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 )
BROW-17
GSAMF-
10
GSAMF-
12
BW02A2-
41
Habitat,
Biological,
Chemical
Habitat,
Biological,
Chemical
Classification
2002 Brown Cr. off of Winston CR 37 22 F&W
2001 Splunge Cr. at Winston CR 37 29 F&W
Habitat, Chemical 1998 Splunge Cr. nr Winston CR 37. 29 F&W
Brown Creek: At BROW-17, Brown Creek was a shaded, riffle-run stream located within
the Dissected Plateau (68e) subecoregion (Appendix J). Sand and silt comprised 60% of
bottom substrates, suggesting sedimentation impacts. Seven EPT families were collected
at the site, indicating the macroinvertebrate community to be in fair condition (Appendix
K). Screening-level water quality data indicated slightly elevated total organic carbon
concentrations in June of 2002 (Appendix M).
Splunge Creek: Splunge Creek was monitored at GSAMF-12 during May of 2001 as part
of GSA’s assessment of Mulberry Fork (Appendix E, Shepard et al. 2001, Shepard et al.
2002). The site, located in the Dissected Plateau (68e) subecoregion (Appendix E), was
characterized by gravel and sand substrates (Shepard et al. 2001, Shepard et al. 2002). The
fish community was assessed as fair (Appendix G, Shepard et al. 2001, Shepard et al.
2002).
Splunge Creek was evaluated at BW02A2-41 during ADEM’s 1998 ALAMAP
Program (Appendix T). The site, located in the Dissected Plateau (68e) subecoregion
(Appendix E), was characterized by silt, sand, and detritus (Appendix T-1). A lack of
instream habitat, heavy sedimentation, and unstable banks resulted in a habitat assessment
rating of fair (Appendix T-1). Results of water quality sampling conducted in August of
1998 are presented in Appendix T-2.
Sub-watershed status: Splunge Creek was identified as a NPS priority sub-watershed in
1997. In 2002, impaired habitat and biological conditions were detected at locations on
Brown Creek and Splunge Creek. Reconnaissance of the sub-watershed in 1997 showed
potential for NPS impairment from cattle production and erosion from forestry areas.
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