{"id":65893,"date":"2026-02-17T16:41:36","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T16:41:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aaes.auburn.edu\/wrc\/?p=65893"},"modified":"2026-03-03T21:33:10","modified_gmt":"2026-03-03T21:33:10","slug":"cahaba-river-watershed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aaes.auburn.edu\/wrc\/cahaba-river-watershed\/","title":{"rendered":"Cahaba River Basin"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Written By: Jera Dill, Amy Zvonar, Laura Cooley,\u00a0 Rachel McGuire and Sydney Zinner<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Often<\/span>\u00a0con<\/span>sidered<\/span>\u00a0the<\/span>\u00a0most famous major river in Alabama<\/span>, the Cahaba River is entirely contained<\/span><\/span> within the state of Alabama <\/span>(Figure 1). T<\/span>h<\/span>is<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>194<\/span>-mile-long<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>tributary of the Alabama River<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>is\u00a0<\/span>the state\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>longest\u00a0<\/span>free-flowing river<\/span>. B<\/span>eginning<\/span>\u00a0near Birmingham<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0the Cahaba flows through eight counties,\u00a0<\/span>containing<\/span>\u00a0both rural and urban areas, and across three distinct physiographic regions: the Appalachian Plateau, the Ridge and Valley, and the Coastal Plain.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>I<\/span>t\u00a0<\/span>eventually<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>merg<\/span>es<\/span>\u00a0with<\/span>\u00a0the Alabama River\u00a0<\/span>at\u00a0<\/span>the former<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>c<\/span>apital<\/span>\u00a0of Alabama<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>the town of Cahaba.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>The<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Fall Line, a geographic feature that divides Alabama into two distinct physical regions<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>separate<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0the river into the<\/span>\u00a0Upper\u00a0<\/span>Cahaba<\/span>\u00a0and the Lower Cahaba<\/span>. The Upper Cahaba flows through<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>uplands\u00a0<\/span>characterized by the hard Piedmont rocks of the Appalachian Mountains,\u00a0<\/span>while the Lower Cahaba runs through<\/span>\u00a0the\u00a0<\/span>lowlands\u00a0<\/span>containing<\/span>\u00a0the<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>softer rocks of the\u00a0<\/span>Coastal<\/span>\u00a0Plain.\u00a0<\/span>The distinctive geology of these two regions contributes to the spectacular biodiversity of this treasured Alabama river.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Figure 1: Cahaba River. Photo Credit: Rachel McGuire<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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History<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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The name \u201cCahaba\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>can be traced back to<\/span>\u00a0two Choctaw words<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0\u201c<\/span><\/span>oka<\/span><\/span>\u201d and \u201c<\/span><\/span>aba<\/span><\/span>\u201d<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0which<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>roughly<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>translate<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>to<\/span>\u00a0\u201cwater above<\/span>\u201d (<\/span>1).<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Likely, this is due to the Cahaba literally being the water above the Alabama River<\/span>, as it is a large northern tributary of the Alabama (<\/span>1).<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>The word\u00a0<\/span>Cahaba has\u00a0<\/span>also been\u00a0<\/span>roughly\u00a0<\/span>translated<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>from Creek\u00a0<\/span>to<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>referenc<\/span>e<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>the native cane that covered the river valleys (<\/span>2).<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Both<\/span>\u00a0possibilit<\/span>ies<\/span> for the Cahaba\u2019s namesake <\/span>exemplify<\/span>\u00a0the long relationship of the river to Alabama<\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

