The West Fork Little River
Sub-Watershed Study
Funded by:
Alabama Department of Environmental Management
Water Quality Branch, Water Division
1400 Coliseum Blvd
P.O. Box 301463
Montgomery, Alabama 36130
Prepared by:
Top of Alabama Regional Council of Governments
Planning Department
5075 Research Drive NW
Huntsville, AL 35805
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS………………………………………………………………………………….iii
INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………………….………………………………..1
NATURAL CHARACTERISTICS………………………………………………………………..2
CULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS…………………………………………………………….6
CURRENT AND FUTURE ISSUES
OF THE WEST FORK…………………………………………………………………………………………...7
RECOMMENDATIONS…………………………………………………………………………………….16
CONCLUSION…………………………………………………………………………………………………………18
LIST OF MAPS
Figure 1. Regional Context………………………………………………………………………………………………..2
Figure 2. Little River Watershed……………………………………………………………………………………….3
Figure 3. Study Area………………………………………………………………………………………………………….4
Figure 4. Stream Classification………………………………………………………………………………………11
Figure 5. Metropolitan Areas…………………………………………………………………………………………14
Figure 6. Sampling Locations……………………………………………………………………….Appendix A
APPENDICES
Appendix A. Bacteriological Sampling…………………………………………………………………………..2
Appendix B. Water Chemistry Testing………………………………………………………………………….3
Appendix C. Community and Public Involvement…………………………………………………………..8
Appendix D. Bibliography………………………………………………………………………………………………15
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iv
INTRODUCTION
Water quality is an important asset for
many reasons. Our bodies are composed
of 70% water. All plants and animals are
mostly water as well. We also utilize our
water sources for a variety of things. We
use water for cooking, bathing, washing
clothes, diluting wastes, agriculture,
electricity, and recreation. There are many
different levels of water quality. It all
depends on what the water is used for.
Water that is fit for watering crops or
lawns may not be suitable for swimming.
Water that is used for recreation may not
be safe drinking water. The primary use of
the West Fork Little River is for
recreation. It is a habitat for many
different plant and animal species, such as
the Green Pitcher Plant and the Blue
Shiner. Water quality evaluation of this
area is important because the economic
future of the area depends to some degree
on the recreational and aesthetic value of
the West Fork Little River.
Management Water Division, to conduct a
Watershed Management Study of the
West Fork Little River. In August 2004,
the proposal was accepted and the study
for the West Fork Little River was
approved. The contract is funded through
Section 604 (b) of the Clean Water Act.
Officials of both the town of Mentone
and the Little River Canyon National
Preserve have expressed concerns of
increased sedimentation, as well as water
quality issues of the West Fork Little
River. Some local people believe the
increase in sedimentation is due to
increased development of roads
surrounding the river area. As population
of the area increases over time, the impact
of new development on the West Fork
Little River will also increase. Without
proper planning and consideration the
value of the River will surely decrease.
In July of 2004, the Top of Alabama
Regional Council of Governments
submitted a proposal to the Alabama
Department of Environmental
1
NATURAL
CHARACTERISTICS
♦♦Project Location ♦♦
The West Fork of the Little River lies in
extreme eastern DeKalb County, Alabama
running south-southwest on top of
Lookout Mountain. The West Fork area
is a sub-watershed of the Little River
Watershed. The Little River Watershed is
part of the Coosa River Basin, and the
Little River serves as one of the Etowah
Tributaries to the Coosa River. On a
much larger scale, the West Fork Little
River is a small part of the AlabamaCoosa-Tallapoosa River Basin (Figure 1).
The Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa Basin is
acknowledged as
one of the most
biologically
diverse and
threatened river
basins in the
nation.
When the West
Fork converges
with the East
Fork Little River
at the DeKalb
County and
Cherokee County
border, it forms
the Little River.
The Little River
flows through one
of the deepest
gorges East of the Mississippi. According
to the Alabama Water Watch, it has been
designated as Alabama’s first Outstanding
National Resource Water. It hosts an
environment capable of supporting rare
and endangered species such as the Green
2
Pitcher Plant and the Blue Shiner. The
Little River watershed drains an area of
approximately 200 square miles in
Alabama and Georgia. The ultimate
destination for the water in the Little
River is Weiss Lake (Figure 2). It is the
only river which forms and flows for
almost its entire length on the top of a
mountain.
The West Fork Little River originates in
Dade County, Georgia and flows
southwest through DeKalb County,
Alabama. Within DeKalb County, the
West Fork passes through areas of the
town of Mentone, Desoto State Park,
Little River Canyon National Preserve,
and the outer limits of the city of Fort
Figure 1. Regional Context of the
West Fork Little River.
Payne. The drainage area for the West
Fork is 42.8 square miles. This study is
concerned with the 29 square miles that
are located in DeKalb County Alabama
(Figure 3).
♦♦ Geology ♦♦
The West and East Forks of the Little
River watershed flow on the Cumberland
Plateau section of the physiographic
provinces. The Cumberland Plateau is an
area that was once part of a nearly level
continuous plain that extended from the
state of New York into central
Alabama (USDA). Lookout
Mountain is a remnant of this
plain. Internal pressure from
the Earth’s crust caused a sharp
upward break resulting in
folded, pushed up rock
formations on the once level
plain. These formations extend
in a nearly straight line in a
northeasterly-southwesterly
direction. The broken surfaces
in the folded areas exposed
rock formations that were not
resistant
to
erosion
or
dissolution; therefore they
formed the present day
limestone valleys of the region.
This area contains Paleozoicage rocks, which are folded,
faulted and thrusted clastic
carbonate rocks of fluvial and
marine origin. The rocks of
DeKalb County are all
sedimentary in origin. Common
rock types found in the region include
siltstone, shale, limestone, sandstone, and
dolostone. Gravel beds of Cenozoic Age
and discontinuous quartz sand are present
due to river deposits. There are deposits
of bituminous coal found throughout the
West Fork area, along with iron deposits.
