Alabama Rivers Alliance

“Resilient and sustainable sanitation is a problem in rural communities across the U.S.,” Colman Flowers said.

Nationwide, 2.2 million people live without running water or a flush toilet.

More on DEI backlash and how it's impacting sanitation access.

www.al.com/news/2025/04...

Trump DOJ ends plan for Alabama county’s sewage crisis over ‘distorting, DEI lens’ “The DOJ will no longer push ‘environmental justice’ as viewed through a distorting, DEI lens,” reads the government release.

For decades, AL people have lived with sewage pouring into their yards, making them sick.

But Trump's DOJ dropped an investigation brought by Catherine Coleman Flowers aimed at bringing accountability to solve the problem.

Read more: www.al.com/news/2025/04...

With the federal government forgoing its responsibilities, we need the state of Alabama to step up to the plate and continue to invest in wastewater infrastructure, especially in communities that have not gotten the investment that everyone else has gotten over the past several decades.

Couple that with areas like Lowndes County in the Alabama Black Belt where the soils make traditional septic solutions nearly impossible, and you have a situation where families are living with raw sewage all around their homes, neighborhoods and waterways.

If you are an American anywhere in this country located in an area where you do not have access to a centralized sewer system, you are responsible for paying the full cost of treating your wastewater properly.

Trump Announces ‘Termination’ of ‘Illegal DEI’ Settlement Over Raw Sewage in Poor, Majority-Black Alabama Communities - Inside Climate News The Trump administration announced Friday that it was terminating a historic settlement aimed at improving wastewater treatment services for Alabamians in majority-Black communities harmed by raw sewa...

The people of Lowndes County (and other communities) have been discriminated against for decades when it comes to having equal access to proper sanitation. This settlement was righting a wrong; now they are putting it back on to the people of Lowndes County.

insideclimatenews.org/news/1104202...

We’ll provide helpful tips and a special training on how to talk to your legislators about issues important to you, and also about our latest important bill dropping this week. More info about that coming later this week - be on the lookout! www.alabamarivers.org/rad

We need you with us and our partners in Montgomery on April 8 to talk with our legislators about protecting our rivers and streams, and drinking water sources on Rivers of Alabama Day - ARA's annual Lobby day!

Learn more and register here: www.alabamarivers.org/rad

Due to the winds and colder temps, we're headed inside at Pebble Hill. We'll still have partner mix and mingle, delicious hot chocolate, popcorn, S'mores and more! Bring your own mug and reusable cup and get ready for an awesome night of film and conversation. Details: www.alabamarivers.org/se2024

Auburn / Opelika! We can't wait to bring the new Southern Exposure Films to you tomorrow evening with our friends at Auburn Sustainability, Alabama Water Watch, Auburn Outdoors and Tallapoosa Watershed Coalition! Details: www.alabamarivers.org/se2024

It took us a while to summarize such a successful year, but we are proud to finally present our 2024 Impact Report!

Hop in the time machine and take a trip all the way back to 2024 with us. Read our impacts from a year of defending rivers across #Alabama!

alabamarivers.org/aras-2024-im...

"Cindy also shares some fast facts about Alabama’s water ecosystem that you won’t want to miss! Tune in to learn more about the importance of protecting our rivers and the role we all play in preserving Alabama’s natural resources."

YouTube video by Evolve America Network The South Got Something To Say: Water Under the Bridge

Cindy sat down with Evolve America's Set in Stone with Khadidah Stone to talk ARA, water protection in Alabama, and the need for an Alabama Water Plan! They dove in to discuss "environmental challenges facing Alabama + critical issues surrounding the state's waterways."
youtu.be/261BPayDov0?...

5. Attend ARA's Lobby Day on Rivers of Alabama Day Tuesday, April 8 to make our voices heard! Mark your calendars and request the day off to #DefendRivers with us in Montgomery!

Our collective voice is our greatest strength — let’s make ripples together!

alabamarivers.org/the-2025-leg...

Live And Recorded Legislative Meetings | The Alabama Channel The Alabama Channel is a video resource library for Alabamians to view live, recorded and indexed footage of Alabama’s Legislative meetings.

