Cahaba River

The Cahaba River is special in a state with many unique rivers. The diversity of the Cahaba River's fish population is greater than any other temperate river its size. Recognized as a unique river in Alabama and one of "Alabama's Ten Natural Wonders," the Cahaba River has received attention from environmentalists throughout the nation. It is the longest free-flowing river in Alabama and has a wide diversity of plants and fishes due to the variety of its physical habitats and ecology. World Wildlife Fund and the Nature Conservancy recognized the Cahaba River as being one of only eight Hotspots of Biodiversity in the world. Flowing through the Birmingham area in the heart of Alabama, the river attracts many canoeists and kayakers. The Cahaba River also offers recreational opportunities in the form of fishing, rafting and bird watching for many outdoor enthusiasts.

One hundred thirty-five fish species are known to occur in the Cahaba River and its tributaries. Several rare fish found in the Cahaba River have been assigned special conservation status. This group includes the Alabama sturgeon, Cahaba shiner, crystal darter, freckled darter, goldline darter, and frecklebelly madtom. In addition to rare fish species, the Cahaba River supports many popular native sportfish species such as largemouth bass and spotted bass, bluegill, longear sunfish, crappie, chain pickerel, and many others. There are two sub-species of spotted bass, and the spotted bass in the Cahaba River are called Alabama spotted bass. Alabama spotted bass grow much larger than their northern cousin does. Channel catfish, flathead catfish, and blue catfish are among the most popular non-game fish caught in the Cahaba River.

The Cahaba River is home to a very diverse and unique community of aquatic snails. Of the 35 snail species known or suspected to occur there, ten occur nowhere else in the world and nine other snails are found only in the Cahaba and Coosa drainages. Since there are no major dams on the Cahaba River, its snail fauna has remained intact compared to those of many other rivers. During recent surveys, 30 species have been identified from the Cahaba River and its tributaries. Reasons for the declines that have been observed in the river are believed to be related to water quality and quantity problems. Water quality problems stem from a variety of point and nonpoint sources. Water quantity issues relate to withdrawals and to the impervious surfaces often found in metropolitan areas. Water runs off quickly from buildings, roads, and parking lots. These surfaces do not allow water to soak into the ground, sending too much down the river during heavy rain events, which destabilizes the river bottom and banks. Too little rainwater percolates into the ground to recharge aquifers.

The Cahaba River system contains 50 known freshwater mussel species. Mussels are now gone from some reaches of the Cahaba River. Other sections of the Cahaba River system hold some very good populations of mussels, including some of the best remaining populations of some rare species.

The shoal lily or Cahaba lily is a beautiful but threatened species on the Cahaba River.
(Photo courtesy of Beth Young, Cahaba River Publishing)
If future generations are to remember us more with gratitude than with sorrow, we must achieve more than just the miracles of technology. We must also leave them with a glimpse of the world as it was created, not just as it looked when we got through with it. - Lyndon B. Johnson

Until recently, most of the area around the Cahaba River Basin was relatively undeveloped. Growth and expansion of the Birmingham metropolitan area into both Jefferson and Shelby counties have significantly impacted the upper basin. The Cahaba River watershed drains an area of approximately 1,825 square miles in central Alabama and is the primary water source for Birmingham Water Works, which serves a quarter of Alabama’s citizens. Wastewater discharges, siltation (dirt), pesticides and herbicide residues have degraded water quality in this once pristine river. Gage heights and water discharge are amongst the data available from the US Geological Survey. The Alabama Department of Environmental Management recognizes three sections of the Cahaba River as Outstanding Alabama Waters: from the Alabama River upstream to Shelby County Road 52, from the dam near US Hwy 280 to Grant's MIll Road, and from US Highway 11 upstream to the source of the Cahaba River. The Little Cahaba River in Bibb County is also designated an Outstanding Alabama Water.

The Cahaba River has been an important source of recreational opportunities for the people of Alabama for many years. It receives the heaviest recreational use of any free-flowing river in the state. Due to its scenic and recreational value, the river has been proposed for designation as a National Wild and Scenic River. These efforts were unsuccessful, but in 2000, a national law was passed to purchase 3,500 acres for a Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge in Bibb County. In 2001, the first money was appropriated and land was purchased from willing sellers. The refuge includes three and a half miles of the Cahaba River. Organizations such as the Alabama Nature Conservancy and the Cahaba River Society continue to promote efforts to protect the Cahaba River in additional ways through various conservation groups and agencies.

