$16,036.72

Cahaba Riverkeeper – Nitrate Probe

Donations to Cahaba Riverkeeper funded the purchase of a nitrate probe to expand year-round water quality monitoring throughout the Cahaba River watershed. Support covered equipment costs and allowed staff to begin monthly testing at sites spanning the 194-mile river and its major tributaries. With this tool, Cahaba Riverkeeper is able to respond more quickly to citizen pollution complaints, track seasonal nitrate trends, and identify sources of contamination. The probe’s data created a stronger scientific foundation for protecting the river, providing researchers, agencies, and communities with information needed to safeguard aquatic ecosystems and public health.

Coosa Riverkeepers – Restoration and Water Quality Programs

Funds to Coosa Riverkeepers powered its Restoration Program, which advanced on-the-ground projects to protect and restore the Coosa River watershed. Funding supported a wide range of efforts, from Rocky Shoals Spider Lily restoration and eDNA sampling in Weogufka Creek, to stream crossing assessments and dam removal advocacy. Contributions also strengthened partnerships and volunteer programs, ensuring more capacity to respond quickly to habitat needs. With these resources, Coosa HQ was able to put more “boots in the water,” expand its science-based restoration work, and lay the foundation for long-term ecological recovery in the watershed. Additionally funding was used to purchase and maintain a dissolved oxygen meter for Coosa Riverkeeper’s water quality monitoring program. This tool allowed staff and citizen scientists to gather reliable data below hydropower dams and in other sensitive locations where oxygen levels are critical for fish and aquatic life. Contributions covered the equipment, calibration supplies, and maintenance costs, ensuring the meter could be deployed regularly and opportunistically. The data collected strengthened Coosa Riverkeeper’s ability to hold agencies accountable, track long-term water quality trends, and advocate for healthier flows throughout the river system.

KERR County Releif Found- Texas Floods 

After the devastating floods in Texas on July 4, Alabama Beer Co. and the DRIFT Fund Committee stepped in to help however we could. The DRIFT Fund was created to support river advocacy and protection across Alabama — but when disaster struck, we knew that community has no boundaries. We asked our Alabama friends to join us in supporting the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund, operated by the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country. The fund provided rescue, relief, and rebuilding assistance for those affected by the floods. The DRIFT Fund made the first donation, and together, our community helped Texans recover and rebuild.

Huntsville Environment Coalition – HEAT Program

Funding supported the Huntsville Environment Coalition’s HEAT (Huntsville Education and Action for Transition) program, which worked with restaurants across the city to cut down on single-use plastics and food waste. Contributions were used to create outreach campaigns, develop training sessions, and provide restaurants with composting and waste-reduction resources. These efforts helped local businesses shift to reusable or compostable alternatives for takeout containers, straws, and utensils. By equipping the food service industry with sustainable tools, the program reduced the amount of plastic entering Huntsville’s waterways and landfills, while building momentum toward the city’s long-term sustainability goals.

Village Creek Society – Creek Report Card

Support for Village Creek Society made possible the development of a community “report card” for Village Creek, designed and implemented by student intern Kennedy Brown. Funding covered staff time, printing, and distribution so that the report card could reach residents and educate them about both the challenges facing Village Creek and the opportunities for restoration and recreation it provides. The project gave community members a clear, accessible tool for understanding the health of their watershed, while also helping Village Creek Society engage more volunteers and partners.

Sallie’s Ashes – Film Completion

Funding was applied toward the finishing costs of the short documentary Sallie’s Ashes, which tells the story of 80-year-old Sallie Smith and her fellow Alabama grandmothers who organized to remove a toxic coal ash pit threatening Mobile Bay. Contributions specifically covered music licensing and final production steps, making it possible for the film to premiere across major festivals. With this support, the filmmakers were able to bring Sallie’s inspiring fight for environmental justice to a national audience, amplifying both the personal story of resilience and the broader call for coal ash accountability in Alabama.