Hurricane Creek: a hidden Tuscaloosa gem

Did you know that one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world is located in Tuscaloosa? This hidden gem is called called Hurricane Creek. The creek has faced many environmental challenges over the years, but because of leaders like Creekkeeper John Wathen, Hurricane Creek has been restored and preserved for future generations. Keep reading for this fasinating environmental story.

What makes Hurricane Creek so rare?

According to Wathen, “Hurricane Creek is the southern most free-flowing stream in the Appalacian Mountain chain” and “the only place where an upper coastal stream runs into an Appalacian Mountain Stream.”

Because of the combination of these rare qualities, Wathen describes the diversity of the flora and fauna here as a unique treasure.

The native indegeneous river cane is still here. Some say it’s where creek got its name. Creek elder Grandpa Sam Curren says the creek had so much hair cane that it looked like the hair on one’s body. This river cane grew so prolifically, that the natives called it “hair cane.”

Hurricane Creek’s medicinal power

The creek is special, not only for its supply of lumber, stone and grain, which helped to build the city of Tuscaloosa, but also for its medicinal power.

Native Americans have long said the creek has medicinal properties, and Wathen agrees. He credits it with saving his life.

Following an encounter with toxic ground water, which took the lives of two other men he worked alongide, Wathen became incredibly sick. After drinking yellowroot tea and swimming in the creek, following Grandpa Sam Curren’s recommendations, he was healed.

“This creek literally saved my life, and I dedicated my life to working on restoration here,” Wathen said.

Hurricane creek endured struggles

According to Wathen, when he first arrived in the 70s, the creek would turn orange in the wintertime. This color came from iron bacteria, as coal mines would dump acid mine drainage into the creek.

Wathen, as the creator and leader of Friends of Hurricane Creek, filed a complaint against Black Warrior River Mineral.

“Nobody had ever stood up to the coal industry before,” He said. When the coal company denied it, Wathen secured photo evidence.

For the first time in Alabama history, the coal mine was shut down because of a citizen complaint.

Hurricane Creek has come a long way since then.

“Today, I fish. I have big numbers of fish. The number of species have come back, the macroinvertibrets are back. The creek is in recovery. This is one of the only streams that is naturally restoring itself without a lot of manipulation. All we did was remove the pollution sources, and we have fish now.”

—John Wathen, the Hurricane Creekkeeper

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