The Cahaba River is one of Alabama’s most precious natural resources. The river provides recreation to many anglers, botanists, canoeists, hikers and wildlife watchers. As demands increase for development and water withdrawals in the future, it is up to the people of Alabama to ensure that the Cahaba River is protected for generations to come.

Links (disclaimer):

Perry Lake off the Cahaba River
(Photo courtesy of Randy Haddock, Cahaba River Society)

Fishing license information may be found at: Licenses. Instant licensing is available via Internet or telephone. Youth age 15 and younger fish for free.
Possession and creel limits for Alabama public waters are listed at: Creel Limits

The Cahaba River Society is one group that sponsors trips on the Cahaba River and works to preserve the river's natural beauty. Contact them at www.cahabariversociety.org/. You can support them by buying a beautiful "Save the Cahaba" car tag.
Also see the Rivers of Alabama site. The Nature Conservancy works to preserve exceptional wild areas, including several areas along the Cahaba River.

Maps and access may be found at www.imrivers.com/cahaba.  Other lists include www.cahabariver.net/canoeing.htm, www.bhamwiki.com, and Cahaba River Society.

Access is available at Cahaba Landing in Irondale, Liberty Park, Pratt's Ferry, Barton's Beach and Perry Lake, Highway 14 and Cahaba River Wildlife Refuge (boat ramp with small parking lot and ADA spaces not too far in on River Trace Road) on the Cahaba and Bibb County Glades on the Little Cahaba. The Cahaba River Society lists several access areas for canoeing/kayaking.

Alabama Small Boats in Helena offers equipment rental or shuttle for a 10-mile trip on the Cahaba River.

The entire Cahaba River in Bibb, Dallas, Perry and Shelby counties is considered navigable, which means the bottom of the stream is public land. The Cahaba River is also navigable in Jefferson County at Township 16S, Range 1W, Section 13 and all downstream from there, and in St. Clair County at Township 16S, Range 1E, and Section 28 and all downstream from there.

The Alabama Legislature in 1849, Act No. 316, declared the "Cahaba River from Centreville in the County of Bibb up to Ellington's Ferry in the County of Jefferson" to be navigable, and it was determined that applied to all of Bibb County and downstream of there. Upstream of that point, the land on the bottom of the stream and land adjacent to the stream may be privately owned, and permission must be obtained from the landowner prior to crossing or wading these areas. Limited access can be obtained from county road bridge right-of-ways crossing the creek. In St. Clair County, the Cahaba River was determined to be navigable from Township 16S, Range 1E, Section 28 and all downstream from there on February 27, 1992. In Jefferson County, the Cahaba River was determined to be navigable from Township 16S, Range 1W, Section 13 and all downstream from there on March 3, 1993. In Shelby County, the entire river was declared navigable.

Additional information about the local area is available at www.lowercahaba.com/,  www.bhamdining.com, and www.selmaalabama.com/.
See the Sierra Club article, www.sierraclub.org/sierra/200805/goodgoing.asp

Current water levels may be found for Cahaba Height, Centreville, Suttle and Marion Junction at: http://iwin.nws.noaa.gov/iwin/al/hydro.html and through www.visitingalabama.com/rivers.html.

The Alabama Water Watch has published a report on this water.

The Fisheries Section's District Office can answer specific questions about the Cahaba River by sending email to Jay.Haffner@dcnr.alabama.gov.

"It shall be unlawful to intentionally stock or release any fish, mussel, snail, crayfish or their embryos including bait fish into the public waters of Alabama under the jurisdiction of the Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries as provided in Rule 220-2-.42 except those waters from which it came without the written permission of a designated employee of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources authorized by the Director of the Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries to issue such permit. The provisions of this rule shall not apply to the incidental release of bait into the water during the normal process of fishing."

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Prepared by: Fisheries Section, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. This site is presented for information only the Fisheries Section cannot be responsible for the quality of information or services offered through linked sites, disclaimer. To have your site included, send your URL, email address, or telephone number to the Fisheries Web Master, doug.darr@dcnr.alabama.gov. The Fisheries Section reserves the right to select sites based on relevant and appropriate content of interest to our viewers. If you discover errors in the content or links of this page, please contact Doug Darr. Thank you.