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2018 Map of Lake Nicol

Name: 2018 Topographic Map of Lake Nicol
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2018
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2018

About this map

The northern reaches of Tuscaloosa are defined by a sophisticated network of reservoirs and creek valleys, where the Black Warrior River system forms expansive water bodies such as Holt Lake and William Bacon Oliver Lake. This 2018 survey reveals the intricate topography of the Warrior Basin, characterized by narrow ridges and deep drainages like Yellow Creek and Hurricane Creek. The landscape transition from urban expansion to managed forestry is evident in the winding paths of Watermelon Road and the scattered rural landmarks that anchor the area's history.

Genealogists and local historians can locate several family and community burial grounds preserved amidst the modern shoreline developments, including Yellow Creek Cemetery and Piney Grove Cemetery. The presence of Hog Shoals on the river and numerous smaller tributaries like Kizziah Spring Branch and Sexton Spring Branch provides a clear view of the natural water sources that dictated early settlement patterns before the creation of the large municipal reservoirs of Lake Nicol and Lake Tuscaloosa.