Angler’s Pointe

Your place for camping, glamping, music, outdoor fun and much more on Logan Martin Lake

Story by Roxann Edsall
Photos by Graham Hadley
Submitted photos

It would surprise no one to say there are many camping opportunities around Logan Martin Lake. What might be a surprise is that you can spend the night in a covered wagon, reminiscent of those used by 18th century pioneers as they moved westward. Thankfully, unlike the primitive conditions those adventurers faced, your stay would include air conditioning and an indoor bathroom complete with a shower.

Glamping tents come with a porch and even a full bathroom

These glamping spaces are some of the unique offerings at Angler’s Pointe, the 160-acre rental, recreational and entertainment community adjacent to Lincoln’s Landing tournament fishing park and picnic area. They also offer tent glamping and some more traditional options, including covered and uncovered RV parking, bungalows, cottages, and tiny homes for short-term rental.

Angler’s Pointe is the perfect neighbor for Lincoln’s Landing, providing much-needed resort-style accommodations for tournament anglers and families since 2023. Not surprisingly, the draw of the lake itself and the desire to own a piece of it, even if just temporarily, keeps a steady stream of renters coming in.

“We do get an influx of people renting when there’s a tournament,” says DeLane Griffin, CEO of McCaig & Griffin, the lakeside and commercial development company that has developed the property. “But, by far, the largest segment that’s renting from us is families and couples who just want to come spend a few days or a week on the lake, whether they’re renting an RV space, a bungalow, a cottage, a tiny house or one of our glamping options.”

Soak in a vintage-style tub bubble bath

Glamping, or glamorous camping, is a concept embraced by those who enjoy the outdoors and outdoor activities, but not the primitive conditions of typical overnight camping. Its rise in popularity in the early 2000s resulted in the word being added to the Oxford dictionary in 2016.

It hardly qualifies for roughing it to step into the air-conditioned luxury of one of the four glamping tents after spending the day playing in the lake. They are cool, comfortable, and surprisingly spacious. One tent takes it to the next level of relaxation and features an elegant clawfoot tub. Another tent features a window seat for reading or just watching for wildlife in the open field.

“We went a little bit beyond what some places do,” Griffin explains. “So, it’s glamping with a little extra. We thought it was a bit nicer to have the bathrooms inside the units.”

He brought the idea for the wagon rental spaces to the development after he and his wife, Deanna, stayed in one on a visit to Kentucky. The wagons are made by the Conestoga company and are fully outfitted with bathroom walls for privacy. Living and sleeping areas are “open concept,” with furniture defining the space.

One wagon even has room for the whole family

You can leave your camping gear at home, since both tents and wagons are equipped with upscale home furnishings and antique furniture. Each unit also has a name and theme. With names like Sahara, Wanderlust and Jumanji, each unit’s décor is perfectly suited to its theme.  While they do not have kitchens, there are small refrigerators, along with spacious back porches with space enough for a guest to bring a grill for cooking.

The porches of the tents and wagons face a common-use area dubbed, “The Frontier,” which features a chuckwagon, fire pits with conversation areas, covered picnic spots, swings and plenty of open space for games. “Hopefully, we’re going to expand on that in the future with outdoor cowboy dinners and outdoor entertainment,” says Griffin.

Although the resort has been booking since 2023, there is still much to be done to complete the vision. His company had been negotiating with a larger company to finish the build out faster, but after a year of negotiations, he says, the plan fell through. “So, we are back at it, picking up our dream for the property,” Griffin says. “We have more of each kind of lot in the process of being built.”

Disc golf and more games by the Yard

Griffin sees the building pause as a blessing, since the added time allowed them to receive feedback from guests. “We’re hearing a lot from people not related to Lincoln’s Landing, people from Nashville to Atlanta,” explains Griffin. “They’ve given us good ideas about what they would like to see.”

With those requests in mind, Griffin says, they will be starting soon to provide those onsite amenities guests want like a pool, pickleball courts and a playground. They are also looking for vendors who could do restaurants or eateries on the property. 

“As we grow, and we have the tenants there to support it, we will have regular food vendors and more bands in The Yard,” says Griffin. The Yard is an outdoor stage and field area that has already hosted several concerts and outdoor vendor shows.

“We’ve worked with Lincoln every year with the July 4th fireworks event,” says Griffin. “That’s a one-day event, and we’ve always had food and a concert and that type of stuff building up to the fireworks. We’d like to see that expand to a full week event.” Griffin adds that they have already had several events in The Yard to raise money to support veterans and first responders. 

Community is important to Griffin and to the dreams he has for Angler’s Pointe. “Our Patriotic Palooza was a three-day event that honored both people who have served and given us our independence and first responders, the people we count on to keep us safe each day. We don’t make any money from it. Any proceeds go back into trying to create a better experience for the community and to give back to these organizations.”

