Birmingham Waterways to Benefit from Five Star Grants

Three Birmingham-area waterways will see environmental improvements, thanks to grants from the Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Program.

Turkey and Village creeks in Jefferson County and Shoal Creek in Shelby County will benefit from the grants, which will help reduce erosion and aid water quality, among other improvements.

“These projects will engage multiple organizations, students, community leaders and other partners in helping preserve and improve some of the most important creeks in the Birmingham region,” said Susan Comensky, Alabama Power’s vice president for Environmental Affairs.

“The projects also provide a great opportunity to build public awareness about these waterways and the need to protect them.”

One of the three Birmingham-area projects receiving 2016 Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration grants is the City of Montevallo’s cleanup program.

This scheme will include restoration and protection of Shoal Creek through dredging, removing invasive plants and replanting native species.

A student-produced plant identification booklet will help volunteers in the restoration and educate the public about the importance of native plantings to help control erosion.

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