Most of the deposits of coal and iron are
long since depleted. Most of the aquifers
in the area are of the sandstone variety,
which also serve as fracture-conduit
aquifers. This area has the ability for highyield groundwater wells that may
occur in carbonate rock areas where cavity
formations are. There is also the
possibility of seismic disturbance. The
earthquakes that occur in this region are
part of the Southern Appalachian/East
Figure 2. Sub-Watershed Divisions
Tennessee Seismic Zone. Earthquakes are
common in this area, but are so small they
are not felt. The largest known earthquake
to date in the Southern Appalachians
occurred just east of DeSoto State Park
on April 29, 2003. It measured 4.9 on the
Richter scale.
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Figure 3. Study Area
4
♦♦ Biology ♦♦
♦♦Soils ♦♦
There are two major soil associations of
the West Fork Little River, the
Muskingum-Rockland-Hartsells and the
Hartsells-Muskingum. The MuskingumRocklandHartsells
Association
compromises approximately one-half of
the sub-watershed. The Muskingum soils
in the West Fork area have 10 – 20
percent slopes. They range from very
shallow to moderately deep. Runoff and
internal drainage are rapid. The
Muskingum soil series has a high erosion
hazard. The Rockland soils have 20 – 45
+ percent slopes. This series occurs
largely on the upper third of the mountain
bluffs and along the deep gorges of the
river, however the topography of this land
type ranges from roughly undulating and
hilly to cliff-like. Runoff is very rapid. The
Hartsells soils have a 2 – 10 percent slope.
They have a slow to medium runoff rate.
The primary use for this series is
agricultural. Once the cover over this
series is cleared there is a high erosion
hazard.
♦♦ Climate ♦♦
The climate of the region is Humid
Subtropical with mild winters and hot
summers. The summers are usually long
and have moderately hot days and fairly
cool nights. In general the winters are
mild and pleasant. The temperature
frequently falls below freezing during the
night and occasionally remains below
freezing for 1 to 3 days or more. Snow is
not common. The area gets about three
inches of snow a year. The average rainfall
is approximately 54 to 56 inches per year.
The mean temperature for the area is 60
degrees.
Vegetation
Like the rest of North Alabama, the area
of the West Fork Little River is a region
of extreme biological diversity. Several
federally listed species are found in the
area, including Sarracenia oreophilia (the
green pitcher plant) and Sagittaria
secundifolia (Karl’s water plantain). The
vegetation is dominated by oak, hickory,
heath and pine. There may be a higher
percentage of pine in some areas because
pine reseeds voluntarily on abandoned
fields or on cutover areas, pasture, and
burned-over forest. Virginia pine (Pinus
virginiana), is the most common pine in the
area. Flowering plants native to this area
are dogwood, hawthorn, mountain laurel,
rhododendron,
honeysuckle,
azalea,
redbud and wild crabapple.
Wildlife
The game animals and birds most
common at the present time are deer,
turkey, squirrel, rabbit, quail and
mourning dove. The most common furbearing and predatory animals are
raccoon, opossum, fox, bobcat, skunk and
a few coyotes. Fish types in the Little
River watershed include bass, brim and
crappie.
5
CULTURAL
CHARACTERISTICS
♦♦ History ♦♦
Human beings in the Little River area date
back to about 12, 000 B.C.E. (Before the
Common Era), with the Paleo Indians.
They were prototypical hunter-gatherers,
with a diet derived from hunting big game
and uncultivated edible plants. The Paleo
Indians were the dominant culture until
approximately 8,000 B.C.E., when they
were supplanted by the Archaic people.
The Archaic people were also huntergatherers, but began to manipulate their
environment to a much greater degree
than their predecessors. Archaeological
sites of the Archaic people are found
throughout the region. The Archaic
period had waned in the region by 600
B.C.E. By 300 B.C.E. the Woodland
culture had emerged. Culturally, they
were distinguished by the replacement of
spears with the bow and arrow, by the
first use of ceramics in the region, and the
practice of burying their dead in low
mounds. They were replaced as the
dominant culture about 1000 C.E. by the
Mississippian culture who were the
ancestors of the more modern Creek and
Cherokee tribes, which was still prevalent
in the area at the time of the arrival of the
first Europeans in the 16th century.
Explorers from three Spanish expeditions
may have crossed into the area. They
include those of Hernando de Soto (15391541), Tristan de Luna (1559-1561) and
Juan Pardo (1566-1568). The Spaniards,
particularly de Soto, were looking for gold
deposits, and may have sent scouts into
the area, although this is an issue of much
historical debate.
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By the 18th century, English colonists had
established hegemony over the area, then
known as Wills County, although Native
Americans and colonists co-existed in the
region until the Treaty of New Echota
was signed in 1835. This treaty resulted in
the forced removal of Native Americans
in what is now known as the Trail of
Tears. The Native Americans had for the
most part been interned and removed by
1838.
The local Cherokee tribe
unwillingly ceded Wills County to the
United States in 1836, and, on January 9,
1836, it was renamed DeKalb County, in
honor of Baron Johann Sebastian
DeKalb, a Revolutionary War hero. The
eventual county seat (1878) was called
Fort Payne, named after Captain John
Payne, who built a fort there during the
forced removal of the Native Americans.
In 1884, mineral springs were discovered
in the Town of Mentone, and the
Mentone Springs Hotel was built to serve
as a health spa. In 1885, coal and iron
deposits were found, which triggered a
short-lived economic boom. The boom
faded by 1893, when the coal and iron
deposits were played out and investors
moved on to richer veins near
Birmingham. Those left behind subsisted
on an agrarian economic basis, or went to
work in the hosiery mills that flourished in
nearby Fort Payne in the early 20th
century. The population of Mentone, as
of the 2000 census, is 451. The current
racial makeup, according to the census, is
dominated by whites, which make up
95.34 percent of the population. Native
Americans now compose only 0.67
percent of the population. The median
income for a household in Mentone is
$24,625, and 12.2 percent of the
population is below the poverty line. The
median age is 44.
