Cahaba River
Cahaba River | |
---|---|
Location | |
Country | United States |
State | Alabama |
Physical characteristics | |
Source | |
• location | Jefferson County, Alabama |
• coordinates | 33°41′15″N 86°36′0″W / 33.68750°N 86.60000°W[1] |
Mouth | Alabama River |
• location | Dallas County, Alabama |
• coordinates | 32°19′9″N 87°05′41″W / 32.31917°N 87.09472°W[1] |
Length | 194 mi (312 km) |
Basin size | 1,870 sq mi (4,800 km2) |
Basin features | |
Progression | Alabama → Mobile → Gulf of Mexico |
Tributaries | |
• left | (numerous) |
• right | (numerous) |
The Cahaba River is the longest substantially free-flowing river in Alabama and is among the most scenic and biologically diverse rivers in the United States.[2] It is a major tributary of the Alabama River and part of the larger Mobile River basin. With headwaters near Birmingham, the Cahaba flows southwest, then at Heiberger turns southeast and joins the Alabama River at the ghost town and former Alabama capital of Cahaba in Dallas County. Entirely within central Alabama, the Cahaba River is 194 miles (312 km) long[3] and drains an area of 1,870 square miles (4,800 km2). The name Cahaba is derived from the Choctaw words oka meaning "water" and aba meaning "above"[4]
Geography
The Cahaba River flows across three physiographic provinces of the state: Appalachian Plateau, Ridge and Valley, and Coastal Plain.
Course
The Cahaba River begins in the Valley and Ridge region bounded by the Piedmont to the southeast and the Cumberland Plateau to the northwest. It has two major physical regions: Upper and Lower Cahaba. The river empties into the Alabama River. The upper Cahaba forms roughly the first 100 miles, starting at the headwaters and continuing to the
History
Precolonization
Located adjacent to the Cahaba River basin, the
The town of Cahaba
The Cahaba River ends at the former town of Cahaba, also known as Cahawba, or Old Cahawba.
Geology
The
Ecology
The waters of the Cahaba are home to more than 131 species of freshwater fishes (18 of which have been found in no other river system), 40 species of mussels, and 35 species of snails. The river has more fish species than can be found in all bodies of water in California.
Cahaba lily
Among the countless plant species that thrive in and around the Cahaba is Hymenocallis coronaria, known in Alabama as the Cahaba lily. As a result of its abundant presence here and its threatened status in the three states where it is found, a portion of the Cahaba River near West Blocton has been designated as the Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge.[11][12] It is found only in South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama.[13] While this flower once was present through all of the Southeast, it now exists in about 70 stands with a fourth of the stands in the Cahaba River. The seeds travel with the river's flow, and crevices in the shoals (rocky bars that run across the river) shelter the seeds as they sprout. The Cahaba lilies bloom in early May, and the entire blooming season is through by mid-June.[13] The flowers open in the evening instead of the day due to pollination by sphinx moths, which are active at night.[7] Each flower blooms and lasts only one day before wilting.[13]
Tributaries
There are numerous small tributaries, including:
- Buck Creek, northwest of Helena
- Little Cahaba River (of Shelby County), entering from the southeast, by Cahaba Heights
- Little Cahaba River (of Bibb County), entering from the east some miles north of Centreville
- Shades Creek, entering from the northwest after running parallel to the Cahaba for some time
Water use
The Cahaba flows through heavily populated areas in the Birmingham metropolitan area. It serves as the source of drinking water in the upper course for over 1 million people and is also a popular canoeing destination.
