Wildlife and the Outdoors By Bruce Todd, Wildlife Biologist,
Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Located within the
confines of Clarke County, Alabama, are several salt springs.
These springs were once tapped for the purpose of producing salt
for landowners and for commercial interests. Private entities
likely made use of this source of salt for many years prior to
the commercial production of salt, which began in this area in
1809. Salt works were established in three locations in the
county and were known as the upper, central, and lower. Five
sections of land at these locations were later deeded to the
Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources in the
mid 1930s and became core areas for the establishment of two
wildlife sanctuaries. It should be noted that these salt springs
were not gushing streams, but instead were saline oozes or
seeps. Pipes were sunk into these seeps, and saline was
collected from them in large pots or vats. The brine was then
boiled in order to evaporate the w