Friends of Shades Creek
Upcoming Events
January 9, 2020 – Shades Creek Watershed Management Plan, 7:00pm, Homewood Library, Rm. 101
January 25, 2020 – The Salamander Festival, 3:00 p.m., Shades Valley Community Church, 160 Oxmoor Rd.
January 25, 2020 – The Salamander Festival Hike, 2:00-3:00 p.m. Shades Valley Community Church, 160 Oxmoor Rd.
2020 Salamander Migration Notes are Here
Shades Creek Watershed Management Plan
Shades Creek is beautiful and beloved, yet has many challenges caused by urban runoff. The Nature Conservancy in Alabama (TNC) has taken leadership to develop a watershed plan to restore the Creek. The Shades Creek Watershed Management Plan uses EPA’s 9-step watershed management planning process. Friends of Shades Creek’s January meeting featured a consultant with TNC and began a process for citizens to get information and identify water quality issues within the watershed and propose restoration solutions. Find meeting slides and more watershed plan information.
Salamander Festival
The 16th Annual Salamander Festival takes place Saturday, January 25, 2020 in a larger venue this year at Shades Valley Community Church (SVCC) Click for Festival Location Map , 160 Oxmoor Rd. (Oxmoor Rd. and Oak Grove Road, next to Patriot Park) The festival is indoors, beginning at 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. A family, outdoor nature hike from 2:00-3:00 begins at SVCC. Inside activities include, seeing live salamanders, free arts and crafts including a clay salamander, fish prints, and origami. Enjoy blue grass music with “Over the Hillbillies,” the salamander story with herpetologist, Jay Eubanks, special dancing with Alessia Lovreglio from Edgewood Dance. New educational displays.
A fun family event. More details . . .
January Meeting – SC Watershed Plan
January 9, 2020 – 7:00-8:45 P.M.
Homewood Library, Room 101
Presentation by Courtney Reich, AICP, CFM, Stormwater consultant
The Nature Conservancy is facilitating work in Shades Creek and using EPA’s 9-step watershed management planning process. This stakeholder-driven process provides a mechanism for citizens . . . . Read more
“Shades Creek:Flowing Through Time”
Books are still available
It took over three years to write a book about Shades Creek. The Birmingham Historical Society consider this one of their most important publications to date, says Marjorie White, Birmingham Historical Society executive director. The book is available for $30. For book information click here.
Who is Mr. Shadey?
We’re learning a lot about Mr. Shadey. Click here to learn more. . .
2019 Shades Creek Fall Cleanup
The 2019 Fall Shades Creek Cleanup was a huge success with 5 pickup loads of trash removed from Shades Creek, creek banks, and a Shades Creek tributary. Friends of Shades Creek had sign-in stations at Samford University and Brookwood Village – Thank you to both organizations for your help in cleaning up our community. And thank you to the 140 volunteers that came out to help. More details and photos. . . .
Forest Planting with Centennial Trees
Centennial Tree seedlings are propagated from local seed sources of trees descended from the original native forest surrounding Shades Creek. The seedlings are being grown at Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Friends of Shades Creek conducts annual tree seedling plantings on the first Saturday in November in collaboration with Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Samford University and the City of Homewood Environmental Commission. More details. . .