SUNDAY, JULY 6, 2014 |
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THE TUSCALOOSA NEWS
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Birmingham 78EL;0 A train trestle crosses over the Cahaba River. H?=>J JEF0 Water pours over the dam at Buck Creek near Helena. H?=>J 8EJJEC0 David Butler holds a baby toad he found while canoeing on the Cahaba River. Butler owns and operates Canoe
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Pop. 17,200
Vestavia
Used by Union troops invading in 1865
Became the town of Cove in 1845 but was renamed ‘Helena’ in 1865 after Helen Lee, girlfirend of Pete Boyle who named the town.
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Billy Gould Mines abandoned Railroad abandoned 1908. Now in the river
Area at one time inhabited by the Creek Indians Helena-Blocton mines supplied coke to Selma
Buck Creek
280 Hoover 261
Oak Mountain
Grist Mill
Morgan Rd.
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1933: F4 tornado destroyed most of the town
Helena
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Living River Retreat on the Cahaba
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Canoe rental: starting at $25 per person (longer trips may be more)
Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge
Kayak rental: starting at $35 per person (longer trips may be more) Shuttle service only: starting at $10 per person Rentals include: Canoe/Kayak, shuttle service, life jackets and paddles
JEF B;<J0 Canoe the Cahaba is an outdoor recreational business
8EJJEC B;<J0 Paddles are seen at Canoe the Cahaba. JEF H?=>J0 Old downtown Helena sits on the banks of Buck Creek which feeds into the Cahaba River.
8EJJEC H?=>J0 David Butler holds up a crawfish he found under a
Items not to bring: Glass bottles, styrofoam coolers, flimsy flip flops For more information: Call David Butler 205-874-5623
Natural experience
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Butler said his main goal is to introduce his customers to nature. “Everything is geared around experiencing the natural space of the river,” he said. “We really try hard to space people out so that they can see the turtles and snakes and fish and deer.” Although Butler said he has had to turn people away in an attempt to keep proper spacing, he is “willing to make less money
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Source: Outdoorfoundation.org
focused on canoeing and kayaking along the Cahaba River and Buck Creek.
Items to bring: Plenty of water, dry storage option (for electronics), good pair of water shoes
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Rates per person
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West Blocton
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The “5-miler” is a course that starts at Helena’s Buck Creek Amphitheater and winds down to the Canoe the Cahaba center at the intersection of Morgan Road and the Cahaba River. Butler said, “This portion of the river is something that anyone can do,” and he encourages families to take the trip together. “It’s more of a relaxing trip than a workout.” Historian Ken Penhale, operator of the Helena Museum, said he’s glad to see people coming in from other places to visit a part of a river that he grew up on. Penhale says the river is an integral part of the city of Helena and its history, pointing out that the 5-miler launching point, Buck Creek, was originally a dam that powered the local grist mill and is also the location of the first documented sighting of the Cahaba Lily. Butler said the 5-miler can take between three hours to five hours. “It’s really up to you,” he said. In addition to the 5-miler, Canoe the Cahaba also offers longer trips that span most of the 190-mile river (ending south of West Blocton) and can last for two days. “These are a little more of a workout,” Butler said.
While Butler said he is happy to run a business bringing people closer to nature, he is also a strong advocate for the preservation of the Cahaba and the surrounding areas. He is affiliated with many eco-friendly to create a better experience.” groups and said he enjoys helping whenever Myra Crawford, founder and president of he can, particularly giving tours to donors. Cahaba Riverkeeper, a member organization “Showing donors where their money is goof the national Waterkeeper ing provides them a look at Alliance, said she is happy something tangible,” he said. with the work that Butler “It’s a valuable component for has done. asking for donations” he Shown are the percentages of “Anytime you can bring said. Americans ages 6 and up who attention to the river, it’s an Not only does Butler offer canoed at least once during a b s ol u t e l y wo n d e r f u l river transportation to donors, 4.0 the year. 3.4% he also provides that service thing,” Crawford said, adding that there is no one betto his fellow preservationists. 3.5 ter than Butler to provide Crawford said Butler helps the these trips. “Dave knows Waterkeeper Alliance collect 3.0 more about the Cahaba water samples from the river, 3.3% than anyone I know,” Crawan effort Crawford said is 2.5 ford said. aimed at ensuring “the integWhile Crawford said she rity of the river.” 2.0 is excited about more peoButler and Crawford agree ple coming out to enjoy the that things are looking up for 1.5 river, she stressed that visthe Cahaba, but that there is itors need to respect the still a long way to go. river and keep it clean. ButCrawford said current memler and Crawford agreed bership levels of the Waterthat this river is something keeper Alliance are low and to be seen and apprecifunds are tight. When ecoated. nomic times are tough, the nonprofits really “I hope that people will take away a deep feel the pinch, she said, adding that the orand abiding appreciation and respect for the ganization hasn’t “rebounded from the recesfinite water recourses that we have,” Craw- sion.” ford said. While Crawford said she admires While Butler agrees that the resources are many of the other rivers of Alabama, she tight, he’s hopeful that there are more state boasts “the Cahaba is the longest free- resources coming. flowing river (without dams) in this state,” “The state of Alabama is waking up finally allowing it to harbor the to the value of the river,” he most diverse fish population said. of any other inland river in Butler said leaving Wall Alabama. Street to return to the Cahaba Shown are the 3% In the summer, Butler was a good decision. He percentages of said it’s better to go during doesn’t mind that he doesn’t Americans ages 6 the early morning or late afmake as much money as he and up who 2.5 kayaked at ternoon because “many of once did. least once the animals hide out during The trade-off, he said, are 3.6% during the extreme heat of the day.” the “stories and experiences 2.0 the But if you go in the afterthat I get to be a part of.” And, year. noon in Alabama, you may he said, referring to meeting run into storms. Butler said people who respect the river, 1.5 5 he tries his best to keep up “It has exposed me to a group with the forecast and won’t of people who have restored 1.6% put people out on the water my faith in humanity.” 1.0 0 if the threat of storms is high. Anthony Bratina is the Graphics Editor of The Tuscaloosa Rising trend News. Reach him at anthony. In a survey conducted by bratina@tuscaloosanews.com The Outdoor Foundation, or 205-722-0212. Source: Outdoorfoundation.org
be with my family.” Butler moved back to Alabama and took a part-time job with Alabama Small Boats, which offered canoe trips down the Cahaba. He earned a degree in journalism at the University of Alabama while working weekends on the river. Then, when the owners of Alabama Small Boats went out of business, they offered Butler a chance to buy it.
The ‘5-miler’
rock while canoeing.
the percentage of people in the U.S. who use canoes has risen just slightly since 2006, but the percentage of people who use kayaks has seen a 125 percent uptick during that same period. Butler said he has noticed the change as well and has also noticed that more people own boats, a trend he attributes to boat prices becoming more affordable. Initially, he said he thought that this would hurt his boat-rental business, but instead, he found that a lot of his rentals were going to people that already owned boats. Butler said, this is because his rental service includes the loading and shuttling that is required to canoe these rivers. He also said that the people who canoe or kayak these rivers serve as ambassadors for his business, telling friends about their experiences.