Many of the rivers and streams our communities rely on for drinking water and recreation may appear to be clean. However, in some locations they have become dumping grounds for pollutants that pose a risk to public health and biodiversity of important ecosystems.
The Coosa River, stretching from it’s origins in NW Georgia through six lakes before convergence with the Tallapoosa River in Central Alabama, is a biologically diverse though increasingly threatened watershed. Early in the 20th Century, several hydroelectric dams were constructed on the Coosa to provide electricity to rapidly developing industrial centers in areas such as Birmingham, causing one of the largest mass extinction events (at least 30 species) in North American History.
Still home to amazing biodiversity, the Coosa’s lakes and tributary “skinny water” are popular destinations for outdoor recreation. Despite being listed in 2022 as 5th Most Endangered River in the United States, the watershed continues to receive pollutants from energy generation (dams and power plants), industrial development, and excessive nutrient loads from big agricultural operations. Siltation from road and building construction is one of the most visible pollutants, diminishing habitat and water quality for many uses.
The Coosa Watershed is a complex system. It can be easier to focus on the large, high-profile watershed impacts such as energy generation, industrial sources, and municipal wastewater treatment plants. However, there are many smaller dispersed pollution sources such as failing septic systems and overflows from overburdened municipal wastewater infrastructure. These point- and non-point sources can have big cumulative impacts — especially since they tend to go unnoticed before they become a problem. Communities along the lakes and river are now being rapidly developed as year-round residential communities where there used to be only a few seasonally-occupied vacation spots. Development in response to the attractive quality of life adjacent to these waterways must be planned carefully and adjustments to local policies for sewage management may be necessary to accommodate increasing pollutant loads — especially with the rapid onset of heavy storms driven by climate change.
The Capacity Collaborative (formally EFCWest) is working with several small communities in the Coosa Watershed alongside Coosa Riverkeeper to educate local leaders about these issues and prepare them for what may be difficult discussions with their customers. We are helping these communities build capacity to protect their environment by providing workshops and mentorship, catalyzing community knowledge and engagement, and educating local leaders about wastewater management, as well as finding the resources and funding they need for a sustainable future.
Kathleen Kirkpatrick
Senior Associate, The Capacity Collaborative
kathleenk@thecapacitycollaborative.net