Overview
Bankhead Lake is a roughly 9,200-acre run-of-river reservoir on the Black Warrior River in Walker, Jefferson, and Tuscaloosa counties, about 15 miles west of Birmingham. The lock and dam are owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, while Alabama Power owns and operates the adjoining Bankhead hydroelectric plant. The project supports navigation on the Warrior River system, hydropower, and recreation.
The reservoir stretches many miles of developed Black Warrior shoreline with private homes, marinas, and public access points, and it empties downstream into Holt Lake. As a run-of-river pool held near a normal elevation of 255 feet above mean sea level, levels stay relatively steady compared with Alabama Power storage lakes, though floods and lock operations can still move the water quickly.
Bankhead is a popular local fishery for spotted and largemouth bass, crappie, and catfish, with fisheries managed by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Marinas, fish camps, and public ramps support boating and camping, and the nearby Mulberry Fork Wildlife Management Area adds hunting and wildlife access.
Water levels on Bankhead Lake are managed as a Corps navigation pool with Alabama Power generation using flows not needed for lock operations. Normal full pool is about 255 feet above mean sea level. Because the lake is part of the Warrior River navigation chain with Smith Lake storage on the Sipsey Fork upstream and Holt Lake downstream, monitoring current lake levels remains useful for boating safety, fishing, and dock access.
Current Conditions
Bankhead Lake is currently 0.48 feet below full pool and has fallen slightly over the past week.
- 7-day trendFallingLatest movement can differ from the seven-day trend.
- 7-day changeDown 0.01 ft
- 30-day changeUp 0.27 ft
- Drought conditionsNo Drought
- Active advisories1 active (Notice)
About This Lake
Learn how this lake is managed, what affects its water level, and where Lake Insights gets its data.
Bankhead Lake is a 9,200-acre reservoir on the Black Warrior River managed by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.