Surface Water - Alabama Department of Environmental Management

Upper Black Warrior River (0316-0112)
(Appendix O-1). In June of 2002, 7 EPT families were collected, indicating a fair
macroinvertebrate community (Appendix O-2). Intensive water quality sampling
conducted from March through November of 2002 did not indicate a cause of the
impairment (O-3).
North River: North River at NRRT-1 is located in the Fall Line Hills (65i) subecoregion
(Appendix E). Intensive water quality sampling was collected on the North River at
NRRT-1 from January through August of 2002 (Appendix P-3). Results showed fecal
coliform concentrations >2,000 colonies/100 mL during the May sampling event. Nutrient
concentrations and conductivity were periodically elevated.
Intensive water quality samples were collected monthly during April through October,
2002 in the upper- (Tuscaloosa2 and Tuscaloosa4), mid- (Tuscaloosa3), and lower-
(Tuscaloosa1) reservoir to evaluate nutrient and sediment loading as a source of water
quality impairment to Tuscaloosa Reservoir (ADEM 2004b). Mean concentrations of total
nitrogen and total phosphorus were among the lowest on the Black Warrior River during
the 2002 sampling season (ADEM 2004b). However, total phosphorus concentrations
have nearly doubled since 1998. Total suspended solids have also increased throughout the
reservoir since 1998.
Barbee Creek: At BW6U6-54, Barbee Creek was a moderate gradient, bedrock-bottomed
stream located in the Fall Line Hills (65i) subecoregion (Appendix T-1). Results of water
quality sampling conducted during August of 2002 are located in Appendix T-2.
Sub-watershed status: Macroinvertebrate assessments conducted during 2002 indicated
impaired macroinvertebrate communities at locations on Bear and Binion Creek.
Sedimentation was observed at both sites. Roadside surveys conducted in 1997, upstream
of each assessment site, indicated cattle production, silviculture, and roadside erosion to be
prevalent throughout the sub-watershed. A 38.0 mile segment of the North River is on
ADEM’s 2002 CWA §303(d) list of impaired waterbodiesfor nutrient enrichment,
siltation, and other habitat alteration caused by runoff from abandoned surface mines.
Total phosphorus concentrations and total suspended solids have increased throughout
the Tuscaloosa Reservoir since 1998. However, monitoring within the Binion Creek and
the Tuscaloosa Reservoir has indicated the potential for nutrient and sediment loading from
these sources to be relatively low.
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