As<\/span>\u00a0Alabama\u2019s early settlers<\/span>\u00a0arrived<\/span>, the Cahaba and its surrounding land continued to provide valuable resources that fueled the state’s early economic growth<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>The<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>city of Birmingham<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>founded in 1871, quickly\u00a0<\/span>rose to prominence in the\u00a0<\/span>late\u00a0<\/span>1800s as a steel and iron mecca (Figure 2)<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>was praised for being the only\u00a0<\/span>place in the world<\/span>\u00a0where<\/span>\u00a0iron ore, coal, and limestone<\/span>\u00a0could be\u00a0<\/span>collected within a 50-mile radius (<\/span>3). <\/span><\/span>Red Mountain, which is now a\u00a0<\/span>1,500-acre<\/span> park and part of the Jefferson County Greenways, served as the epicenter of this economic boom (<\/span>4).<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Hematite iron ore deposits were discovered in the early 1800s and were heavily mined at Red Mountain by the mid-19<\/span><\/span>th<\/span><\/span> century (Figure 3) (<\/span>4).<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>The industrialization of Birmingham heavily<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>relied on\u00a0<\/span>the Cahaba<\/span> as a route for transporting materials and <\/span>manufactured products<\/span>\u00a0throughout the state<\/span>, <\/span>resulting in <\/span>Birmingham\u00a0<\/span>becoming the\u00a0<\/span>largest steel producer in the southeast<\/span> and giving the city its \u201cMagic City\u201d namesake (<\/span>3). <\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Figure 2. The Ensley Works in Birmingham. Photo credit: Library of Congress Photographic Archives<\/i><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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Figure 3. Sloss Red Ore Mine No.2, Red Mountain, Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama. Photo Credit: Library of Congress Photographic Archives. <\/em><\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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Although the steel industry has declined, Birmingham\u00a0<\/span>remains<\/span>\u00a0a major city in Alabama, with a heavy reliance on the Cahaba.\u00a0<\/span>T<\/span>he\u00a0<\/span>Birmingham Water Works Board, which\u00a0<\/span>serves<\/span>\u00a0about one-fifth of Alabama\u2019s population<\/span>, relies on the Cahaba as its main source for drinking water (<\/span>5).<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>This means that\u00a0<\/span>the Cahaba<\/span>\u00a0is the source of drinkable water for over one million people (<\/span>5).<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>The Birmingham Water Works Dam is south of Highway 280 bridge that crosses the river.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Built in 1891<\/span>, the\u00a0<\/span>dam only backs<\/span>\u00a0water up enough<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>to provide a steady supply of water, without creating<\/span>\u00a0a reservoir<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>to collect<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>more than\u00a0<\/span>100 million gallons<\/span>\u00a0of water each day (<\/span>6).<\/span>\u00a0The water collected from the Cahaba gets transported to\u00a0<\/span>four water treatment facilities<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>to be\u00a0<\/span>filtered and distributed<\/span>\u00a0to five counties of Alabama (<\/span>6).<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>As of 2023, Birmingham Water Works has agreed to protect\u00a0<\/span>7,000 acres<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>surrounding\u00a0<\/span>the Cahaba<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>from further development (<\/span>7).<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>The<\/span>\u00a0s<\/span>ta<\/span>nding\u00a0<\/span>natural forested land<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>will serve as a protective<\/span>\u00a0buffer<\/span>\u00a0for\u00a0<\/span>the water source<\/span>\u00a0from\u00a0<\/span>urban sources of\u00a0<\/span>non-point source pollution (Figure 4)<\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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\u00a0Figure 4. BWWB Protected Land. Photo Credit: Miller Cochran, Southern\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Envir<\/span>o<\/span>nmental<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Law Center<\/span><\/span>. <\/em><\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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Notable Tributaries<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Lying above the Fall Line in the Alabama\u00a0<\/span>V<\/span>alley and Ridge region,\u00a0<\/span>t<\/span><\/span>he Little Cahaba River<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>is a popular spot for canoeing and kayaking in the upper Cahaba River Basin\u00a0<\/span>watershed (<\/span>8).<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>T<\/span>he Nature Conservancy\u00a0<\/span>also\u00a0<\/span>oversees\u00a0<\/span>480 acres<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>of land<\/span>\u00a0along the Little Cahaba<\/span>, the Kathy\u00a0<\/span>Stiles<\/span>\u00a0Freeland\u00a0<\/span>B<\/span>ibb Cou<\/span>nty Glades Preserve<\/span>, popularly\u00a0<\/span>referred to<\/span> as the \u201cGlades\u201d (8).<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>K<\/span>nown for their biodiversity,<\/span>\u00a0the Glades<\/span>\u00a0provid<\/span>e<\/span>\u00a0habitat for over 61 rare species of plants and dozens of r<\/span>are aquatic species (<\/span>8).<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

