Surface Water - Alabama Department of Environmental Management

Sipsey Fork (0316-0110)
Assessment stations located within the sub-watershed. Descriptions are provided in Appendix E-1.
Station
CLCW-53b
GSAMF-16
CLCW-53c
GSAMF-15
LCLW-19
WIDW-18
Assessment
Type
Habitat,
Biological,
Chemical
Habitat,
Biological,
Chemical
Habitat,
Biological,
Chemical
Habitat,
Biological,
Chemical
Date Location Area
(mi 2 )
Classification
2002 Clear Cr. at unnamed rd. nr. Winston CR 28 20 F&W
2002 Right Fork Clear Cr. at Winston CR 32 21 F&W
2002 Little Clear Cr. at Winston CR 369 8 F&W
2002 Widow Cr. at AL Hwy 278 8 F&W
Right Fork Clear Creek: Bottom substrates in Right Fork Clear Creek at CLCW-53b were
dominated by sand deposits (Appendix J, Shepard et al. 2002). Ten EPT families were
collected, indicating the macroinvertebrate community to be in fair condition (Appendix
K). ADEM and GSA assessed the fish community as fair/poor and poor, respectively
(Appendix G).
Water quality data collected at CLCW-53c during June and July of 2002 are
summarized in Appendix M. The chlorophyll a concentration during June was 1.87 mg/L.
Little Clear Creek: At LCLW-19, Little Clear Creek is a low-gradient stream in the
Dissected Plateau (68e) subecoregion (Appendix J). Sand, silt, and cobble were the
dominant substrate types. Habitat quality was impacted by heavy sand deposits. Eleven
EPT families were collected, indicating the macroinvertebrate community to be in good
condition (Appendix K). The fish community was in poor condition (Appendix K).
Water quality data collected at LCLW-19 during June and July of 2002 are presented in
Appendix M.
Widow Creek: At WIDW-18, Widow Creek is a riffle-run stream in the Dissected Plateau
(68e) subecoregion (Appendix J). Substrate was a mixture of bedrock, boulder, cobble,
sand and silt. Habitat quality was impacted by sand deposits. Fourteen EPT families were
collected, indicating the macroinvertebrate community to be in good condition (Appendix
K). However, the fish community was assessed as fair/poor (Appendix K). Ammonia and
nitrate+nitrite-nitrogen concentrations were elevated during June of 2002 (Appendix M).
Sub-watershed status: Impaired biological conditions were detected at sites on Clear
Creek, Right Fork Clear Creek, Little Clear Creek, and Widow Creek. Historical water
quality problems have been suggested as the cause for the lack of Tuscaloosa darters
(Etheostoma douglasi) within the Clear Creek drainage (Shepard et al. 2002). Substrate
composition at both reaches was dominated by heavy deposits sand (ADEM 1999a). A
source of the sedimentation was not determined.
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