4. You can also keep up with the session on the Alabama Channel, a tremendous resource from our friends at League of Women Voters featuring easily searchable recordings of all legislative meetings, including committee meetings. #ALPolitics

www.thealabamachannel.org

2. If you already know your legislator, we can give you talking points about bills we plan to introduce and ones we are monitoring.

3. Help us follow the action! If you see any concerning news articles or hear of any bills that impact water or the environment, let us know!

HOW CAN YOU STAY ENGAGED AND HELP DURING THE SESSION?

1. Stay tuned to your emails + posts from ARA -- and respond to our action alerts as you see them. There is incredible strength in numbers, and our elected officials must hear from you!

alabamarivers.org/the-2025-leg...

The 2025 #Alabama Legislative Session Starts Today!
ARA staff - along with our partners - will be following bills + talking with legislators over the next few months. Keep up with the good, the bad & the ugly as we defend Alabama's 132,000 miles of rivers & streams. #ALPolitics

#DefendRivers #WaterIsLife #AlabamaRivers #RiversOfAlabama #EnvironmentalDocs #MobileAL #SpanishFort #Fairhope #MobileBay #SouthAlabama

We can't wait to see you tomorrow evening for film + discussion! Join ARA, Sierra Club Mobile Bay, Mobile Baykeeper + more for the #SouthernExposure Films! These films celebrate special people and places in Alabama while exploring complex issues and solutions. More info: www.alabamarivers.org/se2024

Kelly was at the Salamander Festival in Homewood with Friends of Shades Creek, Cahaba River Society, Cahaba Riverkeeper, Alabama Environmental Council, Freshwater Land Trust and more to make sure Southern Exposure Films has great footage of this super well attended and much beloved event!

Our board member Alyssa was at the City of Montgomery's Lunar New Year Cultural Festival listening to the community talk about access to the mighty Alabama River, as well as let folks know about our new job opening in the area!

We had a busy busy weekend across the state connecting with partners and people protecting Alabama's rivers! Martha was at Alabama Sustainable Agriculture Network - ASAN's Food & Farm Forum talking with farmers about how to make sure they have clean water for their farms.

ARA is Hiring Again! We are hiring a River Region Community Engagement Fellow in the Montgomery area.

This position will work under two grant funded areas:
* Alabama River Community Engagement
* Drinking Water & Wastewater Infrastructure Community Engagement

MORE: www.alabamarivers.org/nowhiring

We also shared the history of the Alabama Water Plan and advocated to revive the Permanent Joint Legislative Committee on Water Policy and Management. We are super excited looking toward 2025 and all the ways we can #DefendRivers with our elected officials across the state!

Fantastic evening with Representative Bob Fincher, Senator Randy Price, local officials & the community of Randolph County in Wedowee! ARA partnered with Rep Fincher to host a Town Hall discussing rivers & streams in the Tallapoosa watershed and to hear concerns about threats to area waterways.

Resource Hub - Just Infrastructure: Sharing Sustainable Water Assets Access digital resources to inspire federal water infrastructure investments including green infrastructure and community water projects

Have you checked out our Resource Hub? 👀

Under each of the 3 campaign pillars, we have a number of resources for messaging, a separate guide on nature-based infrastructure, factsheets, artwork, and tools for social media sharing.

Find them here: justinfrastructure.org/resource-hub/

Earthjustice Marks 50th Anniversary of the Safe Drinking Water Act with Urgent Call for Reform Political inaction, underfunding, and loopholes undermined the early success of our biggest drinking water protection law.

To learn more about the Act, and its successes, and the urgent reforms needed to ensure safe, equitable drinking water for all communities, check out Earthjustice's comprehensive report: earthjustice.org/press/2024/e...

Today marks the 50th anniversary of the Safe Drinking Water Act. The Alabama Rivers Alliance knows that Water is Life and we are proud to work with our partners all over Alabama and beyond to ensure safe drinking water for ALL Alabamians.

Belle Mina pastors join rock quarry battle amid latest lawsuit filing Two churches in Limestone County’s small community of Belle Mina are suing the operators of a rock quarry over what they’re calling a nuisance in a battle that’s been ongoing for …

Faith leaders are coming together to oppose a rock quarry that is disrupting daily life in a community in Alabama. “Belle Mina has been established for a century & now you have a company that comes in that’s actually going to destroy all of that.” - Pastor Eddie Walton: whnt.com/news/athens/...