The Buck Creek tributary <\/span><\/span><\/strong>(Figure 5)<\/span><\/span>\u00a0of the Cahaba River is entirely contained within Shelby\u00a0<\/span>County<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0flowing northwest into the valleys and ridges of central Alabama. Earliest records of Buck Creek\u00a0<\/span>indicate<\/span> the site of the<\/span>\u00a0now destroyed<\/span>\u00a0Central Iron Works rolling mill<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0bu<\/span>i<\/span>lt in 1865 (<\/span>9).<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>There is one dam built on Buck Creek, north of Old Town Helena, that creates Lake Davidson. Built in 1915 and named after Tom Davidson, the reservoir was the center of a <\/span>resort<\/span> constructed by Tom and his sons along the lake shore (<\/span>10).<\/span> Today, Buck Creek is used as a discharge point for water treatment facilities in Helena and Pelham. Another major tributary that merges with Buck Creek near Helena and Pelham city limits is named the Cahaba Valley Creek (<\/span>11).<\/span>\u00a0This creek flows northeast to its source within Oak Mountain State\u00a0<\/span>Park<\/span> where it is dammed to form Beaver Lake (<\/span>1<\/span>1).<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

At approximately 55 miles long,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Shades Creek <\/strong>(Figure 6)\u00a0<\/span><\/span>is a\u00a0<\/span>Cahaba tributary<\/span>\u00a0that<\/span>\u00a0flows<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>through\u00a0<\/span>Jefferson County\u00a0<\/span>and\u00a0<\/span>Bibb County (<\/span><\/span>12). <\/span><\/span>In response to increasing r<\/span>esidential expansion in recent years, Jefferson County developed\u00a0<\/span><\/span>The Shades Creek Watershed Management Plan (<\/span><\/span><\/a>12).<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>The watershed plan for Shades Creek is comprehensive and offers solutions for\u00a0<\/span>achieving environmentally responsible urban development<\/span>\u00a0and reducing stormwater runoff and nonpoint source pollution<\/span><\/span> (<\/span>12).<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>If you\u00a0<\/span>are interested in learning more about Shades Creek, the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Birmingham Historical Society<\/span><\/span><\/a>\u00a0published a book in 2019 called\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Shades Creek \u2013 Flowing Through Time<\/span><\/span><\/a>, which<\/span>\u00a0is\u00a0<\/span>a must-read<\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Oakmulgee<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0Creek<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>flows through the Talladega National Forest<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Oakmulgee<\/span>\u00a0Division.\u00a0<\/span>The\u00a0<\/span>striking<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>prothonotary<\/span>\u00a0warbler\u00a0<\/span>(<\/span><\/span>Protonotaria<\/span>\u00a0
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Figure 5. Buck Creek Park. Photo credit: Bruce Depree, ACES<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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Figure 6. Shades Creek Enhancement at Little Shades Mountain.\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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Noteable Landmarks<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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At the Cahaba and Alabama rivers\u2019 convergence is the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>town of Cahaba<\/span><\/span><\/strong>, Alabama\u2019s first seat of government from 1820 to 1825 (<\/span><\/span>14).<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Although it is now known as Alabama\u2019s most famous ghost town, the town of Cahaba has a rich history<\/span>\u00a0of settlement<\/span>. Before being selected as the s<\/span>it<\/span>e of\u00a0<\/span>Alabama\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>first\u00a0<\/span>capital city (Figure 9) <\/span>by Governor\u00a0<\/span>William Wyatt Bibb<\/span>\u00a0in 1818<\/span><\/span>, Cahaba was\u00a0<\/span>believed to be the location of an\u00a0<\/span>ancient\u00a0<\/span>Mississippian\u00a0<\/span>village<\/span>\u00a0until around 1550<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>a<\/span>nd by the 1700s, a Choctaw village (<\/span><\/span>1<\/span>4).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

After only 5 years as <\/span>the <\/span>capital<\/span>\u00a0of Alabama,\u00a0<\/span>the government seat was moved to Tuscaloosa (<\/span><\/span>15).<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>C<\/span>onsistent flooding\u00a0<\/span>and concerns over malaria outbreaks and other diseases\u00a0<\/span>in the area\u00a0<\/span>were used\u00a0<\/span>to convince the Alabama General Assembly to make the move<\/span>\u00a0(<\/span><\/span>15).<\/span><\/span>\u00a0This\u00a0<\/span>relocation caused the city\u00a0<\/span>population\u00a0<\/span>to drop\u00a0<\/span>drasticall<\/span>y<\/span>, but<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>it\u00a0<\/span>remained<\/span>\u00a0a\u00a0<\/span>prosperous commercial center<\/span> and a major distribution point for cotton.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

