Reviewed by: Pat Byington
Hitting Birmingham’s rivers this Fourth of July? Here’s what you should know
Reading time: 2 minutes
Later this week, folks in and around Birmingham will flock to the water to stay cool on Independence Day. But before you start packing your floaties, there are some things to keep in mind ahead of the holiday.
Know before you go
Local riverkeeper nonprofit organizations provide the public with valuable data about the safety of waterways, particularly during the summertime.
You can check water quality for the Cahaba, Coosa and Black Warrior rivers from their respective swim guides:
These guides detail the levels of harmful bacteria such as E.coli, pH levels, water temperature and more useful information for swimmers.
The reason we think this is important to do is, number one, so that people are aware. We’re not trying to use this data to scare anyone or keep people from recreating—if anything, we want people to recreate—we just want people to be safe about it and know before they go.
Jake Lasseter, Water Quality Manager at Coosa Riverkeeper
Beat the heat
In addition to the swim guides, it is also important to be prepared to face the extreme temperatures of the Alabama summer.
Learn more about beating the heat this summer from Bham Now:
- Birmingham heat index reaches 107—tips to stay cool + safe
- Beat the heat in Birmingham—5 tips to have fun + stay safe this summer
- Is it safe to swim in Alabama’s lakes and rivers? This group answers that question for the Coosa River weekly
- 4 ways to learn about our rivers and lakes, including Coosa Riverkeeper Swim Guide
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