Canoeing and Celebrating on the Cahaba

On May 19^th, to kick off a fun-filled weekend of celebrating 25 years of “Loving Our Downstream Neighbor”, several AWW monitors and staff floated a short stretch of the Cahaba River on the Living River Retreat property. Along the way we found snakes, turtles, and mussels, laughs were shared, and near the end, the group had the pleasure of seeing a small stand of the famous Cahaba Lilies.

It is easy to get caught up in the work of monitoring and protecting our rivers, streams, lakes, and coasts to the extent that we forget to enjoy their beauty. I think everyone enjoyed this opportunity to experience just how special Alabama’s vast water resources are and why we have to keep pushing for their protection. It was also a good time to appreciate the amazing individuals that make up AWW. You would be hard-pressed to find a more dedicated, giving, interesting, and fun group of volunteers and supporters!

After a fun day in the sun, we enjoyed a delicious dinner prepared by the Living River Retreat and then played a few rounds of Rivers of Alabama Trivia. After a close battle, Patti Hurley and Mike Mullen came out as the grand champions. I think we all learned a lot! Before ending the evening, Matt Campbell of Lake Martin entertained the group with his guitar, voice, and stories. It was truly a perfect way to cap off a perfect day in the Cahaba River Basin!