Environmental Educator to Speak on "Creek Walking in Birmingham – Shades Creek and Its Major Urban Tributaries," at BPL on May 3

 

What: "Creek Walking in Birmingham – Shades Creek and Its Major Urban Tributaries"

When: Saturday May 3, 2025, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. 

Where: Central Library's BPL Research Library, 4th Floor, Arrington Auditorium, 2100 Park Place 

On May 3 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Central Library downtown, Birmingham environmental educator James Lowery will share his findings on the environmental state of metro Birmingham's Shades Creek. His talk, "Creek Walking in Birmingham – Shades Creek and Its Major Urban Tributaries," is being presented by the Birmingham Public Library's Department of Archives & Manuscripts.

Lowery is a retiree from an administrative position at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and considers himself an amateur scientist. He is involved in environmental education and is a member of several Boards of Directors, Advisory Councils and Commissions, including ones related to environmental education, water quality monitoring, river protection (Alabama Rivers Alliance), and science research. 

Since the Summer of 2005 during periods of low water, Lowery has been walking in sections of Shades Creek and its three major urban tributaries in the Birmingham area. By walking in the creeks, Lowery has  observed first-hand the dynamics of the creeks and what has been done to them in the urban environment. He has also researched the things that people have thrown into the creeks or that have washed in through storm drains, and the impact on wildlife living in and around the creeks.

Lowery's program will present his findings, will show what the 3 major urban tributaries of Shades Creek look like, and will talk about some of the “strange” things he has found in the creeks. 

For mor information, email or call Connor Marullo, BPL Assistant Archivist, at connor.marullo@cobpl.org or 205-226-3630. For details,  click here  

By Connor Marullo, Assistant Archivist, BPL Department of Archives & Manuscripts