John Hollis Bankhead Lock & Dam, On Warrior River below Port Birmingham, Kellerman

Source document Quoted word for word from HAER ALA,63-KELMA.V,1-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

Thirty-one miles below Port Birmingham on Warrior River, Near Kellerman, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. Dates of Construction Description: The original dam (the only one of the orginal 17)remains, though not easily accessible to the general public. The current dam is feet wide, 77 feet high with a lift of 69 feet.

Source document Quoted word for word from HAER ALA,63-KELMA.V,1-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

This report is based upon written documentation donated by the Birmingham Historical Society, reformatted to HABS/HAER guidelines.

Historical Overview

The John Hollis Bankhead Lock and Dam is located on the Black Warrior River about 31 miles below Port Birmingham. The uppermost dam on the Black Warrior - Tombigbee Waterway, the first Bankhead Dam was the last to be constructed in the original development begun in the Modernization of the original lock and dam began in In Alabama Power Company completed a powerhouse immediately below the dam on the right bank. The new lock was opened in and completed in Lake Bankhead extends to the head of the Black Warrior River and into the Locust, Mulberry and Sipsey Forks for a total length of 65 miles and a total area of acres.

As it was not the policy of the Federal Government to acquire land at navigation facilities for recreational development when the Bankhead Dam was rebuilt, there are no Corps of Engineers-owned recreational areas about the lake. However, due to the natural beauty of the setting and its location near the Birmingham area, there has been considerable private development on the lake shores. A day-use area with an overlook, comfort station and picnic shelters has been constructed for the public. A fishing deck below the lock and dam is another popular attraction. JOHN HOLLIS BANKHEAD LOCK AND DAM HAER No. AL-13 7 (Page 2) Sources Consulted U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Mobile District, Water Resources Development in Alabama 8.

Telephone Interview with Clarence Dockery, Bankhead Lock and Dam Employee,