Surface Water - Alabama Department of Environmental Management

Sipsey Fork (0316-0110)
families were collected by ADEM in June of 2002, indicating the macroinvertebrate
community to be in fair condition (Appendix K). The fish community was assessed as
fair/poor and poor by ADEM and GSA, respectively (Appendix K, Appendix G, Shepard
et al. 2001).
ADEM assessed Crooked Creek at GSAMF-22 (Appendix F). In June of 2002, habitat
quality was impacted by some sediment deposition and unstable banks (Appendix J). Six
EPT families were collected, indicating the macroinvertebrate community to be in fair
condition (Appendix K). The fish community was assessed as poor in May of 2001
(Appendix G, Shepard et al. 2001, Shepard et al. 2002).
One-time water quality sampling detected elevated turbidity, fecal coliform counts, and
concentrations of total dissolved solids and nutrients (TKN, NO 2 +NO 3 -N and TP) at
CROC-54a and elevated turbidity, total dissolved solids, and nutrients (TKN, NO 2 +NO 3 -N,
TP, DRP, and TOC) at GSAMF-22 (Appendix M).
Sub-watershed status: A 28.0 mile segment of Crooked Creek is impaired by ammonia,
pathogens and organic enrichment/dissolved oxygen from intensive animal feeding
operations and pasture grazing. ADEM’s TMDLs for these polutants have been approved
by EPA. Assessments conducted during 2001 and 2001 indicated the macroinvertebrate
and fish communities to be impaired at two reaches on Crooked Creek. Habitat
assessments and water quality sampling suggested sedimentation and nutrient enrichment
as potential causes of the impairment.
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