Black Warrior Riverkeeper

Maintaining Focus on Your Water | 11/22/2020

Maintaining Focus on Your Water I hope this message finds you and your loved ones safe and healthy. My heart goes out to all those dealing with any loss or adversity. 2020 has obviously been unique and challenging for everyone. Amidst the pandemic, divisive elections, and civil unrest, it is […]

Veterans Day Tribute to Service | 11/10/2020

Black Warrior Riverkeeper’s Tribute to Veterans Day By Katie Fagan, AmeriCorps Member, Black Warrior Riverkeeper On Saturday, November 7, Black Warrior Riverkeeper teamed up with Cahaba Riverkeeper to celebrate Veterans Day early at Alabama Veterans Memorial Park in Birmingham. This beautiful park, located next to Mountain Brook High School, is […]

New Coal Ash Summary | 10/22/2020

New Coal Ash Summary and Ways to Take Action To read Black Warrior Riverkeeper’s new Coal Ash Summary, click here. This month, the Alabama Department of Environmental Management started hosting public hearings focused on Alabama Power’s closure plans for coal ash waste storage in massive unlined, leaking pits next to […]

September 11 Tribute to Service | 09/11/2020

Black Warrior Riverkeeper’s 9/11 Tribute to Service By Katie Fagan, AmeriCorps Member, Black Warrior Riverkeeper Today marks the 19th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. September 11 is a day with deep meaning to so many people including Waterkeepers, whose movement was launched near New York City by military veterans […]

Fish Guide 2020 | 08/05/2020

Alabama Releases 2020 Fish Consumption Advisories FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 5, 2020 Contact: Nelson Brooke, Black Warrior Riverkeeper, [email protected] BIRMINGHAM, ALA. – Last week, the Alabama Department of Public Health released its annual fish consumption advisories, which highlight the state’s recommended limits on the consumption of different species of fish […]

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Black Warrior Riverkeeper’s mission is to protect and restore the Black Warrior River and its tributaries. We are a citizen-based nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting clean water for the sake of public health, recreation, and wildlife habitat throughout our patrol area, the Black Warrior River watershed. This vital river basin is entirely contained within Alabama, America’s leading state for freshwater biodiversity.

Patrolling waterways, educating the public, and holding polluters accountable has made us an important proponent of clean water throughout the basin. Our staff identifies and addresses pollution problems while increasing public awareness. We are a proud member of Waterkeeper Alliance. Please contact us to report pollution and to inquire about volunteer projects, donations, educational presentations, or public events.

The Black Warrior River drains parts of 17 Alabama counties. The area the river drains, its watershed, covers 6,276 square miles in Alabama and measures roughly 300 miles from top to bottom. The Black Warrior River watershed is home to over 1 million residents and contains 16,145.89 miles of mapped streams. Its headwaters consist of the Sipsey, Mulberry, and Locust Forks. Once these rivers merge west of Birmingham, the Black Warrior River proper forms the border of Jefferson and Walker counties. Near Tuscaloosa, the river flows out of the rocky Cumberland Plateau and enters the sandy East Gulf Coastal Plain, forming the border of Greene and Hale counties in the Black Belt. At Demopolis the Black Warrior flows into the Tombigbee River towards Mobile Bay.