According to the Alabama Historical Commission, the final blow to Cahaba’s stature as a town came in 1865, when a flood resulted in the county seat moving permanently to Selma (16). Most of the town’s structures were dismantled or dilapidated by 1900 (Figure 10), and the town was unincorporated in 1989 (16). Visit the Alabama Historical Commission’s<\/a> site to learn more about how the town changed during these years. Those interested in history and archeology can visit the Old Cahawba Archeological Site, which is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, and tour the ruins of the old town (16).\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Figure 9. Monument to Alabama’s first state capital. Photo credit: Library of Congress<\/i><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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Figure 10. Kirkpatrick House, Oak Street, Cahaba, Dallas County, Alabama. 1934 Photo credit: W.N. Manning, Historic American Building Survey, Library of Congress<\/i><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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Established in 2002, the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge<\/span><\/span><\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>is located\u00a0<\/span>in<\/span>\u00a0Bibb County and manages<\/span>\u00a0over\u00a0<\/span>3,<\/span>6<\/span>00 acres<\/span> of land (<\/span><\/span>1<\/span>7).<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>The\u00a0<\/span>U.S Fish and Wildlife Service sought to protect this\u00a0<\/span>unique section<\/span>\u00a0of the Cahaba<\/span>\u00a0and the land adjacent to it<\/span>\u00a0due to\u00a0<\/span>its being a critical habitat for a particularly diverse population of flora and fauna.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>The mission of the refuge is to conserve, enhance and restore<\/span>\u00a0native aquatic and terrestrial habitats<\/span>\u00a0to\u00a0<\/span>maintain<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>assist<\/span> in the recovery of animals and plants listed under the Endangered Species Act of 1973.\u00a0<\/span>The sight of the largest known\u00a0<\/span>population of Cahaba lil<\/span>ies<\/span>\u00a0is found\u00a0<\/span>within this refuge and is one of the main imperiled species\u00a0<\/span>sought for protection (Figure 11) (<\/span><\/span>1<\/span>7).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Pratt\u2019s Ferry<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>P<\/span><\/strong>reserve<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>is owned and operated by the Nature Conservancy. It provides access to <\/span>the Cahaba River and offers an opportunity to see rare plants, including Alabama croton, which is found only <\/span>in the Alabama and Black Warrior watersheds (<\/span><\/span>1<\/span>8).<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>T<\/span>he site is currently being managed for invasive species, erosion, and litter control.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Cahaba River Blueway<\/span><\/span><\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>is a multi-organization partnership creating a formal \u201cwater trail\u201d to provide access to the Cahaba (<\/span><\/span>19).<\/span><\/span> Organizations involved in the B<\/span>lueway<\/span>\u00a0initiative include the University of Alabama, the Cahaba River Society, The Nature Conservancy,\u00a0<\/span>Cahaba Riverkeeper, Freshwater\u00a0<\/span>Landtrust<\/span>, and the National Park Service\u2019s Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program (<\/span><\/span>1<\/span>9).<\/span><\/span> Visit the Cahaba River Blueway website here<\/a> to learn more about the project and <\/span>to access a\u00a0<\/span>blueway<\/span>\u00a0map.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Marvel Slab<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/strong>was built as a road crossing for coal trucks across the\u00a0<\/span>Cahaba river<\/span>\u00a0in the 1960\u2019<\/span>s (<\/span><\/span>20).<\/span><\/span>\u00a0In 2004, its removal made history.\u00a0<\/span>When the Army Corps of Engineers received approval to destroy it, i<\/span>t\u00a0<\/span>became<\/span>\u00a0the first dam in Alabama to\u00a0<\/span>be removed for environmental reasons (<\/span><\/span>20).<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>The<\/span>\u00a0removal proved to be an ecological success, with many fish, snails and mussels returning upstream\u00a0<\/span>almost\u00a0<\/span>immediately<\/span> after (<\/span><\/span>21).<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Figure 11. Cahaba lilies on the Cahaba River. Photo credit: Bridget Brown, ACES.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

