Prepared in cooperation with the City of Tarrant, the Freshwater Land Trust, and the

Jefferson County Commission

Assessment of Water-Quality Conditions in 

Fivemile Creek in the Vicinity of the Fivemile Creek

Greenway, Jefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005

Scientific Investigations Report 2007–5272
Cover photograph: A forested reach of Fivemile Creek, Alabama, courtesy of Hilary Aten, 

Cawaco Resource, Conservation and Development Council.
Assessment of Water-Quality Conditions in 

Fivemile Creek in the Vicinity of the 

Fivemile Creek Greenway, Jefferson County, 

Alabama, 2003–2005

By Amy C. Gill, John A. Robinson, Jymalyn E. Redmond, and Michael W. Bradley 

Prepared in cooperation with the City of Tarrant, the Freshwater Land Trust, and the 

Jefferson County Commission

Scientific Investigations Report 2007–5272

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey
U.S. Department of the Interior

DIRK KEMPTHORNE, Secretary

U.S. Geological Survey

Mark D. Myers, Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2008

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natural hazards, and the environment:

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U.S. Government.

Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to 

reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this report.

Suggested citation:

Gill, A.C., Robinson, J.A., Redmond, J.E., and Bradley, M.W., 2008, Assessment of water-quality conditions in Fivemile 

Creek in the vicinity of the Fivemile Creek Greenway, Jefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005: U.S. Geological Survey 

Scientific Investigations Report 2007–5272, 102 p. 
iii

Contents

Abstract...........................................................................................................................................................1

Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................2

Purpose and Scope .............................................................................................................................2

Environmental Setting..........................................................................................................................2

Climate............................................................................................................................................4

Ecoregions ....................................................................................................................................4

Geology..........................................................................................................................................4

Valley and Ridge Province ................................................................................................6

Appalachian Plateaus Province.......................................................................................6

Historical Overview .....................................................................................................................6

Effects of Urbanization................................................................................................................6

Approach and Methods................................................................................................................................7

Sampling Sites.......................................................................................................................................7

Water-Chemistry Sampling Methods ................................................................................................7

Streambed-Sediment Collection Methods .....................................................................................13

Benthic Invertebrate Community Methods ....................................................................................13

Data Analysis Methods......................................................................................................................15

Basic Physical and Chemical Properties .................................................................................................15

Major Ions.....................................................................................................................................................16

Nutrients .......................................................................................................................................................16

Nitrogen................................................................................................................................................18

Phosphorus..........................................................................................................................................20

Suspended Chlorophyll a and Pheophytin a ..................................................................................21

Fecal Indicator Bacteria ............................................................................................................................22

Organic Wastewater Compounds.............................................................................................................25

Pesticides in Surface Water .....................................................................................................................34

Trace Elements in Surface Water.............................................................................................................41

Semivolatile Organic Compounds in Surface Water ............................................................................47

Semivolatile Organic Compounds and Trace Elements in Streambed-Sediment Samples.............49

Occurrence of Semivolatile Organic Compounds in Streambed Sediment..............................49

Occurrence of Trace Elements in Streambed Sediment..............................................................56

Comparison of Concentrations of Organochlorine Compounds, Polycyclic Aromatic 

Hydrocarbon Compounds, and Trace Elements in Streambed-Sediment 

Samples with Standards and Guidelines ..........................................................................58

Benthic Invertebrate Communities ..........................................................................................................61

Summary .......................................................................................................................................................64

References....................................................................................................................................................67

Appendix 1. Summary of Descriptive Statistics of Selected Water-Quality Properties 

and Inorganic Constituents for Selected Surface-Water Sites along 

Fivemile Creek, Jefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005..........................................................73

Appendix 2. Quality-Assurance and Quality-Control Samples for 

Organic Wastewater Compounds ...............................................................................................91

