Surface Water - Alabama Department of Environmental Management

Locust Fork (0316-0111)
bottom substrate during both 1997 and 2002 (ADEM 1999a, Appendix J). Four and 5 EPT
families were collected during 1997 and 2002, respectively, showing the macroinvertebrate
community to be in fair condition (Appendix K). Chemical impairment was again
indicated by elevated nutrients (NO 2 +NO 3 -N, NH 3 -N, TP, DRP), conductivity, total
dissolved solids, and chlorides (ADEM 1999a, Appendix M). Fecal coliform
concentrations were also elevated above least-impaired ecoregional reference conditions
(340 colonies/100 mL in 1997 and 360 colonies/100 mL in 2002) (ADEM 1999a,
Appendix M).
Water quality data were collected from Slab Creek at GSA-21 on October 23, 2000
during GSA’s water quality asesment of the Locust Fork watershed (Appendix E, O’Neil
and Shepard 2001).
Sub-watershed status: Slab Creek was identified as a NPS priority sub-watershed in 1997
due to impaired habitat quality and biological condition caused by sedimentation, bank
erosion, and nutrient enrichment. Similar conditions were observed during the 2002 NPS
screening assessment, identifying Slab Creek as a NPS priority sub-watershed. Cattle and
poultry production, pasture grazing, and crop runoff were the main NPS concerns in the
sub-watershed.
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