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Protecting the Trispot darter in the Middle Coosa Watershed
A powerful network of partners is helping safeguard critical stream habitat for the Trispot darter—a small but significant indicator of Alabama’s aquatic health. As a…
Continue Reading Protecting the Trispot darter in the Middle Coosa Watershed
Rooftop Renewal: How a garden is helping women seek a second chance
With support from the Cawaco RC&D grant program, Birmingham’s Lovelady Center gave its beloved rooftop garden a fresh start, and the women who tend it…
Continue Reading Rooftop Renewal: How a garden is helping women seek a second chance
Grant equips Mountain Brook firefighters with advanced emergency medical training tool
Cawaco staff were gathered in a classroom with our partners in the Alabama Legislature and a grantee when the room transformed in an instant to…
Cawaco RC&D opens grant applications for Central Alabama projects
Grants of $5,000–$20,000 available April 1–June 30 for community, environmental and educational projects across five counties BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Cawaco Resource Conservation and Development Council…
Continue Reading Cawaco RC&D opens grant applications for Central Alabama projects
Lupton Junior High library gets major upgrade
Students at Lupton Junior High School in Walker County now have a modernized library space built for the way they learn. Cawaco Staff, board members,…
Continue Reading Lupton Junior High library gets major upgrade
New facility opens to serve women experiencing homelessness in Pelham
The Resting Place of Pelham opened its doors on Jan. 31, 2026, marking a milestone in helping women transition out of crisis in Shelby County.…
Continue Reading New facility opens to serve women experiencing homelessness in Pelham
Partners and Projects Honored at 2025 Annual Meeting
Cawaco Resource Conservation & Development Council board members, staff and partners gathered at Bevill State Campus in Jasper on December 11 for our annual meeting.…
Continue Reading Partners and Projects Honored at 2025 Annual Meeting
New sidewalk links trail systems and historic neighborhood in Trussville
The City of Trussville connected a historic neighborhood to a river trail system, creating safer routes for elementary school kids, outdoor classrooms for teachers, and…
Continue Reading New sidewalk links trail systems and historic neighborhood in Trussville
Local leaders turn $843,000 into nearly $4 million impact across Central Alabama
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 16, 2025 Cawaco RC&D grant program supports local projects benefiting community, environment, education (BIRMINGHAM, Ala.) (Dec. 16, 2025) – From community…
Continue Reading Local leaders turn $843,000 into nearly $4 million impact across Central Alabama
The Trispot darter is a small fish, but a big indicator of Alabama's water health.
A powerful network of partners is working to protect its critical stream habitat. As a nonprofit partner for the Alabama Rivers and Streams Network, Cawaco is managing a National Fish & Wildlife grant to improve habitat in the Middle Coosa Watershed.
So far, Auburn University interns have completed 353 stream-crossing assessments in the Ballplay Creek watershed – reaching over half of the road-stream crossings in the watershed. The students flagged 70 crossings with a moderate-to-high risk of habitat loss.
Next, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Partners Program will visit the top high-risk sites and team up with landowners to place them on the list for future restoration.
Small fish. Big teamwork. 🐟
Read More: cawaco.org/protecting-the-trispot-darter-in-the-middle-coosa-watershed/ ... See MoreSee Less
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Save the date! Join us at Rojo Birmingham in the Highland Park neighborhood Tuesday, July 28, between 5-10 p.m. for dine-in or carry-out, and Rojo will donate 10% of food and beverage sales to Cool Green Trees! 🌮🍔 All are welcome.
Tag a friend you want to invite in the comments below! 👇 RSVP in the link on our website and let us know if you can make it (L!nk in comments). Registration not required.
📅 Tuesday, July 28, 5:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.
📍2921 Highland Ave. S., Birmingham, AL 35205
Your support helps our mission to plant trees in urban heat islands across Jefferson County, providing numerous benefits for generations to come, including filtering air pollution and stormwater, as well as cooling temperatures down and beautifying our neighborhoods.
Can’t make it out but want to support our work? Or want to make even more of an impact? Make a tax-deductible donation today on our website!
Funding provided, in part, by the Forest Service, an agency of the US Dept. of Agriculture, Urban and Community Forestry Program. Cool Green Trees is a program of Cawaco RC&D, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and an equal opportunity provider, and is also supported by the Jefferson County Department of Health. ... See MoreSee Less
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We loved visiting Camp Sow Sow at the Midfield Community Garden! The camp teaches kids how to sow seeds and grow fruit and vegetables. The day we visited was bug day, where campers learned how to identify beneficial and harmful bugs in a garden (and what to do with them). The camp was also visited by some mini goats for fertilizer – swipe to the end to see how cute they are! ... See MoreSee Less
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This month, athletes from across the state gathered here in Birmingham for Alabama's largest multi-sport event. The Alabama State Games brings athletes representing 28 sports together for an unforgettable, Olympic-style competition.
We were honored to join the Alabama Association of RC&D Councils for the Opening Ceremony, an official America250 Alabama event. Congratulations to all of the athletes!
#AlabamaRCD ... See MoreSee Less
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Cawaco's Cool Green Trees program has been growing with community this year! The program hosted seven tree planting events in four months. 326 volunteers helped get 205 native trees in the ground at parks, neighborhoods and schools across the greater Birmingham area. In total, CGT planted 400 trees so far in 2026, including those planted by contractors.
Cool Green Trees also hosted two tree maintenance events this spring, reflecting the organization's commitment to caring for the trees it plants for at least 2-3 years—a crucial step for their long-term viability.
Interested in helping care for trees this summer? Join Cool Green Trees for an upcoming Forest Friday, most Friday mornings from 9–11 a.m. through July 10 (except holidays)!
Sign up for an event at coolgreentrees.org/events
#AlabamaRCD ... See MoreSee Less
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Ready to lead a project that makes a difference in your community? RC&D grant applications are open through June 30.
The RC&D grant program connects Central Alabama communities to the resources and partnerships they need to help people thrive, grow the economy and protect the environment. Grants range from $5,000 to $20,000 and are open to nonprofits, schools, government agencies, and community organizations in Blount, Chilton, Jefferson, Shelby, and Walker counties.
Priority areas this cycle:
- Community improvement
- Education
- First responder support
- Parks and recreation
Learn more and apply at cawaco.org. ... See MoreSee Less
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At The Lovelady Center in Birmingham, a rooftop garden has become a cornerstone of life for women looking for a second chance.
The Center supports 550 women and children working to break the cycle of incarceration, addiction, and poverty. Their 2,000 sq. ft. rooftop garden is a daily source of food, healing, job skills, and community. It's made such an impact that it was recognized with second place in the David Gibby International Master Gardener Search for Excellence Awards.
The garden’s beds were originally built with railroad ties that had degraded over the years and needed a fresh start ( → scroll to the end to see the original raised beds with the garden in full bloom).
We're proud that Cawaco RC&D's grant program helped fund brand new raised garden beds for the 2026 planting season. With these new beds in place, the garden can continue to be a space where women find peace, purpose, and the opportunity to grow in every sense of the word.
Read the full story: cawaco.org/lovelady-garden/
Cawaco's RC&D Grant Program is open through June 30. Learn more at cawaco.org. ... See MoreSee Less
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Just in time for National Pollinator Month, The Birmingham Zoo's new Butterfly House is getting its final touches! With the help of volunteers, the Zoo helped restore the habitat to make it a welcoming space for these lovely pollinators.
Thank you Sen. Rodger Smitherman & Rep. Kelvin Datcher for your partnership in supporting this project and the butterflies who call it home! ... See MoreSee Less
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