Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge
The Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge is a National Wildlife Refuge located in central Alabama, along the Cahaba River downstream from Birmingham and surrounding 3.5 miles of the riverway just north of the confluence of the Cahaba and Little Cahaba Rivers to just north of Piper Bridge in Bibb County, approximately 5 miles east of West Blocton. It adjoins the much larger William R. Ireland Sr Cahaba River Wildlife Management Area managed by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
The objectives of the refuge include preservation and management of the included section of the river's course, which is the habitat of the Cahaba shiner, goldline darter, round rocksnail, and cylindrical lioplax snail. There are also 64 other rare plant and animal species within its borders. Management goals include the restoration of mountain longleaf pine forest and programs for environmental education and interpretation. The refuge also provides opportunities for fishing, canoeing, hiking, photography, and wildlife observation.
The original 3,414-acre refuge was dedicated on September 25, 2002, and soon increased to 3,840 acres with the purchase of adjacent parcels. The facility is unstaffed, with specific projects funded through the National Wildlife Refuge System's "Refuge Operations and Needs System" (RONS). The Bibb County Commission has provided matching funds. The refuge is administered through the "Central Alabama Refuge Complex", using staff from the Mountain Longleaf National Wildlife Refuge at Fort McClellan near Anniston and the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge near Decatur.
The refuge was expanded to just under 5,000 acres with acquisition of the 1,164 "Wadsworth Tract", including the site of the former Piper I and II Mines, on the river's east bank in 2013. The mine portal was sealed and stormwater drainage on the site was redesigned to reduce hazards to the river using $8.5 million in federal funds allocated through the Alabama Department of Labor's Abandoned Mine Land Program. The expansion provided a new access to the shoals section and opened up more land for hiking, fishing and hunting, including the Kimberly-Clark Paper Company Lake. The new area was dedicated on April 24, 2024.
The Friends of Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge was organized to coordinate charitable and volunteer efforts in support of the refuge's mission.
References
- "Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge." (March 23, 2006) Wikipedia - accessed March 23, 2006
- Roop, Lee. (October 19, 2011). "Three Alabama wildlife refuges get new federal manager." The Huntsville Times
- Thom, T.A., R.E. Burns, J. Faustini & K. J. Hunt (2013) Water Resource Inventory and Assessment: Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge, Bibb County, Alabama. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Southeast Region
- Byington, Pat (April 23, 2024) "$8.5M project expands public access to Cahaba National Wildlife Refuge + Cahaba Lilies." Bham Now