 | SUSTAINING THE FLOW Thank you for subscribing to ARA's partner newsletter, featuring highlights from our 100+ partners and organizations around our network to help keep us collaborating, informed and engaged. Read through for comment opportunities, events, partner highlights, and updates from the ARA team; along with funding, training, and hiring opportunities. See past editions of the newsletter here. |
| | Hi, friends and partners! It's been an insane start to the New Year already, but thanks to our coalition / movement building, incredible partners and engaged members from all over the state, we were all ready for what may come our way as the 2026 legislative session began in January. When HB 167 / SB 71 dropped, ARA and our partners were ready to mobilize our grassroots members and community leaders. We quickly armed them with messaging, action alerts, and social media calls to action to reach out to their legislators about these two terrible bills. Thanks to everyone's help, so far, 845+ letters have been sent to our State House Representatives and Senators, especially those in the State Government Committee and the Senate's County and Municipal Government Committees. More direct phone calls and personal meetings have been happening as well. To read more about these bills, please click here. We await what comes in this week, but we are confident that the Alabama environmental and conservation movement is actively engaged and ready to act when needed! Please stay tuned to your emails from us as we will be in touch about ways you can mobilize your own members should these bills make it to the floor of either the Senate or the House. We expect that may happen this week. As always, you can keep up with what bills ARA supports or opposes, and all current actions, by clicking here. SOME GOOD NEWS! The Birmingham Planning and Zoning committee will be recommending a moratorium on data center development in Birmingham to the full City Council soon! We'll be in touch with Birmingham partners with more news there soon. Finally, if you or your organization would like to work with your local government to pass a resolution for Rivers of Alabama Day, please let us know! On the heels of the success of the proclamations in Montgomery City, Montgomery County and Wetumpka from 2024 and 2025, we are excited to announce a toolkit for how you can help make that happen in your community! Water is Life, Cindy Lowry |
|  | FEDERAL / REGULATORY / COMMENT OPPORTUNITIES HYDROPOWER PUMPED STORAGE AT RACCOON MOUNTAIN TVA released its Final Environmental Impact Statement on November 21, 2025 indicating their preferred pumped storage hydropower facility is Alternative B, Rorex Creek (near Pisgah, AL). There is not a formal comment period open at this time. TVA plans to issue a Record of Decision (ROD) outlining its decision after the February board meeting. TVA has not decided to build a new facility or expand Raccoon Mountain at this time. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF MS-AL-GA GAS PIPELINE EXPANSION FERC has released its Draft Environmental Impact Statement concerning a portion of Sothern Natural Gas's South System Expansion 4 Project. This draft EIS addresses potential environmental effects of construction and operation in MS and AL. Public comments can be made to FERC on Docket No. CP25-514 until March 23, 2026. There will be in-person opportunities to submit comments on February 24th in Butler, AL and February 25th in Selma AL (and more out-of-state opportunities). Stay tuned to hear more from ARA and our coalition of partners about action alerts and more. |
| |
|
|  | IN MEMORY OF CHARLIE POWELL All of us at Alabama Rivers Alliance are heartbroken by the passing of Charlie Powell in late December. The movement not only lost a strong advocate for the people of North Birmingham, but the ARA team lost a good friend. Charlie founded P.A.N.I.C (People Against Neighborhood Industrial Contamination) and worked closely with GASP to organize his neighbors to fight against the polluters. "Charlie’s leadership was grounded in deep care for his neighbors and a belief that those most affected by pollution must lead the fight for change. His work helped strengthen coalitions across our city and ensured that community voices remained central in conversations with regulators, elected officials, and the public." - GASP Read more about Charlie from GASP and see photos of his work here. Watch Charlie in the 2019 Southern Exposure Film, CONVICTION. In the film, Lois Gibbs tells the story of how Charlie was called to stand up for his neighbors and we are so thankful to have captured his spirit in this special film.  Charlie with his friend Willie Goat |
|
|
| | | PARTNER HIGHLIGHTS FROM ACROSS ALABAMA Amplifying the voices of river defenders in Alabama by celebrating news, wins of all sizes, milestones and ways others could use support. Submit your news so we can share! - Alabama Water Rally is right around the corner! We are so excited about our keynote speakers, breakout sessions, plenaries and more. Make plans now to join us to catch up with partners and friends across the Southeast! Click here to learn more and register.
- Immediate relief for Belle Mina residents living adjacent to a limestone quarry as a Limestone County judge ordered the quarry owner to make changes to address complaints from residents. Read more from SELC and locals.
- The Mobile Bay Estuary Program has announced Jason Kudulis as its next Director following a national search. Jason has been serving with MBNEP for the past ten years and is a Mobile native. Congrats, Jason!
- Catch ARA's Charles teaching at HalfMoon Education Inc's Alabama Land and Water Law continuing education course on February 19. Learn more and sign up.
- Coosa Riverkeeper, Center for Biological Diversity, and others have resolved a lawsuit with ADEM and the Gadsden Water Works and Sewer Board for unpermitted discharges of pollutants and violations of permit terms related to the City of Gadsden’s wastewater-treatment plant and sewer system that enter Neely Henry Lake on the Coosa River and some of its tributaries. More info here.
- The revitalization efforts and plans for Lewis Landing on Three Mile Creek and the Africatown Blueway are threatened by a proposed concrete batch plant for the I-10 Mobile Bridge and Bayway project. Africatown residents, Africatown CHESS, and more lead by Dr. Major Joe Womack, are making their concerns known. Learn more here.
- Thanks to the steadfast work from ARA, GASP, People’s Justice Council, and SELC, the Birmingham City Council is considering a 6-month halt on accepting data center applications in order to conduct proper research of their environmental impacts. City council members and the Office of Resilience and Sustainability cited concerns of energy costs, noise and air pollution, and whether the hyperscale data centers would lower property value for residents. Learn more here! We'll let you know when this is accepted by the full City Council.
- Make plans to join Alabama Arise Action's 2026 Legislative Day on Thursday, February 24. Learn more and register here.
- UAH researcher (and all-around great human) Lee Ellenburg has been appointed Alabama's new state climatologist. He has served as associate state climatologist since 2021. Learn more here.
- Despite alarming population loss throughout recent decades, bobwhite quail populations in Alabama are stable. We can thank wide-open spaces with thick vegetation, prescribed burns, and reduced herbicide usage. Learn more.
Please reply to this email or click below to submit newsletter items from your organization. We'd love to share your news with our 100+ partners across the region! |
| | |
|
| FUNDING | LEARNING | EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES |
| FUNDING OPPORTUNTIES - NEED FUNDS FAST?! Alabama Beer Company + ARA's DRIFT Fund is set up for financial assistance for projects and applications are open!
- Alabama Scenic River Trail's Waterway Enhancement Program (WEP) is offering up to $5k for meaningful water recreation initiatives, apply by March 13
- Clif Bar Family Foundation offers operational support, deadline for their Open Call is March 1st
|
|
|
|
|
| Alabama Rivers Alliance
4439 5th Avenue South Suite 1000 | Birmingham, Alabama 35222
205.322.6395 | [email protected] |
| | |
|
| |
|
|