CURRENT AND FUTURE
ISSUES OF THE WEST
FORK
♦♦ Water Quality: An overview ♦♦
There are many factors that affect water
quality. Water is polluted if it contains
substances that make it unclean or unfit
for use. All pollutants have a tendency to
decrease the amount of dissolved oxygen
needed to sustain fish and plant life and
endanger water quality. The availability of
a water supply adequate in terms of both
quantity and quality is essential to human
existence. People have always recognized
the importance of water from a quantity
viewpoint. Early humans could judge
water quality only through physical senses
of sight, taste, and smell. Not until the
biological, chemical, and medical sciences
developed were methods available to
measure water quality and to determine its
effects on human health and well-being. It
was not until the mid nineteenth century
that the relationship between human
waste, drinking water, and disease was
documented.
The West Fork Little River is known for
its good water quality rating. There are
numerous summer camps in the area that
make use of the river as well as local
people and tourists. More recently, local
people in the area have noticed an
increasing amount of sediment in the
river, especially after recent rain events.
Mentone Water System
Mentone is a resort town with a
permanent population of 451 people
located on Lookout Mountain in the
eastern part of DeKalb County. During
the summer the population triples. As a
result of the population fluctuations, the
water quantity needs fluctuate. At the
present, Mentone purchases all of its
water from Fort Payne. Two tanks
provide storage for the purchased water
with a total capacity of 200,000 gallons.
Some years ago, Mentone operated a
90,000 gallons per day rapid-sand
filtration plant on an impoundment
located on the West Fork Little River. The
Mentone Plant was not capable of
providing the treatment necessary to meet
all the regulations of the Safe Drinking
Water Act of 1974. Ultimately, this plant
was condemned by the State of Alabama’s
Environmental Health Administration in
1979, requiring Mentone’s connection to
Fort Payne for its water supply.
Water Quality Law
The United States Congress passed the
Water Pollution Control Act of 1972. It
was renewed with minor modifications in
1977. Today it is known as The Clean
Water Act. The Act established the basic
structure for regulating discharges of
pollutants into the waters of the United
States. It gave the Environmental
Protection Agency the authority to
implement pollution control programs
such as setting wastewater standards for
industry. The Clean Water Act also
continued requirements to set water
quality standards for all contaminants in
surface waters. The Act make it unlawful
for any person to discharge any pollutant
form a point source into navigable waters,
unless a permit was obtained under its
provisions. It also funded the construction
of sewage treatment plants under the
construction grants program and
recognized the need for planning to
7
address the critical problems posed by
non-point source pollution.
Subsequent enactments modified some of
the earlier Clean Water Act provisions.
Revisions in 1981, streamlined the
municipal construction grants process,
improving the capabilities of treatment
plants built under the program. Changes
in 1987, phased out the construction
grants program, replacing it with the State
Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund,
more commonly known as the Clean
Water State Revolving Fund. This new
funding strategy addressed water quality
needs by building on EPA-State
partnerships.
Biological Issues
Types of Pollutants
The Top of Alabama Regional Council of
Governments conducted bacteriological
sampling of three sites on the West Fork
Little River. No known contaminations
were found (See Appendix A).
No water is absolutely pure. It contains
dissolved gases, minerals, and other
substances. Some dissolved substances are
helpful, such as oxygen. Without oxygen
fish could not survive. Other substances
either dissolved or floating are harmful
and make water unfit for use. One widely
used definition of polluted water is:
“water is polluted if it contains substances
that make it unclean or unfit for use.”
These pollutants may be biologically,
chemically or physically caused. The
source of pollution may be from point or
non-point sources. A point source is one
that can easily be identified. An example
of a point source is a pipe discharging
waste directly into a stream. Non-point
sources are more difficult to identify.
Many different scenarios may cause a nonpoint source pollutant. If a farmer applies
fertilizer to his crops and then a heavy
rainfall appears, a lot of the fertilizer is
washed away into the local watershed.
One of the best ways to identify a nonpoint source pollutant is to identify what
is changing in the water body and then to
address the issue.
8
Contamination from failing septic tanks
may cause a fecal coliform or a fecal
staphylococcus bacterial contamination of
groundwater. This is particularly
dangerous if there is also an on site well
for drinking water. This type of
contamination may also be possible with
farm animal access to the stream. In a
threshold concentration, it could spread
disease to the animals and even to humans
if the contaminated water is ingested. It
could also affect aquatic life causing a
decline in species, in turn affecting the
balance of the local ecosystem.
♦Concentrated Animal Feeding
Operations
Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations
or CAFOs are a source of non-point
source pollution. They are potential
sources of nitrogen and phosphorus as
well as pathogens, such as harmful
bacteria. According to the Alabama Soil
and Water Conservation Committee
(SWCC), the West Fork Little River
watershed contains 1,088 cattle and
220,000 broilers. It has been reported that
a concentrated broiler feed lot is currently
proposed for construction in the Mentone
City limits.
♦Area Wastewater
Sewage disposal in the West Fork area is
by septic tank and field lines. The soils of
this area, particularly the Hartsells
association, have severe limitations for
septic tank absorption fields due to slope
and depth to rock.
It is estimated that the West Fork
Watershed has 748 septic systems, 150 of
which are failing (SWCC). That is 20
percent of the septic systems in the
watershed. Failed septic tank systems can
allow untreated sewage to seep into wells,
groundwater, and surface water bodies,
where people get their drinking water and
recreate. Untreated sewage water contains
disease-causing bacteria and viruses, as
well as unhealthy amounts of nitrate and
other chemicals.
