Refuge Facts:

• Established September 25, 2002.
• Size: Currently 3,414 acres. Total acquisition boundary is 7,300 acres.
• Complex Headquarters: Mountain Longleaf NWR, Anniston, Alabama.
• Location: Just north of the confluence of the Little Cahaba and Cahaba Rivers to just north of the Piper Bridge in Bibb County about four miles east of West Blocton, Alabama.

Natural History:

• The Cahaba River stretches for almost 200 miles and is Alabama’s longest free-flowing stream.
• The river currently supports 64 rare and imperiled plant and animal species, 13 of which are found nowhere else in the world.
• The 3.5 miles of river which are within the refuge boundary are extremely rich in species diversity and provide habitat for five federally listed threatened or endangered species.
• The rolling uplands surrounding the river are forested with longleaf and loblolly pines. Mixed upland hardwood species line ravines and the river's edge.

Refuge Objectives:

• Preserve and manage a unique section of the biologically
  significant Cahaba River.
• Protect and manage habitat for five federally listed species including the Cahaba shiner, goldline darter, round rocksnail, and cylindrical lioplax snail.
• Restore planted loblolly pine to native mountain longleaf pine.
• Develop and implement environmental education and interpretation programs focusing on ecosystem management and stewardship

Management Tools:

• Habitat restoration
• Community partnerships
• Law enforcement
• Education/interpretation
• Research

Public Use Opportunities:

• Wildlife observation
• Fishing
• Hiking
• Photography
• Canoeing
• Environmental education