Are you planning to attend Sidewalk Film Festival this weekend? Be sure to check out two of the 2025 Southern Exposure Films while there! See UNDERMINED on Saturday, August 29 at 4:45 as part of the "This World We Call Home" block.

ABOUT UNDERMINED
In Belle Mina, it’s “Another Day, Another Lawsuit” as a small Alabama town fights back against a quarry blasting right next door to them, threatening their air, water and overall quality of life. Directed by @_lilyhuffman

ARA is so excited to welcome Abigail Franks to our

ARA is so excited to welcome Abigail Franks to our team as Director of Community Partnerships! In this role, Abigail will support our existing network of 100+ community and water-focused partners across the state. She will also help our policy team advance advocacy on important issues like data centers and water planning, with community outreach and organizing. Stay tuned for an email, phone call or visit in the coming months as Abigail reaches out to get to know our Alliance partners and discuss what ARA can do to support your work and your community!

"Abigail's experience and academic background, coupled with her passion for the people and nature of Alabama, will make the perfect addition to our dynamic team as we continue to unite our movement for clean water and healthy rivers across our great, beautiful state!" - Cindy Lowry, ARA's executive director

ABOUT ABIGAIL
Abigail Franks is an 8th-generation Appalachian and 5th generation Alabamian. She "hugs both people and trees", and has nearly a decade of professional experience under her belt — though she's been a fierce advocate for our planet and communities since childhood.

All 67 counties, rivers, and ecosystems of Alabama are near and dear to Abigail, but the Tennessee River and Black Warrior River particularly have her heart.

She graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) with a B.A in Political Science and Peace, Justice, and Ecology. While serving as the Director of Community Partnerships at Alabama Rivers Alliance, she is also pursuing her Master of Public Administration, and teaches Environmental Politics at her alma mater.

Her interests include (but aren't limited to) Southern U.S. history, environmental policy, environmental justice, political-industrial-ecology, community-based leadership and social movements, disaster resilience, clean energy, and grassroots climate mitigation and adaptation strategies.

In the midst of all of that, you can also find her cuddling with her two dogs and two cats, laughing with her wife and friends, chasing after her goofy god-daughters, or nose-deep in a book and/or down a research-rabbit hole.

Friends in and near Birmingham! Join us on Tuesday

Friends in and near Birmingham! Join us on Tuesday (August 18) at @rojobham! Learn more about our work and how you can get involved. ARA will receive 10% of all sales from 5 pm - close (dine in, carry out, Door Dash!).

PLUS: We'll be celebrating Martha Hunter and her recent retirement from ARA! Martha has dedicated countless hours over the past ten years at ARA strengthening our river protection movement, while making connections all across the state. Her endless energy and her passion for getting to know people and getting them connected to other Alabamians who are working so hard to defend and protect our rivers throughout the state is unprecedented. We look so forward to celebrating her with you!

#BirminghamAL #DefendRivers #WaterIsLife

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