Surface Water - Alabama Department of Environmental Management

Upper Black Warrior River (0316-0112)
Upper Black Warrior River CU (0316-0112)
The Upper Black Warrior River CU encompasses 1,253 mi 2 in Mobile and Baldwin
Counties in southcentral Alabama. It contains 12 sub-watersheds and is located primarily
within the Fall Line Hills (65i) and Shale Hills (68f) subecoregions. The Southeastern
Floodplains and Low Terraces (65p) subecoregion encompasses the Black Warrior River
and its floodplain.
Landuse: Based on the 1998 conservation assessment worksheets completed by the local
SWCDs, the Upper Black Warrior River CU was mainly forest with some urban areas.
Seven stream segments located within 5 sub-watersheds are curently on ADEM’s 2002
CWA §303(d) list of impaired waters (Appendix C-2).
Percent land cover estimated by local SWCD (ASWCC 1998)
Forest Row crop Pasture Mining Urban Open Water Other
69% 2% 4% 6% 13% 1% 5%
NPS impairment potential: Mining and forestry were the primary NPS concern within the
Upper Black Warrior River CU. Sedimentation from mining, developing urban areas, and
gullies was also a concern within the CU.
Number of sub-watersheds with (M)oderate or (H)igh ratings for each nonpoint source category (Appendix D).
Category
Overall
Potential
Animal
husbandry
Aquaculture
Row
crop
Pasture Mining Forestry
(5
reported)
Sediment
Moderate 3 0 0 0 0 2 2 4
High 1 0 0 0 0 4 2 5
Number of sub-watersheds with (M)oderate or (H)igh ratings for each point source
category (Appendix D).
Category
Overall
Potential
% Urban Development Septic tank
failure
Moderate 1 1 2 1
High 3 3 2 0
Historical data/studies: The majority of assessments conducted within the Upper Black
Warrior River CU were from 5 projects conducted by the ADEM and the U.S. Geological
Survey (USGS).
These data include both monitored and evaluated assessments. Monitored assessments
are based on chemical, physical, and/or biological data collected using commonly accepted
and well-documented methods. Evaluated assessments are based on observed conditions,
limited water quality data, water quality data older than 5 years, or estimated impacts from
observed or suspected activities.
Results of monitored assessments were used in this report to assess habitat, biological,
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