Wellness and Outdoors

Our organization is invested in ecotourism and the sustainability of healthy and vibrant lands and waters in North Alabama.

Leave No Trace

We’ve partnered with Leave No Trace, which “provides research, education, and initiatives so every person who ventures outside can protect and enjoy our world responsibly.” We joined with Leave No Trace because with so many people getting outdoors during the pandemic there was more and more trash being left behind at some of our most beautiful outdoor attractions. Leave No Trace will help us with spreading the message of the importance of being good stewards of our land, and the organization will help us train our North Alabama Ambassadors to help with this effort as well.

Wheeler Lake Cleanup Nets over 1700 Pounds of Trash

Decatur, Ala. (October 3, 2023) – This past weekend, volunteers gathered at Point Mallard Park to participate in the Clean Up for the Cranes/Wheeler Lake cleanup organized by the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association (AMLA) and Decatur Morgan County Tourism. A total of 1,742 pounds of trash was removed from and along Wheeler Lake and the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge during the event which took place Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023. The effort was a volunteer event designed to help clean Wheeler Lake while raising awareness of its recreational impact to north Alabama.  

Approximately 40 people gathered Saturday along the shores of Wheeler Lake and within the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge and pulled litter, a wooden captain's steering wheel, wire fencing, furniture, a mattress, glass, debris and other junk from the water and surrounding area. “We wanted to give back by organizing a cleanup at one of our popular North Alabama lakes. The cleanup will help preserve wildlife habitat and protect our natural resources for future generations to enjoy. We also hope to raise awareness about the problem of litter, not just here in north Alabama, but in all of our cities and communities throughout the state,” stated AMLA President and CEO Tami Reist. 

Bringing in the most trash of was the Priceville FFA who collected 518 pounds of trash. Collecting 491 pounds of trash, second place went to employees and volunteers from Yedla Management Company. Third place was awarded to a joint group of volunteers from AMLA and Decatur Morgan County Tourism.

Coordinated by AMLA and Decatur Morgan County Tourism, the Clean Up for the Cranes/Wheeler Lake cleanup was made possible by a 2022 Action Grant from the Hilton Global Foundation (HGF). HGF Action Grants are awarded to local organizations that have demonstrated a meaningful commitment to destination stewardship by improving travel destinations and creating a positive impact on the people and communities they serve. The 2022 HGF Action Grants are focused on the theme of Destination Stewardship, initiatives that improve travel destinations and positively impact the environment.

Corporate Partnership with Outdoor Writer Associations 

Alabama Mountain Lakes has a partnership with The Outdoor Writers Association of America (OWAA) and The Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA). These association's media members specialize in stories about conservation issues, traditional outdoor sports like fishing, hunting, camping and boating via newspapers, magazines, radio, television and the Internet.

Alabama Bass Trail

The Alabama Bass Trail is a cooperative effort between the Governor’s office, the Alabama Tourism Department, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association.