Appendix 3. Abundance and Alabama Department of Environmental Management 

Tolerance Values of Benthic Invertebrate Taxa Found at Selected Sites along 

Fivemile Creek, Jefferson County, Alabama, July 2003 and November 2004 ........................95
iv

Figures

1. Map of the Fivemile Creek watershed, Jefferson County, Alabama....................................3

2. Graph showing monthly and annual departure from long-term (1930–2005) 

normal precipitation at the Birmingham Regional Airport during 2003–2005 .....................4

3. Maps showing locations of data-collection sites in U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency Level IV ecoregion 67f and ecoregion 68f along 

Fivemile Creek in Jefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005.....................................................5

4. Graphs showing mean daily and instantaneous discharge at Fivemile Creek 

at Ketona at time of individual sample collection from selected sites along 

Fivemile Creek, Jefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005 ......................................................12

5. Stiff diagrams for selected samples in the Fivemile Creek watershed, 

Jefferson County, Alabama.......................................................................................................17

6. Piper diagrams of major ionic composition of water samples collected 

during 2003–2005 at selected sites in the Fivemile Creek (FMC) watershed, 

Jefferson County, Alabama.......................................................................................................18

7–18. Graphs showing—

 7. Concentrations of nitrite plus nitrate and total Kjeldahl nitrogen 

in samples from selected sites along Fivemile Creek, 

Jefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005 ...........................................................................19

 8. Concentrations of suspended and dissolved phosphorus in samples 

from sites in the Fivemile Creek (FMC) watershed, Jefferson County, 

Alabama, 2003–2005............................................................................................................20

 9. Concentrations of dissolved orthophosphate in samples from selected 

sites along Fivemile Creek, Jefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005...........................21

 10. Fecal coliform and Escherichia coli concentrations at selected sites 

along Fivemile Creek (FMC), Jefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005 ........................24

 11. Relation between concentrations of fecal coliforms and 

Escherichia coli in samples from Fivemile Creek, Jefferson County, 

Alabama, and simultaneous discharge from USGS streamgaging 

station 02457000, Fivemile Creek at Ketona ....................................................................25

 12. Detection frequencies of selected organic wastewater compounds 

found in samples collected from selected sites along Fivemile Creek, 

Jefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005 ...........................................................................32

 13. Summary of number of detections and total concentrations of general-use 

categories of organic wastewater compounds detected per sample at 

selected sites along Fivemile Creek, Jefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005..........33

 14. Frequency of detection of selected pesticides in samples collected 

from selected sites along Fivemile Creek, Jefferson County, 

Alabama, 2003–2005............................................................................................................36

 15. Concentrations of selected trace elements in streambed sediment, 

sediment-quality guidelines, and median concentrations in the 

Fivemile Creek, Jefferson County, Alabama, study area ..............................................60

 16. Total taxa richness, Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera 

taxa richness, and chironomid taxa richness in richest targeted 

habitat samples collected at selected sites along Fivemile Creek, 

Jefferson County, Alabama, 2003 and 2004.....................................................................62

 17. Total, EPT, and chironomid abundance at selected sites along Fivemile Creek, 

Jefferson County, Alabama, July 2003 and November 2004.........................................62

 18. Biotic index values calculated for samples collected during 

July 2003 and November 2004 from selected sites along 

Fivemile Creek, Jefferson County, Alabama ...................................................................64
v

Tables

1. Data-collection sites and number of water-quality samples in the 

Fivemile Creek watershed, Jefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005....................................8

2. Sampling period dates, sites, and numbers and types of samples collected 

from Fivemile Creek, Jefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005.............................................10

3. Ambient water-quality criteria recommendations for rivers and 

streams in Nutrient Ecoregion XI.............................................................................................19

4. Standards and criteria for concentrations of fecal bacteria for 

different water-use classifications..........................................................................................22

5. Geometric mean fecal-coliform and Escherichia coli concentrations for periods 

when five samples were collected within 30 days at selected sites along 

Fivemile Creek, Jefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005 ......................................................23