Chemical Issues
Chemical pollution may be caused by
inorganic or organic sources. An inorganic
chemical does not break down in the
environment. An organic chemical does.
Chemical contamination includes nonpoint source runoff from the use of
pesticides or fertilizers. Human and
animal waste may also cause chemical
pollution. Runoff from chemicals in
pesticides and fertilizers cause excess
nitrates, phosphates, and potassium. Each
of these nutrients is essential to plant
growth, however when they occur in
excess they are considered pollution.
Nitrates infiltrate to the water table,
causing groundwater contamination. This
may be hazardous if the water is used for
drinking by humans or animals. Nitrates
have been known to cause birth defects,
and may also be linked to liver cancer.
High levels of nitrates may cause infertility
and lower milk yields in livestock.
Phosphates, on the other hand, do not
easily infiltrate through the soil. They tend
to attach to it. This results in
accumulations of phosphates in the soil,
which is ultimately eroded into surface
water. If nutrients are applied in excess of
what can be absorbed by plants, they run
off over the land surface to nearby
streams or infiltrate through the soil to the
groundwater. The more organic material
in a body of water the higher the BOD.
Biological oxygen demand or BOD is a
measure of the amount of oxygen needed
by bacteria and other microorganisms to
break down organic material in a body of
water. With this increase in oxygen
demand, there is a related decrease in
dissolved oxygen. Dissolved oxygen is
essential to plant and animal life in a
stream. Nitrogen and phosphorous
contamination can cause algae blooms as
the inorganic materials are converted to
organic form that algae plants can use.
This results in eutrophication of water
bodies. During eutrophication, the excess
algae begin to decompose and bacteria
begin to feed on the decomposing algae.
This process reduces the amount of
oxygen in the water, causing stress on fish
and other aquatic life. Storm water runoff
is the leading cause of eutrophication.
The Top of Alabama Regional Council of
Governments conducted monthly water
quality sampling of five selected sites
along the West Fork Little River
beginning February 2005 to June 2005.
The chemistry tests were normal, with no
known problems to report (See Appendix
B).
Physical Issues
Physical contamination may involve the
alteration of a stream bank. Once the
stream bank is modified the degree and
location of erosion changes. Mostly it
increases the amount of sediment that
enters the stream. Healthy streams need
light to penetrate the surface of the water
to sustain current ecological balances.
9
Sediment can make water unfit for
drinking and swimming.
and recreational value of the area, an
awareness of this principle is essential.
High sediment content in streams can be
measured by turbidity. Turbidity is a
measure of suspended solids in water that
make it appear cloudy. It blocks sunlight
to submerged aquatic vegetation, reducing
the amount of plant life available for fish
to feed on. Soil particles in water may also
clog fish gills and make breathing difficult.
Soil particles also transport chemical
pollutants into surface waters. Most
sedimentation is caused by agricultural
practices, timber harvesting and removal
of plant cover from construction sites.
Soil loss is greatest in areas with steep
slopes, no vegetative cover, and along
streambanks. Impervious surfaces,
construction sites, and improper grazing
of animals can cause sedimentation of
streams. Turbidity can also result from
tiny suspended plants in water know as
algal blooms. These algal blooms cause
the water to be green. This type of
turbidity is also known as “plankton
turbidity”. Excess nutrients such as
phosphorous and nitrogen cause the algal
blooms. This could be created by excess
fertilizer, which results in acidic water.
♦ West Fork Hydrology
Water quality may also be influenced by
geology. If water is “soft” it is low in
mineral content. If it is “very hard” it is
high in mineral content, such as with
limestone geology.
It has been expressed by some local
officials that sedimentation of the West
Fork Little River is a concern in the area.
Sedimentation is one of the most
common sources of water contamination
in Alabama. Sedimentation is caused when
loose sand, dirt and eroded soil are
washed into drainageways and rivers by
storm water runoff. Storm water runoff
can carry sediment, chemical pollutants
and litter into streams. Impervious cover
increases the amount of runoff. As a
result, floods occur more often, large
amounts of water pollutants can be
transported and the water flow is altered
causing more aggressive erosion. Some
Each of these examples illustrates the fact
that once one aspect of this system is
altered, it has an effect on another. A
watershed is a dynamic system, just like
the earth. Dynamic systems operate under
the laws of cause and effect. If the
majority of the visitors and residents of
the West Fork Little River Watershed
have the desire to maintain the aesthetic
10
-Headwaters
The West Fork Little River contains a
network of small stream channels known
as headwater streams. Headwater streams
are good indicators of water quality, and
are exceptionally vulnerable to
development. Most of the land uses
surrounding the headwater streams of the
West Fork Little River include pastureland
or farmland, low density residential and
forestland. Headwater streams are
classified as first and second order
streams. Most of the streams of the West
Fork Little River are first order streams,
meaning they have no tributaries or
branches. There are 31 first order streams
and 4 second order streams in the subwatershed. The West Fork Little River’s
main tributary is a third order stream
(Figure 4).
-Sediment Loads
Figure 4. Stream classifications.
11
areas along the West Fork have steep
slopes. With steeper slopes, runoff has
higher velocity, increasing the amount of
eroded material.
According to the Alabama Soil and Water
Conservation Committee, most of the
sediment entering the West Fork is due to
dirt roads and road banks.
Source of
Sediment
Sediment Load*
Cropland
Mined Land
Developing Urban Land
Critical Areas
Streambanks
Dirtroads and Road Banks
Woodland
960
10800
3600
900
600
12000
210
Source: Soil and Water
Conservation Committee
*In tons
There are many dirt roads in the area that
contribute to a high amount of sediment
entering the West Fork Little River. The
next highest contributor to sediment load
is mined land sediment. According to
local people within the area, there are
abandoned coal mines where the land was
never reclaimed. Compared to other
streams in DeKalb County, the West Fork
has an unusually high amount of
developing urban land sediment. This is
possibly due to the fact that soils in the
area have a high erosion hazard once
cleared of vegetation. Other contributors
to West Fork sediment include cropland,
critical areas sediment, streambank
sediment and woodland sediment.
