THE CAHABA RIVER, A VITAL WATERWAY FLOWING THROUGH CENTRAL ALABAMA, IS GETTING A MUCH NEEDED SPRING CLEANING THIS WEEK THANKS TO THE EFFORTS OF THE CAHABA RIVER SOCIETY AND THE GROWING ARMY OF VOLUNTEERS. THIS ANNUAL EARTH WEEK CLEANUP IS NOT JUST ABOUT PICKING UP TRASH. IT鈥橲 ABOUT COMMUNITY CONNECTION AND A SHARED COMMITMENT TO PROTECTING A PRECIOUS, NATURAL RESOURCE. THE CLEANUP LIKE THIS IS PRETTY NO PROBLEM, BUT TURNING IT INTO TEN CLEANUPS OVER SIX DAYS IS IS A BIGGER DEAL. LUU RINER, THE FIELDS PROGRAMS DIRECTOR OF THE CAHABA RIVER SOCIETY, HAS ONE GOAL KEEPING THE CAHABA RIVER CLEAN. TODAY IS OUR THIRD ANNUAL EARTH WEEK CLEANUP SERIES, SO WE SPEND FIVE DAYS OVER THE WEEK OF EARTH DAY TRYING TO CLEAN UP DIFFERENT LOCATIONS AROUND THE CAHABA WATERSHED. THIS YEAR, THE CAHABA RIVER SOCIETY WILL CLEAN AREAS IN JEFFERSON, SHELBY, BIBB, PERRY, AND DALLAS COUNTIES, KEEPING ALABAMA BEAUTIFUL. TAKES A VILLAGE. I STARTED AT CROUSE IN 2021, AND I THINK AROUND THAT TIME WE WERE GETTING, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THREE, 400 VOLUNTEERS A YEAR, AND NOW WE鈥橰E AT LIKE SIX, 700, 800 VOLUNTEERS A YEAR. SO IT鈥橲 IT鈥橲 BEEN REALLY GREAT. AND THIS KIND OF EVENT, THESE KINDS OF PUBLIC EVENTS ARE A BIG A BIG REASON FOR THAT. VOLUNTEER BRACKEN BAGWELL IS NEW TO THE SCENE, AND HE鈥橲 EAGER TO HELP OUR OFFICIALS AND STUFF. CAN鈥橳 DO EVERYTHING FOR US. AND I THINK IT HELPS FOR US TO GET OUT AND TAKE ON SOME OF THE BURDEN AND EVERYTHING TO GET OUT, CLEAN, CLEAN CITIES UP AND STUFF LIKE THAT HELP, YOU KNOW, MAKE THE COMMUNITY CLEANER. AND TO BRACKEN IS NOT JUST ABOUT THE TRASH. KNOWING THAT YOU HELPED, YOU KNOW, KNOWING THAT YOU WERE PART OF MAKING THAT DIFFERENCE. IT鈥橲 ABOUT THE PEOPLE YOU MEET ALONG THE WAY. JUST SEEING EVERYBODY COME TOGETHER, ESPECIALLY OUT IN NATURE, BECAUSE THAT鈥橲 SOMETHING THAT YOU DON鈥橳 SEE. A WHOLE LOT OF, YOU KNOW, TODAY, A LOT OF IT鈥橲, YOU KNOW, BEHIND THE PHONE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. IT鈥橲 LIKE MINDED PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT THE THINGS THAT YOU CARE ABOUT. AND YOU MAY NOT AGREE ON EVERYTHING, BUT YOU AGREE ON ONE THING. AND THAT鈥橲 THE FACT THAT WE SHOULD HAVE CLEAN DRINKING WATER AND AND CLEAN WATERWAYS FOR US AND OUR KIDS AND OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS. ALL THE PEOPLE OUT THERE WERE SO NICE
Cahaba River Cleanup: Alabama volunteers tackle trash during Earth Week
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Updated: 4:55 PM CDT Apr 21, 2025
The Cahaba River, a crucial waterway in central Alabama, is undergoing its annual spring cleaning this week thanks to the Cahaba River Society and a growing number of volunteers.The Earth Week cleanup, now in its third year, spans multiple counties and aims to remove trash from the river and surrounding areas. Wil Rainer, field programs director for the Cahaba River Society, emphasized the significance of the effort, noting the increase in volunteer participation from 300-400 annually to 600-800."A cleanup like this is pretty no problem, but turning into 10 cleanups over six days is a bigger deal," Rainer said. He added that the organization will focus on different locations across the Cahaba watershed in Jefferson, Shelby, Bibb, Perry and Dallas counties.New volunteer Bracken Bagwell said he felt it was important for community members to share the responsibility of maintaining a clean environment. "Our officials and stuff can't do everything for us, and I think it helps for us to get out and take on some of the burden and everything ... help make the community cleaner," Bagwell said.Beyond the physical act of cleaning, Bagwell highlighted the sense of accomplishment and community fostered by the event. "Knowing that you helped ... knowing that you were part of making that difference," he said. "Just seeing everyone come together, especially out in nature, because that's something you don't see a lot of today."Rainer echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the connection among volunteers. "It's like-minded people who care about the things you care about," he said. "You may not agree on everything, but you may agree on one thing, and that's the fact that we should have clean drinking water and clean waterways for us and our kids and our future generations."Remaining cleanup locations include:Tuesday, April 22: Oak Mountain State ParkWednesday, April 23: Cahaba National Wildlife RefugeThursday, April 24: Perry Lakes ParkFriday, April 25: Old Cahawba Archaeological ParkYou can register for these events here.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Cahaba River, a crucial waterway in central Alabama, is undergoing its annual spring cleaning this week thanks to the Cahaba River Society and a growing number of volunteers.
The Earth Week cleanup, now in its third year, spans multiple counties and aims to remove trash from the river and surrounding areas. Wil Rainer, field programs director for the Cahaba River Society, emphasized the significance of the effort, noting the increase in volunteer participation from 300-400 annually to 600-800.
"A cleanup like this is pretty no problem, but turning into 10 cleanups over six days is a bigger deal," Rainer said. He added that the organization will focus on different locations across the Cahaba watershed in Jefferson, Shelby, Bibb, Perry and Dallas counties.
New volunteer Bracken Bagwell said he felt it was important for community members to share the responsibility of maintaining a clean environment. "Our officials and stuff can't do everything for us, and I think it helps for us to get out and take on some of the burden and everything ... help make the community cleaner," Bagwell said.
Beyond the physical act of cleaning, Bagwell highlighted the sense of accomplishment and community fostered by the event. "Knowing that you helped ... knowing that you were part of making that difference," he said. "Just seeing everyone come together, especially out in nature, because that's something you don't see a lot of today."
Rainer echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the connection among volunteers. "It's like-minded people who care about the things you care about," he said. "You may not agree on everything, but you may agree on one thing, and that's the fact that we should have clean drinking water and clean waterways for us and our kids and our future generations."
Remaining cleanup locations include:
- Tuesday, April 22: Oak Mountain State Park
- Wednesday, April 23: Cahaba National Wildlife Refuge
- Thursday, April 24: Perry Lakes Park
- Friday, April 25: Old Cahawba Archaeological Park
You can register for these events