6. Concentrations of organic wastewater compounds in water samples collected 

from selected sites along Fivemile Creek, Jefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005........26

7. General-use categories and summary of detections of 57 organic wastewater 

compounds in samples collected from selected sites along Fivemile Creek, 

Jefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005...................................................................................30

8. Detected pesticide compound name and type, parameter code, minimum 

reporting limit, and number of and percentage of detections in samples in 

the Fivemile Creek watershed, Jefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005 ...........................35

9. Water-quality standards, guidelines, and maximum concentrations of 

pesticides detected in surface-water samples from the Fivemile Creek 

watershed, Jefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005 .............................................................37

10. Pesticides detected in the Fivemile Creek watershed, Jefferson County, 

Alabama, 2003–2005 ...................................................................................................................38

11. Concentrations of trace elements reported in water samples collected 

from Fivemile Creek, Jefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005.............................................42

12. Standards, criteria, and maximum concentrations for trace and 

major elements in surface-water samples from Fivemile Creek, 

Jefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005...................................................................................44

13. Analytes for semivolatile organic analyses in Fivemile Creek, 

Jefferson County, Alabama.......................................................................................................48

14. Concentrations of semivolatile organic compounds detected in surface 

water from Fivemile Creek, Jefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005..................................49

15. Semivolatile organic compounds analyzed in streambed-sediment 

samples collected from locations along Fivemile Creek, 

Jefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005...................................................................................50

16. Concentrations of semivolatile organic compounds in streambed-sediment 

samples collected from selected sites along Fivemile Creek, Jefferson County, 

Alabama, 2003–2005 ...................................................................................................................52

17. Concentrations of trace elements in streambed-sediment samples collected from 

selected sites along Fivemile Creek, Jefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005 .................57

18. Comparison of semivolatile organic compounds and trace-element 

concentrations in streambed-sediment samples from Fivemile Creek, 

Jefferson County, Alabama, to consensus-based sediment-quality 

guidelines from MacDonald and others, 2000 .......................................................................59

19. Calculated metrics for invertebrate samples collected in July 2003 and 

November 2004 at selected sites along Fivemile Creek, 

Jefferson County, Alabama.......................................................................................................61

20. Three most abundant invertebrate taxa and their respective cumulative 

percentages of total abundance at selected sites in Fivemile Creek, 

Jefferson County, Alabama, July 2003 and November 2004................................................63

21. North Carolina biotic index values and associated water-quality conditions .................64
vi

Conversion Factors, Datums, and Acronyms

SI to Inch/Pound

Multiply By To obtain

Length

millimeter (mm) 0.03937 inch (in.)

centimeter (cm) 0.3937 inch (in.)

kilometer (km) 0.6214 mile (mi)

Area

square meter (m2) 1.196 square yard (yd2)

square kilometer (km2) 0.3861 square mile (mi2)

Volume

milliliter (mL) 0.3381 ounce, fluid (fl. oz)

liter (L) 33.81 ounce, fluid (fl. oz)

liter (L) 0.2642 gallon (gal)

Flow rate

cubic meter per second (m3/s) 35.31 cubic foot per second (ft3/s)

millimeter per year (mm/yr) 0.03937 inch per year (in/yr) 

Mass

gram (g) 0.03527 ounce, avoirdupois (oz)

kilogram (kg) 2.205 pound avoirdupois (lb)

Inch/Pound to SI

Multiply By To obtain

Length

inch (in.) 25.4 millimeter (mm)

foot (ft) 0.3048 meter (m)

mile (mi) 1.6093 kilometer (km)

Area

square mile (mi2) 2.59 square kilometer (km2)

Flow rate

inch per year (in/yr) 25.4 millimeter per year (mm/yr)

Temperature in degrees Celsius (°C) may be converted to degrees Fahrenheit (°F) as follows:

°F=(1.8×°C)+32

Temperature in degrees Fahrenheit (°F) may be converted to degrees Celsius (°C) as follows:

°C=(°F–32)/1.8

Vertical coordinate information is referenced to the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 

(NGVD 29).

Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North American Datum of 1927 (NAD 27).

Altitude, as used in this report, refers to distance above the vertical datum.

Specific conductance is given in microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius 

(μS/cm at 25 °C).

Concentrations of chemical constituents in water are given either in milligrams per liter (mg/L) 

or micrograms per liter (μg/L).
vii

Acronyms

ADEM Alabama Department of Environmental Management

AHTN 6-Acetyl-1,1,2,4,4,7-hexamethyltetraline

Alkyl-PAH Alkylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon

BI Biotic index

CIAT 2-Chloro-4-isopropylamino-6-amino-s-triazine

DCPA Dacthal

DEET N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide

e Concentration is estimated

E. coli Escherichia coli

EPT Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera

FCGP Fivemile Creek Greenway Partnership

FMC Fivemile Creek

FNU Formazin nephelometric units

HAL Health advisory level

HHCB 1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethyl-cyclopenta(g)-2-benzopyran

MCL Maximum contaminant level

MRL Minimum reporting level

NAWQA National Water-Quality Assessment

NGVD 29 National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929

NLCD National Land Cover Dataset

NTRU Nephelometric turbidity ratio units

NWIS National Water Information System

NWQL National Water Quality Laboratory

OWC Organic wastewater compounds

PAH Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon

PCB Polychlorinated biphenyls

PEC Probable-effect concentration

QMH Qualitative multihabitat

RTH Richest targeted habitat

SQG Sediment-quality guideline

SVOC Semivolatile organic compound

TEC Threshold-effect concentration

TKN Total Kjeldahl nitrogen

USEPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

USGS U.S. Geological Survey

WWTP Wastewater-treatment plants

YSI Yellow Springs Instrument

Abstract

The watershed of Fivemile Creek (FMC), a tributary to 

the Locust Fork of the Black Warrior River, is located north of 

Birmingham, Alabama. Areas that have been previously coalmined border the creek, and portions of the upper watershed 

have been and are currently (2007) being used for industrial 

and urban uses. 

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with 

the City of Tarrant, the Freshwater Land Trust, and the Jefferson County Commission, conducted a water-quality assessment of 12 sites along FMC during 2003–2005. Water samples 

were analyzed for basic physical and chemical properties and 

concentrations of major ions, nutrients, fecal indicator bacteria, organic wastewater compounds, pesticides, trace elements, 

and semivolatile organic compounds. Streambed-sediment 

samples were analyzed for concentrations of trace elements 

and semivolatile organic compounds. Benthic invertebrate 

communities were evaluated for taxonomic composition and 

relation to water-quality conditions. 

Nutrient concentrations in the FMC watershed reflect the 

influences of natural and anthropogenic sources. Concentrations of total nitrogen in all samples and total Kjeldahl nitrogen in at least one sample each collected from FMC at Hewitt 

Park, FMC below Springdale Road, FMC at Lewisburg, FMC 

near Republic, FMC at Brookside, and FMC at Linn Crossing 

exceeded U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) 

ecoregion nutrient criteria. Total phosphorus concentrations 

in about 58 percent of all samples were above the ecoregion 

nutrient criteria. Concentrations of chlorophyll a, an indicator of algal biomass, in the FMC watershed were below the 

appropriate USEPA ecoregion criteria.

Fecal indicator bacteria concentrations occasionally 

exceeded criteria established by the Alabama Department of 

Environmental Management (ADEM) and the USEPA to protect 

human health and aquatic life. Median fecal-coliform concentrations equaled or exceeded USEPA criteria at four of the six 

sites with multiple samples. Maximum Escherichia coli (E. coli) 

concentrations usually occurred during high-flow conditions 

and exceeded the single-sample criterion for infrequently-used 

whole-body contact (576 colonies per 100 milliliters) at all but 

one site. Median E. coli concentrations for two of the seven sites 

with multiple samples exceeded USEPA criteria.

