Pottsville Formation (Pennsylvanian, ~320-300 Ma)
98% of Winston County sits on this formation—interbedded sandstone, shale, siltstone, and coal seams within the Black Warrior Basin.

The Canyons: Deep ravines carved by differential erosion—harder sandstone caps resist weathering while softer shale erodes below, creating dramatic cliff faces and overhangs. Iron-oxide staining gives exposed sandstone its distinctive red-orange color.

Minerals: Quartz (sandstone), clay minerals (kaolinite, illite in shale), iron oxides (hematite/goethite), muscovite mica, and thin bituminous coal seams. Siderite (iron carbonate) nodules common in shale beds.

Coal: Multiple thin coal seams (Pratt, Mary Lee, Black Creek groups). Historical small-scale mining in Winston County. Coal-bed methane extraction active in the broader Black Warrior Basin.

Toggle the Bedrock Geology layer to see the formation mapped across your property.

The Canyons (275 ac) — Mixed hardwood/pine on Pottsville Formation
Dominant soils: Sipsey (SI 85 loblolly), Nauvoo (SI 89), Townley (SI 70)

Estimated standing timber: $800–2,500/acre
Total estimate: $220,000–687,500 (age/stocking dependent)

Carbon sequestration: ~3.5 tCO₂/ac/yr
Annual credit potential: ~$14,400/yr at $15/ton
Family Forest Carbon Program: Eligible (30+ ac minimum)

Free State Ranch (45 ac) — Lakefront mixed use
Assessed: $7,936/ac (lake premium)
Smith Lake lakefront: $5,000–15,000/shoreline ft

Source: NRCS SDA site index, FIA regional estimates, FFCP rates

NREL PVWatts — Arley, AL
Annual GHI: 4.45 kWh/m²/day
10 kW system output: 13,676 kWh/yr
Capacity factor: 15.6%

Best month: June (1,281 kWh)
Worst month: December (898 kWh)

Wind resource: ~4 m/s at 30m (marginal)

Note: The Canyons has steep slopes and heavy canopy — solar limited to cleared ridgetops. Free State Ranch has better exposure.

Dominant Soils (Winston Co.)

Sipsey (SiD): Very limited for septic; Somewhat limited for buildings
SI 85 loblolly pine · Forest prod: 165 ft³/ac/yr

Nauvoo (NaD): Somewhat limited for septic; Not limited for buildings
SI 89 loblolly pine · Forest prod: 114 ft³/ac/yr

Townley (ToD): Very limited for septic; Somewhat limited for buildings
SI 70 shortleaf pine · Forest prod: 70 ft³/ac/yr

Crop yields (Albertville loam):
Corn: 75 bu/ac · Cotton: 800 lbs/ac
Oats: 80 bu/ac · Peaches: 275 bu/ac

Toggle SSURGO Soils layer & click to see soil-specific ratings.
Source: NRCS Soil Data Access (SDA)

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 7b
Min avg temp: 5–10°F (-15–-12°C)

Growing season: ~180 days
Last frost: mid-April
First frost: early November

Annual precipitation: 55–60 in
Wettest: March (6.2 in)
Driest: October (3.4 in)

Source: USDA PRISM, NOAA NCEI 30-yr normals

Winston County (FCC BDC Jun 2023)
14,739 broadband serviceable locations

Served: 8,201 (55.6%)
Underserved: 1,036 (7.0%)
Unserved: 5,502 (37.3%)

By technology:
Fiber: 7,697 served (7 providers)
Cable: 752 served (1 provider)
Copper: 206 served (3 providers)
Fixed wireless: 271 served (3 providers)

Source: FCC Broadband Data Collection, June 2023

Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI)
Typical home value, Jan 2019 – Jan 2026

Pottsville Formation Aquifer
Type: Fractured sandstone/coal seam
Typical yield: 5–50 gpm (median ~10 gpm)
Well depth: 100–400 ft
Water quality: Good, slightly acidic, low TDS

49 USGS monitoring wells in Winston County.
Toggle USGS Groundwater Wells in the Water layer group to see locations.

Source: USGS NWIS, Alabama Geological Survey Circular 180