Live music at the Yard

Griffin is proud of the direction the development is moving and says he looks forward to realizing his dream. “Like most dreams, it doesn’t come easy,” he admits. “My most proud moment will be when we fully complete it. I think people in the community want Lincoln to be nice. I’m proud to have been a part of that.”

As they continue to expand, Angler’s Pointe will offer even more inventory in each of the rental options. Whatever your style of lake life, you can find it right next-door to Lincoln’s Landing. And if soaking in a clawfoot tub while tent camping sounds good, grab your loofah. Glamping could be just right for you.

Editor’s Note: For more information:www.anglerspointe.com

Choccolocco Kayak

Oxford partnership gives great access to the creek

Miles of natural beauty on Choccolocco Creek

Looking for the perfect, quiet waterway to spend an afternoon kayaking on?

Choccolocco Creek, which winds its way through Calhoun and Talladega counties, eventually emptying into Logan Martin Lake may be just the spot.

Choccolocco Kayak, a collaborative effort between the city of Oxford and Choccolocco Creek Watershed, is located right across Leon Smith Parkway from Choccolocco Park on Boiling Springs Road. From the rental facility there, visitors will be transported by van to kayak put-in access point near Cider Ridge Golf Club. You then float Choccolocco Creek until reaching the take-out access point at the kayak rental facility.

The trip takes about an hour and a half to two hours. Kayak and equipment rentals are available at the main office and parking at Boiling Springs Road. It’s a great beginner to intermediate float, depending on the water levels.

Takeout at main office across from the park

The creek winds through the natural beauty of the region. And what’s more, 75% of the revenue from kayaking goes to support the Choccolocco Creek Watershed, a non-profit group working to preserve the historical integrity of the creek area while protecting natural resources and promoting healthy outdoor recreation.

Choccolocco Kayak is open Friday by reservation 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. with last launch at 2 p.m., and Sunday from noon until 2 p.m. Visitors must be 18 years or older to rent kayaks. Users 8-17 years old must be accompanied by an adult to float in standard kayak. Children under eight must float in tandem kayak accompanied by an adult.

Like all kayak and similar water sports businesses, safety is a prime concern, and they shut down operations during inclement weather or dangerous conditions on the creek—low or high water levels, obstructions on the waterway and other hazards. They do a great job of keeping people informed of any issues on their Facebook page, and if you have any questions, give them a call at 256-847-5191

The season runs until Labor Day Weekend.

For more information about Choccolocco Kayak, follow them on Facebook, or check out kayaking on the “Things to Do” page on the Choccolocco Creek Watershed website,             

www.choccoloccocreek.org, or Choccolocco Park,

www.choccoloccopark.com/amenities/kayaking. You can find out more about the Choccolocco Creek Watershed project at

www.choccoloccocreek.org.

Editor’s note: Choccolocco Creek Watershed and the Calhoun County Area Chamber & Visitors Center contributed to this story.

Lakeside Live Musicfest 2025

Rocking it out once again on Logan Martin

Story by Paul South
Submitted Photos

Few things joyously say an unforgettable day at the park louder than tricked-out trucks, cool cars, hot live music, food and family fun.

And nothing evokes the spirit of the community’s people than a heart for helping others.

All of these wonderful things will come together from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday Sept. 20 at the Lakeside Live Musicfest at Pell City’s Lakeside Park. Proceeds from the event will go to help The St. Clair Children’s Advocacy Center’s Children’s Place, other local charities and the Pell City Police and Fire Departments and City Parks.

Pell City police and firefighters ready for battle on new turf – the beach at Lakeside Park. Battle of the Badges is a popular event at Lakeside Live, which is moving to that area of the park. Photo by Mackenzie Free

The free festival, now in its fifth year, will still call Lakeside Park home, but will move within the park to ease traffic and parking challenges of past years. Last year, some 6,000 cars came to the festival grounds.

The driving force behind Lakeside Live is Pell City’s Five 16 Foundation, a faith-based organization that shines its light “through fundraising, service and good works in the community. The 501c3 nonprofit gets its name from Matthew 5:16 in the New Testament: “In the same way, let your light shine before others so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

Lakeside Live Director Casey Cambron is founder of the Five 16 organization, which has designated St. Clair Children’s Advocacy Center as this year’s major beneficiary of the event.

The center works on behalf of children and families affected by the tragedy of child abuse. It also works to foster interagency cooperation in the legal system and train volunteers. It also works to educate and build awareness in the community.

“This is an organization that needs more resources,” Cambron said. “As a board, when we were discussing different areas to support, their name came up. The children that they support hit close to our heart.”

