Black Warrior River Basin Educational Newspaper Insert

PROTECTING THE WATERS OF THE
Black Warrior
ALABAMA CLEAN
WATER PARTNERSHIP
This publication was made possible
with grant funds and services
provided by the following partners:
RIVER BASIN
Alabama Association of
Resource Conservation &
Development Councils
Alabama Department of Economic
and Community Affairs Office of Water Resources
Alabama Mountains, Rivers
and Valleys Resource Conservation
& Development Council
Alabama Power Company
Alabama Press Association
Auburn University
Environmental Institute
Cullman County Soil and Water
Conservation District
Turkey Creek, by Patti Pennington
Legacy, Partners in
Environmental Education
Media General
Patton Geologics, Inc.
Sewage Equipment Sales & Service
US Environmental
Protection Agency, Region 4
Sipsey Fork Canoe Trip, by Billy Shaw
Duck Creek, Mulberry Fork
Watershed, by David Johnston
In
nsiide:
Lakes on the Black Warrior River . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Everyone Lives in a Watershed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 - 9
Stormwater Pollution Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Endangered Species . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Low Impact Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Community Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Perennial Waterfall
in Blount County,
by Kellie Johnston
Coal Barge at Buddy Vines Camp,
Bankhead Lake, by Kellie Johnston
Welcome!
Acknowledgements
This publication was made
possible, in part, with grant
funds from the Cawaco, the
Alabama Mountains, Rivers &
Valleys, and the Tombigbee
Resource Conservation and
Development Councils and
Alabama Cooperative
Extension System, and from
the Alabama Clean Water
Partnership through Clean
Water Act Section 319 Grants
from the Alabama Department
of Environmental Management
and the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, Region 4.
Special appreciation is
extended to the following
organizations for their
contribution of article
content:
Alabama Aquatic Nuisance
Species Task Force
Alabama Clean
Water Partnership
Alabama Coal Association
Alabama Cooperative
Extension System
Alabama Department
of Conservation &
Natural Resources
Alabama Department of
Environmental Management
Alabama Department
of Public Health
Alabama Forestry Commission
Alabama Power Company
Alabama Rivers, Mountains
and Valleys RC&D Council
The Alabama Clean Water Partnership, Black Warrior River Basin Clean
Water Partnership, and Cawaco Resource Conservation & Development
Council, in cooperation with multiple partners, are proud to bring you this
informative insert. Our intention is to provide information about our
incredible natural resource - the Black Warrior River Basin - and the many
innovative projects underway to enhance and protect the quality and quantity
of the water that flows past our towns and homes. The Black Warrior River is
a vital life line for all who live in the watershed, with citizens depending on it
for drinking water, agricultural production, recreational opportunities,
shipping of goods, and manufacturing.
The Black Warrior River Clean Water Partnership is part of the statewide
river basin management initiative called the Alabama Clean Water Partnership
(ACWP), a coalition of public and private individuals, companies,
organizations and governing bodies working together to protect and preserve
water resources and aquatic ecosystems throughout the state and in the shared
watersheds of neighboring states. The goals of the ACWP are to link local
basin efforts in order to maximize resources, encourage public and private
investment, and empower citizens to become involved in watershed
protection. Representatives from each river basin, as well as representatives
from diverse interest groups, serve on a statewide board of directors. In each
of the ten delineated river basins, such as the Black Warrior, a steering
committee composed of local stakeholders with assorted interests in water
resources and aquatic life is working to foster, coordinate, and encourage
communication throughout the basin, and to provide guidance in the
prioritization of resources.
The Black Warrior River Clean Water Partnership, established in 2000, is
sponsored by the Cawaco Resource Conservation & Development Council,
with Johnnie Johnston leading the Steering Committee. To find out more
about the Alabama Clean Water Partnership and its associated basin
initiatives, go to www.cleanwaterpartnership.org or call: Kellie Johnston,
Black Warrior Basin Facilitator at (205) 251-8139 or Allison Jenkins, ACWP
Statewide Coordinator at (205) 266-6285.
If you like what you see in this insert, and want to support Alabama Clean
Water Partnership efforts, please consider making a donation. Donations are
tax deductible and can be earmarked for a specific project (or group initiative)
in a specific river basin. Donations can be made by sending your check, along
with the completed donation form below, to: The Alabama Clean Water
Partnership, P.O. Box 3623, Montgomery, AL 36109.
Alabama Water Watch
Black Warrior River
Clean Water Partnership
Name:
Organization / Affiliation:
Mailing Address:
Telephone:
Jefferson County
Department of Health
US Army Corps of Engineers
US Environmental Protection
Agency, Region 4
2
What Is RC&D?
This project was funded in part with grant funds
from assorted Resource Conservation and
Development (RC&D) Councils, with a mission of
helping citizens protect and develop their economic,
natural, and social resources in ways that improve
their area’s economy, environment, and quality of
life. Local RC&D Councils provide ways for people
to plan and implement projects that will make their
communities a better place to live. They bring
together people, needs, concerns, opportunities, and
solutions. Find out more about RC&D - Check out
www.al.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/rcd
Please mail this card and your donation to: Alabama Clean Water Partnership, P.O. Box 3623, Montgomery, AL 36109
Five Mile Creek
Greenway Partnership
Geological Survey of Alabama
The Black Warrior River Clean Water Partnership
works through its neutral forum to make positive
impacts throughout the river basin. Services and
projects include:
Education and Outreach - Newspaper articles,
on-line newsletters, a website (warriorcwp.org) and
meetings and workshops are used to inform citizens
about successes, challenges/threats, partnering
opportunities, and strategies/capital needed to
protect or improve the river basin.
Renew Our Rivers - The Partnership
coordinates the volunteer, award-winning "Renew
Our Rivers" clean-up program on Bankhead and
Holt Lakes and provides support on Smith Lake,
Locust Fork, and Village Creek.
(www.alabamapower.com/lakes/renewourrivers.asp)
Implementation of Best Management
Practices - Threatened and impaired areas in need
of protection or restoration are identified and
actions taken to implement corrective measures.
Remediation is usually in cooperation with other
partners using grants and cost-share funding.
Funding - Grant funding is aggressively
pursued to support environmentally protective and
economically viable initiatives. Incentives may be
available for stakeholders to plan and implement
large scope and scale basin-wide projects, or
smaller watershed-specific activities.
Support Clean Water in Alabama through your donation to the Alabama Clean Water Partnership
Cawaco RC&D Council
Cullman County Soil &
Water Conservation District
The Black Warrior River
Clean Water Partnership
Email:
I want to learn more about becoming involved in the Alabama Clean Water Partnership.
The Alabama Clean Water Partnership is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. All donations are tax deductible.
Learn more about the Alabama Clean Water Partnership at www.cleanwaterpartnership.org
Levels of Giving
Clean Water Friend
Clean Water Patron
Clean Water Supporter
Clean Water Donor
Clean Water Sponsor
Clean Water Founder
Other
$100.00
$500.00
$1,000.00
$2,500.00
$5,000.00
$10,000.00
_________
Donation Designation
Statewide Support
Basin Support
YES, I would like my donation
dedicated to the support of the
subbasin the basin I checked.
Alabama/Tombigbee
Conecuh-Sepulga
Black Warrior
Coosa
Cahaba
Coastal
Chattahoochee-Chipola
Tallapoosa
Choctawhatchee-Pea-Yellow
Tennessee
The Black Warrior River Watershed in Alabama
The Black Warrior River Basin
is divided into five smaller
watersheds:
Locust Fork Primarily located within
Jefferson, Blount, Marshall,
and Etowah Counties.
