If you live anywhere near Birmingham Alabama, you live in one of four major river watersheds; the Tombigbee, Black Warrior, Cahaba and Coosa. A watershed is an area on the landscape that collects and then drains water to a common body of water, such as a river, lake, or wetland. Since watersheds act like funnels, collecting and directing runoff water, anything left loose or spread on the ground can find its way into our waterways. Sediment from eroding soil, nutrients from fertilizers, bacterial from pet and livestock waste, and toxics from pesticides and spilled chemicals are pollutants that can wash from watersheds and into waterways if we are not careful. This type of water pollution goes by several names, including stormwater pollution, runoff pollution, and nonpoint source pollution.

We can take action individually and together as communities to be “watershed wise” and prevent stormwater pollution. Good things are happening! Thanks to a partnership with the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM), the Alabama Clean Water Partnership and StormCenter Communications, information on how we can better protect our water resources are available on this website and on WXYZ News.

We hope that you enjoy this site and are able to use information you learn to better protect Alabama’s rivers, lakes and wetlands and join in support of (-Name of Project- e.g., water watch, etc )project.