Let's Power Up to Beautify the Cahaba River

Speech Setting: Renew our Rivers Bi-Annual Meeting at the Alabama Power

Company's corporate headquarters, 600 North 18th St. Birmingham, AL 35203 on

November 2, 2013 at 9 a.m.

Purpose: To request that Alabama Power considers the Cahaba River as a regular

cleanup site in its Renew Our Rivers program.

Good morning/afternoon/evening, Alabama Power. My name is Kaylyn Alexander

and I’m speaking on behalf of the Cahaba River Society. Alabama Power’s Renew Our

River program has truly made Alabama beautiful with its community efforts to revitalize

and protect our rivers. It is a privilege for me to be here today to speak with an

organization that values Alabama’s wildlife, natural resources and our community as

much as the Cahaba River Society does. Today I would like to propose that Alabama

Power consider the Cahaba River as one of its regular cleanup sites in its Renew Our

Rivers program.

 The Cahaba River has several significant roles in Alabama. The watershed flows

through eight counties and is one of the many rivers that provides drinking water and

recreation to Alabama residents. However the river is a necessity for more than just our

community. The river is home to hundreds of freshwater fish, mussel and snail species,

some of which are unique to the Cahaba. In the Cahaba’s diverse snail community, 13

snail species exist that are found nowhere else in the world. Smithsonian Magazine

named it as “one of the most biologically diverse places in the nation” (Nijhuis).

However the fate of these species lies in the hands of us as human beings. We have

the ability to harm or help the Cahaba’s wildlife with every piece of litter we add to or

remove from the river. This is why the Cahaba demonstrates a need for community

assistance in cleaning up and safeguarding the river.

The river exhibits extraordinary biodiversity, but endangered species still exist.

The Cahaba is home to more fish species per mile than any other river its size in North

America. Currently 10 freshwater fish species are listed on the U.S. Endangered

Species Act. Mussels also comprise a portion of the Cahaba's abundant biodiversity. 44

 mussel species have been recorded in the Cahaba River. 27 exist in the river today and

11 are endangered (BSC). The main causes for these species' endangerment are water

quality degradation and habitat destruction. The endangerment of these species can be

prevented with assistance from Renew Our Rivers.

Alabama Power can keep the Cahaba River a major player as Alabama’s

number 5 ranking in biodiversity by adding the watershed as a Renew Our Rivers site.

The Cahaba and its wildlife’s well-being is threatened daily by debris, harmful runoff and

shoreline development. Renew Our Rivers tackles all of these problems with its

environmental efforts to protect water quality, wildlife and the shoreline. The program

has the potential to improve the river’s water quality and protect the shoreline so that

106 miles of the watershed can once again meet water quality standards for habitat

alteration. From there endangered species’ living conditions can be enhanced through

habitat restoration. In turn existing Cahaba River volunteers can participate in Renew

Our Rivers projects and become involved with other scheduled Renew Our Rivers

cleanups.

 Many Alabamians rely on the Cahaba as their water source, but most haven't

hiked along its banks or canoed its free-flowing stream. When someone hikes, swims,

canoes or generally interacts with the Cahaba, it becomes easier for them to consider

what goes into the resource they're consuming. It would be a stepping-stone to

improving our rivers in Alabama if citizens have the opportunity to visit the Cahaba with

the Cahaba River Society and Alabama Power! Here's the advice I'd offer to anyone

who hasn't visited the Cahaba: Experience the birds chirp harmonious melodies while

delicate Cahaba Lilies sway in the misty wind. Catch turtles curiously raise their heads

to glimpse above the water’s surface. Just a few moments at the Cahaba makes it easy

to see why the Cahaba River Society is so dedicated to protecting the watershed and its

wildlife. /

Today we are asking for Alabama Power to share this sentiment with us.

Together we can work towards keeping Alabama’s rivers beautiful. Please consider the

Cahaba River as one of Alabama Power’s Renew Our Rivers sites. Thank you.

 Annotated Bibliography

"Cahaba Animals." Birmingham Southern College. Birmingham Southern College, n.p.

Web. 26 Oct. 2013.

This website page lists and describes some of the animals found in the Cahaba

River. Mussels, fish and invertebrates are the three main aquatic groups and

each group has several species that are endangered. The site also lists the

animals' description, taxonomy, population status, habitat, reproduction, diet,

growth and lifespan.

“Cahaba River Society.” CahabaRiverSociety.org. Cahaba River Society, n.d. Web. 28

Oct. 2013.

This is the homepage of the website where other links, such as "about," "support

CRS," "News," "Events," "Resources," "Contact us" and more are easily

accessible.

Nijhuis, Michelle. “The Cahaba: A River of Riches.” Smithsonian, Aug. 2009. Web. 26

Oct. 2013.

 This Smithsonian article discusses the rich biodiversity found throughout the Cahaba

River from flora to fauna. Nijhuis discusses the uniqueness of certain wildlife and

emphasizes some species’ endangerment.