Drains approximately
1,209 square miles.
Lakes: Bayview
Renew Our Rivers Clean Ups
Partners: Alabama Power, US Army Corps of Engineers
Tuscaloosa Soil & Water Conservation District, Jefferson
County Department of Health, Buddy Vines Camp,
Cawaco Resource Conservation & Development Council,
Tombigbee Resource Conservation & Development
Council
Lower Black Warrior Located within Tuscaloosa,
Hale, Greene, and Pickens
Counties.
Drains approximately
1,458 square miles.
Lakes: Harris, Holt, Oliver,
Nichol and Tuscaloosa
Mulberry Fork Mostly in Cullman, Walker,
and Winston Counties.
Drains approximately 2,366
square miles.
Lakes: None
Sipsey Fork Located within Winston,
Walker, and Cullman Counties.
Drains approximately
996 square miles.
Lakes: Smith
Stream Restoration Workshop
Partners: Alabama Cooperative Extension System, North
Carolina State University, City of Jasper
Acid Mine Drainage Reclamation Project
at Black Branch
Partners: ADEM, Alabama Department of Industrial
Relations, Abandoned Mine Land Division
Upper Black Warrior Located within Tuscaloosa,
Fayette, Jefferson, and Walker
Counties.
Drains approximately
1,255 square miles.
Lakes: Bankhead
Map Courtesy of the Alabama Department of
Environmental Management.
Located in northwest Alabama, the Black Warrior
River Basin includes all or parts of 15 counties,
draining 6,392 square miles (almost 4.1 million acres).
Flowing southward from the confluence of the Locust,
Mulberry and Sipsey Forks in North Alabama, the
Black Warrior flows through Tuscaloosa before joining
the Tombigbee River at Demopolis and draining
southward to Mobile Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.
The Black Warrior River has served as an
important commercial waterway for hundreds of years.
With abundant natural resources, the 453 mile
waterway boasting 6 locks and dams and 47 public
recreation areas is one of the most highly industrialized
areas in the Southeast. The U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers is responsible for providing oversight of
economic and environmental issues such as flood
protection, hydropower, navigation, recreation, and
water supply on the Black Warrior River.
In the last 200 years, the river basin has
experienced great changes in human population, land
use, and even in the appearance and flow of the river.
Managed for many and different purposes, the
waterway is as varied as the surrounding landscapes.
The basin contains some of the most pristine wetlands,
beautiful reservoirs, abundant wildlife, and scenic
forestland and landscapes in Alabama. It also defines
and sustains communities along its banks that depend
on it as an economic driver and social, cultural, and
ecological treasure. However, it is also home to some
of the state's most impaired streams. Therefore,
restoration and preservation of this valuable and robust
natural resource is critical.
3
Major Reservoirs In The Watershed
Bankhead Reservoir
The Bankhead Reservoir contains 9,200 surface acres, the second largest lake on
the Warrior River. Created in 1915, it flows through Walker, Jefferson and
Tuscaloosa Counties. The lake's clear waters stretch for 65 miles, including
navigable areas of both the Locust and Mulberry Forks.
The John Hollis Bankhead Lock and Dam was completed for navigation and
flood control by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1916. Spillway rehabilitation
was completed in 1970 with lock work completed in 1970 and 1975. On July 12,
1963, Alabama Power Company completed power production facilities. The
Bankhead Hydroelectric Project is owned by Alabama Power, while the dam and
lock chamber are owned by the U.S. Government and operated by the Army Corps
of Engineers.
Oliver Lake, Courtesy of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
which are located within the Tuscaloosa city limits and managed by the Tuscaloosa
County Park and Recreation Authority. Oliver Lake is also used for barge transport
of various materials including petroleum, agricultural and other products.
Smith Lake
Bankhead Lake, Photo Courtesy of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Lake Harris
Lake Harris is located just before Yellow Creek flows into the Black Warrior
River and is one of the three man-made lakes (Lake Tuscaloosa, Lake Nichol, and
Harris Lake) that supply water to the City of Tuscaloosa, Northport and portions of
Tuscaloosa County.
Holt Lake
Holt Lake is a narrow winding body of
water, which stretches for 18 miles and
encompasses 3,200 surface acres. The lake
lies six miles northeast of Tuscaloosa and
was formed by the damming of the Black
Warrior River at mile 347. Holt Lake is
used to provide hydroelectric power as
well as barge transportation. Construction
of the lock and dam was completed in
1966
Lake Tuscaloosa
Holt Dam,
Courtesy of Alabama Power
Lake Nichol
Lake Nichol is built on Yellow Creek and is a man-made lake featuring a dam
built in 1954 at the south end of the lake. It is one of three man-made lakes (Lake
Tuscaloosa, Lake Nichol, and Harris Lake) that supply water to the City of
Tuscaloosa, Northport and portions of Tuscaloosa County. These three lakes contain
a combined 44 million gallons of water and cover over 6,480 acres of land.
The dams are overseen by the City of Tuscaloosa Water and Sewer Department.
The surface water of the lakes are considered to be inside the city limits of
Tuscaloosa.
Oliver Lake
Oliver Lake was formed by the construction of the William Bacon Oliver Lock
and Dam. The Lake is nine miles long with approximately 1,000 surface acres.
Recreational development is limited to boat launching facilities and day use areas,
4
Lewis Smith Lake is an Alabama Power Company reservoir on the Sipsey Fork
of the Black Warrior River, and is within Walker, Cullman, and Winston Counties.
Smith Lake consists of 21,200 surface acres, but because of its extreme water
depths, may hold more water than any lake in the state. The lake has 500 miles of
shoreline and 944 square miles drain into the lake.
Construction began on Lewis Smith Dam on November 25, 1957 and was
completed and placed in service on September 5, 1961. It is the largest earthen dam
east of the Mississippi River. Smith Lake is a three-fingered lake with the Sipsey
River making up the left
fork, Rock Creek making
up the middle fork and
Ryan Creek making up the
right fork. Citizens and
industrial users in the City
of Birmingham rely on
Smith Lake as a source of
water.
A
diverse
community (over 70
species) of warm water
fish species call Smith
Smith Lake,
Lake home.
Courtesy of Alabama Power
Located north of the cities of Tuscaloosa and Northport in west central Alabama,
Lake Tuscaloosa is a 5,885-acre water supply reservoir, providing water to
125,000+ residents and industries, including Mercedes and US Steel. Lake
Tuscaloosa has 177-miles of shoreline. The tailwater area (North River) drains into
the Black Warrior River and is a popular recreational area to many anglers. Besides
North River, several creeks supply water to the lake: Binion Creek, Turkey Creek,
Dry Creek, Carroll's Creek, Brush Creek, and Clear Creek.
When the reservoir was
impounded by the City of
Tuscaloosa in 1971, little material
was left behind to serve as fish
habitat. Consequently, biologists
suspected that the lake would be
clear and infertile with relatively low
fish production. This has proven to
be the case, and water visibility near
the dam often exceeds 20 feet. Upper
reaches of the lake near Binion and
Turkey Creeks are more fertile, have
Lake Tuscaloosa, Courtesy of Alabama
lower
water visibility, and are
Department of Conservation and Natural
generally better areas to fish.
Resources, Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries
Economic Importance of the
Black Warrior River Watershed
BARGE TRANSPORTATION
One of the most utilized waterways in the Southeast, the WarriorTombigbee Waterway is the number one choice for shippers utilizing
Alabama's waterways. Materials transported include coal, aggregate,
timber and wood products, agricultural products, steel, and petroleum
products. From the coal-rich Black Warrior Basin, the Black Warrior
River flows west and south 165 river miles to its juncture with the
Tombigbee River at Demopolis. Today, more than 25 million tons of
goods and materials are transported on the Warrior-Tombigbee
Waterway each year with a value exceeding one and a half billion
dollars each year.
