Surface Water - Alabama Department of Environmental Management

Lower Black Warrior River (0316-0113)
Little Prairie Creek: At LPRH-45b, Little Prairie Creek was a clay-bottomed stream located
in the Blackland Prairie (65a) subecoregion (Appendix J). Habitat quality was impaired by
poor in-stream habitat, sediment deposition, a straightened stream channel, and unstable
banks. The reach was flanked on both sides by cropland. Vegetation, primarily shrubs and
trees, was actively being removed up to the top of the stream bank. Five EPT families
were collected, indicating the macroinvertebrate community to be in fair condition
(Appendix K). Nutrient concentrations (TKN, NO 2 +NO 3 -N, DRP) were elevated during a
one-time water quality sampling event on May 8 th of 2002 (Appendix M).
Sub-watershed status: Impaired biological conditions were detected at locations on Big
German Creek and Little Prairie Creek. The concentration of dissolved oxygen was
measured as 4.9 mg/L at Big German Creek during the July, 2003 sampling event.
Chlorides and nutrient concentrations were elevated at Big German Creek and Little Prairie
Creek during 2003.
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