Land Trust acquires 366 acres at confluence of the Black Warrior, Mulberry Fork, Locust Fork rivers

The Freshwater Land Trust (FLT) has acquired 366 acres on a peninsula situated at the confluence of the Mulberry Fork, Locust Fork, and Black Warrior Rivers. 

Located in west Jefferson County, the land is ecologically significant and has been identified as a prime candidate for FLT’s habitat restoration work to improve forests and increase biodiversity. 

Freshwater Land Trust expands conservation footprint

“This property is incredibly special, and Freshwater Land Trust is extremely lucky to add it to our expanding Central Alabama land conservation footprint.  This acquisition would not have been possible without our partnerships with Black Warrior Riverkeeper and Drummond Company, and we are grateful to both for making it happen.”

Rusha Smith, Executive Director, Freshwater Land Trust

How did FLT pull together the 366-acre acquisition? They did it in two steps.

First, 258.74 acres of the land was acquired by FLT via a Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP) between Black Warrior Riverkeeper and Drummond Company regarding the closed Maxine Mine location near the property. 

Then, Drummond Company voluntarily agreed to contribute the remaining 107.32 contiguous acres of the parcel to FLT, protecting nearly the entire peninsula. 

Why this acquisition matters

The property is near the Mulberry Fork Wildlife Management Area and above Bankhead Lake in unincorporated Jefferson County at  511 Riverwood Lodge, 35130.

“Preservation of the Mulberry and Locust forks’ confluence has long been a goal of mine because it is such a special place at the formation of the Black Warrior River. After the Mulberry Fork flows 122 miles and the Locust Fork flows 158 miles through the Cumberland Plateau, they converge to form the Black Warrior River, which then flows for 168 miles from the tail end of the Appalachian Mountains and through the East Gulf Coastal Plain before emptying into the Tombigbee River.”

Nelson Brooke, Black Warrior Riverkeeper

Home to over a million residents the Black Warrior River basin is also a major source of drinking water for many cities, including Birmingham, Bessemer, Cullman, Jasper, Oneonta, and Tuscaloosa. 

With this new addition, FLT has conserved 1,962 acres in the Black Warrior River watershed to date.

Excited to see Freshwater Land Trust expand its conservation footprint? Tag us @bhamnow to let us know!