Earth Week Clean-Up Series: Dallas County – April 25

• When: Friday, April 25 from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• Walking Clean-Up Location: Old Cahawba Archaeological Park
• Canoeing Clean-Up Location: Elam Holley Blueway Access
  
• 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:

Volunteers will meet at the welcome center at Old Cahawba at 10:00 AM for check in and instructions for the day. From there, we will travel together to the cleanup location. If you arrive after 10:30 AM, please check in inside the welcome center to receive instructions.

Paddling details:

Come join us on Friday April 25th for a paddling cleanup from the Elam Holley, Sr. Park Cahaba Blueway Access to Childers Creek. We will meet at the Elam Holley access where we will pass out gear and choose our paddling partners. We will be paddling from the Elam Holley Cahaba Blueway site to an access on Forever Wild land at Childers Creek. This roughly 3.5 mile journey will take us along the final miles of the Cahaba River before it empties into the Alabama River. Unlike the Upper Cahaba, the current is generally a bit softer, and there are no shoals or drops to navigate. This 4,512 acre Forever Wild property continues on the west side of the Cahaba and is known as the Cahawba Prairie Tract.

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
• 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.

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 Cahaba Brewing for sponsoring this event!