Twenty-nine samples were collected from sites along 

FMC and analyzed by the USGS National Water Quality Laboratory for the presence of 57 organic wastewater compounds. 

Forty-six of the 57 organic wastewater compounds, representing all 11 general-use categories, were detected in samples 

from FMC. All detections of organic wastewater compounds 

were estimated below laboratory reporting limits except for 

several detections of the herbicide bromacil. 

Herbicides accounted for approximately 62 percent of 

the number of pesticide detections in the FMC study area. 

Two herbicides, atrazine and simazine, were detected most 

frequently, in 100 percent of the surface-water samples. 

Fipronil sulfide was the most commonly detected insecticidederived compound, occurring in 52 percent of the surfacewater samples. Concentrations of one insecticide, dieldrin, 

exceeded the USEPA’s health advisory level for drinking water 

in one sample at FMC at Hewitt Park and in one sample at 

FMC below Springdale Road. Concentrations of carbaryl in 

two samples and malathion in one sample exceeded aquaticlife criteria.

Only a few trace element concentrations measured in 

FMC exceeded established standards or criteria. Some concentrations of aluminum and manganese were above secondary 

drinking-water standards. One cadmium concentration and 

three selenium concentrations measured at FMC at Lewisburg 

exceeded ADEM chronic aquatic-life criteria. 

Streambed-sediment samples were collected at seven sites 

along FMC, and analyzed for selected semivolatile organic 

compounds and trace elements. Forty-nine of 98 semivolatile 

organic compounds were detected in streambed-sediment samples from one or more sites. Forty-five of 47 trace elements 

were detected at one or more sites. Concentrations of some 

semivolatile organic compounds exceeded consensus-based 

sediment-quality guidelines at three sites. Sediment-quality 

guidelines were exceeded for seven of the eight trace elements for which they are established, and streambed-sediment 

samples from most sites contained concentrations of multiple 

trace elements that exceeded sediment-quality guidelines.

Samples of the benthic invertebrate communities were 

collected from selected sites along FMC during July 2003 and 

November 2004. Invertebrates were identified to the lowest 

taxonomic level possible, and 137 taxa were identified among 

all of the FMC samples. Metrics of community health were 

Assessment of Water-Quality Conditions in Fivemile Creek 

in the Vicinity of the Fivemile Creek Greenway, 

Jefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005

By Amy C. Gill, John A. Robinson, Jymalyn E. Redmond, and Michael W. Bradley 
2 Assessment of Water-Quality Conditions in Fivemile Creek in the Vicinity of the Fivemile Creek Greenway, Alabama

calculated from the taxonomic data. Some metrics of benthic 

invertebrate community health indicated that sites were in poor 

biotic condition, in terms of even distribution of abundance 

among taxa. In contrast, biotic index values and the number 

of intolerant taxa present in samples indicated that stream 

conditions at most sites were able to support species that are 

sensitive to organic enrichment.

Introduction

The Fivemile Creek (FMC) watershed is a 91-square-mile 

watershed located in northern Jefferson County north of the 

city of Birmingham, Alabama (fig. 1). The creek originates 

in an area near the city of Center Point and flows roughly 

westward through the communities of Tarrant, Fultondale, 

Coalburg, Republic, Birmingham, Brookside, and Graysville, 

until it joins the Locust Fork of the Black Warrior River below 

Linn Crossing. Within this report, the portion of the FMC 

watershed upstream from Boyles Gap is designated the upper 

watershed, and the watershed portion that is downstream from 

Boyles Gap is referred to as the lower watershed (fig. 1).

FMC has a history of water-quality problems and was 

once dubbed “creosote creek” by local residents because of 

the pungent odor of its water (Bouma, 2002). In recent years, 

reductions in industrial discharges to the creek have resulted 

in an upgrade of the use classification from an Agriculture and 

Industrial use designation to a Fish and Wildlife designation 

by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management 

(ADEM; 2004 and 2006a). The watershed has a broad range of 

land uses that include residential and commercial activities in 

the upper reaches of the creek near Center Point. As the creek 

flows westward, industrial land uses become more common. 