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Dams<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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In<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>the late 1800\u2019s, Congress\u00a0<\/span><\/span>attempted<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>to alter the Cahaba into a more navigation-friendly river, even\u00a0<\/span><\/span>allocating<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>funds between 1880 and 1893; however, their efforts failed and a final feasibility study on the Cahaba in 1909 would forever pronounce the river as unfit for further improvement. Fortunately for the Cahaba, this resulted in preserving the future integrity of the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>river (<\/span><\/span>22). <\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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O<\/span>ne small,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>easily<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>overlooked dam\u00a0<\/span><\/span>built in 1891 exists\u00a0<\/span><\/span>on the main stem of the Cahaba<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>on the west side of the Highway 280 bridge (<\/span><\/span>23).<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>At<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>1<\/span>5 feet high<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>th<\/span>is<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>low-head<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>dam\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>ensures a steady supply of water from this section of the river to the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>city of\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Birmingham (Figure 12) (<\/span><\/span>23).<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Figure 12. Low-head dam on Cahaba River near Highway 280. Image credit: Google maps<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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Wildlife<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Due to the Cahaba\u00a0<\/span>maintaining<\/span>\u00a0its\u00a0<\/span>largely\u00a0<\/span>free-flowing<\/span>\u00a0path, it has been able to continue supporting much of its original\u00a0<\/span>biodiversity.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>The\u00a0<\/span>Cahaba River Society<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>calls the Cahaba<\/span>, \u201ca treasure of biological diversity of national and global importance<\/span>\u201d(<\/span><\/span>24).<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Supporting the claim of global importance, t<\/span>he World Wildlife Fund and The Nature Conservancy recognized the Cahaba River as one of only eight \u201cHotspots of Biodiversity\u201d out of 2,111 watersheds in the entire United States (<\/span><\/span>24).<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>The Cahaba River water<\/span>sh<\/span>ed supports<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>an incredible 1<\/span>28<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>fish species<\/span>, more<\/span> than the entire state of California (<\/span><\/span>24).<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Beyond incredible fish biodiver<\/span>s<\/span>ity, t<\/span>he Cahaba River is\u00a0<\/span>famous<\/span>\u00a0for\u00a0<\/span>suppo<\/span>r<\/span>ting\u00a0<\/span>50<\/span>\u00a0species of mussels<\/span> and 35 species of snails (<\/span><\/span>8).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The Cahaba River\u00a0<\/span>N<\/span>ational Wildlife\u00a0<\/span>R<\/span>efuge is known as a critical habitat for\u00a0<\/span>several species of fish, including\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>endangered\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Cahaba shiner<\/span>\u00a0(<\/span><\/span>Notropis<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>cahab<\/span>a<\/span>e<\/span><\/span><\/em>)<\/span><\/span> and the threatened<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>goldlin<\/span>e<\/span>\u00a0darter<\/span>\u00a0(<\/span><\/span>Percina<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>aurolineat<\/span>a<\/span><\/span><\/em>) (<\/span><\/span>25).\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge is also the home of the only<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>remaining species of<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>rocksnai<\/span>l<\/span>\u00a0in the C<\/span>a<\/span>haba basin, the<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>round<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>rocksnai<\/span>l<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>(<\/span>Leptoxi<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>ampl<\/span>a<\/span><\/em><\/span>) (Figure 14) (<\/span><\/span>2<\/span>6).<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Another interesting snail<\/span> found in the Cahaba River basin<\/span>, the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>cy<\/span>lindrical<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>liopla<\/span>x<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>(<\/span>Liopla<\/span>x<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>cyclostomaform<\/span>i<\/span>s<\/span><\/em><\/span>) (Figure 15)<\/span><\/span>, is a gill-breathing snail\u00a0<\/span><\/span>that hatches its eggs internally (<\/span><\/span>2<\/span>7).<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Relatively little is known about this snail\u2019s life cycle and behavior,\u00a0<\/span>underscoring the value of con<\/span>s<\/span>erving the Cahaba\u2019s unique habitats (<\/span><\/span>2<\/span>7).<\/span><\/span>\u00a0We still have a lot to learn<\/span>\u00a0about the living\u00a0<\/span>creatures<\/span>\u00a0we share Alabama\u2019s waters with.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

