Bankhead Lake, Reservoir on the Black Warrior River in Alabama, United States

Bankhead Lake is a reservoir on the Black Warrior River in Alabama, forming the border between Jefferson and Tuscaloosa counties and between Jefferson and Walker counties. It is impounded by Bankhead Lock and Dam, a US Army Corps of Engineers structure 77 feet high and 1,400 feet long at its crest, completed in 1975. Alabama Power operates an adjoining hydroelectric plant on the right bank.

The original Bankhead Dam, finished in 1915, was the last of 17 locks and dams built to keep the Black Warrior navigable between Mobile and Birmingham. By March 1969 it was the only one of the 17 still in service, and the Corps of Engineers judged it structurally unsafe. The present lock, 77 feet high with a 1,400-foot crest, was completed in 1975; part of the old dam remains in the complex but is not accessible.

Both the lock and dam and the adjoining hydroelectric plant carry the name of Alabama Senator John H. Bankhead. The reservoir is a project of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, while Alabama Power owns and runs the powerhouse on the right bank, installed in 1963.

Check current water levels and weather conditions before visiting, as the dam can release water suddenly during heavy rainfall. Always wear life jackets when boating and maintain a safe distance from the spillway gates, especially during spring and winter months when water levels change rapidly.

The 1915 dam was the last of 17 locks and dams built for navigation between Mobile and Birmingham. By March 1969 it was the only one of the 17 still in service, but the Corps of Engineers judged it structurally unsafe and at risk of collapse. The replacement lock, 77 feet high and 1,400 feet long at its crest, was completed in 1975; part of the original dam remains in the complex but cannot be reached.