Surface Water - Alabama Department of Environmental Management

Methodology
Table 7, cont. Sub-watersheds located
within the Black Warrior River Basin.
Cataloging
Unit
Sub-watershed
0316-0113 Lower Black Warrior
010 Big Creek
020 Cypress Creek
030 a Big Sandy Creek
040 Keaton Lake
050 Grant Creek
060 Elliotts Creek
070 a Gabriel Creek
080 Davis Creek
090 Fivemile Creek
100 Coleman Branch
110 Minter Creek
120 a Big Brush Creek
130 Wright’s Creek
140 Dollarhide Creek
150 Hines Creek
160 a Big Prairie Creek
170 Little Prairie Creek
180 Backbone Creek
190 French Creek
a. 1996/1997 NPS Priority Sub-watershed
Ecoregions
Ecoregions are relatively homogeneous ecological areas defined by similarity of
climate, landform, soil, natural vegetation, hydrology, or other ecologically relevant
variables. Since 1991, ADEM has maintained a network of least-impaired ecoregional
reference sites (ADEM 2002n). Intensive monitoring assessments, including chemical,
physical, habitat, and biological data, are collected to develop baseline reference conditions
for each of Alabama’s 29 Level IV subecoregions (Grifith et al. 2001). The reference
condition establishes the basis for making comparisons and detecting use impairment
(Omernik and Griffith 1991, Omernik 1995).
Approximately 77% of the BWC Basin Group lies above the Fall Line within 7
subecoregions of the Ridge and Valley (67) and Southwestern Appalachians (68)
Ecoregions. A small section of the Cahaba River CU drains the Piedmont (45) Ecoregion.
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