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Assessment of Benthic Invertebrate Community Health in the Autauga Creek watershed, Autauga County, Alabama

Project Chief: Will Mooty
Cooperator: Alabama Clean Water Partnership
Period of Project: FY09-FY10

Autauga Creek is historically significant in Prattville, Alabama as the site where Daniel Pratt, in 1835, developed industrial facilities on the creek to use it as a source of power for the industries. Today, the creek no longer powers the mills as it once did but it still remains a vital part of Prattville as a source of water for public and industrial supply. The Autauga Creek watershed drains approximately 121 square miles in Autauga and Chilton Counties. Land use in the watershed is mainly forested mixed with urban, pasture and cropland.

A 1999 survey of benthic invertebrates in Autauga Creek found only four EPT (ephemeroptera, plecoptera, and tricoptera) families. This indicates that the benthic-invertebrate community was in poor condition. This subsequently put the creek on ADEM’s 303(d) list. The 303(d) listing limits future use of the creek as a source of water and to other development. The proposed study will evaluate the benthic-invertebrate community over a wider area of the watershed as well as an overall assessment of water-quality field parameters throughout the watershed. By sampling the main stem of Autauga Creek as well as Bridge Creek, the largest tributary to Autauga Creek, it may be possible to more accurately determine where the predominant impacts to the creek are originating.