Surface Water - Alabama Department of Environmental Management

Cahaba River (0315-0202)
Assessment stations located within the sub-watershed since 1997. Descriptions provided in Appendix E-1.
Station Assessment Type Date Location Area
(mi 2 )
C3
EPACR-7
CAH-2
GSACR-5
SU-9
UAB-15
GSACR-4
PMUS-6
SAVS-7
Habitat,
Biological,
Chemical
Habitat,
Biological,
Habitat,
Biological,
Chemical
Habitat,
Biological,
Chemical
1974-
1996,
2002
Cahaba R. west of Helena at Shelby
CR 52
Classification
335 OAW
2002 Cahaba R. off of Shelby CR 251 367 OAW
2002 Piney Murry Cr. at Shelby CR 270 14 F&W
2002 Savage Cr. at Shelby CR 10 8 F&W
CA01U3-29 Habitat, Chemical 1999 Beaverdam Cr. approximately 1/8
mi. west of Shelby CR 17 nr mouth
of Dry Cr
8 F&W
Piney Murry Creek: At PMUS-6, Piney Murry Creek is a riffle-run stream located in the
Southern Sandstone Ridges (67h) subecoregion (Appendix J). Habitat condition was
assessed as excellent for this stream type. Eight EPT families were collected at the site,
indicating the macroinvertebrate community to be in fair condition (Appendix K).
Conductivity, alkalinity, hardness, and nitrate+nitrite-nitrogen were above background
levels in May of 2002 (Appendix M).
Savage Creek: At SAVS-7, Savage Creek is a riffle-run stream located in the Southern
Sandstone Ridges (67h) subecoregion (Appendix J). Habitat condition was assessed as
good for this stream type. However, sediment deposition, primarily silt, was noted to be a
problem. Nine EPT families were collected at the site, indicating the macroinvertebrate
community to be in good condition (Table 22a). Alkalinity and hardness were above
background levels in May of 2002 (Appendix M).
Cahaba River: At GSACR-5, Cahaba River is a riffle-run stream characterized by bedrock
and cobble riffles and gravel, cobble, and rubble runs (O’Neil 2002). Pools were a mixture
of sand, silt, and deposited organic material. Total taxa richness and darter species was
exceptional, but the total omnivores and herbivores was high, signifying an unbalanced fish
community. Overall biological condition was assessed as fair(O’Neil 2002, Appendix G).
This reach (EPACR-7) was extensively monitored during EPA’s Biological and Water
Quality Studies, March/April, July, and September, 2002 (Howard et al. 2002).
Sedimentation and nutrient enrichment were found to impact the biological communities at
the site.
Data were collected at this reach (C-3) in conjunction with ADEM’s §303(d)
monitoring program, January of 2002 through April of 2003 (Appendix P-3). Mean
concentrations of total phosphorus, dissolved reactive phosphorus, and nitrate+nitritenitrogen
were 5-16X least-impaired ecoregional reference conditions. The mean hardness
was 104.4 mg/L. Organic nitrogen (TKN), conductivity, total dissolved solids, and total
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