Numerous coal mines from the Warrior fields once dotted the 

landscape of the lower watershed near Coalburg, Brookside, 

and Lewisburg. Turn-of-the-century coke batteries near the 

major mines processed coal into coke. Coke, a condensed 

form of coal that is a nearly smoke-free fuel, is produced when 

coal is heated in an oxygen-free atmosphere and volatile compounds are removed. The coke was then used to fuel the iron 

and steel industry in Birmingham. The lower watershed, site 

of most of the historic coke batteries, is now (2006) mostly 

forested and rural with much less residential development than 

the upper watershed.

In 2002, Jefferson County and the communities along 

FMC formed the Fivemile Creek Greenway Partnership 

through a landmark memorandum of agreement signed by the 

cities of Tarrant, Fultondale, Brookside, Graysville, Center 

Point, and Birmingham; Jefferson County; the Freshwater 

Land Trust; Greater Birmingham Regional Planning Commission; and Cawaco Resource Conservation and Development 

Council. The Fivemile Creek Greenway Partnership (FCGP) 

and the Freshwater Land Trust are working to acquire land 

and establish a 27-mile greenway along the length of FMC. 

The greenway will be an area limited to recreational and 

educational uses, and is intended to improve water quality 

within the creek, mitigate future floods, establish protected 

habitat along the stream, and provide a recreation venue for 

the citizens of the watershed. 

 Planned construction of new highways has the potential 

to substantially change land uses and affect development in 

the entire watershed. Some of this anticipated development is 

already underway with the construction of several residential 

subdivisions with homes numbering in the hundreds per development (Daryl Aldrich, Building Inspector, City of Fultondale, 

oral commun., 2005). 

Purpose and Scope 

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) conducted a waterquality assessment of 12 sites along FMC during 2003–2005, 

in cooperation with the City of Tarrant, the Freshwater Land 

Trust, and the Jefferson County Commission. The data collected 

during this investigation will serve as a baseline for assessing 

water-quality changes brought about by implementation of the 

greenway and increased urbanization of the watershed. 

The purpose of this report is to present sampling results 

from the 2003–2005 investigation of water-quality conditions in FMC. Data are summarized to allow for comparisons 

between sites and the identification of water-quality conditions 

warranting further investigation. In addition, where standards 

exist, data are used to evaluate the suitability of the creek for 

human body-contact recreation, such as wading, fishing, and 

canoeing, and as habitat for aquatic organisms. 

This investigation supports three high-priority science 

issues identified by the USGS—the remediation of contaminated environments, suitability of aquatic habitat for biota, and 

effects of urbanization on water resources (U.S. Geological 

Survey, 1999). Multiple sites in the FMC watershed have been 

contaminated by historical industrial and mining practices, and 

many of these have been identified by the U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency’s Brownfields Program as potential targets 

of remediation efforts (Cawaco Resource Conservation and 

Development Council, 2005). Data from this investigation can 

be used by local and Federal officials to prioritize the location 

and order of remediation efforts to maximize improvements 

in water quality and suitability of FMC for aquatic habitat. In 

addition, this study provides the scientific community with 

additional data on the effects of urbanization and suburbanization on streams. 

Environmental Setting

Streamwater quality is strongly influenced by the 

environmental characteristics of the contributing watershed. 

Climate, geology, topography, ecology, land cover, and other 

physical factors contribute to the chemical makeup of streamwater. In addition, human uses of watersheds can change the 

types and rates of constituent loading to streams. 
!

!

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# # #

# ##

#

#

# #

#

#

!

