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Helena
Eden Index
Climate
7.5
•
Recreation
5.1
•
Community
4.0
•
Safeguard
5.8/10
Helena is a city in Shelby County, Alabama with a humid subtropical climate characterized by hot summers and mild winters. The city has several water bodies, including Buck Creek, Cahaba River, and Shades Creek. The Cahaba River is home to diverse aquatic life and is a popular spot for fishing, kayaking, and canoeing. Helena also has several parks and green spaces, including Helena Amphitheater Park and Joe Tucker Park, which offer opportunities for hiking, biking, and picnicking. The city also has a golf course, the Ballantrae Golf Club, which is a popular destination for golf enthusiasts. However, the water quality of some of these water bodies has been affected by pollutants such as nitrogen and phosphorus, which can lead to harmful algal blooms and impact aquatic life.
What is the Eden Index?
The Snoflo Eden Index serves as a comprehensive rating system for regions, evaluating their desirability through a holistic assessment of climate health, outdoor recreation opportunities, and natural disaster risk, acknowledging the profound impact of these factors on livability and well-being.
Climate Health Indicator (CHI): 7.5
Helena receives approximately
1432mm of rain per year,
with humidity levels near 86%
and air temperatures averaging around
17°C.
Helena has a plant hardyness factor of
8, meaning
plants and agriculture in this region tend to thrive here all year round.
By considering the ideal temperature range, reliable water supplies, clean air, and stable seasonal rain or snowpacks, the Climate Health Indicator (CHI) underscores the significance of a healthy climate as the foundation for quality living.
A healthy climate is paramount for ensuring a high quality of life and livability in a region, fostering both physical well-being and environmental harmony. This can be characterized by ideal temperatures, reliable access to water supplies, clean air, and consistent seasonal rain or snowpacks.
Weather Forecast
Streamflow Conditions
Alabama
Area Rivers
Alabama
Snowpack Depths
Alabama
Reservoir Storage Capacity
Alabama
Groundwater Levels
Recreational Opportunity Index (ROI): 5.1
The Recreational Opportunity Index (ROI) recognizes the value of outdoor recreational options, such as parks, hiking trails, camping sites, and fishing spots, while acknowledging that climate plays a pivotal role in ensuring the comfort and consistency of these experiences.
Access to outdoor recreational opportunities, encompassing activities such as parks, hiking, camping, and fishing, is crucial for overall well-being, and the climate plays a pivotal role in enabling and enhancing these experiences, ensuring that individuals can engage in nature-based activities comfortably and consistently.
Camping Areas
| Campground | Campsites | Reservations | Toilets | Showers | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackwater River State Park | None | 28 ft | |||
| Paul M Grist State Park | 11 | 337 ft | |||
| Clear Creek RV Military - Fort Knox | 10 | 141 ft | |||
| Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park | 300 | 435 ft | |||
| Sherling Lake City Park | 41 | 440 ft | |||
| Jones Bluff | None | 136 ft | |||
| Brierfield Ironworks Historical Park | None | 358 ft | |||
| Six Mile Creek | None | 110 ft | |||
| Prairie Creek | 40 | 135 ft | |||
| Hurlburt Field Military | None | 13 ft |
Nearby Ski Areas
Catastrophe Safeguard Index (CSI):
The Catastrophe Safeguard Index (CSI) recognizes that natural disaster risk, encompassing floods, fires, hurricanes, and tornadoes, can drastically affect safety and the overall appeal of an area.
The level of natural disaster risk in a region significantly affects safety and the overall livability, with climate change amplifying these risks by potentially increasing the frequency and intensity of events like floods, fires, hurricanes, and tornadoes, thereby posing substantial challenges to community resilience and well-being.
Community Resilience Indicator (CRI): 4.0
The Community Resilience Indicator (CRI) recognizes that education, healthcare, and socioeconomics are crucial to the well-being of a region. The CRI acknowledges the profound impact of these elements on residents' overall quality of life. By evaluating educational resources, healthcare accessibility, and economic inclusivity, the index captures the essential aspects that contribute to a thriving community, fostering resident satisfaction, equity, and social cohesion.