This year, Lakeside Live is moving to the parking area next to the water. The move off the grassy areas of the park will make life easier for festivalgoers and organizers alike, Cambron said.

Cars and vehicles of all kinds on display

They took a page from another popular local event, LakeFest, to address parking problems. “Traffic control (last year) was a nightmare,” Cambron said. (LakeFest’s ) set up was very well organized. So, we’ll move to the parking lot near the water.”

He added, “It opens up a lot of parking and makes the whole event easier for spectators to be able to enjoy. It gives us the opportunity to have better handicapped-accessible parking, better parking for large and small vehicles. Just overall, the whole experience will be better.”

Another change in 2025?  Musically, the event will return to a homegrown feel. Last year alt rock band, The Spin Doctors, who made a splash on the charts in the 1990’s, headlined the event. This year, local entertainers will fill the bill. Every musical genre will be celebrated.

“This year, we want to go back to our roots,” Cambron said. “We want to have more focus on our local community.”

While the music lineup is still in the works, local favorites Sand Rock, a group of Pell City High School students, will perform, as well as the Leverton Brothers.

Jazzed up cars and trucks will also be featured at the festival’s Motorfest event. Prizes will be awarded to the best vehicles in a variety of categories, including best in show car and best in show truck, best interior, best paint job, best engine, police choice, fire choice, promoters choice and more. Registration for the car show is at 10 the morning of the festival, with awards presented at 2. 

For questions about Motorfest, call (205) 200-0359, or check out the Lakeside Motorfest Event page on Facebook,

The car show and other events at the festival will be 100 percent family friendly.

“I’m passionate about creating a family friendly atmosphere,” said Cambron. “I’ve been to events where I’m walking around with my kids and the DJ is playing music full of profanity, it just doesn’t feel right. My goal is to build an event where everyone feels welcome, comfortable, and proud to be there. We want people to leave feeling like they experienced something positive, something truly worth coming to.”

Food and drink for every taste will be on sale from local restaurants and food trucks, as well as a wide variety of arts and crafts and boutiques for men and women, folks of all ages and interests. In short, there’s something for everyone. “We just want people to come and spend money with our local vendors,” Cambron said.

And there will also be friendly competition between Pell City police and firefighters at several events, notably a tug of war. Known as “The Battle of the Badges,” a pro wrestling style championship belt and bragging rights will be on the line.

Spectators line the course

More important, the competition aims to forge closer bonds between first responders and the public they serve.

“That is our most favorite event,” Cambron said. “Our foundation is about bringing people together. Usually, when you see a police officer or a firefighter, it’s not the best of times. Usually something bad has happened. It’s the  same with firefighters. We want to give people a warm, happy feeling about first responders and intensify it with this competition.”

Lakeside Live Musicfest reflects what’s best about Pell City, Cambron said.

“I’ve lived in a few different towns,” he said. “Pell City has a sense of comfort. There’s a lot of really, really great people  that live in this town. This is one of the few towns I’ve been in when, if there’s an event that’s happening, people turn out and support it, whether it’s hot as it can be, or pouring down rain. The people come out. It’s unlike any other community I’ve ever been a part of. The town is what makes this event and every other event here great.”

The Porky Pirate Barbecue

Getting ready to set sail on Logan Martin

Story by Carol Pappas
Submitted photos

Porky Pirate Barbecue, Logan Martin’s newest eatery, is dropping anchor at Coosa Island.

Offering a bounty of smoked delights and hearty fare, the new restaurant is expected to be open in May after months of extensive renovations and improvements.

Owners Brandon and Amy MacDonald plan a soft opening around Cinco de Mayo, debuting a brand-new look, feel and dining experience at their waterfront location.

“We’re excited about this family friendly restaurant,” said Brandon. “It’s not a bar first and food secondary,” although alcohol will be served.

The menu is “scratch made and upscale” with most cooked on a fire. “We’ll smoke all our own meats out there. Our smoker holds 700 pounds of meat at time,” he said.

Chef Lee Wiggins

Inside, you’ll find a new, 54-seat dining area and full-service bar. Outside is covered deck dining, an open lawn and a rooftop patio with a spectacular view. The rooftop patio is available for private events. The lawn features a place for games, uncovered seating and even a pirate ship playset for the kids.

Their motto is “Island Vibes with a Southern Soul,” and from the sound of the plans, it’s an ideal descriptor.

They’ll have live music during the day on weekends, and the whole place is open and inviting, giving it a communal feel.