Sedimentation decreases the channel
capacity. This raises flood stages and
causes more overbank flow. Large
sediment deposits can alter or destroy
critical water habitats and disrupt the
aquatic food chain. Sediments can also
carry other contaminants into streams,
such as fertilizers and pesticides.
12
The Alabama Department of
Environmental Management (ADEM)
works under the National Pollutant
Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
program. Anyone who wishes to disturb
soil on properties containing one or more
acres of land must first obtain an NPDES
permit from the ADEM. A NPDES
permit places restrictions on the amount
of sedimentation that can be released
from the site and requires the developer
to use “best management practices” or
BMP’s, to minimize soil erosion on the
property during the time that the property
is being developed. BMP’s are
recommended strategies to stabilize soil
and reduce the amount of sediments that
can be washed from a property by storm
water runoff. Examples of the strategies
include spreading mulch over disturbed
soil or installing a wall of hay bales or a
silt fence to help filter sediment.
♦♦ Other Issues ♦♦
Population Facts and Issues
Currently, the West Fork Sub-watershed
population is approximately 500. This
number is expected to increase as land is
developed. The West Fork Little River
flows through a desirable setting that is
popular for recreational activities such as
hiking, camping, swimming, fishing, and
canoeing. DeSoto State Park and Little
River Canyon National Preserve protect
some of the surrounding land area. The
remaining land has the potential to be
bought and developed. In rural,
recreational places such as the West Fork,
there is an increasing demand for
recreational land.
Oftentimes people who move to urban
areas still desire to have access to outdoor
recreation. The West Fork area is within
easy reach of several major metropolitan
areas. Many people in the surrounding
metropolitan areas may want to either
purchase land in this area to have a place
to vacation or to live and commute to and
from. Some of these metropolitan areas
include Atlanta, Nashville, Chattanooga,
and Birmingham (Figure 5). Secondhomes used for vacation purposes are
already common in this area.
The following is a chart that illustrates
local population growth from 1950 to
2000.
DeKalb
Mentone
County
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
45,058
41,417
41,981
53,658
54,651
64,452
West
Fork
241
250
407
476
461
451
Area
N/A
2,521
2,342
3,073
3,316
3,849
One population concern for this region is
water needs for an increasing population
in the southeastern United States,
particularly Atlanta, Georgia. The Atlanta
metropolitan area is one of the fastest
growing urban areas in America and it
greatly affects the Upper Coosa Basin.
Atlanta is seeking alternate sources for
their depleting water supply. Because the
Upper Coosa River originates in
northwest Georgia, they are considering
using it for a water source. This multistate issue is currently unresolved.
developers all contribute to rapid,
uncontrolled rural development.
Inadequate land use or developmental
controls and local zoning and subdivision
management practices are contributing
factors.
Aerial photographs of the West Fork
Little River Watershed show that the area
is approaching a 10 percent impervious
cover. Close to 8 percent of the watershed
is covered by roads. The West Fork may
be classified as a Sensitive Stream,
meaning that it is of high quality, and has
stable channels with excellent habitat
structure, good to excellent water quality,
and diverse communities of both fish and
aquatic insects. Once a stream becomes 10
percent to 25 percent impervious cover it
becomes an impacted stream. The result is
some decline in habitat and water quality.
The West Fork Little River Sub-watershed
encompasses 18,553 county acres, 320 of
which are cropland acres making the
cropland 2 percent of the West Fork
Watershed. 2,266 acres are pastureland
acres at 12 percent of land. The majority
of the land is forested at 78 percent.
Land Use Facts and Issues
One significant land use issue is the
problem of scattered rural residential
development. A high rate of mobility,
increased incomes, taxing and financial
policies and the activities of real estate
13
Figure 5. Metropolitan areas.
14
Forestland
Pastureland
Urbanland
Cropland
Mined Lands
Ponds and
Lakes
Other Lands
Total
Number of
Acres
14,582
2,266
374
320
160
171
680
18553
Percent of
Acres
79%
12%
2%
2%
1%
1%
3%
100%
Source: Soil and Water
Conservation Committee
Upon viewing that the majority of the
West Fork Watershed is forestland, one
might think that this area is safe from
degradation. In fact, the area is highly
subject to degradation because it is mostly
forestland. Many people desire to live in
an area like the one of West Fork because
of its pristine nature. Already developers
have forested lots for sale along its
riverbanks. These lots will soon be cleared
to build houses for residents and the
percentage of forested land will go down,
while the percentage of urbanland will
increase. Other factors to consider are
local topography and soils. The West Fork
is a unique river because it flows on top of
a mountain. Steep, forested slopes are
characteristic of its riverbanks. Once these
slopes are cleared and the soil exposed,
the amount of sediment will increase
dramatically.
undisturbed source to experience nature.
One resident commented, “People are
proud of the West Fork Little River.”
Although the local people believe the
water quality is excellent, they are
concerned with several different issues
throughout the sub-watershed. One major
concern is that the area has a high
recreational demand. Residents are
concerned that the area may attract
development and tourism that have no
regards to water quality. Another concern
expressed at the workshop is the issue of
Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations.
Other issues discussed were development
and road construction, increased
sedimentation and loss of endangered
plant and animal species.
When the local residents were asked what
they would like to see happen in the
future to protect the West Fork Little
River, they addressed a need for education
for builders, developers and realtors. They
would also like to establish a greenbelt,
enforce stricter zoning regulations,
including county regulations and use Best
Management Practices during all
construction and development.
