Adaptive management of flows from dams: a win-win framework for water users

Alabama is blessed with more than 77,000 miles of rivers and streams that carve through the terrestrial landscape of the state. When you think about it, every road you drive on crosses a river and many of our major cities are located on the bank of a river. In fact, Alabama's capital cities - Cahawba (Dallas County; 1820-1826), Tuscaloosa (Tuscaloosa County; 1826-1846), and Montgomery County; 1846-present) - were all located on major rivers. It is estimated by the U.S. Geological Survey that 10 percent of the freshwater resources in the continental United States flows through Alabama. When you look at a map of its hydrology, the state is blue!