Surface Water - Alabama Department of Environmental Management

Mulberry Fork (0316-0109)
Assessment stations located within the sub-watershed. Descriptions are provided in Appendix E-1.
Station Assessment Type Date Location Area
(mi 2 )
GSAMF-29 a
GSAMF-46 b
GSAMF-29 c
GSAMF-28 a
GSAMF-45 b
SULC-10a
Habitat,
Biological,
Chemical
Habitat,
Biological,
Chemical
Habitat,
Biological,
Chemical
2001
2002
Dorsey Cr. approx. 3 mi. E of
Wilburn
Classification
11 F&W
2000 Dorsey Cr. at AL Hwy 91 26 F&W
2002 Sullivan Cr. at unnamed
Cullman CR nr. Arkadelphia
9 F&W
a. GSA Fish IBI assessment location as reported in Shepard et al. (2001); b. GSA Fish IBI assessment location as
reported in Shepard et al. (2002); c. ADEM macroinvertebrate assessment location
The GSA conducted a fish assessment on Dorsey Creek at GSAMF-45, near its
confluence with Mulberry Fork (Appendix E, Shepard et al. 2001, Shepard et al. 2002).
The streambed was covered with deposited sand and silt. The fish community was
assessed as fair (Appendix G, Shepard et al. 2001, Shepard et al. 2002). Conductivity was
elevated at both sites, suggesting some impacts from mining (Appendix M, Shepard et al.
2002).
Sullivan Creek: Located in the Dissected Plateau (68e) subecoregion, Sullivan Creek is a
bedrock-bottomed, riffle-run stream (Appendix J). Cattle pastures were present on both
banks. During 2002, several large ponds were under construction upstream of the
sampling site. The macroinvertebrate community was assessed as fair (Appendix K). In
comparison to data collected at ADEM’s ecoregional reference sites, water quality data
showed high conductivity and concentrations of total dissolved solids, dissolved reactive
phosphorus, and total organic carbon at the site (Appendix M).
Sub-watershed status: Dorsey Creek was identified as a NPS priority sub-watershed in
1997. Impaired habitat, chemical/physical, and biological conditions were evident at 4
locations on Dorsey and Sullivan Creeks during assessments conducted 2000-2002.
Biological communities in both streams were adversely impacted by sedimentation and
nutrient enrichment. High conductivity values and total dissolved solid concentrations
suggested mining impacts. Poultry production, pasture grazing, and forestry were also
common throughout the sub-watershed.
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