Courtesy of Alabama Power
Company
PUBLIC WATER SUPPLIES
The Black Warrior River, its tributaries, and aquifers support 88
public water supply systems. There is growing recognition of the
value of protecting the high quality of waters that are a source of
drinking water as a means of reducing the cost of treatment systems
required under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Birmingham Water
Works services a great percentage of the Black Warrior River
Watershed's population. They have four primary water sources which
supplies its five county service area. Three of these sources are within
the Black Warrior River Watershed, accounting for 80 percent of
allotted withdrawls.
HYDROELECTRIC GENERATION
The Black Warrior River Basin provides three sources of
hydroelectric generation for Alabama Power Company (APCO)
customers: Bankhead Dam and Powerhouse, Holt Dam and
Powerhouse, and Lewis Smith Development provides a significant
source of reliable, dependable, and reasonably priced electricity for
APCO's consumers. Electricity produced at the Bankhead
powerhouse is transmitted to APCO's power grid for allocation, as
needed, to residential, commercial, and industrial customers
throughout the service area.
Photo by David Johnston
RECREATION
The Black Warrior has a multitude of resource and water-related
recreation opportunities, which include hunting, fishing, hiking,
canoeing, kayaking, water skiing and pleasure boating. The value of
recreational activities, specific to the Black Warrior, would be
difficult to estimate or compile. However, State revenue generated by
recreational activities is difficult to ignore.
The Black Warrior River is being recognized for it’s tourism
potential. The Delta Queen Paddleboat now tours the Black Warrior.
As a cruise destination, the Delta Queen brings tourists from afar to
spend tourism dollars in the State of Alabama. The Black Warrior
River in Tuscaloosa was the location for the 2008 US Olympic Team
Triathlon Trials. www.usatriathlon.org
Five Mile Creek: Recreation
for Economic Development
A unique greenway project in the Black Warrior River
basin began with a devastating flood in 2004. Cities along the
creek including Tarrant, Fultondale, and Brookside lost homes
and business in the floodwaters. Cawaco Resource
Conservation and Development Council (RC&D) partnered
with the affected cities, the Regional Planning Commission of
Greater Birmingham (RPCGB) and the Freshwater Land
Trust to turn the damage into an award winning project. With
the dedication of ten community partners and their supporters,
a plan for parks, canoe launches, connected walking and
biking trails slowly took the place of empty flooded lands and
abandoned industrial sites. Adjoining municipalities have
recognized the value of this project and are replicating the
greenway concept within their respective jurisdictions. The
municipalities of Center Point, Tarrant, Fultondale,
Birmingham, Brookside and Graysville along with Jefferson
County, the Freshwater Land Trust, Cawaco RC&D and the
RPCGB have signed an agreement, creating the foundation of
a greenway along the entire Five Mile Creek corridor.
Five Mile Creek and its tributaries wind their way
lengthwise across Jefferson County, flowing west into the
Locust Fork of the Black Warrior River. These waters belong
to a surrounding community which has experienced a great
history of change over the past 200 years. In the community's
founding days, Brookside, Cardiff, Fultondale and
Birmingham were the sites of a thriving steel works and coal
industries. Small towns, such as Bessie and Coalburg were
built around the mining industry. Since then, strip mines have
transformed into forestland and golf courses, and previously
undeveloped land in north Jefferson County has developed
into suburban communities. The water quality in Five Mile
Creek is recovering from the industrial history while new
parks and greenways for communities are developed.
Understanding, restoring, and preserving the watershed is
crucial not only to the wise stewardship of the waters
themselves, but also to the benefit and development of their
communities.
Photo by Abner Patton
AGRICULTURE
According to the 2002 Alabama Agricultural Statistics, Bulletin
44, four of the fifteen counties located in the Black Warrior River
watershed are the state’s top agricultural producers for certain crops.
Cullman County is ranked as the number one producer of cattle, eggs
and broilers, while Hale County and Greene County are ranked first
and second, respectively, for catfish sales. Leading agricultural
producers include: Bibb County, which is ranked fourth for the
production of broilers and fifth for eggs; Lawrence County, which is
ranked third for the production of cotton and fifth for corn; Marshall
County, which is ranked third in the production of both eggs and
broilers and fourth for cattle; and Perry County, which is ranked
fourth for catfish sales.
Canoeists on Five Mile Creek.
Photo by Francesca Gross
Photo by Paul Kennedy
5
Water Quality Management-Municipal Storm Water Management Requirements and Contacts
Stormwater discharges are generated by runoff
from land and impervious areas where water doesn't
soak in (such as paved streets, parking lots, and
building rooftops) during rainfall events and often
contains pollutants in quantities that could negatively
affect water quality.
Municipalities that have a population greater than
100,000 people and a population density of 1,000
people per square mile are required by law to comply
with stormwater permit requirements. The regulations
require municipalities to develop and implement
stormwater management programs employing best
management practices (BMPs) to adequately address
six minimum control measures. These include public
education and outreach; public involvement and
participation; illicit discharge detection and
elimination; construction site storm runoff control;
post-construction stormwater management; and
pollution prevention / Good Housekeeping for
Municipal Operations.
Municipalities within the Black Warrior River
Watershed under these requirements include:
City of Tuscaloosa
(205) 349-2045
City of Northport
(205) 339-7000
Impaired Waters of the
Black Warrior River Basin
Having an impaired stream in your area can negatively affect:
 Future growth, development and land-use decisions
 Recreational activities and opportunities
 Municipal wastewater plant and industrial discharge permits (including
the recruitment of new industry)
 Storm water discharge permits
 Fish & wildlife living in or near stream
Assorted causes contribute to streams being impaired. Streams containing
fish consumption advisories issued by the Alabama Department of Public
Health are also added to the list. The following streams in the Black Warrior
River Basin are currently listed as impaired by the Alabama Department of
Environmental Management:
Blount County:
Dry Creek, Locust Fork, Mulberry Fork
Cullman County:
Brindley Creek, Broglen River, Crooked Creek,
Duck River, East Fork Flint Creek, Eightmile
Creek, Long Branch, Mud Creek, Mulberry Fork,
Riley Maze Creek, Rock Creek, Ryan Creek,
Thacker Creek, Tibb Creek
Fayette County:
North River
Jefferson County:
Mud Creek, Newfound Creek, Opossum Creek,
Valley Creek
Tuscaloosa County: Big Yellow Creek, North River
Walker County:
Black Branch, Cane Creek, Wolf Creek
Once a steam is listed as impaired, a "pollution budget" or Total Maximum
Daily Load (TMDL) must be developed for that stream segment for each
pollutant causing impairment. River segments in the Black Warrior River Basin
that currently have approved TMDLs in place include:
Blount County:
Graves Creek
Cullman County:
Eightmile Creek, Brindley Creek, Broglen River,
Crooked Creek, Duck River, Long Branch,
Thacker Creek
Jefferson County:
Camp Branch, Village Creek, Bayview Lake
Tuscaloosa County: Hurricane Creek, Little Hurricane Creek,
North Fork of Hurricane Creek
Winston County:
Rock Creek
Sources: Alabama Department of Environmental Management, Final 2008 303(d)
List of Impaired Streams. For additional information visit:
www.adem.alabama.gov/WaterDivision/WQuality/303d/WQ303d.htm; Alabama
Department of Public Health Fish Tissue Advisories:
http://adph.org/tox/index.asp?id=1360
6
Tuscaloosa County
(205) 345-6600
City of Bessemer
(205) 424-4060
City of Fultondale
(205) 841-4481
City of Graysville
(205) 674-5643
City of Birmingham
(205) 254-2479
SWMA (Jefferson County) (205) 943-5739
The Jefferson County storm water program is
administered by the Storm Water Management
Authority, Inc. and includes the following: Adamsville,
Brighton, Brookside, Fairfield, Gardendale,
Hueytown, Lipscomb, Maytown, Midfield, Mulga,
Pleasant Grove, and Tarrant.