It’s not the MacDonalds’ first venture in the restaurant and hospitality business. Brandon owned seven restaurants in the Birmingham area. Amy managed one of the restaurants, and that’s how they met. They’ve been together for 16 years and have two daughters they home school. Brandon has a son who is a freshman at Mississippi State and is a counselor at Camp Cosby in the summers.

An entrepreneur by nature, Brandon said he can see a location or space and ideas start to flow, and a concept materializes. “I like designing or creating something and making it come to fruition.”

That’s the momentum behind the Porky Pirate – laid back, but exceptional food and service. Amy’s dad was a commercial fisherman, and she “grew up” on a shrimp boat. Fast forward, and they were keeping their own boat at Coosa Island.

The old restaurant space was available, and the wheels began to turn. He used his own experiences as a company director of operations traveling around the country to develop the menu.

It will have Texas style brisket like you would find in Dallas – “the same caliber.” There’s smoked pork, Carolina style, mopped during cooking with a vinegar sauce, pulled and then served with a mustard-based sauce.

Smoked wings and chicken will feature a white sauce. St. Louis ribs will be smoked with a dry rub.

Other dishes include catfish, chili lime dusted shrimp, smoked sausage and grits, reverse seared steaks, rum glazed salmon and three different smash-style burgers. A Caribbean-Southern slaw is on the menu, too. “We have unique takes on things,” he said, noting the creativity behind such dishes as fried Oreos and smoked bacon maple bread pudding or the bacon wrapped smoked honey buns and smoked bologna.

They have a full kids’ menu with healthier options than normal children’s fare, and on Mondays, they eat for free.

Island parties can be held on the rooftop, which seats 10-12 people, and it has fixed menus to choose from. Reservations are already coming in.

Weekly specials are planned, including Bingo and BOGO Tacos on Tuesdays and half price wings on Wednesdays.

And for convenience for busy lifestyles, they’ll feature a grab and go menu with dinners for four – meat and two sides, dessert and sauces – for $38. Smoked turkeys and hams will be available during the holidays.

Chef is Lee Wiggins, who was on the leadership team of Dave & Buster’s. While his specialty is desserts, he has extensive experience in catering.

The restaurant will be open seven days a week for lunch and dinner and on weekends, breakfast and brunch will be served in season beginning at 8 a.m. Plans call for being open year-round.

They’re even providing space on the patio deck for church services on Sunday. “You have to meet people where they’re at,” Brandon said, giving them a place to worship if they’re not into traditional church. He likened it to the church services held at the coast’s Flora-Bama that are growing in popularity.

“This will be more casual and less intimidating but give an opportunity for the Lord to touch your heart. We’re doing things the right way – putting the Lord first,” he said.

Amy agreed. The restaurant is a place to “break bread together – fellowship. We want this place to be a blessing to all those around us.”

Summer fun on Neely Henry Lake

Southside Landing and Coosa Landing kayaking and paddle boats

Pedal Boats are back!

Just in time for Spring Break in March, a parade of pedal boats made their second season appearance, returning to their home base at Gadsden’s Coosa Landing.

Brightly colored swans, a duck and even a dragon can be seen making their way around the harbor area near the River Walk and the bait shop, powered by pedalers.

The boats can hold five people – two pedalers up front and three on the fully enclosed, rear bench seating.

Anyone interested in renting the boats can visit the Coosa Landing bait shop, located at 200 Lake Street, starting at 9 a.m. The last rental of the day is at 4 p.m. Rentals are available Monday through Sunday.

Renters must be at least 18 years old and bring an ID. Life jackets are required, and the city has some available for approved passengers. The rental fee is $20, which provides access for up to one hour. If multiple hours are needed, the first hour is $20, and each hour thereafter is $15.

No rentals with winds higher than 10 mph.

For more information, call 256-549-4677.

Kayaks for rent in Southside & Gadsden

Want something a little more challenging? Try something new at Southside Landing and Coosa Landing in Gadsden for seasoned kayakers and novices alike.

The cities have partnered with Rent.Fun to launch a self-service kayak rental program at both landings

Available for rent are kayaks with paddles and vests. The cost is $25 for two hours and $15 per hour thereafter.

Just use the mobile app online at rent.fun for each city, pick your kayak, grab your vest and paddle away!

Skyrockets at Night!

Fireworks on Neely Henry and Logan Martin Lakes

If you can’t imagine a Fourth of July celebration without fireworks, that’s because it has been part of the tradition since nearly the beginning of America’s birth as a nation.

During the early months of the Revolutionary War in 1776, delegates to the Continental Congress debated whether the 13 colonies should declare independence from Britain and King George.

On July 1, 12 of the colonies did so. New York, the 13th, would follow suit on July 9. On July 2, with independence plainly in sight and final drafts of the Declaration of Independence being revised, John Adams wrote to his wife, Abigail:

“The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival … It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.”