What Local People Think
The Top of Alabama Regional Council of
Governments held a community
workshop in June of 2005, to gain insight
on the views of people who live in the
West Fork Sub-Watershed. The majority
of the local people represented at the
workshop believe that the West Fork
Little River is still a very clean and mainly
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RECOMMENDATIONS
The recommendations of this study are
based on the two primary issues of the
West Fork Sub-Watershed. They are
sedimentation and septic tanks. The major
contributors of the sediment in the area
are: mined land, roads and developing
land. All of the sediment issues are land
use issues.
Recommendation #1: Development of
a Watershed Plan.
It is important to develop a watershed
plan to predict future land use and change
in the West Fork Sub-Watershed. A
Watershed Plan would select the most
effective land use planning techniques to
reduce or shift future impervious cover.
The issue of roads and developing land
would have to be addressed by land use
laws and regulations. Currently, the river
flows through two incorporated areas
including Mentone and Fort Payne as well
as the protected areas of DeSoto State
Park and Little River Canyon National
Preserve. The land areas within the
boundaries of those mentioned have the
authority to enforce regulations that could
prevent and reduce the amount of
sediment entering the river through roads
and developing land. The areas outside of
the places mentioned, are under DeKalb
County Sub-Division Regulations. The
county areas that are governed by the
DeKalb County Sub-Division Regulations
are more susceptible to improper land
development with regards to water quality.
The county and municipal regulations
should be reviewed and updated to
include sub-division regulations with
stricter Best Management Practices,
16
particularly in the West Fork SubWatershed area. Also, the municipalities
could establish site plan regulations to
promote low impact development in new
developments.
Recommendation #2: Land
Conservation.
Land conservation focuses on critical
habitats for plants and animals, aquatic
corridors, hydrologic reserve areas, water
hazards and cultural and historical areas.
Some of the techniques used in land
conservation include: land acquisition,
conservation easements, regulation of land
alteration, protection of greenspace and
exclusion or setback of pollution hazards.
Local development regulations could
include provisions for land dedication and
conservation. Additionally, a land trust to
accept and hold land could be established.
Recommendation #3: Establish and
maintain aquatic buffers.
Aquatic buffers of the West Fork could be
managed as a recreational greenway or as
a conservation area.
The establishment of a greenway could
serve as a community asset, by promoting
community pride and tourism along the
West Fork. This greenway could include
stream buffers of the best kind engineered
for the area. It would also allow for a
linkage trail to connect points of interest
along the West Fork.
A first step toward implementing this
recommendation would be the
development of a detailed greenway plan.
Recommendation #4: Better Site
Design.
Better site design ensures that any future
development would minimize the impact
of development. Better site design
includes practices such as green parking
lots and rooftop runoff management.
Better site design can be promoted
through development guidelines or
through zoning and subdivision
regulations.
Recommendation #5: Erosion and
Sediment Control.
Erosion and sediment can be controlled at
the local level by establishing an Erosion
and Sediment Control Program for local
communities. It is also necessary to
explore incentives that can be used to
minimize the amount of clearing at
development sites.
may include community septic systems or
constructed wetlands. An inventory of the
nature and extent of all non-stormwater
discharges in the subwatershed should be
done to determine further action.
Recommendation # 8. Establish
Watershed Stewardship Programs.
Watershed stewardship programs would
provide watershed education and
maintenance, pollution prevention,
restoration, and indicator monitoring.
These programs would be most effective
if created from a grassroots level.
This final recommendation includes
educating the public about water
pollution, particularly with sediment and
septic tank issues. Prevention of such
issues are much more effective than the
cures.
Recommendation #6: Establish
Stormwater BMP’s.
Best Management Practices are important
in reducing stormwater pollutant loads.
Stormwater BMP’s must be designed
specifically for the West Fork SubWatershed to be effective.
Recommendation #7. Reduce Non
Stormwater Discharges.
Non-stormwater discharges in the West
Fork Sub-Watershed include septic
systems and runoff from confined animal
feeding lots. With regards to the issue of
septic disposal, a study for creative
alternatives to septic disposal or perhaps
an entire sewage plan should be done that
17
CONCLUSION
The purpose of this study was to identify
the current issues facing the West Fork
Little River Sub-Watershed and to create a
local awareness of those issues. The West
Fork area is a desirable area that is used
mainly for recreation by visitors as well as
locals. Currently, the major concerns in
the watershed are sedimentation and
septic issues. The increase in sediment was
initially reported by officials from the
Town of Mentone and the Little River
Canyon National Preserve. This was later
proved by the data obtained from the Soil
and Water Conservation Committee. The
Soil and Water Conservation Committee
data also proved that there are already
some septic issues in the area, with the
potential for more. Careful consideration
of these issues must be looked at to
ensure that the water quality that makes
this river so valuable will remain.
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The West Fork Little River Sub-Watershed Study
APPENDICES
Table of Contents
Appendix A. Bacteriological Sampling
Appendix B. Water Chemistry Testing
Appendix C. Community and Public Involvement
Appendix D. Bibliography
Appendix A. Bacteriological Sampling
Bacteriological Sampling
Bacteriological Sampling for this project was conducted on June 6, 2005. Three sites were
tested for the presence of e coli bacteria. The sites were: Site # 1 – Laurel Creek, Site # 3 –
DeSoto Falls and Site # 4 – Cutler Avenue (See Figure 6).
Testing Method: Three samples were taken at each site using a sterile 1 mL dropper. The
samples were placed in a bottle of Coliscan Easygel media and later plated in petri dishes.
After the medium gelled, the samples were cultured for bacteria in an incubator that
maintained a temperature of 37 degrees Celsius for 40 hours. At the end of 40 hours the
samples were counted for bacteria.
Test Results:
Site # 1 – Laurel Creek: Date: 06/06/2005. Time: 15:30. Water Temperature: 22°C.