A Turn for the Better: In-house Litter Management
It is difficult to make a living on the farm these days. Poultry farmers are faced
with economic down turns, environmental regulations and small profit margins. The
Alabama Mountains, Rivers & Valleys RC&D Council is addressing alternatives for
farmers that not only increases their bottom line but also reduces the potential for
polluted runoff. Partnering with North Alabama Soil and Water Conservation
Districts and the Natural Resources Conservation Service, with a grant from the
Alabama Department of Environmental Management, a new poultry litter
management technique is being introduced that meets these objectives.
Most poultry farmers use pine shavings or sawdust as a bedding material to
absorb the manure from the birds. As the birds mature, the nutrient rich manure in
this bedding material accumulates and can become a breeding ground for flies,
beetles and other potential disease causing agents. Previously, poultry companies
recommended complete clean outs on a frequent basis. Due to the cost of new
bedding materials and the problem of disposing of the litter in some areas, most
poultry companies now allow litter to remain in houses for months and even years
before a clean out. However, the problems mentioned above, especially the
ammonia levels can become a problem.
Recently a new concept was introduced by the RC&D Council and partners that
effectively addresses this problem. Instead of cleaning out the litter between flocks,
a large rotary type turner is attached to the farmers tractor and backed through the
litter making a windrow approximately three to four feet high. The litter in the
windrow naturally goes through a “heat” as the bacteria, moisture and air react,
killing fly larva, beetles, disease causing agents and releasing the ammonia. After
three days the windrows are redone in order to incorporate more oxygen into the mix
to continue the heating. Then before the new birds arrive the existing, reconditioned
litter is spread out for the next growing cycle.
The result is that the
farmers don’t need to buy
additional
bedding
material, ammonia is
reduced, beetles and flies
are eliminated and there is
a reduction in the nutrient
rich litter to land apply.
Water quality is improved.
For more information,
call (256)773-8495.
Source: Alabama Mountains,
Rivers & Valleys RC&D
Counncil
Issues and Impairments
Abandoned mine lands present another source
of pollutants and sedimentation in the Black
Warrior River. These areas were mined in the
early 1950’s & 60’s before mining bonds were
able to cover the costs of reclamation work and
before stricter environmental laws were in place.
Some mining companies would mine an area and
then forfeit their bonds to the State, which would
leave the mine without any reclamation work
done because the forfeiture of the bond was
cheaper than payment for the reclamation work.
The Alabama Department of Industrial Relations
– Abandoned Mine Land Division and the Office
of Surface Mining is working to reclaim many of
these areas. Funding for reclamation of abandoned
mine land is insufficient to reclaim all sites within
a short amount of time. In fact, at the current rate
of funding, it is estimated that it will take over 30
years to reclaim sites within Alabama.
Courtesy of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Abandoned Mine Lands
Abandoned mine
near Holt Lake
Tips for Better Water Quality in Forests
Did you know that there are 22.5 million forested acres in Alabama? Properly
managed forests protect and can even improve water quality in a watershed, making
it imperative that forest owners, loggers and associated contractors be
knowledgeable about forestry best management practices (BMPs). The Alabama
Forestry Commission recommends professional assistance with BMPs during
planning, conducting and maintaining silvicultural practices, paying special
attention to the proper planning, location, and maintenance of roads, maintenance of
healthy streamside management zones (strip of land immediately adjacent to a
drainage, stream, creek, river, or other body of water), and stream crossings, which
have the most direct potential for damaging water quality. Mandatory federal BMPs
are required to be followed. And, advanced
planning for a successful timber harvest
and regeneration can protect water quality
by minimizing soil disturbance as well as
reducing the cost for regeneration practices.
Government resource professionals such as
the Alabama Forestry Commission
(forestry.alabama.gov), Natural Resource
Conservation Service, County Extension
Service, and organizations such as the
Alabama
Forestry
Association
(alaforestry.org) can provide on-site
recommendations to landowners.
Source: Alabama Forestry Commission
Storage and Disposal of Hazardous Materials
The improper storage and disposal of hazardous materials can be a direct cause
of pollutants entering the Black Warrior River, this can directly affect water quality.
The below photos show examples of improper storage or disposal of hazardous
materials around the Black Warrior River that directly affects water quality.
Oil buckets and filter near
Old Lock 15 boat ramp.
Photo courtesy of the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers.
DID
KN YOU
O
Th
e a W?
v
gen hous erag
Illegal Dumping
e
e
e
Illegal dumping of household trash, general litter
20 rate hold
and hazardous materials has contributed countless haz pou s up
ard nd
t
pollutants into the Black Warrior River and can lead to
ous s o o
e
ach
water quality reduction. Illegal dumping is disposing
w f
yea ast
of waste in an un-permitted area, such as along roadways,
e
r.
in a ravine or hillside adjacent to the river or even in the
river itself. Not only can litter and debris that is illegally
dumped affect water quality, it
can have a direct affect on
navigation traffic on the Black
Warrior River. The photo below
(on the right) shows debris and
litter from stormwater runoff
blocking the lower approach to
Bankhead Lock, causing barge
traffic to slow when going
through trash and debris to
prevent damage to tow boats
Litter in slough on Holt Lake
and barges.
Courtesy of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Runoff from Land
Development
Land
development
brings with it sediment
control challenges, as roads
are built to service large
housing developments along
the river. Best management
practice implementation and Courtesy of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
maintenance by developers, road builders and home builders is critical, so that
the river remains a place where citizens want to live and recreate.
Failing Septic Systems
Septic tank systems are the largest of all contributors of wastewater to the ground
and are the most frequently reported sources of groundwater contamination in the
United States. Bacteria, viruses, and parasites (including worms and protozoans) are
the types of pathogens in wastewater that are hazardous to humans. Fungi that can
cause skin, eye, and respiratory infections also grow in sewage and sewage sludge.
These bacteria and viruses may be transported very rapidly and could contaminate
nearby drinking water supplies or recreational surface water. Each county's public
health department is responsible for permitting septic systems. It is the individual
homeowner's responsibility to ensure that the system is properly maintained and
functioning. County public
health departments are required
to estimate these numbers for
reporting
purposes.
For
additional information, visit
www.adph.org.
Why Septic Systems Fail
 Using too much water
 Physical damage to
system (field lines, tree
roots, etc.)
 Improper design and
construction
 Lack of maintenance
7
Everyone Lives In A Watersh
A watershed (or drainage basin) is an area of land that drains to a central
location. That location can be as small as a puddle or a small drainage ditch
in your backyard, or as large as a river, like the Black Warrior.
Black Warrior Watershed Facts
 Drains 6,392 square miles or 4,090,880 acres
 Supports 72.5% of Alabama’s population:
Birmingham, Cullman, Jasper, and Tuscaloosa
 The Black Warrior River and its tributaries flow
through 15 counties (Bibb, Blount, Cullman,
Etowah, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Jefferson,
Lawrence, Marshall, Marengo, Perry, Tuscaloosa,
Walker and Winston.)