And as Adams predicted, it was. On July 4, 1777, the first organized 4th of July celebration was held in Philadelphia. The next day, the Pennsylvania Evening Post reported: “The evening was closed with the ringing of bells, and at night there was a grand exhibition of fireworks (which began and concluded with thirteen rockets) on the Commons, and the city was beautifully illuminated.”

Two hundred and forty-eight years later, the tradition continues. Our lakes are popular venues for the nighttime show beautifully illuminating the waters below. Here’s a roundup of fireworks shows throughout the lake region:

Logan Martin Lake

  • City of Pell City, Pell City Lakeside Park, July 4, around 9 p.m.
  • River’s Edge Marina, July 5, Event kicks off at 6:30 p.m.; fireworks after dark
  • Back Porch Grill/Clear Creek Marina, July 3, after dark
  • City of Lincoln, July 5, Lincoln’s Landing, after dark
  • City of Talladega, July 4, Battery Park, after dark

Neely Henry Lake

  • City of Rainbow City, June 28 event starts at 5 p.m. with food trucks, live music, Kia Sports Complex, 625 Kinizie Lane; Drone Show begins at 9 p.m. (ideal for sensory sensitive audience).
  • City of Gadsden, July 4 event starts at 6 p.m. with vendors, live music, and fireworks visible after dark; First Street, Riverside Drive. Fireworks show hosted by Gadsden-Etowah Patriots at Riverwalk Park at Coosa Landing, 108 North Hood Avenue

River’s Edge Presents The Tiki Hut

It’s here! It’s one of the first signs that lake season has officially arrived on Logan Martin. The ever-popular River’s Edge Marina, featuring Tiki Hut and Burgers & Breakfast, opens May 3, Saturday and Sundays only. Friday nights will come back the first week of June. 

Hours for Saturday and Sunday will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Fridays, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Last call is at 8:30 p.m. Manager Michael Emerick noted that on Friday nights, “we will have either a band, Bingo or maybe even Karaoke!”

The new building that houses the marina and River’s Edge Burgers & Breakfast made its debut along with an expanded and renovated Tiki Hut in 2024. “It was a very great year for us. People seemed to love the building. We were able to cook faster with our bigger fryers and grills. The flow seemed a lot better, and we had a lot of positive feedback that we are looking forward to growing off of in 2025,” Emerick said.

Fun at 2024 season kickoff

“We saw huge growth in 2024, and we hope to build off that. We think the new building and the positivity surrounding The Tiki Hut is something great and definitely helped boost our day-to-day.” 

For the 2025 season, “we are actually renovating the Tiki Hut once again. This bar renovation will make for smoother and faster ordering, we hope, along with more machines. We will now have two Bushwacker machines. We have upgraded the Blue Hawaiian machine to keep up with the demand, along with the Pina Colada machine. We are officially bringing back Frose on an every weekend basis.”

Plans call for adding a small area inside the Tiki Hut to serve as the “Beer and Mixed Drink” Bar so the main bar can focus on the frozen drinks, “and you can snag your beer or mixed drinks from its own place,” he said. “We hope this helps the line and keeps drinks flowing.”

Another huge draw is the creation of Tiki Hut Jr. “This is something we are very excited about. Previously, we served Virgin drinks for the kids out of the Tiki Hut. We will be removing those from the main bar and putting them in its own dedicated ‘non-alcoholic’ bar underneath the building,” which is a covered patio with plenty of seating, he said.

Tiki Hut Jr. will serve Virgin Drinks, Ice Cream, Sodas, snacks and will be the main location for apparel sales. It may also serve a few more items.

During Halloween’s Boo Bash event

Also on tap as a new addition this year is a self-serve kiosk, where you can order food off of it downstairs at the Tiki Hut Jr., which Emerick hopes will “eliminate the line and starts faster ordering processes for people so they can enjoy all the things we have to offer while they wait on their food as such as our swim area, playground, games, music, and more.”

Other changes at the marina include wet slips for the boat parking, which will have about 10 more slips this year for parking.

The summer kickoff is the weekend before Memorial Day weekend, May 17. It will feature three bands performing, starting at 3 p.m. BuckWIld Band is headlining the event. Tyler Nichols Band is in the middle slot, and David Howard from Kudzu is opening with a solo. This event is presented by ABC Towing, and sponsored by Capps Painting, A Plus Tire & Auto, Woods Surfside Marina, Stone Concepts and ERA King. 

“We do have some pretty special events planned or in the planning,” Emerick says. Memorial Day Weekend, Cruisin performs on Saturday, and then Kudzu on Sunday. These performances will be from 12 noon to 4 p.m. on a small stage. 

