Beyond protecting a place of natural beauty
All of the bodies of water in the region have groups looking to protect them – Logan Martin Lake Protection Association, Neely Henry Lake Association, Coosa Riverkeeper, just to name a few.
Calhoun and Talladega counties have the Choccolocco Creek Watershed.
Flowing from the headwaters of the Talladega National Forest into Lake Logan Martin at Lincoln, Choccolocco Creek drains nearly 376 square miles of land across four Alabama counties. It’s home to about 70 fish species, including the threatened holiday darter, pygmy sculpin and blue shiner, and supports 22% of Alabama’s freshwater fish species despite covering less than 1% of the state’s land area.
Jennifer Yates Hudson, district coordinator for the Calhoun County Conservation District and the Choccolocco Creek Watershed project, said the nonprofit’s role goes beyond conservation science.
“The Choccolocco Creek Watershed is a non-profit organization supporting area projects that improve the quality of life for our communities through promoting recreational and outdoor activities while protecting our natural areas and water quality,” Hudson said.
Inspiring Adventure
Two programs currently encourage residents to get outdoors: the 100 Choccolocco Miles Challenge and the Choccolocco Ambassadors program.
Hudson explained that the 100 Miles Challenge is “designed to inspire our regional communities to lead active, healthy lifestyles while exploring our beautiful watershed areas.” Participants can hike, bike, swim, paddle, walk, ride or roll 100 miles each year within the watershed. All miles also count toward the statewide 100 Alabama Miles Challenge.
The Ambassadors program seeks outdoor enthusiasts who post photos, videos and blogs about their experiences. “Our hope is to inspire communities to get out and experience Choccolocco Creek Watershed firsthand,” Hudson said.
Recreation and Future Projects
The Choccolocco Kayak Center, launched seven years ago in partnership with the City of Oxford, remains one of the group’s most visible projects. The center offers casual paddlers easy access to the creek. Future plans include extending kayaking opportunities and creating a Blueway into Lincoln.
The watershed is also developing plans for a Choccolocco Nature Center and outdoor multiuse trails. Hudson said the project aims to establish “a regional area conservation hub that promotes a love of environmental literacy and serves as a nature-based center for community activity.”
Educating the Public
Education is a key part of the watershed’s mission. Each year, the group hosts workshops and seminars about conservation practices, cost-share programs and current projects. “We also host education workshops and ‘Watershed Science Days’ for students and teachers,” Hudson said, adding that topics include water quality, forestry and wildlife, soil health and land use impacts.
Stewardship also begins at home, she said, encouraging homeowners to be “good backyard conservationists,” using practices such as water conservation, mulching, composting, planting trees and installing rain barrels.
Protecting a Crucial Resource
“Protecting natural resources in any watershed is necessary to maintain the health and well-being of all living things, both now and in the future, and is essential for maintaining community sustainability,” she said.
For Hudson, that means balancing recreation, conservation and education — and ensuring residents understand the creek’s value. “Clean, healthy watersheds depend on an informed public to make the right decisions when it comes to the environment and actions by the community,” she said.
You can follow Choccolocco Creek Watershed on Facebook or visit their website choccoloccocreek.org
