The River

Donate / Volunteer


Once heavily populated by Native American cultures, the watershed is now home to many of Alabama’s population centers. Birmingham, the largest city in Alabama, obtains roughly half of its drinking water from the Black Warrior and its tributaries. Bessemer, Cullman, Jasper, Oneonta, Tuscaloosa, and many other cities acquire all of their water from the Black Warrior River basin. People from all over frequent the river to swim, fish, paddle, and recreate. The river is also heavily relied upon for commercial navigation and industrial process water, making it a silent giant in the state’s economy.

The Black Warrior River watershed is home to 127 freshwater fish species (4 of which are federally listed as endangered), 36 species of mussels (5 of which are federally listed as endangered), 15 turtle species (1 of which is federally listed as threatened), an endangered snail, and numerous other aquatic animals. The river is named after Chief Tashkalusa, the namesake of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. In Choctaw, “tashka” means warrior and “lusa” means black.


What Is A Watershed?
River Facts
Water Quality

Bennett_SmithTeam USA Kayaker Bennett Smith practices on the Black Warrior River’s Mulberry and Locust Forks.
Photo by Nelson Brooke.

Share Button