Boating is very popular along the roughly 300 mile long Black Warrior River, which receives drainage from 6,276 square miles of watershed. The Black Warrior River watershed contains 16,145.98 miles of mapped water. While free-flowing tributaries in the watershed are frequented by canoeists and kayakers, motor boats more commonly use Smith Lake on the Sipsey Fork, Bankhead Lake (an impoundment of the Black Warrior by Bankhead Dam which reaches into the lower portions of the Locust and Mulberry Forks), Holt Lake (an impoundment of the Black Warrior by Holt Dam between Birmingham and Tuscaloosa), Lake Tuscaloosa on the North River, Oliver Lake (an impoundment of the Black Warrior by Oliver Dam in Tuscaloosa), Warrior Lake (an impoundment of the Black Warrior by Selden Dam in Eutaw), and Demopolis Lake (an impoundment of the Black Warrior and the Tombigbee by Demopolis Dam in Demopolis).
Black Warrior Riverkeeper encourages citizens to experience the watershed through recreational boating. Here are some online resources to help you enjoy boating in a fun and responsible manner:
From the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, you can purchase their hardbound navigation chart book, or download for free from here:
https://www.sam.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Navigation/Navigation-Charts/
For river cruising info, many cruisers use this book to find amenities along the river:
https://quimbyscruisingguide.com/buy-quimbys-guide/
Pirates of the Warrior / Boat Alabama (an organization which promotes safe boating and recreation on the Black Warrior River).
https://www.facebook.com/PiratesOfTheWarrior/
American Boating Association’s Clean Boating Program:
https://americanboating.org/clean.asp
MoBox Marine’s clean boating tips:
moboxmarine.com/blog/9-eco-friendly-boating-tips/
Notice pollution while boating? Report it to Black Warrior Riverkeeper:
blackwarriorriver.org/report-pollution
Click here for more information about other forms of recreation in the Black Warrior River watershed:
blackwarriorriver.org/recreation
Black Warrior River watershed map
http://www.blackwarriorriver.org/maps/BlackWarrior_basemap_small.jpg
Alabama Marine Police
https://www.alea.gov/dps/marine-patrol
USGS Alabama Realtime Streamflow Data
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/al/nwis/current?type=flow&group_key=basin_cd&search_site_no_station_nm
National Weather Service Southeast River Forecast Center
https://www.weather.gov/serfc/
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Links Relevant to Boating
Black Warrior & Tombigbee Lakes Resources
http://www.sam.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Recreation/Black-Warrior-Tombigbee-BWT-Lakes/
BW&T Navigation Charts
http://www.sam.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Navigation/Navigation-Charts/
BW&T Information
http://www.sam.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Navigation/Black-Warrior-and-Tombigbee-River/
Mobile District Home Page
http://www.sam.usace.army.mil/
Black Warrior River Lock Phone #s (For navigation or water-level questions)
Bankhead Lock (205) 339-1921
Holt Lock (205) 553-1711
Oliver Lock (205) 758-4860
Selden Lock (205) 372-9868