 The Black Warrior and Cahaba Watersheds are the
only drainage basins contained completely within
the State of Alabama.
 Contains the second and third longest free-flowing
rivers (Locust Fork and Mulberry Fork Rivers) in
Alabama.
From the sources to the streams
Stormwater flows from
rooftops, parking lots and
gutters into streets...
...from
streets into
storm drains
and through
the storm
water
collection
system...
Common pollutants in storm dra
...and then
flows, untreated,
straight into
creeks, streams
and rivers.
8
(1) Detergents, cleaners and solvents;
(2) Oil and latex paint; ( 3) Swimming
pool chemicals; (4) Outdoor trash and
litter; (5) Pet, animal and human was
(6) Insecticides, herbicides, pesticides
(7) Fertilizer; (8) Oil and grease;
(9) Radiator fluids and antifreeze;
(10) Gasoline and other fuels;
(11) Brake pad dust; and (12) Cement
and sheetrock dust.
hed--H
H ow You Can Help!
DID
Y
K
N OU
I
wa f leak OW?
t
e
of erwa d int
y
m
c
o ,a oa
Conservation and Recreation in the Bankhead National Forest
to onta tor o quar
sites.
Most o 2 m mina il wi t
The Alabama National Forest was established in 1914 as a historic
f d illio te ll
rin n g up
result of the Weeks Act, the primary purpose of which was to prehistoric upland sites
kin
g w allon
protect the nation's watersheds and stream courses. During the are shallow and located on
at s
er
1930's, with the help of Civilian Conservation Corp labor, the ridges near streams and stream
Bankhead Forest was replanted to establish a healthy forest cover
on previously abandoned cutover lands. This helped to limit
chronic erosion, reestablish productive soils, and maintain the
forest habitat and riparian corridor.
The Bankhead National Forest has a rich variety of heritage
resources. The archaeological sites range from prehistoric sites,
approximately 10,000 - 500 years old, to mid-twentieth century
Sou
ww rce fo
r
w.s
our Illust
cep
r
rote ation:
ctio
n.n
et
Agriplex: Kids and Agriculture
ains:
g
d
te;
s;
t
confluences. They usually date to
the Archaic through Woodland periods
(8000 B.C. to A.D. 900). There are three special areas
within the Bankhead National Forest: Indian Tomb
Hollow, Kinlock, and High Town Path.
The pride of the Bankhead National Forest water
resources is found in the Wild and Scenic River
corridor along the Sipsey Fork. Designated by
Congress in 1988, 61.4 miles of the Sipsey Fork
including its headwaters and tributaries are part of the
National Wild and Scenic River System. This
designation allows for the maintenance of the
Sipsey’s striking landforms, diverse plant life and
outstanding scenery. This is one of the most
frequently visited free flowing rivers in Alabama,
wonderful for canoeing and floating during the fall
and spring.
Household Tips
Each year the Cullman County Soil and Water
Conservation District assists the North Alabama
Agriplex with Touring Farms for Kids. The annual twoday event is to introduce Cullman County children,
ages seven to twelve, to agriculture and how it affects
their lives.
Past tours have included the North Alabama
Horticulture Experiment Station, Cullman Stockyards,
Cullman Farmer's Market, a honey farm, a horse farm
and Cullman County Soil & Water Conservation
District's Camp Meadowbrook. This year will be the
ninth year for the tour. Approximately 30 to 40
children take the tour each year.
The North Alabama Agriplex was established by
the Alabama Legislature in 1999. The mission of the
Agriplex is to educate children and adults through
heritage based, hands-on opportunities; demonstrate
the history and importance of agriculture in our society
and offer the opportunity to reconnect with our food,
fiber, wildlife and forestry heritage; and integrate the
importance of natural resource conservation.
For more information, call 256-734-6471.
 Avoid planting turf in hard-to-water areas like steep inclines and sidewalk strips.
 Check water meter and bill to track water usage.
 Use a broom instead of a hose to clean your driveway or sidewalk and save 80 gallons
of water every time.
 If your shower can fill a one-gallon bucket in less than 20 seconds, then replace it with
a water-efficient showerhead.
 Direct downspouts towards shrubs and trees, or collect and use for your garden.
 Cook food in as little water as possible -- also retains more of the nutrients.
9
Polluted Stormwater Runoff -Americans support protecting the nation’s rivers but lack a good understanding of how watersheds work, according to a poll conducted
by the National Geographic Society.
 Protecting and conserving rivers was important for 98 percent of the respondents. But only 15 percent knew that the greatest
source of river pollution comes from the actions of individuals. Nearly three times as many, 44 percent, incorrectly identified
industrial sources as the biggest culprit in polluting waterways.
 Just 36 percent knew that nonpoint-source pollution - contamination from many sources that is carried by runoff - is the largest
source of water-quality problems for rivers.
 42 percent incorrectly thought water that goes down storm drains is treated at waste water treatment plants.
Stormwater runoff occurs when
precipitation from rain or snowmelt
flows over the ground. Impervious
surfaces like driveways, sidewalks, and
streets prevent stormwater from
naturally soaking into the ground.
Polluted stormwater runoff can
have many adverse effects on
plants, fish, animals and people.
 Sediment can cloud the
water and make it difficult
or impossible for aquatic
plants to grow. Sediment
also can destroy aquatic
habitats.
 Excess nutrients can cause algae blooms.
When algae die, they sink to the bottom and
decompose in a process that removes oxygen
from the water. Fish and other aquatic
organisms can't exist in water with low
dissolved oxygen levels.
U
YO ?
D
I
D OW
o
KN egal t old ,
lil seh es
s
t
It i p hou was to
s
in
m
du rdou oil, own
a
d
s
haz uch a rs or ains.
s te dr
gut torm
s
Source:
“After the Storm,”
Jan. 2003,
EPA 833-B-03-002.
10
 Bacteria and other pathogens can wash into
swimming areas and create health hazards,
often making beach closures necessary.
 Debris - plastic bags, six-pack rings, bottles, and cigarette butts washed into waterbodies can choke, suffocate, or disable aquatic
life like ducks, fish, turtles, and birds.
Stormwater can pick up debris,
chemicals, dirt, and other pollutants and
flow into a storm sewer system or
directly to a lake, stream, river, wetland,
or coastal water. Anything that enters a
storm sewer system is discharged
untreated into the waterbodies we use
for swimming, fishing, and providing
drinking water.
 Household hazardous wastes like insecticides, pesticides, paint,
solvents, used motor oil, and other auto fluids can poison aquatic
life. Land animals and people can become sick from eating
diseased fish and shellfish or ingesting polluted water.
 Polluted stormwater often
affects drinking water
sources. This, in turn, can
affect human health and
increase drinking water
treatment costs.
Auto care
Residential
Recycle or properly dispose of household products that
contain chemicals, such as insecticides, pesticides, paint,
solvents, and used motor oil and other auto fluids. Don't
pour them onto the ground or into storm drains.
Lawn Care
Excess fertilizers and
pesticides applied to lawns
and gardens wash off and
pollute streams. In addition,
yard clippings and leaves
can wash into storm drains
and contribute nutrients and
organic matter to streams.
Septic
Systems
 Don't overwater your lawn. Consider
using a soaker hose instead of a sprinkler.
 Use pesticides and fertilizers sparingly.
When use is necessary, use these
chemicals in the recommended amounts.
Use organic mulch or safer pest control
methods whenever possible.