On opening day, May 3, Skiers Marine will be hosting an in-water boat show at the marina. 

“We do not have an exact date, but we are working with the Birmingham Homebuilders Association to plan a poker run that leaves from the marina with maybe a small band after the event at the Tiki Hut. This will be sometime in June,” according to Emerick.

On June 28, they will be sponsoring the annual Dam-Palooza, a boat tie-up near Logan Martin Dam, by supplying a band on top of a houseboat. “We will have 90 Proof performing for us, with DJIV doing the DJ music between sets,” he says. 

Of course, no summer season is complete without fireworks. July 5 will be its annual fireworks show event with bounce houses, snow cones, bands and more. The event starts at 6:30 p.m. with fireworks at “dark:30.”

Plans also call for sponsoring Boo Bash in October and hosting a special event in conjunction with the dock-to-dock trick-or-treating activities.

Coosa Riverkeeper: Swim Guide

Do you know where it’s safe to swim on the Coosa River?

Summer is just around the bend which means that pretty soon folks will begin jumping into their favorite swimming holes around the Coosa! Check out Coosa Riverkeeper’s website or social media every Friday to see the latest water quality results each week of the summer, starting the week before Memorial Day, for our summer Swim Guide program so that you and your family can make informed decisions on where it’s safe to swim.

Swim Guide is our organization’s water quality monitoring alert service that we conduct each summer since 2015! Samples are collected from all around the watershed, delivered to our office lab, processed and analyzed, and then we issue alerts based on the E. coli levels we detected in our samples. We issue these alerts using a simple green, yellow, or red indicator meaning that if we detect elevated levels of E. coli in the waterway above the safe swimming limit for humans, we issue a yellow or red alert depending on how high the E. coli is elevated in a particular sample.

We’ve got a great team of Environmental Technicians this year that are all ready to gather this important water quality data across 50 sampling sites. Our Environmental Technicians play a vital role in conducting this program as they serve as our “boots on the ground” and process these samples for staff to report to the public on Fridays. We hope we see y’all out on the river this summer, and give a wave if you see one of our Environmental Technicians out and about around the river!

No one should have to gamble with their health when it comes to splashing in the river! That’s why we conduct this program each year, every week of the summer, so that you and your community can make informed decisions on where you choose to recreate. Check out where we test and learn more about what our data means by following our social media or visiting our website at CoosaRiver.org/SwimGuide!

LEARN MORE AT COOSARIVER.ORG/SwimGuide

Follow Coosa Riverkeeper on Facebook & Instagram @CoosaRiverkeeper
For more information, swim over to www.CoosaRiver.org.

See you down at the dam

Logan Martin Dam Palooza boat tie-up returns June 28

It has been a dozen years since someone had the idea of a nontraditional get-together at Logan Martin Dam. It would be a boat tie-up, where boats tie to one another and enjoy the day on the lake – in the water, on their boats, on floats and mats, or from boat to boat.

It has become one giant floating party, and it’s returning June 28, when organizers are taking the 12th Annual Logan Martin Dam Palooza to the next level.

Live music by 90 Proof will entertain, and DJIV will be playing the tunes between sets. Sponsors of the free event are Tiki Hut and ABC Towing.

While organizers want everyone to enjoy the day at the dam, there are some reminders and guidelines that will ensure exactly that.

Here they are:

  • Have a responsible boat captain in charge of the boat and the safety of your crew
  • Bring enough ropes to properly secure your boat to your neighbor’s if you plan to tie up to the line of boats.
  • Have sufficient bumpers for the size and type of your boat.
  • Bring an anchor sufficient for the size boat you are operating. Wind will determine which way we toss anchors but please have one.
  • When approaching, please be aware of people in the water and the line of boats tied together. Any waves caused by your boat approaching can cause damage or disrupt the fun everyone else is trying to have.
  • Turn off music when approaching so any help offered for your docking can be heard, and you can easily be tied up.
  • Note there will be all ages attending this float so please refrain from any music that may be offensive to the little ones. We will have the loudest stereo(s) on the lake with us and will try to play general music everyone can enjoy but this is not a competition, if you want to play your music for a while we will let you.
  • We set up a swim area between the boats with big pads and ropes, etc., so please be aware of this area when coming and going.
  • Don’t be ‘that guy!’ When approaching, stop well before you get to the tie up and get your bumpers in place, ropes tied and ready to throw and turn the music down, so everyone can hear the captain’s commands.
  • This is an opportunity to make new friends on the lake and enjoy the day together. When someone approaches your boat, help them tie up safely and securely. If you are approaching, be considerate of who you are tying to, and have all of your bumpers and ropes ready. Return the favor for who ties to your boat.

