In July 2009, the Smithsonian magazine published an article titled “The Cahaba: A River of Riches,” one of the many tributes this Alabama river has received. Author Michel Nijhui was asked, “What do you hope readers will take away from this story?” She replied:
“I hope I communicate the real pleasures of looking closely at places that might not seem that spectacular at first glance. As I mentioned, many people who know about the Cahaba in Alabama do appreciate it. But there are a lot of people who live very close to the Cahaba who have never been down it. I met someone on the plane who was from Birmingham didn’t know where the river flowed and had certainly never taken a canoe trip on it. That was a lesson for me, and hopefully for people who read this story—it’s always worth exploring your own backyard.”
 Residents of Clay should take note, as many do not realize this globally recognized river has its beginning right in our backyard, and its headwater streams course through our community. The uppermost streams are the most fragile, vulnerable part of the Cahaba and, yet, the most significant for the health of the entire river.
Save Our Unique River, Communities and Environment (SOURCE) and the Clay Historical Society have promoted public awareness of the source of the Cahaba River, the significance of its headwater streams. The Clay Historical Soceity wrote the text, funded and erected a historical marker, The Cahaba, Heart River of Alabama.
Additionally, the City of Clay formed an Environmental Committee to advise the City Council on how the City can help protect the natural resources, including the fragile Cahaba River. One of the issues they are considering is how urbanization pressures in Clay can be balanced with responsible regiulations and enforcement.
Another agency supporting responsible stewardship of this important Alabama treasure is the Cahaba River Society. In the summer of 2009, representatives from the society showed the Clay City Council how to effectively promote growth and development in a way that protects the health of the Cahaba River.
The Cahaba flows though the “heart” of Alabama and has come to be called “Alabama’s Heart River.” It originates from springs on the southern slope of Cahaba Mountain in St. Clair County, just across the Jefferson County line. The mountain streams flow into Echo Lake, then into Lake in the Woods and on through parts of Clay, joined all along by many tributaries. The river also travels through Trussville, Birmingham, Hoover and other citiex, eventually making its way through eight counties (St. Clair, Jefferson, Shelby, Bibb, Perry, Dallas, Tuscaloosa and Chilton) and finally empties into the Alabama River. At 190 miles long, the Cahaba River is the longest, remaining free-flowing river in Alabama.
The Cahaba is:
- Metro Birmingham’s primary source of drinking water, supplying water for about 60% of Birmingham Water Works customers.
- Internationally recognized for its biodiversity, the Cahaba is home to 131 different fish species and more than 40 species of freshwater mussels and 35 species of freshwater snails, including 69 rare and imperiled species. Ten of the fish and mussel species are listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. It has more species of fish per mile than any other river of its size in North America. One of the endangered species is the Cahaba shriner.
- Provides recreational benefits—canoeing, fishing and swimming
- Provides environmental education
In addition to the Smithsonian magazine, the Cahaba has been recognized for its biodiversity, scenic beauty and significance by the following organizations:
- The Nature Conservancy—named the Cahaba as 29th most critical for protection out of over 2,000 watersheds nationwide and as one of eight “hotspots of aquatic biodiversity” in the U.S. that must be saved.
- The Coca-Cola Company and the World Wildlife Fund—formed an international partnership for protection of the Cahaba.
- The Sierra Club—in September 2007, designated the Cahaba River as Alabama’s “most important places to protect within the next 10 years.”
- National Geographic College Atlas of the World—listed, along with other southeastern rivers, as one of the six global examples of biological diversity.
In spite of its regional and international importance, the Cahaba River has been on the list of Alabama's impaired waters since 1999, as required by federal Clean Water Act. The latest Environmental Protection Agency listing of impaired waters includes 136 miles of the Cahaba mainstem and tributaries that do not meet their designated uses and are, therefore, in voilation of the Clean Water Act.
Responsible stewardship of the Cahaba River by all Alabamians is vitally important. However, due to Clay’s prominent watershed location, Clay residents and officials have an especially significant role as stewards of the Cahaba.
Recent articles about the Cahaba:
Sierra
The Birmingham News
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Cahaba River