A<\/span>s a tributary of the Alabama River,\u00a0<\/span>the Cahaba\u00a0<\/span>is not immune to the effects of dams on biodiversity.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Locks and dams along the Alabama River have led to a decline in native species due to a lack of\u00a0<\/span>water passages to the Mobile Delta<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>altered water supply and flow (<\/span><\/span>28).<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0The Cahaba\u2019s abundant biodiversity also faces pressures from non-point source pollutants caused by<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>u<\/span>rban\u00a0<\/span>development, <\/span>such as increased<\/span>\u00a0sedimentation, excessive nutrients,\u00a0<\/span>and stormwater\u00a0<\/span>overflows (<\/span><\/span>24).<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Globally recognized for its\u00a0<\/span>unique\u00a0<\/span>biodiversity (<\/span><\/span>24)<\/span><\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>it is important to<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>protect the\u00a0<\/span>Cahaba\u00a0<\/span>and its\u00a0<\/span>watershed<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Figure 13. Cahaba shiner (Notropis cahabae). Photo Credit: Jenna King, USFWS.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

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Figure 14. Round Rocksnail (Leptoxis ampla). Photo Credit: Andy Ford, USFWS.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

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Figure 15. Cylindrical lioplax (Lioplax cyclostomaformis). <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/em>Photo Credit: Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

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Water Quality<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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On the Alabama Department of Environmental Management\u2019s 202<\/span>4<\/span>\u00a0303(d) List o<\/span>f\u00a0<\/span>Impaired Waters, the Cahaba River\u00a0<\/span>Basin\u00a0<\/span>has\u00a0<\/span>1<\/span>5<\/span>\u00a0waterbodies listed, totaling just over 2<\/span>5<\/span>0 miles of streams and river reaches and just\u00a0<\/span>over\u00a0<\/span>9<\/span>6<\/span>0 acres<\/span> of reservoirs (<\/span><\/span>29). <\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Two\u00a0<\/span>waterbodies\u00a0<\/span>were<\/span>\u00a0listed\u00a0<\/span>recently\u00a0<\/span>in 2024<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>and\u00a0<\/span>only one has been listed for over a decade<\/span>, Childers Creek<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>Eight<\/span>\u00a0of these waterbodies were listed for pathogen impairment, showing higher than saf<\/span>ety<\/span>\u00a0levels of E. coli<\/span>. F<\/span>ive<\/span>\u00a0waterbodies are listed for\u00a0<\/span>metal<\/span>\u00a0impairment<\/span>, more specifically mercury from atmospheric deposition.\u00a0<\/span>One waterbody\u00a0<\/span>is listed for having\u00a0<\/span>high levels<\/span>\u00a0of total dissolved\u00a0<\/span>solids<\/span>\u00a0and one is listed\u00a0<\/span>for siltation pollution.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Sources of pollution include\u00a0<\/span>atmospheric deposition,\u00a0<\/span>industrial waste,\u00a0<\/span>agriculture,\u00a0<\/span>collection system failure, and pasture grazing (29).<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

On the Alabama Department of Public Health\u2019s 2024 Fish Consumption Advisory, there are three sections of the Cahaba River with concerning levels of mer<\/span>cury (<\/span><\/span>30).<\/span><\/span>\u00a0In Bibb County, it is\u00a0<\/span>advised to limit<\/span>\u00a0the consumption of spotted bass retrieved from the river to once a month. In Perry County<\/span>, it is\u00a0<\/span>advised\u00a0<\/span>to not<\/span>\u00a0consume<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>spott<\/span>e<\/span>d<\/span>\u00a0bass from this section of the river at all. In Dallas County, it is\u00a0<\/span>advised to limit<\/span>\u00a0the consumption of largemouth bass and spotted bass to twice a month.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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References<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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(1)\u00a0<\/span>Alabama\u00a0Department of Environmental Management.\u00a0(2022).\u00a0<\/span>Cahaba River Basin. <\/span><\/i>Retrieved from: https:\/\/adem.alabama.gov\/trashfreewaters\/pdfs\/CahabaRiverBasin.pdf<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