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Locust Fork

02457703

02457700

02457635

02457625

02457599

02457595

02457510 02457502 02457500

02456999

02456980 02456900 Ketona

Republic

Coalburg

Lewisburg

Graysville

Linn Crossing

Cardiff

Brookside

Fultondale

Gardendale

Tarrant

Center Point

Fivemile Creek

Black

Creek

Dry

Cree

Tarrant Spr Branch

Newfou nd

Creek

Halfway Br h Newfound Creek

£¤78

£¤31

£¤11 £¤78

£¤79

£¤75

£¤269

§ ̈¦65

§ ̈¦459

§ ̈¦20

0 3 6 MILES0 3 7 KILOMETERS

! § ̈¦ Birmingham 59

§ ̈¦20

LOCATION OF FIVEMILE CREEK W IN JEFFERSON COUNTY, ALA

EXPLANATION

FIVEMILE CREEK SAMPLING SITE AND SITE NUMBERBASIN BOUNDARY

02457595

33°45’

86°55’ 86°50’ 86°45’ 86°40’

33°40’33°35’

#

anc

Boyles Gap

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital data, 1:100,000Hydrography from U.S. Department of Commerce,U.S. Census Bureau, 1:100,000

Figure 1. The Fivemile Creek watershed, Jefferson County, Alabama.
4 Assessment of Water-Quality Conditions in Fivemile Creek in the Vicinity of the Fivemile Creek Greenway, Alabama

Climate

Birmingham has a temperate climate with a relatively 

high annual rainfall. The average annual rainfall from 1930 

to 2005 was 54 inches per year (Southeast Regional Climate 

Center, 2006). Records compiled for the period of record 

(1930–2005) at the Birmingham airport indicate that rainfall 

in the area is relatively well distributed throughout the year 

with March having the highest average monthly rainfall and 

October having the lowest average monthly rainfall (Southeast Regional Climate Center, 2006). During the study period, 

2003 and 2004 were wetter than average years (fig. 2) with 

65.6 and 61.3 inches of rainfall, respectively. 

During the last 10 years, each year has experienced 

periods of heavy rainfall. At least 1 month in which rainfall exceeded 8 inches occurred in every year except 1997. 

Average monthly rainfall is between 3 and 6 inches. Greater 

than normal amounts of rainfall can saturate soils and contribute to flooding when heavy rainfall occurs. These conditions occurred during the May 2003 flood; in May 2003, the 

monthly rainfall total was 17.2 inches (Southeast Regional 

Climate Center, 2006). 

Ecoregions

FMC flows through two U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Level IV ecoregions, which represent broad differences in geology, topography, and ecology. 

The upstream reach of the creek, from the headwaters to 

Boyles Gap, is in the Southern Limestone/Dolomite Valleys 

and Low Rolling Hills Ecoregion (designated 67f) of the 

Ridge and Valley Level III Ecoregion (fig. 3). The Southern 

Limestone/Dolomite Valleys and Low Rolling Hills Ecoregion 

is characterized by limestone and cherty dolomite hills and 

valleys with multiple caves and springs. Forest cover is usually oak-hickory and oak-pine (U.S. Environmental Protection 

Agency, 2001a). From Boyles Gap downstream to the confluence with Locust Fork, FMC runs through the Shale Hills 

Ecoregion (designated 68f) of the Southwestern Appalachian 

Mountains Level III Ecoregion. The Shale Hills Ecoregion 

also is known as the Warrior Coal Field. The area is characterized by strongly sloping hills, relatively impermeable shale, 

siltstone, and sandstone, and consequently lower base flow 

in streams. Coal mining has altered the natural landscape and 

has greatly affected local streams (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2001a).

Geology

The FMC watershed is located in two geologic provinces 

that nearly mirror the ecoregions. The upper part of the watershed is in the Valley and Ridge Province, and the middle and 

lower parts of the watershed are in the Appalachian Plateaus 

Province. The Valley and Ridge Province is characterized by 

its limestone and dolomite deposits, whereas the Appalachian 

Plateaus Province is rich in coal. The mineral deposits of these 

two provinces vary substantially, and these differences have an 

influence on water-quality characteristics in each province. 

