Save Our Unique River, Communities and Environment

11/19/2024

ALDOT studies proved, before construction was begun on the Northern Beltline, that it was not justified by traffic needs. Apparently, it is now admittedly in hopes of economic development. It was obvious from the beginning that the real reason for the Northern Beltline route through the countryside is to open large, vacant lands owned primarily by Drummond Coal and U.S. Steel. It is beyond responsible reasoning for Alabama’s elected officials to allocate our state’s federal highway tax allotment to a multi-billion dollar interstate highway that is not needed for traffic and will drastically impact the Black Warrior and Cahaba Rivers, two major drinking water sources.

Per the National Bridge Inventory, Alabama has identified 16,130 bridges with needed repairs. Of the total, 543 are structurally deficient. That is only a part of Alabama’s many other road and highway needs. We do not know the current projected cost of the Northern Beltline, but rest assured, it is far greater than $5.4 billion. That was the 2014 estimated cost. While the plan is to pour billions of our federal tax dollars into construction of Alabama’s major interstate boondoggle, the state’s taxpaying citizens are paying for repair of our bridges and roadways, through ATRIP-II, a program created by the Rebuild Alabama Act. It calls for a minimum of $30 million annually in state tax dollars. For 2024, $40 million was allocated. It will take quite some time to repair 16,130 bridges, not to mention all the other needed road repairs. Alabama needs the federal funds that our leaders are allocating to an unjustified highway.

A less environmentally and financially costly option for the segment of highway currently under construction would be to form an at-grade parkway along the planned route to Clay-Palmerdale Road, but deviate at that point later to Deerfoot Parkway in the City of Clay, which leads to the interstate system.

Alabama is poised to use 100 percent federal funding to build an interstate that won’t alleviate any of the state’s largest traffic gridlocks and is promoted as an economic development plan rather than a transportation necessity.

11/07/2024

This is why it is important to protect all Alabama streams. All streams, small and large, matter. The Cahaba River and Black Warrior River provide water for metropolitan Birmingham. Please don’t throw trash onto roadways, parks, etc, or blow leaves and trash into drainage culverts and ditches.

The Cahaba River is a source of drinking water for many Birmingham citizens. Freshwater is crucial to our lives. According to the Geological Survey of Alabama: Over 132,000 miles of streams and rivers flow through the state and it is estimated that 10 percent of the freshwater resources for the entire continental United States originates in or flows through Alabama. That is worth investing in!

Support our work to protect clean water at https://cahabariverkeeper.org/donate/.

11/04/2024

Driving north on Alabama Highway 79 in late October offers a stunning vista of the rolling Appalachian foothills. Splashes of yellow, orange and red have emerged among the green, tree-covered hillsides as fall arrives outside Alabama's largest metro area.

10/31/2024

https://selc.link/4f0UZBy

The Northern Beltline project has been haunting Alabama for over 50 years, draining money, time and energy from other more productive and desired projects. Here’s how it came about — and why it refuses to stay dead.

10/17/2024

The planned Birmingham Northern Beltline was never feasible. With time, it has become even more financially and environmentally costly.

For Immediate Release: New report questions impact, economics of Northern Beltline highway project. Proposed new section of the $5+ billion project will destroy over 10 miles of streams and tributaries north of Birmingham, offer little economic benefit: https://blackwarriorriver.org/new-northern-beltline-analysis/

09/21/2024

Judge Approves Settlement Requiring Cleanup of Warrior Met Coal’s Mine No. 7. For Immediate Release: https://blackwarriorriver.org/settlement-approved-at-mine-no-7/

02/23/2024

Federal regulators from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have notified their counterparts at the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) that they believe the state may be allowing toxic coal ash to be permanently stored in ways that are “less protective” than federal standards ...

01/08/2024

We care a lot about the big river, but we love our tributaries too. What's your favorite?

01/01/2024

In this, the final week of 2023, Freshwater Land Trust added 86 acres to our land conservation footprint with the closing of a property on Turkey Creek in Pinson. This parcel completes “phase two” of the existing LaRocca CE, a 92-acre property placed in a conservation easement with FLT back in 2021. With this addition, this CE now protects 178 acres of mixed hardwood and pine forest bordering Turkey Creek.

09/20/2023

ABC 33/40 in Birmingham, Alabama offers news, sports, and weather reporting for the surrounding communities including Tuscaloosa, Anniston, Cullman, Gadsden, Talladega, Sylacauga, Carbon Hill, Jasper, Hoover, Bessemer, Vestavia Hills, Alabaster, Trussville and Homewood.

08/25/2023

Significant Cahaba watershed protection, thanks to the Cahaba River Society and Cahaba Riverkeeper!

“We are relieved that after more than 20 years, the Birmingham Water Works Board has finally honored the commitment they made to legally protect this land,” said David Butler, Cahaba Riverkeeper and Staff Attorney.

For customers of the Birmingham Water Works Board, this agreement means that no matter who sits on the board, this land will be legally protected for the next 75 years, ensuring lower treatment costs for our drinking water.

And we are especially grateful to the Southern Environmental Law Center, the Cahaba River Society and our donors who have stood with us in this fight.

To learn more, visit: https://tinyurl.com/d9f53p4p