E coli counted
Replicate # 1:
Replicate # 2:
Replicate # 3:
0
0
0
Other coliform colonies counted
30
58
103
Site # 3 – DeSoto Falls: Date 06/06/2005. Time: 14:45. Water Temperature: 24°C.
E coli counted
Replicate # 1:
Replicate # 2:
Replicate # 3:
0
0
0
Other coliform colonies counted
21
20
40
Site # 4 – Cutler Avenue: Date: 06/06/2005. Time: 13:30. Water Temperature: 24°C.
E coli counted
Replicate # 1:
Replicate # 2:
Replicate # 3:
2
1
0
0
Other coliform colonies counted
15
26
15
Appendix B. Water Chemistry Testing
Water Chemistry Testing
Water chemistry testing was conducted on a series of dates beginning in February of
2005 and ending in June of 2005. There were a total of five sites tested. These sites were Site
# 1 – Laurel Creek, Site # 2 – The Bridge on County Road 617, Site # 3 – DeSoto Falls, Site
# 4 – Cutler Avenue and Site # 5 – Taylor Ford (See Figure 6).
Testing Method: There were 7 parameters tested: temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen,
percent of saturation, alkalinity, hardness and turbidity. The tests were conducted in the field
using a portable laboratory designed specifically for Alabama water quality monitoring.
Test Results:
Site # 1 – Laurel Creek at DeSoto State Park: Dates tested 03/23/2005, 06/30/2005.
Site # 1 Results for 03/23/2005:
Time: 1100
Weather Conditions: Cloudy
Air Temperature: 21°C
Water Temperature: 11°C
pH: 5.5 SIU
Dissolved Oxygen: 9.6 ppm
Percent of Saturation: 85%
Alkalinity: 10 mg/L
Hardness: 10 mg/L
Turbidity: 2 JTUs
Site # 1 Results for 06/30/2005:
Time: 1400
Weather Conditions: Clear
Air Temperature: 26°C
Water Temperature: 22°C
pH: 5.5 SIU
Dissolved Oxygen: 5.2 ppm
Percent of Saturation: 58%
Alkalinity: 10 mg/L
Hardness: 10 mg/L
Turbidity: 2 JTUs
*It should be noted that the water had no current on this particular day.
Site # 2 – The Bridge on County Road 617: Dates tested: 03/23/2005.
Site # 2 Results for 03/23/2005:
Time: 1240
3
Weather Conditions: Cloudy
Air Temperature: 16°C
Water Temperature: 11.5°C
pH: 6.5 SIU
Dissolved Oxygen: 10 ppm
Percent of Saturation: 91%
Alkalinity: 15 mg/L
Hardness: 30 mg/L
Turbidity: 2 JTUs
Site # 3 – Upstream from the Dam at DeSoto Falls: Dates tested: 02/23/2005,
03/23/2005, 06/06/2005, 06/30/2005.
Site # 3 Results for 02/23/2005:
Time: 1300
Weather Conditions: Partly Cloudy
Air Temperature: 22°C
Water Temperature: 11°C
pH: 5.5 SIU
Dissolved Oxygen: 10 ppm
Percent of Saturation: 89.8%
Alkalinity: 10 mg/L
Hardness: 20 mg/L
Turbidity: 2 JTUs
Site # 3 Results for 03/23/2005:
Time: 1330
Weather Conditions: Cloudy
Air Temperature: 15.5°C
Water Temperature: 11.5°C
pH: 5.5 SIU
Dissolved Oxygen: 10 ppm
Percent of Saturation: 91%
Alkalinity: 10 mg/L
Hardness: 30 mg/L
Turbidity: 10 JTUs
Site # 3 Results for 06/06/2005:
Time: 1445
Weather Conditions: Cloudy
Air Temperature: 29°C
Water Temperature: 24°C
pH: 6.0 SIU
Dissolved Oxygen: 7.2 ppm
Percent of Saturation: 90%
Alkalinity: 10 mg/L
Hardness: 10 mg/L
Turbidity: 2 JTUs
4
Site # 3 Results for 06/30/2005:
Time: 1100
Weather Conditions: Clear
Air Temperature: 29.5°C
Water Temperature: 29°C
pH: 6.0 SIU
Dissolved Oxygen: 7.9 ppm
Percent of Saturation: 105%
Alkalinity: 10 mg/L
Hardness: 20 mg/L
Turbidity: 2 JTUs
Site # 4 – Cutler Avenue at Mentone: Dates Tested: 03/23/2005, 06/06/2005,
06/30/2005.
Site # 4 Results for 03/23/2005:
Time: 1400
Weather Conditions: Cloudy
Air Temperature: 15°C
Water Temperature: 11.5°C
pH: 6.5 SIU
Dissolved Oxygen: 10 ppm
Percent of Saturation: 91%
Alkalinity: 30 mg/L
Hardness: 50 mg/L
Turbidity: 10 JTUs
Site # 4 Results for 06/06/2005:
Time: 1330
Weather Conditions: Clear
Air Temperature: 30°C
Water Temperature: 24°C
pH: 6.0 SIU
Dissolved Oxygen: 5.9 ppm
Percent of Saturation: 70%
Alkalinity: 40 mg/L
Hardness: 40 mg/L
Turbidity: 2 JTUs
Site # 4 Results for 06/30/2005:
Time: 1030
Weather Conditions: Clear
Air Temperature: 29°C
*No further data available, the creek was dried.
5
Site # 5 – Taylor Ford at West Fork Development Site: Dates tested: 02/23/2005.
Site # 5 Test Results for 02/23/2005:
Time: 1500
Weather Conditions: Partly Cloudy
Air Temperature: 17°C
Water Temperature: 11.5°C
pH: 5.5 SIU
Dissolved Oxygen: 10 ppm
Percent of Saturation: 89.8%
Alkalinity: 10 mg/L
Hardness: 30 mg/L
Turbidity: 2 JTUs
6
Figure 6. Water quality sampling sites.
