UAB Football teamed up with the Black Warrior Riverkeeper on several volunteer cleanups this year. (Katie Holmes)

Excellent news for Alabama’s waterways! This week, local nonprofit Black Warrior Riverkeeper announced that its Volunteer Litter Cleanups program has officially removed 100,000 pounds of litter from the Black Warrior River watershed.

Read on to learn more about the program + how you can get involved.

Protecting the Black Warrior River watershed

Founded in 2001, the Black Warrior Riverkeeper is a local non-profit environmental group that patrols and protects the Black Warrior River and its watershed. A 293-mile tributary of the Tombigbee River, the Black Warrior River and its tributaries are home to many endangered species, including the Watercress and Vermillion Darters.

In 2021, the Black Warrior Riverkeeper launched a new program: Volunteer Litter Cleanups. The program kicked off with a Martin Luther King Day Cleanup with Cahaba Riverkeeper and has since teamed up with hundreds of cleanup partners, including:

Businesses
Civic networks
Governments agencies
Nonprofits
Religious organizations
Schools

“Along with the ecological and aesthetic benefits of removing 100,000 pounds of litter, increased community collaboration has been an inspiring outcome of our cleanups.

One of our newest and most energetic cleanup partners is UAB Football.

They showcase outstanding effort and teamwork in Birmingham parks just as they do in Protective Stadium.”
Charles Scribner, Executive Director, Black Warrior Riverkeeper

“We have loved our new partnership with the Black Warrior Riverkeeper organization. We are in direct alignment on a core principle, which is intentionally finding ways to make the 99 neighborhoods of Birmingham better.

In our program we preach to leave every place better than the way we found it and out on our two clean ups thus far, we tangibly have been able to experience the joy of leaving a place better than the way we found it.

We look forward to cleaning up thousands of pounds of litter through multiple cleanups to protect Black Warrior River watershed in the coming months and years.”
Trent Dilfer, UAB Football Head Coach and Super Bowl XXXV Champion Quarterback

With the help of Black Warrior Riverkeeper’s Outreach Coordinators Katie Fagan and Katie Holmes, the organization and its volunteer partners have removed over 100,000 pounds of litter from the watershed.

“Hitting the 100,000-pound mark is more than a milestone—it is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our volunteers and community partners.

Every piece of litter removed brings us closer to a healthier watershed, and we appreciate your ongoing support in making this and future goals possible.”
Mary Allen Murray, Volunteer Coordinator, Black Warrior Riverkeeper

“I am thrilled that we have removed over 100,000 pounds of litter from our watershed and I am grateful for the many thousands of volunteers that made this impact to protect our environment and our health.

We rely on our partners and community members to make these cleanups successful, and 100,000 pounds is just the beginning!”
Katie Holmes, Outreach Coordinator, Black Warrior Riverkeeper

How can you support the Black Warrior Riverkeeper?

Birmingham — BWRk volunteers after a cleanup. (Black Warrior Riverkeeper)

Want to join the next Black Warrior Riverkeeper volunteer cleanup? Sign up for the organization’s monthly email newsletter to stay up to date on all volunteer opportunities.

Have you joined a Black Warrior Riverkeeper volunteer cleanup? Tag us @bhamnow to let us know!