The Coosa River Basin Initiative, New Belgium Brewing Co. and Eagle Rock Distributing are teaming up with Rome area restaurants to put some muscle into efforts to protect the Coosa River.

During the month of August, patrons of Paul’s Oyster Bar and Schroeder’s New Deli can make donations to CRBI by “Buying a Mussel to Keep My River Muscle” when they pay their tabs.

The effort is intended to publicize CRBI’s River Revelry—A Biodiversity Bash fundraiser set for Aug. 18 and to support CRBI’s efforts to protect the region’s drinking water sources and North America’s most biologically diverse river basin.

“Freshwater mussels are our rivers unsung heroes,” said Joe Cook, CRBI Executive Director & Riverkeeper. “They help keep our rivers clean by filtering nutrients out of the water. That helps the river’s fish and other critters and helps keep our drinking water sources cleaner.”

River Revelry—A Biodiversity Bash is a celebration for mussels and the river’s other special creatures. The event will be held at Heritage Park in Downtown Rome from 6-11 p.m. and will feature live music, silent and live auctions, beer from New Belgium Brewing Co. and Eagle Rock Distributing, wine from Barefoot Wine & Bubbly, Barbecue, the Blue Sky Outfitter Recycled Raft Race, a Cancer Navigator’s six-mile canoe and kayak trip, and the Seven Hills Rotary Club Ducky Derby. Paul’s Oyster Bar is located at 2901 Shorter Ave. in Rome. and Shroeder’s New Deli is located at 406 Broad St. in Rome.

CRBI is a 501c3 non profit organization and member of the international Waterkeeper Alliance. Its mission is to inform and empower citizens to protect, preserve and restore North America’s most biologically diverse river basin.

New Belgium Brewing Co. is a Ft. Collins, Colorado-based brewery that produces Fat Tire Ale and a host of other craft beers. Eagle Rock Distributing is a Stone Mountain and Dalton-based distributor of beer and other beverages.

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