 Compost or mulch yard waste. Don't
leave it in the street or sweep it into
storm drains or streams.
 Cover piles of dirt or mulch being used
in landscaping projects.
Commercial
Agriculture
Forestry
Washing your car and degreasing auto
parts at home can send detergents and
other contaminants through the storm
sewer system. Dumping automotive
fluids into storm drains has the same
result as dumping the materials directly
into a waterbody.
 Use a commercial car wash that treats or recycles
its wastewater, or wash your car on your yard so
the water infiltrates into the ground.
 Repair leaks and dispose of used auto fluids and
batteries at designated drop-off or recycling
locations.
Leaking and poorly
maintained septic
systems release
nutrients and
pathogens (bacteria and viruses)
that can be picked up by
stormwater and discharged into
nearby waterbodies. Pathogens can
cause public health problems and
environmental concerns.
 Inspect your system every 3
years and pump your tank as
necessary (every 3 to 5 years).
 Don't dispose of household
hazardous waste in sinks or
toilets.
Dirt, oil, and debris that collect in parking
lots and paved areas can be washed into the
storm sewer system and eventually enter
local waterbodies.
 Sweep up litter and debris from
sidewalks, driveways and parking lots,
especially around storm drains.
 Cover grease storage and dumpsters
and keep them clean to avoid leaks.
 Report any chemical spill to the local
hazardous waste cleanup team. They'll
know the best way to keep spills from
harming the environment.
Pet Waste
Pet waste can be a
major source of
bacteria and excess
nutrients in local
waters.
 When walking
your pet, remember to pick up
the waste and dispose of it
properly. Flushing pet waste is
the best disposal method.
Leaving pet waste on the
ground increases public health
risks by allowing harmful
bacteria and nutrients to wash
into the storm drain and
eventually into local
waterbodies.
Recycle or properly dispose of household
products that contain chemicals, such as
insecticides, pesticides, paint, solvents, and used
motor oil and other auto fluids. Don't pour them
onto the ground or into storm drains.
Residential Landscaping
Permeable Pavement—Traditional concrete and
asphalt don't allow water to soak into the ground.
Instead these surfaces rely on storm drains to divert
unwanted water. Permeable pavement systems allow
rain and snowmelt to soak through, decreasing
stormwater runoff.
Rain Barrels—You can collect
rainwater from rooftops in
mosquito-proof containers. The
water can be used later on lawn or
garden areas.
Rain Gardens and Grassy
Swales—Specially designed areas planted with
native plants can provide natural places for rainwater
to collect and soak into
the ground. Rain from
rooftop areas or paved
areas can be diverted
into these areas rather
than into storm drains.
Vegetated Filter Strips—Filter strips are areas of
native grass or plants created along roadways or
streams. They trap the pollutants stormwater picks
up as it flows across driveways and streets.
Erosion controls that aren't maintained can cause excessive amounts
of sediment and debris to be carried into the stormwater system.
Construction vehicles can leak fuel, oil, and other harmful fluids
that can be picked up by stormwater and deposited into local
waterbodies.
 Divert stormwater away from disturbed or exposed areas of the
construction site.
 Install silt fences, vehicle mud removal areas, vegetative cover,
and other sediment and erosion controls and properly maintain
them, especially after rainstorms.
 Prevent soil erosion by minimizing disturbed areas during
construction projects, and seed and mulch bare areas as
soon as possible.
Lack of vegetation on streambanks can lead to erosion. Overgrazed pastures can also contribute
excessive amounts of sediment to local waterbodies. Excess fertilizers and pesticides can poison
aquatic animals and lead to destructive algae blooms. Livestock in streams can contaminate
waterways with bacteria, making them unsafe for human contact.
 Keep livestock away from streambanks and provide them a
water source away from waterbodies.
 Store and apply manure away from waterbodies and in
accordance with a nutrient management plan.
 Vegetate riparian areas along waterways.
 Rotate animal grazing to prevent soil erosion in fields.
 Apply fertilizers and pesticides according to label
instructions to save money and minimize pollution.
Improperly managed logging operations can result in erosion and sedimentation.
 Conduct preharvest planning to prevent erosion and lower costs.
 Use logging methods and equipment that minimize soil disturbance.
 Plan and design skid trails, yard areas, and truck access roads to minimize
stream crossings and avoid disturbing the forest floor.
 Construct stream crossings so that they minimize erosion and physical
changes to streams.
 Expedite revegetation of cleared areas.
Construction
Automotive
Facilities
Uncovered fueling stations allow spills to be washed
into storm drains. Cars waiting to be repaired can
leak fuel, oil, and other harmful fluids that can be
picked up by stormwater.
 Clean up spills immediately and properly
dispose of cleanup materials.
 Provide cover over fueling stations and design
or retrofit facilities for spill containment.
 Properly maintain fleet vehicles to prevent oil,
gas, and other discharges from being washed
into local waterbodies.
 Install and maintain oil/water separators.
11
Have you seen these
"Alien" invaders?
Alabama has a wealth of water resources with over 77,000 miles of
perennial and intermittent streams; 563,000 acres of ponds, lakes and
reservoirs; and over 3 million acres of marshes and wetlands. The state also
boasts 50 miles of coast with over 400,000 acres of estuaries. This vast
amount of water resources acts as a conduit for the invasion of aquatic
nuisance species (ANS), posing a major problem to the state. ANS are
species introduced outside of their native ranges that can grow in or are
closely associated with the aquatic environment.
These nuisance species can have harmful effects on the local economy,
human health and/or ecology. For example, Cuban bulrush (Oxycaryum
cubense) has recently invaded Alabama's waterways in the Mobile River
Basin. This species clogs and covers waterways, cripples boat traffic and
competes with native vegetation, creating a monoculture unsuitable for
recreation, commerce, native fish and wildlife species.
available at the Alabama Department of Conservation & Natural Resources
(http://www.outdooralabama.com/education/generalinfo/ans/) and
USDA National Agricultural Library - National Invasive Species Information Center
(http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/aquatics/main.shtml)
Dotted Duckweed
Eurasian watermilfoil
Parrotfeather
Photo by Alison Fox
Photo by Asit Ghosh
Photo by C. Smoot Major
Water Hyacinth
Photo by C. Smoot Major
Common Salvinia (Water Spangles)
WH
 B AT CA
N YO
oate
UD
and c rs should
heck
alway O?
of
bi
s
 N water to a lge water check and
close
nothe
ever
was
envir allow sto r, to min ly when t h boat hu
imize
lls, m
onme
ransp
re bo
dis
or
ot
nt
ug
sp
 T posal at a - Let them ht water g reading. ting craft ors and tra
from
o rep
landf
a
dry o
r
one b ilers
or
il
 T
ut an den plant
ody
s to e
o rep t sitings a l.
d tos
s the
nter t
Basin ort siting t Smith
p
h
l
e
a
nts in
n
Lake
to ga atural
,
and N , call Stev s at all ot
rbage
her w Call 1-80
e Rid
atura
at
0for
er
l Res
Sources:
ource at the A ers in the LAKES1
labam
1
State Management
s, 334
Black
a
-844Plan for Aquatic Nuisance
8978 Departm Warrior R
ent o
.