(2) <\/span>O\u2019Brien, G.\u00a0(2007). Choctaws in Alabama.\u00a0In\u00a0<\/span>Encyclopedia of Alabama. <\/span><\/i>Retrieved from: https:\/\/encyclopediaofalabama.org\/article\/choctaws-in-alabama\/<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(3)\u00a0<\/span>Davidson, C.\u00a0(2017).\u00a0<\/span>Birmingham: A Powerful History Forged from Iron.\u00a0<\/span><\/i>Federal Reserve Bank of St.Louis. Retrieved from: <\/span>https:\/\/fraser.stlouisfed.org\/files\/docs\/historical\/frbatl\/publications\/econMatters\/20170426_frbatl_econMatters_regional_birmingham-a-powerful-history-forged-from-iron.pdf<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(4)\u00a0<\/span>Red Mountain Park\u00a0(n.d.).\u00a0<\/span>History. <\/span><\/i>Retrieved from: https:\/\/redmountainpark.org\/about\/#history<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(5)\u00a0<\/span>Cahaba\u00a0River Society. (n.d.).\u00a0<\/span>Our mission is to restore and protect the Cahaba River watershed and its rich diversity of life. <\/span><\/i>Retrieved from: https:\/\/cahabariversociety.org\/about-us\/mission\/#:~:text=The%20Cahaba%20is%20the%20main,encompasses%20over%20a%20million%20people<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(6)\u00a0<\/span>Birmingham\u00a0Water Works. (n.d.).\u00a0<\/span>Your Water. <\/span><\/i>Retrieved from: \u00a0<\/span>https:\/\/www.bwwb.org\/water<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(7)\u00a0<\/span>Pillion, D. (2023). Birmingham Water Works settles suit, agrees to protect\u00a07,000 acres\u00a0near drinking water intake.\u00a0<\/span>Alabama News.\u00a0<\/span><\/i>Retrieved from: <\/span>https:\/\/www.al.com\/news\/2023\/08\/birmingham-water-works-settles-suit-agrees-to-protect-7000-acres-near-drinking-water-intake.html<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(8)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Outdoor Alabama. (n.d.).\u00a0<\/span>Little Cahaba River<\/span><\/i>. Retrieved from: <\/span>https:\/\/www.outdooralabama.com\/rivers-and-mobile-delta\/little-cahaba-river<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(9)<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>BHAMWIKI. (2010, July 31).\u00a0<\/span>Central Iron Works<\/span><\/i>. Retrieved from: <\/span>https:\/\/www.bhamwiki.com\/w\/Central_Iron_Works<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(10) <\/span>\u00a0BHAMWIKI. (2010, July 31).\u00a0<\/span>Lake Davidson.\u00a0<\/span><\/i>Retrieved from:<\/span>
<\/span>https:\/\/www.bhamwiki.com\/w\/Lake_Davidson<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(1)1\u00a0<\/span>BHAMWIKI. (2021, Oct\u00a05).\u00a0<\/span>Buck Creek.<\/span><\/i> Retrieved from:
<\/span>https:\/\/www.bhamwiki.com\/w\/Buck_Creek<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(12)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Outdoor Alabama. (n.d.).\u00a0<\/span>Shades Creek.\u00a0<\/span><\/i>Retrieved from:<\/span>
<\/span>https:\/\/www.outdooralabama.com\/rivers-and-mobile-delta\/shades-creek<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(13)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Oakmulgee\u00a0Division, Talladega National Forest<\/span><\/i>. Alabama Indigenous Mound Trail. (n.d.). Retrieved from: <\/span>https:\/\/alabamamoundtrail.org\/attraction\/oakmulgee-division-talladega-national-forest\/<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0(<\/span>14)\u00a0<\/span>Gomez, K. (2025, October 29).\u00a0<\/span>The Forgotten Alabama Capital: Tracing the history of Old CAHAWBA<\/span><\/i>. Home -. Retrieved from: <\/span>https:\/\/theforgottensouth.com\/cahawba-alabama-ghost-town\/<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(15)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Lewis, H. J. \u201cJim.\u201d (2025, August 8).\u00a0<\/span>Cahaba<\/span><\/i>. Encyclopedia of Alabama. Retrieved from: <\/span>https:\/\/encyclopediaofalabama.org\/article\/cahaba\/<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(16)\u00a0<\/span>Alabama\u00a0Historical\u00a0Commission. (n.d.).\u00a0<\/span>History of Old\u00a0Cahawba.\u00a0<\/span><\/i>Alabama State Historical Office. Retrieved from: <\/span>https:\/\/ahc.alabama.gov\/CahawbaHistoryFacts.aspx<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(17)\u00a0<\/span>Cahaba\u00a0River National Wildlife Refuge. (n.d.).\u00a0<\/span>CRNWR About Us.\u00a0<\/span><\/i>U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Retrieved from: <\/span>https:\/\/www.fws.gov\/refuge\/cahaba-river\/about-us<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(18)<\/span>\u00a0Pratts Ferry Cahaba River<\/span><\/i>. The Nature Conservancy. (n.d.). Retrieved from: <\/span>https:\/\/www.nature.org\/en-us\/get-involved\/how-to-help\/places-we-protect\/pratts-ferry-cahaba-river\/<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(19)<\/span> Cahaba Blueway. (n.d.). Retrieved from: <\/span>https:\/\/www.cahabablueway.org\/<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(20)\u00a0<\/span>Cahaba River Keeper. (2023)\u00a0<\/span>Cahaba River History: The Marvel Slab.