Map and landuse data produced
by Alabama Water Watch
Agriculture is still the major factor in the economy of the Alabama River Basin,
especially the lower part. Corn, hay, peanuts, potatoes, and soybeans are
the principal crops, and livestock and poultry production and dairying are
increasing in importance. The trend is toward larger commercial-type farms
with increased use of machinery. (from Water Resource Development)
There
are many manufacturing industries within the basin.
Approximately 39 percent (187,339 acres) of the Alabama River subbasin
consists of palustrine wetland habitat. 99% of these wetlands are riparian
and less than 1% are reservoir-associated wetlands. (Corps '98 p.4-138)
RIVER COMMERCE
The
Alabama River from Wetumpka downstream to the Mobile is considered a
critical navigation route for commercial barge traffic, which is an
important regional economic resource.
A
9-foot-deep by 200-foot-wide navigation depth is needed to provide the full
authorized navigation channel. 7.5 feet can provide a limited amount of
navigation. Over the period from 1976 to 1993, the 7.5-foot channel was
available 79% of the time and the 9 foot channel was available 72% of the
time.
Barge
traffic for waterborne commerce has been decreasing since the late 1980’s
when severe droughts adversely affected navigation channel conditions and
competitive rates became available for other modes of transportation. Traffic
on the Alabama River is almost entirely related to forest products and pulp
(85% of commerce).
In
1992 aprrox. 1,777,000 tons of commerce moved over the waterway.