“We hope to see everyone down at the dam,” organizers say with a final message: “Everyone be safe!”

On Eagles’ Wings

Bald eagles thrive on the Coosa

Story by Roxann Edsall
Submitted photos from Alabama Outdoors

Top photo by Cathy Flynn

Katie Faught had no plans to take up photography. That is, until she moved to Logan Martin Lake almost six years ago. In that time, she says, she’s seen so many beautiful sights that she just had to pick up a camera and start shooting. Her lenses capture the images of osprey, hawks, and eagles that nest and fish the waters of the Coosa River.

“I got my first Nikon camera and first telephoto lens five years ago and started getting serious about it,” says Faught. “We live in the slough by Knox Landing in Pell City. We have bald eagles and osprey that both nest nearby.” She photographs them just outside her house when the water is down. When the water comes back up, she and her husband, Brian, head out by boat to look for them.

For Faught and other eagle enthusiasts, there is good news. There will be more sightings of bald eagles around Logan Martin Lake, as their numbers nationwide and in Alabama continue to rise. According to Robyn Miller, director of Auburn University’s Raptor Center, there are about 100 nesting pairs of bald eagles in Alabama.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) oversees a program called the “mid-winter bald eagle survey,” a joint effort by many state and federal environmental agencies that annually tracks the location of eagles across the U.S. Dylan Shaw is a biologist in environmental affairs for Alabama Power and participates in the survey each year.

“We have been a part of that effort since 1993,” Shaw explains. “We track the eagles on the Coosa River on a rotating basis over a three-year period, surveying the upper Coosa on Neely Henry, the middle Coosa on Logan Martin, and the lower Coosa on Lay, Mitchell and Jordan lakes.  Logan Martin was surveyed in 2024 and Neely Henry in 2023.” That survey revealed at least 15 bald eagles on Logan Martin and five on Neely Henry.

Eagle and osprey in flight Photo by Katie Wade Faught

The numbers could be much higher, though, since the crews only survey from the water. “We take crews and survey the entire shoreline with about six observers searching with binoculars,” Shaw continued. “It’s all done in one day, and it’s just a snapshot. It reflects the minimum numbers that exist but really indicates that there are many eagles on our lakes.”

It took a special effort to bring bald eagles back to Alabama. In 1985, according to Chris Sykes, executive director of the Alabama Wildlife Center, there were no nesting pairs in our state. “There was a big push by the Alabama Department of Conservation,” Sykes said, “and between 1984 and 1991, they released 91 juvenile bald eagles into Alabama wild lands.”

Logan Martin resident Barnett Lawley was a part of Alabama’s efforts to repopulate the bald eagle when he served as the state’s commissioner of conservation under Governor Bob Riley from 2003 to 2011. He remembers participating in a program in conjunction with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that relocated eaglets to Alabama from Alaska and Florida, states where the species was abundant.

Specialized biologists would remove some young birds from nests in those two states, transport them to Alabama and put them into large, enclosed habitats referred to as “hacking stations.”

“I don’t remember exactly how many, but the hacking stations were all over the state,” says Lawley. “The young birds were fed by humans but would never see the hands that were feeding them. They thrived and would begin to test their wings. They would fly out of the station and come back. They would do that many times and when a bird left and didn’t come back, you’d know it was looking for a mate.”

Each year, conservationists and biologists would survey the state to look for bald eagle nests. “U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provided a small airplane so we could use it in our department,” adds Lawley. “We’d take it to do the yearly bald eagle surveys, and when we were doing other projects and saw a nest, we would put that location in the GPS, too. By the time the program ended, we had identified the locations of over 100 nests.”

Success story

The comeback of the bald eagle from near extinction is largely considered one of the most notable victories in the conservation world. In 1963, there were only 417 nesting pairs of bald eagles known to exist in the lower 48 states.

Fifteen years later, they were listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. The protections under that act, coupled with the banning of the synthetic pesticide DDT by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, created more favorable conditions for the birds, and their populations began to increase. By 2007, they were no longer listed as endangered.

The same favorable conditions that other anglers enjoy have helped bald eagles thrive on the Coosa. The coves and inlets provide many favorite fishing spots, and since fish is the primary food in a bald eagle’s diet, there’s every reason to love lake life. Small rodents, turtles and waterfowl can also fall victim to the talons of a hungry eagle, though they prefer an easier meal.

Eagles are opportunistic hunters and will steal another bird’s catch when they can. One of Katie Faught’s favorite photos, captured a few years ago, involved an egret who experienced just such a loss to an eagle.

