Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge

Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge
IUCN Category IV (Habitat/Species Management Area)
Location	Bibb County, Alabama, USA
Nearest city	West Blocton, Alabama
Coordinates	33°2′31.9920″N 87°4′35.0040″W
Area	3,414 acres (13 km²)
Established	2002
Governing body	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

The Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge is a 3,577 acre (14.4 km²) National Wildlife Refuge located in central Alabama, along the Cahaba River downstream from Birmingham, Alabama. The refuge was established on September 25, 2002. Additional purchases were approved that will potentially increase the size of the refuge to 7,300 acres (29.5 km²). Additional negotiations propose an expansion to a potential 280,000 acres (1,100 km²), most of which currently belongs to private landowners. The facility is unstaffed, but is administered by the Mountain Longleaf National Wildlife Refuge in Anniston, Alabama.

The refuge extends from just north of the confluence of the Little Cahaba and Cahaba Rivers to the Piper Bridge in Bibb county, approximately five miles east of West Blocton, Alabama. Approximately 3.5 miles (6 km) of the Cahaba River flow through the refuge.

Wildlife

The Cahaba River NWR is a critical habitat for the endangered Cahaba shiner, goldline darter, round rocksnail, and cylindrical lioplax snail. There are also 64 other rare plant and animal species within its borders.

Facilities

The refuge provides opportunities for fishing, canoeing, hiking, photography, and wildlife observation.

Images

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  Cahaba River NWR

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  Cahaba River NWR

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  Goldline Darter

See also

• List of National Wildlife Refuges

External links

• Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge homepage
• Recreation.gov overview