Earth Week Clean-Up Series: Bibb County – April 23

• When: Monday, April 23 from 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
• Walking Clean-Up Location: The Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge
• Canoeing Clean-Up Location: Pratt’s Ferry to Centreville
• Day of event contact: Wil Rainer, Mobile: (901) 210-7850
• Availability: No limit for availability to walk. Limited availability for paddling. See registration form for availability and waitlist.

Description:

This cleanup has paddling and walking options. 

Walking details:

On Wednesday, April 23, come join us for a walking cleanup of the protected home of the Cahaba lilies, the Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge. Head to the registration table to check in with event leads who will provide specific directions for the cleanup. As part of our Earth Week Cleanup Series, we will be clearing trails, picking up litter, and removing invasive species. We are proud to partner with Cahaba Riverkeeper and our Day Sponsor, Alabama Scenic River Trail, for this impactful event.

We will gather at the Overlook Trail Parking Lot at 10:00 AM. Look for our yellow volunteer day signs at the entrance. Event leads will provide instructions before we begin working along the trails.

Paddling details:

We will be paddling from the Pratt’s Ferry Cahaba Blueway access to the Centreville Cahaba Blueway access. This scenic, roughly 8 mile trip will take us across broad flat water pools, mild shoals, and small drops. We will meet at 10:00 AM at Pratt’s Ferry where we’ll pass out gear and choose our paddling partners. From there, we’ll set the shuttle so that your car is at the Centreville access when we get off the river. This shuttling process should take about 40-60 minutes. More details of this process will be shared at Pratt’s Ferry.

CRS will provide canoes, paddles, life jackets, grabbers, bags, and gloves. There is no charge for this trip. Folks are absolutely welcome and encouraged to head to the CRS website for donations to offset program costs to CRS. 

Don’t forget to join us on Saturday, April 26th at Cahaba Brewing for a celebration and awards ceremony!

What to Bring:

• Water (at least 1 liter)
• Lunch
• Sunscreen
• Sun hat
• Gardening/work gloves (optional, but recommended)
• Loppers (optional, but recommended)
• Close-toed shoes (required)
• You are welcome to bring a cooler for your water and lunch, but alcohol is prohibited.

Register:

Register HERE for walking cleanup.

IMPORTANT: All volunteers must complete the RIVERKEEPER volunteer form and the REFUGE volunteer form  before participating in the walking event. Waivers can be printed and brought to the event or emailed in advance to Evie Moellering at emoellering@cahabariverkeeper.org.

Register HERE for paddling cleanup.

About Earth Week:

The Cahaba River Society invites volunteers to join our Earth Week Clean-Up from April 21-25, 2025. Each day, teams will remove litter and invasive species along the Cahaba River’s channel, banks, and tributaries to support native wildlife, reduce erosion, and promote a clean river and healthy lifestyle. The Cahaba flows through five counties, and clean-up efforts will focus on a different county each day.

This week-long event highlights the Cahaba’s biodiversity and challenges, connects participants with the mission of CRS and partners, and aligns with global efforts for clean waterways. Volunteers will patrol various river segments on foot or by canoe, learning about the Cahaba and the organizations working to protect it.

Last year’s event was a resounding success, with 162 volunteers removing over 6,000 pounds from the Cahaba and its tributaries.

Thank you to Alabama Scenic River Trail for sponsoring this cleanup!