Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com

Drought lessens its grip on Alabama

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Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com

Water flow returns to area lakes and rivers

DeSoto Falls at DeSoto State Park. The drought of 2016 has subsided in Alabama. Here are then and now photos from around central and northeast Alabama. The before photos were taken in November 2016 at the height of the drought and the after photos were taken the first week of January 2017.

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Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com

Little River Falls then

Little River Falls from the observation deck in November 2016.

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Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com

Little River Falls now

Little River Falls from the observation deck now.

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Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com

Above Little River Falls then

Above Little River Falls in November 2016 show a dry river bed.

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Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com

Above Little River Falls now

Above Little River Falls now shows the river flowing freely over the falls.

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Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com

Locust Folk at Swann Covered Bridge then

The Locust Fork of the Black Warrior River near Swann Covered Bridge in Blount County in November 2016. Rocks were visible with very low water flow.

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Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com

Locust Folk at Swann Covered Bridge now

The Locust Fork of the Black Warrior River near Swann Covered Bridge in Blount County now. River is full of water from bank to bank.

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Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com

DeSoto Falls (upper falls) then

DeSoto Falls at DeSoto State Park in November 2016. No water flowing over the upper falls.

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Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com

DeSoto Fall (upper falls) now

DeSoto Falls at DeSoto State Park now. Water is flowing over all of the upper falls.

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Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com

Lark Purdy then

Lake Purdy then. The lake was down almost 20 feet in November 2016.

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Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com

Lake Purdy now

Lake Purdy water levels are up about 7 feet now. To be at full pool, the lake needs to rise another 13 feet.

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Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com

Noccalula Falls then

Black Creek at Noccalula Falls near Gadsden in november 2016. No water going over the falls.

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Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com

Noccalula Falls now

Black Creek at Noccalula Falls near Gadsden now. After several rain events over the holidays, Black Creek is roaring over the falls.

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Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com

DeSoto Falls then

DeSoto Falls at DeSoto State Park in November 2016. Just a trickle was flowing over this portion of the falls.

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Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com

DeSoto Falls now

DeSoto Falls at DeSoto State Park now shows heavy water flow over this portion of the falls. Dramatic difference from just two months ago.

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Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com

Little River Falls view from the park then

Little River Falls view from the park in November 2016 shows a dry river bed.

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Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com

Little River Falls view from the park now

Little River Falls view from the park now shows normal to above normal flow of Little River.

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Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com

Lake Purdy at the marina then

Lake Purdy at the boat rental location then.

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Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com

Lake Purdy at the marina now

Lake Purdy at the boat rental site now. The lake is up 7 feet and need another 13 feet to reach full pool.

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Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com

Black Creek below Noccalula Falls then

Black Creek below Noccalula Falls near Gadsden in November 2016 showing exposed rocks and sand.

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Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com

Black Creek below Noccalula Falls now

Black Creek below Noccalula Falls near Gadsden now. Heavy water volume flows from the falls downstream.

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Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com

Locust Fork near Swann Covered Bridge then

The Locust Fork of the Black Warrior River near Swann Covered Bridge in Blount County in November 2016 shows stagnant pools and very little flow.

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Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com

Locust Fork near Swann Covered Bridge now

The Locust Fork of the Black Warrior River near Swann Covered Bridge in Blount County now. Water is flowing freely and most of the shoal rocks are under water.

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Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com

DeSoto Falls (lower falls) then

DeSoto Falls at DeSoto State Park then. The lower falls trickles in November 2016.

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Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com

DeSoto Falls (lower falls) now

DeSoto Falls at DeSoto State Park now. Water cascades from the lower falls.

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Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com

Lake Purdy at Grants Mill Road bridge then

Lake Purdy at the Grants Mill Road bridge in November 2016.

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Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com

Lake Purdy at Grants Mill Road bridge now

Lake Purdy at the Grants Mill Road bridge now. Very little difference even though the lake level is up 7 feet.

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Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com

Little River Canyon then

Little River as it runs through Little River Canyon then. No water was visible in this stretch.

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Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com

Little River Canyon now

Little River as it runs through Little River Canyon now. Water flow freely through the canyon from the falls.

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Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com

Lake Purdy boat docks then

Lake Purdy boat docks on dry ground in November 2016.

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Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com

Lake Purdy boat docks now

Lake Purdy boat dock remain on dry ground today. The water is inching closer.

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Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com

Little River Canyon overlook view then

Little River as it runs through Little River Canyon in November 2016. From this overlook, pools of water can be seen but very little flow was observed.

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Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com

Little River Canyon overlook view now

Little River as it runs through Little River Canyon now. Same overlook two month later shows excellent water flow in Little River.

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Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com

Helpful links

Before and after photos show drought's stunning effect on Alabama

Drought 2106 photos from across Alabama

Lake Purdy Severe Drought photos

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