Some of y’all have probably noticed us talking about saving the skinny water, like our upcoming event Save the Skinny Water Paddle on Saturday, September 14th in Oxford. More information is available here and info on how to reserve your boat!
Well when we say “skinny water”…. we are referring to any tributary or creek that flows into our major lakes and ultimately the Coosa River. These can be unnamed streams that run through your local park or a creek that you can take a kayak and paddle down, like Big Wills Creek. It is often the case that skinny waters are overlooked but they shouldn’t be!
Many skinny waters host critical habitat areas for Threatened and Endangered species like the Trispot Darter on Big Canoe Creek in Springville. At Coosa Riverkeeper, we love ALL of the waters of the Coosa, even that babbling brook in your backyard.
Help us celebrate our 9th birthday by reserving your spot on our inaugural “Save the Skinny Water” paddle!
Skinny waters on the Coosa are home to the shoals spider-lily (usually called the Cahaba lily ’round these parts) and the allusive redeye bass. The creeks that make up the skinny waters of the Coosa provide an abundance of fresh water to our lakes and take charge of the difficult task of protecting our native biodiversity which has been fragmented and altered by dams.
Saving the skinny water is vital to the health and future of the Coosa River, and that’s why we’re out there working to protect it. From removing abandoned dams, to monitoring water quality, and taking action against illegal pollution, there’s no shortage of work that must be done to save the skinny water!