Species in Alabama, by the Alabama
f Con iver
Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force, 2007.
serva
tion
Additional information regarding invasive aquatic species is
Hydrilla
For additional
information regarding
invasisve aquatic species:
Alabama Department
of Conservation and
Natural Resources at
www.outdooralabama.com/
education/generalinfo/ans/
Coal - Alabama's Energy Source
As the nation struggles to secure energy independence from foreign sources, the State of
Alabama is poised to play a role in that independence becoming a reality. This great State that
we all love and want to protect has a natural resource that is in abundant supply and currently
provides over 60% of the electricity we use in our homes, schools, and businesses each day. That
natural resource is coal, and when mined properly does not cause adverse impacts to the
environment. Under mining laws in place since the late 1960's and the 1970's, the mining
industry not only mines but must reclaim any lands that have been affected by the mining process.
The mining industry also pays federal severance taxes on each ton of coal mined to pay for
reclamation of abandoned mine lands that may have been mined a hundred years ago when no
reclamation was required, to correct problems such as acid-mine drainage and unsafe highwalls.
As a part of the mining process, the mining industry and its consultants sample process waters
and stormwater frequently, as required by their permits, to insure compliance with strict standards
set by the state and federal regulatory agencies. Monitoring reports are submitted on a regular
basis to the Alabama Department of Environmental Management and to the Alabama Surface
Mining Commission, and corrective action has to be taken immediately if problems are detected.
While there has to be some disturbance to the land in the mining process, that disturbance is
temporary, and the mining industry in Alabama is committed to reclamation that supports wildlife
and protects the environment. This commitment is clearly evident if you have taken the time to
visit a site that has been mined in the last thirty years!
12
Photo by Andre Karwath
Photos by Jason Carlee
Photo by Jason Carlee
Blue-green Algae
Photo by Marilyn O'Leary
Water Lettuce
Reclaimed
mining sites in
Walker County.
Article and
photos courtesy
of the Alabama
Coal Association.
Black Warrior River Watershed
Home to Endangered Species
Alabama's diversity of freshwater mussels is greater Fine-lined Pocketbook
than anywhere else in the world, including some Mussel
tropical areas. There are 307 known species of
freshwater mussels found in North America, as
recognized by the American Fisheries Society. A total of
180 species have been reported from Alabama,
representing 59 percent of the total. It is estimated that
there are 50 known species existing today within the
Black Warrior River Basin.
A biological assessment was performed in 1998 of the Locust Fork
Watershed and revealed significant new records of several fish species in that
drainage. One of these was the Cahaba shiner, a federally listed species
previously known from approximately 75 river miles of the Cahaba River. The
Cahaba shiner was found in approximately 64 river miles of the Locust Fork,
and apparently, in greater abundance than in the Cahaba River. Two other
species – the Tuscaloosa darter and the coal darter - were also found to be much
more widespread than previously known.
10 WAYS TO SAVE 10 GALLONS
OF WATER EACH DAY
(Source: Water Line, Vol. 10, September 1990, Clemson University Cooperative Extension System)
Turn off the tap while you brush your teeth
2 brushings = 10 gallons
Turn off the tap while you shave
1 shave = 10 gallons
Cahaba
Shiner
Shorten your shower by 2 minutes
2 minutes = 10 gallons
Place a water-filled bottle or bag in your toilet tank
6 flushed = 10 gallons
Watercress Darter
Alabama Waterdog
Wash full loads of clothes
1 load = 10 gallons
Eggert’s Sunflower
Use the hose a minute less when you wash your car
1 minute = 10 gallons
Gray Bat
Sweep, instead of washing off the driveway
1 minute = 10 gallons
Wood Stork
Water your plants a minute less
1 minute = 10 gallons
Flattened Musk Turtle
Use short cycle on your dishwasher
1 wash = 10 gallons
10 gallons saved per day = 3,650 gallons saved per year!
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service List of Endangered Species
in the Black Warrior Watershed
Alabama Moccasinshell Mussel
Bald Eagle
Coosa Moccasinshell Mussel
Eggert's Sunflower
Flat Pigtoe Mussel
Gray Bat
Indiana Bat
Kral's Water Plantain
Orange-nacre Mucket Mussel
Plicate Rocksnail
Southern Clubshell Mussel
Triangular Kidneyshell Mussel
Vermilion Darter
Wood Stork
Alabama Streak Sorus Fern
Cahaba Shiner
Dark Pigtoe Pearly Mussel
Fine-lined Pocketbook Mussel
Flattened Musk Turtle
Heavy Pigtoe Mussel
Inflated Heelsplitter Mussel
Leafy-Prairie Clover
Ovate Clubshell Mussel
Red-cockaded Woodpecker
Stirrupshell Mussel
Upland Combshell Mussel
Watercress Darter
Water conservation saves money and energy.
Conservation of all natural resources enhances our quality of life.
YES, I would like to do my part to conserve water during this time of drought.
Please send me my free water conservation kit!*
Name
(Please Print)
Address
City
State
Zip
*Limit one Kit per household, available to Alabama residents only.
Quantities are limited and will be provided on a first request basis.
Send to AUEI, 1090 S. Donahue Dr., Auburn University, AL 36849
www.cleanwaterpartnership.org
13
Low Impact Development
Low Impact Development (LID) is an innovative stormwater management approach with a basic
principle that is modeled after nature: manage rainfall at the source using uniformly distributed
decentralized micro-scale controls. The goal of LID is to mimic a site's predevelopment hydrology
by using design techniques that infiltrate, filter, store, evaporate, and detain runoff close to its source.
Techniques are based on the premise that stormwater management should not be seen as stormwater
disposal. Instead of conveying and managing/treating stormwater in large, costly end-of-pipe facilities
located at the bottom of drainage areas, LID addresses stormwater through small, cost-effective
landscape features located at the lot level. These landscape features, known as Integrated
Management Practices (IMPs), are the building blocks of LID. Almost all components of the urban
environment have the potential to serve as an IMP. This includes not only open space, but also
rooftops, streetscapes, parking lots, sidewalks, and medians. LID is a versatile approach that can be
applied equally well to new development, urban retrofits, and redevelopment / revitalization projects.
What if all of the roofs in Birmingham were green?
Green roofs or "living
roofs" are a thin layer of
vegetation installed on top of a
roof, capturing water instead of
allowing it to run off, washing
pollutants into nearby streams
and rivers. They have a great
potential for the remediation of
an urban area’s air and water
quality issues, including the
reduction of flooding, heat
island
effects,
carbon
particulates, increased energy
savings and so much more.
To explore the extent of this
potential, Giang Tong, Doctoral
Candidate at UAB's Department
of
Environmental
Health
Engineering was asked to
conduct a trial in Birmingham
to determine the impact of flat
roofs in an urban and built up
area and what would the
potential impact be for green
roof in a typical intersection in
downtown? Three continuous
square blocks of downtown
Birmingham were randomly
chosen for this analysis. An
aerial caption from Google
Earth was used to determine the
land usage and a model was
used to determine source area
percentage contribution and the
reduction in pollutant loading.
Results indicated that there
is tremendous potential for the
rehabilitation of the metro
environment by looking 'above'
for solutions showing the
An Educational Program for
Local Officials and Citizens
About Polluted Stormwater Runoff
Call Today to Schedule a Free Workshop!
ADEM Office of Education and
Outreach
(334) 394-4350 Patti Hurley
adem.alabama.gov
14
NEMO AL Cooperative
Extension System
(334) 844-3927 Eve Brantley
www.aces.edu/waterquality
Action
Benefit
Rain Barrels, Native Plant
Landscaping
Conserves water
Rain gardens, Grass swales,
Pervious roadway &
driveway, Green rooftops,
Bioretention circle, Open
space design, No-mow zone
Catches stormwater to slow it
down and trap pollutants
before they get to our
streams, rivers, lakes, and
bays
Green Rooftop
following reductions:
35% storm water runoff,
21% lead,
52% zinc,
23% particulate phosphorus
40% nitrate
Green roofs can be attractive,
functional, and cost-effective!
