Cahaba River Society

CRS Program summary

GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT SOLUTIONS

• Improving Development Planning & Design - "Low Impact Development" or LID
  • Learning together with developers, design professionals, & local governments about LID & innovative storm water design to conserve water resources – outreach and “Lunch & Learn” presentations
  • Collaborating with developers, local governments, and citizens to incorporate LID and green infrastructure in the design, planning and construction best practices of specific development projects
  • Awards and education to promote successful water-wise projects & firms with LID expertise
• Responsible Agenda for River Restoration and Growth
  • Building citizen, business, & elected official support for implementation of the Responsible Agenda – outgrowth of Upper Cahaba Watershed Plan proposals (2002-05 collaborative planning process by 22 local governments, business, citizens)
  • Promoting incentives and ordinances for water-wise development standards – open space conservation, riparian buffer zones, floodplain protection, LID and post-construction storm water design
  • Participating in local government comprehensive and land use planning to identify sensitive watershed lands and recommend policies and methods for open space and water resource conservation
• Drinking Water Efficiency & Conservation
  • Promoting water efficiency, conservation and reuse to meet the region’s growth needs and improve water security at the least cost to our wallets and our water resources
  • Informing the community that saving water = saving energy and helps calm climate change
  • Collaborating with Green Resource Center of Alabama, business and civic leaders, and others to advance water efficiency learning and programs together – held Saving Our Water Conference in March 2008, follow-up planning now underway
  • Participating in water demand and supply planning by the Birmingham Water Works Board to explore water efficiency programs
• Wise Public Investment in Infrastructure
  • Encouraging effective public participation to guide infrastructure investment for growth, to promote sound land use planning and improved design for watershed conservation
  • Jefferson County Sewer Master Plan, system rehabilitation, and system expansion policies and proposals
  • Seeking to improve major roadway and bridge planning and design to conserve the Cahaba watershed – example:  Northern Beltline – low impact development design and conservation land use planning

EDUCATION & RECREATION

• Educating Future Leaders – Shane Hulsey CLEAN field education program for schools, scouting and church groups
  • Hands-on canoe trips and stream walks in the Cahaba and its creeks - over 18,500 students served
  • Teacher training
  • Volunteer restoration projects – stream cleanups, trail building, streambank restoration, etc.
• Recreation Program
  • Regular schedule of canoe trips for CRS members & community
  • Special trips organized for civic groups, business groups, elected officials, developers, etc.
• Faith / Environment / Science Collaboration
  • CRS educational outreach to churches and other spiritual groups in Cahaba watershed
  • Collaboration bringing together faith, environmental, civic, science, education and development leaders to jointly work on care of creation, watershed conservation, drinking water and energy efficiency – have held workshops & lunch meetings, working groups recently created.
• Public & Member Education
  • Publications (Annual Report, e-newsletters), member mailings, email action alerts
  • Speakers Tour
  • Media outreach
  • Website

WATERSHED STEWARDSHIP

• Advancing River Science
  • Contributing to Cahaba scientific studies, such as those used by ADEM and EPA to determine allowable pollution limits and policies for water quality restoration (Nutrient & Sediment TMDL studies)
  • Working with other groups (The Nature Conservancy, etc) to study trends in Cahaba freshwater wildlife, habitat health, and water quality, and translating science to inform the public & decision-makers
• Improving Storm Water Regulation & Enforcement
  • Working with other groups across the state and region to improve ADEM and EPA implementation of Clean Water Act storm water programs – aiming for better control of mud runoff during construction & less long-term impact from paving/roof runoff (flooding, instream erosion) through adoption of Low Impact Development standards
  • Promoting stronger local government programs for storm water management, including strengthening the region’s Storm Water Management Authority
• River Watch - Abating Pollution Sources
  • Investigating mud runoff, sewage, and other pollution sources and getting action from responsible parties to clean them up
• River Restoration Projects
  • Collaborating with other organizations for stream bank restoration, riparian fencing, small dam removal, and mussel, snail, fish restoration
• Ecotourism Strategic Planning and Acid Mine Drainage Remediation
  • Bibb County initiatives that grew from 2004-2007 Americorps/VISTA/OSM volunteer project
  • Ecotourism planning and site development
  • Identification of acid mine drainage & seeking of remediation funds
• Strengthening State & Federal Environmental Protection
  • Reforming the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) - Statewide ADEM Reform Coalition, which CRS co-founded - alliance of 40+ organizations working to improve ADEM enforcement, public service ethic, environmental justice programs, funding, and leadership
  • Clean Water Act Implementation - Working with Alabama Rivers Alliance & other groups to improve state regulations and policy for water resources