Davis Creek

Davis Creek is a tributary of the Black Warrior River which runs for about 37 1/2 miles, northwest from near Chambers in eastern Tuscaloosa County to the northern portion of Holt Lake, just below Bankhead Lock and Dam.

Davis Creek begins at McMicken Lake, just north of I-20/59 near Chambers and Chamblee (map). It flows northward into Dream Lakes and continues north and west, paralleled by an abandoned rail bed, toward Abernant. It is joined along the way by Gallant Branch from the south. It crosses Alabama State Highway 216 and winds northwesterly. As the stream passes under an L & N Railroad bridge it is joined by Texas Creek from the west and Lye Branch from the east. A series of dramatic switchbacks are marked by confluences from Hogsick Creek from the northeast, Hanna Mill Creek from the south, Clark Branch from the northeast and Black Branch from the southwest.

Davis Creek picks up Cane Creek from the west, then continues past Round Mountain, after which it is joined by Rockhouse Creek and Prudes Creek from the east. It passes below Tuscaloosa County Road 59 and curves to the west, picking up Whiteoak Creek from the northeast just before spilling into Holt Lake (map).

In 2021 residents in the vicinity of Davis Creek below Texas Creek reported that the water was stained an opaque black color. The Alabama Department of Environmental Management collected water samples and conducted an inspection of Warrior Met Coal's nearby Mine No. 7, an underground coal mine idled by a UMWA labor strike. The Alabama Surface Mining Commission and Black Warrior Riverkeeper are also investigating the reports.

References

• Pillion, Dennis (May 4, 2021) "Alabama creeks run black near Tuscaloosa County coal mine, state investigating." The Birmingham News