The future Dr. Tong is an intern
of Cawaco RC&D Council and
is supported by the Regional
Planning Commission of Greater
Birmingham.
LID -- It’s easier to do than you may think!
Check out practices that can
be placed around your home
and neighborhood.
Rain Barrels
Rain Gardens
Photos courtesy of NEMO Connecticut
Native Plants
Learn More About:
The link between land use and water quality
The impact of local land use policies
Enhancing the quality of life in communities
Natural resource based planning
Protective site design
Responsible land stewardship
Who Should Attend?
Elected Officials
Planning Agencies
Developers
Construction Industries
Businesses
Educational Institutions
Education and Outreach Organizations
Engineers and Technical Professionals
Citizens and Community Leaders
How Low Impact Design Helps
Open Space Design
Grass Swales
Pervious and
Shared Driveway
Bioretention
“circle”
Pervious Roadway
Jasper, Alabama--
May 28, 2008: Volunteers,
city employees, students and
teachers spend a morning
planting the stormwater
wetland at Maddox Middle
School.
Town Creek Stream Restoration
Town Creek is a perennial tributary of Cane Creek and flows through the central
business district of the City of Jasper, the county seat of Walker County and fronts
Maddox Middle School. A significant portion of Town Creek, fronting the school,
has been channelized. The channelized portion increases volume and velocity of
stormwater and provides no cover for habitat and increasing stormwater pollutants
entering Town Creek. In 1993, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reported that the
channelization created accelerated erosion which created a public hazard by
potentially undercutting buildings and roads. The Black Warrior Clean Water
Partnership Facilitator assisted the City of Jasper in obtaining funding to address
these issues.
The Jasper Town Creek Enhancement project is funded by a Clean Water Act
Section 319 grant administered by ADEM. The goals are to improve water quality
and habitat along 1,150 feet of Town Creek and provide a demonstration of urban
natural channel design stream enhancement and stormwater management. The
project created a two-celled stormwater wetland to retain and treat stormwater
runoff from parking lots and streets near Maddox Middle School. The wetland will
be used as an educational environment for students and the public learning about
natural wetland ecosystems.
Town Creek BEFORE
Town Creek AFTER
Addressing the Litter Problem:
Roadside litter, which eventually reaches streams
and rivers, was a concern identified by stakeholders
during the development of the Black Warrior
Watershed Management Plan. The Partnership is
working to address this issue through participation and
support of the Jefferson County Health Action
Partnership Environmental Quality Committee. The
Our Cause is Noble Our Efforts are Local.
Renew Our Rivers has grown
from a single river cleanup event in
Gadsden, Alabama to a nationally
recognized cleanup campaign that
now includes Alabama, Georgia,
Mississippi and the Florida
panhandle, six river systems and
brings together more than 10,000 volunteers.
Alabama's rivers are cleaner, thanks to the awardwinning Renew Our Rivers cleanup program.
Renew Our Rivers is one of the Southeast's largest
organized river-system cleanup. The date, location,
and contact information for the 2009 Black Warrior
River Watershed cleanup schedule is available at
www.alabamapower.com. To get involved simply
take a look at the schedule of cleanups, select the
one nearest you and show up. Bring your family,
friends or community group to volunteer.
Committee is taking a three prong approach which is
being implemented under separate initiatives:
ELIMINATION: The Committee supports local
river and roadside clean ups including the Renew Our
Rivers Clean Ups and other clean up initiatives.
ENFORCEMENT: The Committee encourages
enforcement of current litter laws coupled with media
attention. It has been confirmed that if enforcement is
publicized during initial implementation, litter is
reduced. Implementation of the Assign-A-Highway
program will provide the best opportunity for
enforcement. The Assign-A-Highway Program takes
criminal defendants that are on probation and assigns
them a section of highway that is to be cleaned up
every two weeks. This Program uses a previously
untapped resource to help keep roadside litter picked
up along primary and secondary roads.
EDUCATION: A grant received from the
Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham
engaged high school and college students in the
development of a targeted media campaign addressing
litter. The purpose of the project is to develop an
innovative social marketing campaign, targeting the
“MySpace®” generation (approximately 124,000 1624 year olds per the US Census) in an effort to evoke a
change in behavior and reduce litter. This group has
been identified as apathetic, persistent litterers and has
yet to be targeted for education to change behavior.
Focus groups from four schools (high school and
college) were polled regarding their litter habits, with
all participants stating that they litter on a regular basis
and don't believe that their contribution to the problem
is significant. This project will design and implement
an innovative marketing program to educate the target
audience and general public about litter and its
environmental effects in communities through print,
"MySpace®" Generation
Anti-Litter Campaign
Find out more at www.whatislitter.com
film, broadcast, and internet media.
The project, in direct response to the Jefferson
County Department of Health initiative, "Our
Community Roadmap to Health" (www.jcdh.org),
utilized focus groups to identify areas of concern.
Roadside litter was identified as an issue by these
focus groups and was also listed as the primary area of
concern by stakeholders during the development of the
Black Warrior River Watershed Management Plan.
Current partners include the Jefferson County
Department of Health, The Modern Brand, Black
Warrior River Clean Water Partnership, and Cawaco
Resource Conservation & Development Council, Inc.
Additional partners and funds are needed if the
program is to be expanded across the state - Contact
Kellie Johnston for additional information at (205)
251-8139 or [email protected].
Students model www.whatislitter.com t-shirts that
coincide with a media campaign that will run on
TV, YouTube and other media venues. The back of
the t-shirt gives a message, such as: Plastic Bottle I am litter. I am easily recycled, but I have 38
billion friends in landfills.
15
Alabama Water Watch is a statewide citizen
volunteer water quality monitoring program
that provides training, data management,
information exchange and other means of
support for the public to become personally
involved in water issues. Since 1992, AWW has
accumulated the following:
1,200 free workshops in water testing for the public
4,800 certified monitors in 250 citizen groups on 750 waterbodies
54,000 data records from 1,900 sites in an online database
5 volumes of Citizen Guide to Alabama Rivers
Exploring Alabama’s Living Streams classroom curriculum
2 EPA approved water monitoring protocols
Get Involved!
Alabama Water Watch
250 Upchurch Hall, Auburn University, AL 36849-5415
Telephone (toll free): (888) 844-4785 Fax: (334) 844-3666
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.alabamawaterwatch.org
US Drought Monitor Conditions
for the Black Warrior River Basin
February 2009
Start
Stormwater
Route
Water from
storms soaks
into the
ground or
flows into
gutters.
The stormwater
system channels
rain into gutters,
which drain into
streams and rivers.
When people
pollute stormwater,
they also pollute
our natural
waterways.
Help Droplet
journey through
the stormwater
system without
becoming
contaminated by
Sludge or Toxic.
Littering
Lawns
Don’t
throw litter
into gutters.
Keep grass,
leaves, yard
chemicals out
of gutter.
Construction Sites
Contain dirt and
debris so they don’t
wash into
waterways.
Driveways
Sweep driveway dirt
onto the lawn, not
into the gutter.
Wash cars on
the grass.
Street Runoff
Proper car
maintenance helps
prevent fluid
leaks.
Pet Waste
Dispose in trash
or down toilet.
Finish
Black Warrior River Basin
D1 Drought - Moderate
D4 Drought - Exceptional
D0 Abnormally Dry
D3 Drought - Extreme
Normal
D2 Drought - Severe
Source: Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs,
Office of Water Resources, February 3, 2009
16