Major cities
A number of Alabama cities lie on the banks of or in close proximity to the river. They include:
- Trussville —Cahaba headwaters
- Birmingham – Cahaba headwaters
- Hoover – Cahaba runs southwest
- Helena – Cahaba runs southwest
- Centreville – Cahaba runs southwest
- Heiberger – Cahaba turns 90 degrees to southeast
- Marion – Cahaba runs southeast (east of Marion)
- Selma – Cahaba runs southeast (west of Selma)
- Cahaba – joins the Alabama River at the 1st permanent state capital, now a state historic site
Advocacy
- The Cahaba Riverkeeper conducts weekly monitoring of recreational access and posts results at www.cahabariverkeeper.org/swimguide.[14] The mission of CRK is to defend the ecological integrity of the Cahaba river and to ensure clean water, a healthy aquatic environment, and the recreational and aesthetic values of the river. CRK conducts additional monitoring to identify violations of clean water legislation.[15]
- The Cahaba River Society is Alabama's largest watershed conservation organization and is recognized nationally for river stewardship. CRS's success is due to a balanced, science-based, and inclusive approach. Its mission is to restore and protect the Cahaba River watershed and its rich diversity of life.[16]
- The Nature Conservancy Sustainable Waters Program The Sustainable Waters Program works with a range of partners to address freshwater issues relating to farms, energy, cities and floodplains.[17]
- The Cahaba River Basin Clean Water Partnership mission is to identify issues, explore solutions, and make recommendations for the management and stewardship of the Cahaba River basin while maintaining the balance between protecting the environment and promoting the economy.[18]
- The Alabama Rivers Alliance works to unite the citizens of Alabama to protect peoples right to clean, healthy, waters.[19]
- Alabama Water Watch is dedicated to volunteer citizen monitoring of water quality in Alabama Rivers.[20]
- The Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley, the regional governing body for the Presbyterian Church (USA) in central Alabama, is developing a camp and conference center on the Cahaba River called Living River.[21] PSL is working diligently to develop this center in an environmentally sound way, and to protect the river. PSL helped remove the Marvel Slab Dam in partnership with many other organizations, which helped a large portion of the river return to its natural, free flowing state.
- The Freshwater Land Trust, a nonprofit organization whose mission is the acquisition and stewardship of lands that enhance water quality and preserve open space in Central Alabama. Website:[22]
References
- ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Cahaba River
- ^ Pierson, J. M., W. M. Howell, R. A. Stiles, M. F. Mettee, P. E. O'Neil, R. D. Suttkus, and J. S. Ramsey. 1989. "Fishes of the Cahaba River system in Alabama". Geological Survey of Alabama, Bulletin 134.
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map Archived 2012-03-29 at the Wayback Machine, accessed April 27, 2011
- ISBN 0-8173-0231-X.
- ^ a b c d Ward, G.M.; Harris, P.; Ward, A.K. (2005). "Rivers of North America: Cahaba River Facts". In Benke, A.C.; Cushing, C.E. (eds.). Gulf Coast Rivers of the Southeastern United States (PDF). Academic Press. pp. 125–178. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
- ^ a b c d Todd Keith, ed. (1998). Cahaba: A Gift For Generations: An Historical Folio Revealing the Heart River of Alabama. Birmingham: Cahaba River Society.
- ^ ISBN 0-8173-0771-0.
- ^ a b c Old Cahawba
- ^ "Water Resources in Alabama". Encyclopedia of Alabama. 2014. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
- ^ Lamb E. (8 August 2012). Rumors of the Oblong Rocksnail’s Demise Were Somewhat Exaggerated. Scientific American, accessed 11 August 2012.
- ^ Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge
- PMID 21642217.
- ^ a b c Allan, Chuch. "The Cahaba Lily". Retrieved 22 Sep 2012.
- ^ "Swim Guide | The Cahaba Riverkeeper". www.cahabariverkeeper.org. Retrieved 2016-06-16.
- ^ "The Cahaba Riverkeeper | Protecting the Cahaba". www.cahabariverkeeper.org. Retrieved 2016-06-16.
- ^ The Cahaba River Society
- ^ "The Nature Conservancy". Archived from the original on 2007-03-24. Retrieved 2007-04-12.
- ^ Cahaba River Basin
- ^ Alabama Rivers Alliance Website
- ^ Alabama Water Watch Website
- ^ Living River Website
- ^ The Freshwater Land Trust