7
Appendix C. Community and Public Involvement
The community participation portion of the project was designed to attain meaningful public
participation in the study process with the intent to attain consensus on a course of action
and to improve the awareness of the public with regard to water quality and watershed
management issues. The public participation component consisted of identification of key
stakeholders, a workshop with local officials and residents, and a public survey.
The Top of Alabama Regional Council of Governments sent invitations for the workshop to
key stakeholders. The stakeholders include members from:
Alabama Cooperative Extension System
Alabama Rivers, Mountains, and Valleys RC & D Council
City of Fort Payne
DeKalb County Commission
DeKalb County Health Department
DeKalb County Soil and Water Conservation District
DeKalb County Tourist Association
DeKalb County USDA NRCS
DeSoto State Park
Friends of the Little River
National Parks Service-Little River Canyon National Preserve
Town of Mentone
The citizen participation workshop was designed to obtain community views on current and
potential future conditions of the West Fork Little River. To ensure that members of
community surrounding the West Fork Little River were given the opportunity to participate
in the workshop, an announcement was published in the local newspaper, The Groundhog
(Attachment A).
The West Fork Workshop was held at the Mentone Community Center in Mentone,
Alabama, on June 9, 2005 (Attachment B). Those in attendance are as follows:
Rob Hammond
Thomas R. Roark
Karen Herndon
Wesley Griffith
Marie Dillenbeck
Jerry Wisener
Nancy Cammack
Joseph Piscatelli
Kregg White
Heather Nicely
LC Moon
Jeffrey Pruitt
Lindsay Barrios
8
Mayor of Mentone, Director of Camp Laney
Member, Friends of the Little River
Park Ranger, Little River Canyon
Council Member, Town of Mentone
Town Clerk, Town of Mentone
USDA-NRCS
Citizen
Citizen
Citizen
Citizen
Citizen, Mentone Environmental Committee
Top of Alabama Regional Council of Governments
Top of Alabama Regional Council of Governments
The workshop began with introductions and a brief description of the purpose of the
project. Credit was given to the Alabama Department of Environmental Management as the
funding source for the project. This was followed by a presentation on the current
conditions of the West Fork Little River. Issues discussed in the presentation: why water
quality is important, water quality test results of the West Fork Little River, project setting,
population, land use, soils, topography and slope, septic, sedimentation and development
issues. All of the information in the presentation was obtained from the Current Conditions
Report on the West Fork Little River.
Following the current conditions presentation was the group participation section of the
workshop. There were four questions presented during this session.
1. What’s the best thing about the West Fork Little River?
2. What’s the worst thing about the West Fork Little River?
3. In the next 10 years, what’s the best thing that could happen to the West Fork Little
River?
4. In the next 10 years, what’s the worst thing that could happen to the West Fork
Little River?
The attendees were given the opportunity to respond verbally or in writing. Their responses
are as follows:
1. What’s the best thing about the West Fork Little River?
¾ It’s one of the few remaining natural, clean sources to experience nature.
¾ It provides a source for local habitat.
¾ The water is very clean and very clear.
¾ It’s excellent for recreation.
¾ It hosts an environment for rare and endangered animals.
¾ It’s mainly undisturbed.
¾ People are proud of the West Fork Little River.
2. What’s the worst thing about the West Fork Little River?
¾ The area has a high recreational demand.
¾ Litter/Trash.
¾ Factory Farming.
¾ Loss of endangered plants and animals.
¾ Increased sedimentation.
¾ Tourists with no regard to water quality.
¾ Development and road construction without regards to water quality.
3. In the next 10 years, what’s the best thing that could happen to the West Fork Little
River?
¾ To provide education and awareness for builders, developers and realtors,
and new homeowners.
¾ Establish a greenbelt.
¾ Stricter zoning regulations.
¾ Establish county zoning regulations to control development.
9
¾ Use of Best Management Practices.
4. In the next 10 years, what’s the worst thing that could happen to the West Fork
Little River?
¾ Pollution.
¾ Neglect.
¾ Decreased habitat for native plants and animals.
¾ Planting of non-native species.
¾ If the river became too polluted for recreation.
In addition to the feedback obtained by the four workshop questions, a public survey was
distributed in the form of a brochure.
10
11
West Fork Workshop
Agenda
Mentone Community House
June 9, 2005
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
I.
Welcome and Introductions
II.
Purpose of the Workshop
III.
Current Conditions of the West Fork Little River
IV.
Group Participation
V.
Adjourn
Top of Alabama Regional Council of Governments
12
13
14
Appendix D. Bibliography
Alabama Soil and Water Conservation Committee, DeKalb County Sub Watersheds,
Internet Data, http://swcc.state.al.us.
Citizen Guide to Alabama Rivers: Alabama, Coosa and Tallapoosa, Alabama Water Watch,
Auburn, Alabama, Volume 2, 2002.
Daniels, Tom and Katherine Daniels, AICP, The Environmental Planning Handbook for
Sustainable Communities and Regions, Planners Press, Chicago, Illinois, 2003.
Rapid Watershed Planning Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide for Managing Urbanizing
Watersheds, Center for Watershed Protection, Ellicot, Maryland, 1998.
Statistical Abstract of Northeast Alabama, Top of Alabama Regional Council of
Governments, Huntsville, Alabama, 1997.
Strayhorn, Zora Shay, Mentone, Alabama: A History, The Mentone Area Preservation
Association, Mentone, Alabama, 1986.
Survey and Analysis of the Environmental Impact of Leisure-Oriented Residential
Developments, Georgia Mountains Planning and Development Commission, Gainsville,
Georgia, 1974.
United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Internet
Data, http://soils.usda.gov.
Unites States Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service, Soil Survey: DeKalb
County Alabama.
15
16