It’s the 20 year anniversary of Nelson Brooke serving as the Black Warrior Riverkeeper

Nelson Brooke has patrolled the Black Warrior River as Riverkeeper for two decades. In this role, he has advocated for the Black Warrior River and its entire watershed, which spans 17 counties across Alabama. In honor of Brooke’s 20th anniversary, we’re highlighting some of his most acclaimed achievements as Riverkeeper.

What is a Riverkeeper?

A Riverkeeper aids a nonprofit like Black Warrior Riverkeeper in protecting the nonprofit’s designated river. Black Warrior Riverkeeper’s mission is to protect and restore the Black Warrior River and its tributaries.

Stopping Shepherd Bend Mine

Bama Buzz writer, Pat Byington, described stopping the Shepherd Bend mine as among one of Brooke’s greatest accomplishments as Riverkeeper.

According to Brooke, the Shepherd Bend Mine conflict represented “the issuance of state permits for the proposed 1,773-acre strip coal mine.” This proposed Drummond Company mine was “adjacent to the BWWB’s Mulberry Intake, which provides drinking water daily to around 200,000 customers.”

Brooke helped establish the Shepherd Bend Mine Opposition Coalition, which recruited hundreds of corporate, nonprofit, government, and religious entities to sign resolutions opposing the mine.

Following these petitions, the University of Alabama never sold or leased the land to Drummond and the company withdrew its intent to mine there in 2015.

Cleanup of Drummond’s Maxine Mine Site

Both Byington and Brooke named holding polluters accountable as one of Brooke’s most significant accomplishments as Riverkeeper.

Black Warrior Riverkeeper Executive Director Charles Scribner identified the specific case regarding Drummond’s Maxine Mine Site as standing out among Brooke’s accomplishments.

“As a result of Nelson’s many years of investigation and our eventual lawsuit with Southern Environmental Law Center, Drummond will eliminate the site’s noncompliant discharges of acidic drainage, including sediment, iron, manganese, aluminum, and other pollutants.”

Charles Scribner, Black Warrior Riverkeeper Executive Director

Impacting hundreds of communities

Brooke has worked with hundreds of communities over the years as Riverkeeper.

“A big part of the job is working with individuals and communities on proposed or ongoing polluion issues to ensure they know their rights, avenues for taking action, and generally how to best advoate for themselves and their communities.”

Nelson Brooke, Black Warrior Riverkeeper

Brooke described topics of community outreach as touching on topics like:

• Sewage
• Coal mines
• Quarries
• Industry
• Power plants
• Coal ash
• Stormwater
• Development
• Logging
• Fracking
• Agriculture
• Invasive species
• Flooding

As a part of this outreach, Brooke has given hundreds of presentations over the years to schools, civic groups, garden clubs, organizations and river communities.

More about Brooke

“Nelson grew up exploring the Black Warrior River, and that deep connection fuels his tireless fight to protect it. He knows every bend, every tributary, and every threat facing this vital ecosystem. You couldn’t ask for a more knowledgeable or passionate advocate for your river.”

Marc Yaggi, CEO of Waterkeeper Alliance

As a Birmingham native, Eagle Scout and longtime outdoorsman, Brooke said the Riverkeeper position was his dream job. Those who have worked with Brooke characterized him as uniquely qualified for the position of Riverkeeper.

“I have worked with Nelson for 19 of his 20 years at Black Warrior Riverkeeper, first while I was Director of Development from 2005 to 2010, and thereafter in my role as Executive Director. He has never wavered in his enthusiastic loyalty to Black Warrior Riverkeeper and to me as a friend.”

Charles Scribner, Black Warrior Riverkeeper Executive Director

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