Do you plan to play on area waterways over the weekend? The Coosa River Basin Initiative encourages you to make sure the water is safe for recreation via its 2026 Swim Guide.
Courtnee Davenport, Outreach Programs Manager, says that the non-profit is collecting water samples from 29 sites across the Coosa River Basin through Labor Day weekend, and those samples are tested for harmful E. coli.
Test results are posted every Friday at www.coosa.org. Green sites indicate “low” levels of E. coli and are suitable for recreation. Red sites have a “high” level of E. coli, and visitors should use extra caution or avoid that site.
Bacterial levels tend to rise with heavy rainfall, according to Davenport, who suggests waiting 24-48 hours after a rain event to go swimming in area lakes and rivers.
Water monitoring is just one of the objectives of the CRBI, whose mission is to protect, preserve, and restore the biologically diverse upper Coosa River basin. Visit the website to get more information and/or to join.
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