Hurricane Creek

In Tuscaloosa County lies the last canyon stream in Alabama before the Coastal Plain. At this geological juncture Hurricane Creek flows through cliffs and steep banks covered in large trees and a surprising variety of understory plants. What makes this stream really special is the fact that lies within the same watershed where strip mining has been going on for 75 years - and Hurricane Creek is restoring itself. The sediments of sand, gravel and heavy metals are being washed downsream every year during high water restoring the solid rock bottom. Plant and animal species are coming back to the waters. Alabama Rivers Alliance initiated an abandoned strip mine reclamation on a tributary with the heaviest concentration of acid and heavy metals. One of the most remarkable parts of Hurricane Creek is John Wathen, Director of Friends of Hurricane Creek. John is a true guardian of these waters - if every watershed had a John Wathen watching over it, Alabama would have the cleanest waters of any state in the nation. Even with all of the strip mining, the banks of the creek are in extremely good shape. The ownership is almost entirely in the hands of the coal companies. It would be a nice gesture on their part to donate a conservation easement along this stream. (For more information, please visit Rivers of Alabama)