Surface Water - Alabama Department of Environmental Management

Introduction
ADEM’s Nonpoint Source (NPS) and CWA §303(d) Monitoring Programs to identify or
verify impaired waters, estimate water quality status and trends, and evaluate causes and
sources of impairments. The Aquatic Asesment Unit (AAU) of ADEM’s FOD has
completed basinwide NPS screening assessments of the Black Warrior (1997), the
Tennessee River basin (1998), the southeast Alabama River basins (1999), the Alabama,
Coosa, and Tallapoosa River basins (2000), and the Escatawpa, Mobile Bay, and
Tombigbee River basins (2001). Statewide, the results of these assessments have
identified 120 sub-watersheds impaired by nonpoint source pollutants. Data and
information collected during these assessments have been used to direct CWA §319 funds,
develop nonpoint source basin management plans, and to update Alabama’s list of
impaired or threatened streams. The results of these assessments have been reported in 9
separate documents (ADEM 1999a, ADEM 2000a, ADEM 2002a, ADEM 2002b, ADEM
2002c, ADEM 2002d, ADEM 2002e, ADEM 2002f, ADEM 2003c). Copies can be
downloaded from the Department’s website (www.adem.state.al.us/FieldOps/
WQReports/MontRep.htm)
Tier II monitoring projects, completed using watershed-specific, intensive assessment
methods, are implemented at a much smaller scale and a more frequent monitoring cycle.
They are used during ADEM’sNonpoint Source (NPS) Management and TMDL
Implementation Programs to quantify causes and sources of impairment and to monitor
program effectiveness. In 2003, ADEM initiated Tier II Monitoring Projects in the
Tennessee River Basin to evaluate the effectiveness of changing landuses and pollution
control activities in the Sand Mountain and Big Nance River sub-watersheds (ADEM in
prep).
2002 BWC Basinwide Assessment: During 2002, the Aquatic Assessment Unit (AAU) of
the Field Operations Division completed the 2 nd basinwide screening assessments of the
Black Warrior and Cahaba (BWC) River basins. As with all basinwide screening
assessments, the project included reviews of landuse, Departmental regulatory databases,
listing documents, and monitoring data collected by multiple agencies to identify data gaps
and to prioritize sub-watersheds with the greatest potential for point and nonpoint source
impairment. Waterbodies within Jefferson County were not assessed. Selected sites were
monitored using ADEM’s screening-level assessment techniques. Data were compiled and
analyzed to estimate the level of impairment and to evaluate potential causes and sources
of that impairment.
Based on analysis of recent bioassessment and intensive water quality monitoring data,
forty-one impaired sub-watersheds were identified (Table 1, Fig. 1). The list focuses on
sub-watersheds outside of major urban areas (Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Jefferson County).
Fourteen of the 42 sub-watersheds contain CWA §303(d)/TMDL stream or reservoir
segments and are eligible for §319 funding and watershed planning. Data from the
remaining 28 sub-watersheds should be reviewed as potential candidates for §303(d)
listing.
Final Report: The purpose of this document is to provide an overview of recent data and
assessment information that can be used to identify impaired stream segments for inclusion
on the §303(d) list and to assist with the development of NPS watershed plans. The
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