Surface Water - Alabama Department of Environmental Management

Lower Black Warrior River (0316-0113)
Lower Black Warrior River CU (0316-0113)
The Lower Black Warrior River CU contains 19 sub-watersheds located within 1,458
mi 2 area in southwest Alabama. The entire CU lies below the Fall Line and drains portion
of both the Fall Line Hills (65i) and the Blackbelt (65a and 65b) region. Low-gradient,
habitat poor, glide/pool streams are common in the area. Streams in the Blackbelt region
will go dry or become quite low during the summer, while streams located in the Fall Line
Hills (65i) subecoregion flow year round due to extensive sand and gravel aquifers in the
region (Mettee et al. 1996).
Landuse: Based on the conservation assessment worksheets completed (1998) by the local
SWCDs, the primary land-uses throughout the Lower Black Warrior River CU were forest
and pasture. Pesticide/herbicide use was estimated for 14 sub-watersheds (401,871 acres).
Within these sub-watersheds, approximately 24,200 acres of crop and pastureland (6% of
total area reported) were treated with pesticides and/or herbicides.
Percent land cover estimated by local SWCD (ASWCC 1998)
Forest Row crop Pasture Mining Urban Open Water Other
56% 7% 27% 0% 8% 1% 2%
NPS impairment potential: Potential for NPS impairment was moderate within 4 of the 7
sub-watersheds in the CU. Crop runoff, pasture grazing, aquaculture, forestry, and
sedimentation were the primary NPS concerns. Impairment from both urban runoff and
development was a concern in 5 sub-watersheds.
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 Sediment
Moderate 4 0 3 8 2 0 4 3
High 0 0 3 1 5 0 0 0
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 5 3 3 3
High 0 4 0 0
Historical data/studies: The majority of assessments conducted within the Lower 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,
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