Surface Water - Alabama Department of Environmental Management

Upper Black Warrior River (0316-0112)
Sub-Watershed: Blue Creek NRCS Sub-Watershed Number 070
Landuse: The Blue Creek sub-watershed drains approximately 68 mi 2 in Tuscaloosa
County. The SWCD estimated percent land cover as 85% forest and 13% mining areas. A
total of 4 mining NPDES permits have been issued in the sub-watershed (Appendix B).
Percent land cover estimated by local SWCD (Appendix A, ASWCC 1998)
Forest Row crop Pasture Mining Urban Open Water Other
85% 0% 0% 13% 1% 1% 1%
NPS impairment potential: The potential for NPS impairment from mining and
sedimentation was estimated as high. Sediment from mining contributed 87% of the total
estimated annual sediment load within the sub-watershed. The potential for impairment
from urban development was estimated as low.
Ratings for each NPS category based on values estimated during the SWCD sub-watershed assessment.
Category
NPS
Score
Animal
husbandry
Aquaculture
Row
crop
Pasture Mining Forestry Sediment
Value 14 0.00 AU/ac 0.00% 0% 0% 13% ur 26.7 tons/ac/yr
NPS Potential M L L L L H ur H
Appendix D H H A A A I I
Assessments: An assessment of the Blue Creek sub-watershed was not conducted during
the 2002 NPS Screening Assessment. Intensive water quality data was collected at one
location on Blue Creek during a statewide Tributary Nutrient Loading Project. Jock Creek
and Litle Bear Creek were monitored during ADEM’s 1999 §303(d) Monitoring Program.
Intensive water quality data was collected on the Black Warrior River from two locations
within the Holt Reservoir in conjunction withADEM’s Reservoir Monitoring Program.
McDuf Spring Branch and Pewter Creek have been evaluated during ADEM’s ALAMAP
Program.
Jock Creek: At JKC-1, Jock Creek was a cobble-gravel stream located in the Shale Hills
(68f) subecoregion (Appendix P-1). Habitat quality at the site was affected by unstable
banks. The macroinvertebrate community was assessed as poor (Appendix P-2). The pH
at Jock Creek was measured at 6.4 during 1 of 4 sampling events. The concentration of
total phosphorus was slightly elevated during the same sampling event. Conductivity was
elevated at the site.
Little Bear Creek: Little Bear Creek at LBC-1 is located in the Shale Hills (68f)
subecoregion (Appendix E). Intensive water quality data collected from May through
September of 1999 are presented in Appendix P-3.
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