Ala. Code § 9-9-74
The county commission of any county, as a drainage district, shall have jurisdiction, power and authority to establish drainage subdistricts as provided in this article, to promote, aid and assist the purposes of drainage districts organized under Title 2, Sections 208 through 262 of the 1940 Alabama Code or water management districts organized under Sections 9-9-1 through 9-9-72 of this code by the development of systems for the prevention of soil erosion and surface waters control upon lands in and contiguous to and affecting the drainage of said district and to aid and assist land owners in providing for the prevention, elimination or control of overflow waters and wet, swamp and overflow lands by the proper distribution of surface waters or holding such waters upon the land from which it flows to or upon wet, swamp and overflow lands and to prevent and deter the filling of natural or artificial drains by soil erosion from the watersheds of such drains, with or without the organization of a drainage district under Title 2, Sections 208 through 262 of the 1940 Alabama Code or the organization of a water management district under Sections 9-9-1 through 9-9-74. In the exercise of such powers and authority it may locate, change, construct, maintain or cause to be located, changed, constructed or maintained any ditch, drain, terrace, embankment or outlet; provided, that the powers contained in this article shall not authorize said commission to act in conflict with the powers, authorities and purposes of Title 2, Sections 208 through 262 of the 1940 Alabama Code or Sections 9-9-1 through 9-9-72 as to any drainage district or water management district organized or to be organized thereunder.
Ala. Code § 9-9-74 (1975)