On Birthday Patrol with Cahaba Riverkeeper

As part of the Cahaba Riverkeeper organization we periodically patrol certain parts of the river. We test water samples, organize cleanups, catch polluters, and/or just take others to experience the glorious natural resource that is the Cahaba River and it's small tributaries.

Monday, David Butler (Cahaba Riverkeeper) and I took two of the other major Alabama Riverkeepers in the state of Alabama on patrol with us. Frank Chitwood (Coosa Riverkeeper) and Nelson Brooke (Black Warrior Riverkeeper) joined us in their trusty canoes. This was the first time these three riverkeepers floated the Cahaba together. It was pretty monumental and I was honored to join them.

We did a 6 mile stretch of the southern part of the river starting at Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge. This is the best spot to see the Shoal or "Cahaba Lily" this time each year. These protected flowers are only found in this part of Alabama and mostly only found in the Cahaba. I had never seen one in real life. Monday was the first day they had bloomed all year and we saw the first one at 9am. It was really cool.

We saw all kinds of wildlife including 2 bald eagles, a family of reddish Brown river otters, caught 7 red-eye bass, and saw hosts of cool insects.

To say the least, it was the first day of an incredible beginning of birthday week.

May the 4th be with you,
Lee