About Us

The City of Tuscaloosa is located approximately 60 miles southwest of Birmingham. It lies on the fall line of the Black Warrior River approximately 193 miles upriver from the river's confluence with the Tombigbee River at Demopolis. Because of its location on the boundary between the Appalachian Highland and the Gulf Coastal Plain, the geography of the area around Tuscaloosa is diverse, varying from heavily forested hills to the northeast to a low-lying, marshy plain to the southwest.

The City of Tuscaloosa is affected by several natural events, but the most frequent are flooding and wind events, including hurricanes. Flash flooding results from rising creeks and rivers during a storm event and localized flooding due to storm events that exceed drainage system capacity or obstruct drainage systems. According to the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the normal rainfall for the City of Tuscaloosa is approximately 52.6 inches per year. This average rain fall amount is spread out over the course of a year and varies from event to event.

Flash flooding is dependent on the amount and duration of the rainfall as well as the condition of the watershed. High amounts of rain received over relatively short periods of time (usually hours) result in fast rising waters. The condition of the watershed also plays an important role in how local waterways react to storm events. Previously saturated areas or land covered by impervious materials, such as asphalt, will produce higher runoff rates, contributing a larger volume of water reaching the local waterways.

Floodplains serve a beneficial purpose to our quality of life.  These low lying areas are where rainfall goes to drain and are adjacent to rivers and subject to flooding. Some examples of the major floodplains in the City limits of Tuscaloosa include Lake Tuscaloosa, the Black Warrior River, Cribbs Mill Creek, Cypress Creek, Cottondale Creek, Rum Creek and Moody Swamp.

Floodplains also serve as filters of stormwater runoff as it seeps through the ground. The natural vegetation filters out impurities and uses excess nutrients. It is important that we appreciate our floodplains, and try to maintain, preserve and restore these areas whenever possible. These benefits range from providing aesthetic pleasure to reducing the number and severity of floods, helping handle stormwater runoff and minimizing non-point source water pollution.  Such natural processes cost far less money than it would take to build facilities to correct flood, stormwater, water quality and other community problems.

It is important to recognize that the floodplains serve many functions besides carrying or storing floodwaters. Thus, we should keep the water as clean as possible to help fish and other wildlife. Here are some things residents can do to protect the lakes, rivers and streams:

• Bag or compost all yard waste.
• Dispose of trash properly to decrease litter.
• Take used motor oil to a licensed recycling plant.
• Do not wash paints, thinners, anti-freeze, and other chemicals into the street. Take leftovers to a household hazardous waste collection center.
• Cover bare soil with a mulch and seed it as soon as possible to minimize erosion.
• Carefully apply lawn chemicals and limit the amount of fertilizers and pesticides being used.
• Keep as many green areas as possible as natural or man-made drainage swales. Plant plenty of trees and shrubs.