What do urban revitalization, regional transit, and the Downtown Master Plan have to do with saving the Cahaba? Rapid suburban growth is the top threat to the health of the Cahaba watershed and our drinking water. According to the Upper Cahaba Watershed Study, we can save our river only if we greatly reduce the potential “greenfield” growth in the upper watershed. One important solution to the river’s challenges is to meet more of our regional economic goals through increased urban/suburban revitalization and infill.

Dave C. Adkisson, President and CEO of the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce and Ann Florie, Executive Director, Leadership Birmingham and formerly with Region 20/20 will give their perspective on the connections between urban/suburban health and revitalization, greenfield growth, and demands on the Cahaba and the region’s other environmental treasures. A Q&A session will explore the regional initiatives we need to promote as part of a smart strategy for restoring the Cahaba.

The Cahaba River Society is very pleased to have The Nature Conservancy’s Aquatic Freshwater Ecologist, Paul Freeman, to present details about the removal of the “Marvel Slab”. Paul will provide a history of the slab and describe the ecological context and significance of the nearly decade-long effort to remove that obstruction from the Cahaba River.

Photo by Paul Freeman

5:30 p.m. Social gathering with hors d’oeuvres

On site parking is available