\u00a0<\/span><\/i>Instagram post from September 7, 2023. Accessed on October 2, 2025. Retrieved from: <\/span>https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/Cw5nQ9FRJRM\/<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(21)\u00a0<\/span>Nijhaus, M. (2009)\u00a0<\/span>The\u00a0Cahaba: A River of Riches.\u00a0<\/span><\/i>Smithsonian Magazine. Accessed on October 2, 2025. Retrieved from: <\/span>https:\/\/www.smithsonianmag.com\/science-nature\/the-cahaba-a-river-of-riches-34214889\/<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(22)\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>Deutsch, W. G. (2019).\u00a0<\/span>Alabama\u00a0rivers: A celebration & challenge<\/span><\/i>.\u00a0MindBridge\u00a0Press.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(<\/span>23)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Cahaba Blueway. (n.d.). Retrieved from: <\/span>https:\/\/www.cahabablueway.org\/<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(24)\u00a0<\/span>The Cahaba River Society. (n.d.).\u00a0<\/span>About the Cahaba River. <\/span><\/i>Retrieved from: https:\/\/cahabariversociety.org\/about-the-cahaba-river\/cahaba-river-biodiversity\/<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(25)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Alabama Nonpoint Source\u00a0Program .\u00a0(2023, July 21).\u00a0<\/span>Cahaba River Basin<\/span><\/i>. Alabama Department of Environmental Management. Retrieved from: <\/span>https:\/\/adem.alabama.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/2025-10\/CahabaRiverBasin.pdf<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(26)\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span>U.S. Fish and Wildlife\u00a0Service.\u00a0<\/span>Round\u00a0Rocksnail.\u00a0<\/span><\/i>Accessed on October 2, 2025. Retrieved from: <\/span>https:\/\/www.fws.gov\/species\/round-rocksnail-leptoxis-ampla<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(27) <\/span>U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.\u00a0<\/span>Cylindrical\u00a0lioplax.\u00a0<\/span><\/i>Accessed on October 2, 2025. Retrieved from:\u00a0 <\/span>https:\/\/www.fws.gov\/species\/cylindrical-lioplax-lioplax-cyclostomaformis<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(28) <\/span>Cromwell, S. (2022, August 22).\u00a0<\/span>River,\u00a0Interrupted\u00a0<\/span><\/i>. Alabama Rivers Alliance – Water is Life. Retrieved from: <\/span>https:\/\/alabamarivers.org\/river-interrupted\/<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(29)<\/span>\u00a0Alabama\u00a0Department of Environmental Management. (2024).\u00a0<\/span>Section 303(d) List Clean Water<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span>Act.<\/span><\/i> Retrieved from: https:\/\/adem.alabama.gov\/programs\/water\/wquality\/2024AL303dList.pdf<\/a>.<\/p>\n

(30) <\/span>Alabama Department of Public Health. (2024). <\/span>Alabama Fish Consumption Advisories 2024.<\/span><\/i> Retrieved from: https:\/\/www.alabamapublichealth.gov\/tox\/assets\/2024_fishadvisory.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

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Written By: Jera Dill, Amy Zvonar, Laura Cooley,\u00a0 Rachel McGuire and Sydney ZinnerOften\u00a0considered\u00a0the\u00a0most famous major river in Alabama, the Cahaba River is entirely contained within the state of Alabama (Figure […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":42,"featured_media":65987,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[167,111,1,155],"tags":[24,25,101,26,59],"class_list":["post-65893","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-alabama-river-basins","category-outreach","category-uncategorized","category-wrc-blog","tag-fish-water","tag-natural-resources","tag-outreach","tag-water-resources","tag-watershed-education"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/aaes.auburn.edu\/wrc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65893","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/aaes.auburn.edu\/wrc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/aaes.auburn.edu\/wrc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aaes.auburn.edu\/wrc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/42"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aaes.auburn.edu\/wrc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=65893"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/aaes.auburn.edu\/wrc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65893\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":66028,"href":"https:\/\/aaes.auburn.edu\/wrc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65893\/revisions\/66028"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aaes.auburn.edu\/wrc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/65987"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aaes.auburn.edu\/wrc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=65893"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aaes.auburn.edu\/wrc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=65893"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aaes.auburn.edu\/wrc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=65893"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}