Freshwater Land Trust Acquires 2,115 Acres in Alabama
The conservation easement near Blount Springs expands protected land in the Locust Fork watershed.
Updated on Nov. 14, 2026 in Environmental
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The Freshwater Land Trust acquired about 2,115 acres through a conservation easement near Blount Springs, announced at its 30th anniversary gala. The property contains forests, streams and caves and supports rare fish, mussel and snail species, some federally listed as endangered.
Why it matters
The acquisition boosts the trust's total protected acreage to more than 15,000 acres across 14 counties and aims to preserve water quality in the Locust Fork and Mulberry Fork watersheds. The trust was founded after Jefferson County's aging sewer system discharged raw sewage into the Cahaba and Black Warrior rivers.
The acquisition of about 2,115 acres brings the trust's protected land to more than 15,000 acres in 14 counties, toward a stated goal of 50,000 acres across Central Alabama. The easement's financial terms and the timeline for reaching that goal were not disclosed.
The players
Freshwater Land Trust
A Central Alabama land conservation organization founded in 1996 through a consent decree over wastewater pollution, which now protects more than 15,000 acres across 14 counties.
Bezos Earth Fund
A philanthropic initiative founded by Jeff Bezos that funds climate and nature conservation projects around the world.
The details
The property near Blount Springs lies in the Locust Fork watershed and contains forests, streams and caves that support rare fish, mussel and snail species. The land was protected through a voluntary, legally binding conservation easement that the trust announced at its 30th anniversary gala.
Timeline
Early 1990s: Jefferson County's sewer system discharged raw sewage into the Cahaba and Black Warrior rivers.
1996: The Freshwater Land Trust was founded through a consent decree following litigation against Jefferson County.
November 13, 2026: The trust announced the acquisition, its largest to date, at its 30th anniversary gala.
Legal Context
The Freshwater Land Trust was created in 1996 through a consent decree after Jefferson County's sewer system discharged raw sewage into regional rivers. The 2,115-acre acquisition continues that watershed-protection mission, now reaching across a broader region of Central Alabama.
Residents in Central Alabama may gain access to protected land and trail networks as the trust expands conservation areas. The planned 36-mile Red Rock Trail System loop would connect six cities and three large green spaces, including Red Mountain, Railroad and Ruffner Mountain parks.
The takeaway
Protecting watershed land is one of the most direct ways to safeguard local water quality and the rare species that depend on it. Residents can support such efforts by visiting trails and green spaces their communities maintain.
Further reading
For more on regional habitat protection, explore Environmental coverage across the state.
Source note: This article includes information reported by BirminghamWatch.
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