“I call the series, ‘Lose Your Dinner,’” Faust laughs. “It was one of the most incredible experiences I’ve ever had. I was photographing the egret who had caught dinner and was on the beach with his fish. Suddenly he flew off. I started to follow him with my camera, but then, for some reason, I looked back at the beach, and an eagle was there with the fish. He was eating the fish, swallows the head, then looks right at me. It just captured me. I was spellbound in that moment.”

The plentiful food supply and the abundance of tall, sturdy trees in which to build nests provides all that is necessary for eagles to thrive on Logan Martin and Neely Henry. Bald eagles are a migratory or semi-migratory species but always return to within 100 miles of the nest where they fledged.

“Birds only need nests for babies,” explains Sykes. “Outside of breeding season, birds just sleep in trees. Bald eagles come back because their nests are so durable, and it’s just easier to go back to that nest than to build a new one. Sometimes they may take a break from that one if it gets too dirty. They’ll let nature clean it up, then return another year.”

Up close and personal

Mike Wadsworth, owner of Wadsworth Blueberry Farm, has a bird’s eye view of a bald eagle’s nest on his property just off U.S. 231 South in Cropwell. The nesting pair, who showed up with their juvenile fledgling after the 2011 tornado that touched down near the Logan Martin dam, have returned every year since. 

His family has watched them add to their nest or build one nearby each breeding season. “The other day I saw them working on it. They sometimes bring a limb so big they must work together to get it in,” Wadsworth says.

Bald eagles have a strong pair bond and will usually mate for life. And while they often return to the same nest each year for the breeding season, sometimes they have another nest nearby that they choose to use for a season or two.

Photo by Katie Wade Faught

They will add to the nest each year to make repairs and make it stronger. In doing so, the nests grow larger and heavier, some as large as eight feet wide and weighing more than one ton. The weight of the nest, coupled with strong winds can sometimes break the tree or compromise the nest.

“The first year they nested here, they raised three fledglings,” recalls Wadsworth. “It was great to see how they strengthened their wings. They had three fledglings, and the third one didn’t want to hop out of the nest. The parent on the nest at the time was just fussing at the bird. It would cock its head and step toward it. It reminded me of a parent going after the teenage son who wasn’t doing right.”

Later, he watched as the birds hopped from limb to limb, a strength-building behavior called branching.

Wadsworth says he has learned a lot in the 14 years of having bald eagle neighbors. What surprised him most was the way bald eagles constantly talk to each other. Adults will call out in a scream, chatter or peal to each other, depending on what the circumstances dictate.

“They talk off and on, day and night,” says Wadsworth. “I can hear one of them call and look out across the lake toward River Oaks. That’s a good fishing spot. And you can see the juvenile coming home when he hears the call.”

Eagles’ nests have been spotted on Logan Martin near River Oaks, near the dam, near Riverside and near Ogletree Island. “I’ve tried to get photos of the ones near Ogletree Island,” said Faught. “I finally got pictures of two bald eagles not far from there. They were sitting on a plateau in the water, having just finished their dinner.”

Recognizing the difference

Being able to identify an eagle takes practice. Often osprey and hawks are misidentified as eagles and vice versa. Raptor Center’s Miller says identifying eagles can be tricky, especially with juveniles.

“We often think of bald eagles with distinctive white heads,” Miller explains, “but it takes four to five years for them to get their fully white feathers. Juveniles are uniformly brown and are commonly thought to be golden eagles. Bald eagles also have bald legs, while golden eagles are considered a booted species, meaning they have feathers that go all the way down to their feet.”

Eagles are quite large, weighing between seven and 10 pounds, with a wingspan of up to seven feet. They can be up to 40 inches tall, with males being slightly smaller than the females. Mature bald eagles have white heads and white tails, with yellow legs and feet and a bulky yellow beak.

An osprey is not as big and has a lot of white and brown colorations. Hawks have a shorter wingspan, with rounded wings and broad tails, as opposed to eagles who have straighter wings and longer tails.

Identifying the presence of nesting eagles is important because there are special precautions to take to protect the national bird. According to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, property building or tree cutting should be limited to permitted activities and not during breeding season.

Ideally, less human disturbance is best for these creatures that are protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

“I talk to people all over the world,” says Faught of her photography contacts. “They are aghast that I can walk out my door and get pictures of these beautiful birds. The bad part is that I haven’t had to learn the extreme patience that so many photographers have had to.”

For the rest of us, enjoying the beauty of the bald eagles on the lake is just a time to live in the moment, unless you’re fast enough to grab your phone or your camera before they’ve soared away into a nearby tree or on down the river. But what a beautiful moment it is.

Editor’s Note: To report a bald eagle’s nest, contact the Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division’s bald eagle coordinator (334) 242-3469.To report an injured bird, contact Game Warden Jason Bassett (256) 510-2467.