–6

–4

–2

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC ANNUAL

2003

2004

2005

DEPARTURE FROM MEAN PRECIPITATION, IN INCHES

Figure 2. Monthly and annual departure from long-term (1930–2005) normal precipitation 

at the Birmingham Regional Airport during 2003–2005 (Southeast Regional Climate 

Center, 2006). 
Introduction 5

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02457510 02457502

02457500

02456999

02456980 02456900

A.

0 1 2 MILES

0 1 2 KILOMETERS

0 1 2 MILES

0 1 2 KILOMETERS

33°40’

86°50’ 86°45’ 86°40’

86°55’ 86°50’ 86°45’

33°35’

33°40’

33°35’

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(# 02457703

02457700

02457635

02457625

02457599

02457595

02457510 02457502

02457500

024569

B.

LOCATION OF JEFFERSON

COUNTY IN ALABAMA

Fivemile Creek

Watershed

Ecoregion boundary

Ecoregion boundary

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital data, 1:100,000

Hydrography from U.S. Department of Commerce,

U.S. Census Bureau, 1:100,000

(#

!(

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!(#

!(%

Benthic invertebrate samples only

Water chemistry samples only

Water chemistry, bed-sediment, and

 benthic invertebrate samples

Water chemistry and benthic

 invertebrate samples

Water chemistry and bed-

 sediment samples

Sampling-site number—

 Site numbers and

 corresponding short

 names are listed

 in table 1 

EXPLANATION

02457502

Figure 3. Locations of data-collection sites in U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Level IV (A) ecoregion 67f 

and (B) ecoregion 68f along Fivemile Creek in Jefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005.
6 Assessment of Water-Quality Conditions in Fivemile Creek in the Vicinity of the Fivemile Creek Greenway, Alabama

Valley and Ridge Province 

The Valley and Ridge Province consists of northeast- to 

southwest-trending valleys and ridges. The ridges are formed 

by resistant sandstone and chert with steep escarpments that 

face northwest, and gentle slopes to the southeast (Knight, 

1976). The valley floors are underlain by carbonate rocks and 

shale. The drainage pattern is trellis (Knight, 1976). Landsurface altitudes generally range between 300 and 1,150 feet 

above NGVD 29. 

The Valley and Ridge Province in Jefferson County is 

underlain by numerous geologic formations ranging in age 

from Cambrian to Pennsylvanian. Major rock types are limestone, dolomite, sandstone, and shale. Deposits of economic 

importance in the Valley and Ridge Province in Jefferson 

County include limestone and dolomite in the Conasauga Formation and Ketona Dolomite of Cambrian age. The Conasauga 

Formation is composed of limestones, dolomites, and shales; 

both the carbonates and shales are highly fossiliferous (Adams 

and others, 1926). 

Appalachian Plateaus Province

The Appalachian Plateaus Province in Jefferson County is 

a dissected plateau of moderate relief with dendritic drainage 

patterns (Knight, 1976). Land-surface altitudes generally range 

between 300 and 1,000 feet above NGVD 29. 

Major rock types in the Appalachian Plateaus Province 

are soft shales, siltstones, resistant sandstone, and coal seams 

(Geological Survey of Alabama, 1981). Shale is the dominant 

rock type in most coal-bearing strata, and it contains nodules 

or layers of siderite (iron carbonate) and ankerite (magnesium 

carbonate) (Puente and Newton, 1979). Coal in the Pottsville 

Formation, which underlies the lower watershed, is a highly 

volatile, class-A bituminous coal that sometimes contains 

pyrite (iron sulfide) (Knight and Newton, 1977). Warrior Field 

coal is enriched with trace elements including (but not limited 

to) arsenic, molybdenum, antimony, copper, mercury, lithium, 

selenium, thallium, and gold (Goldhaber and others, 2000). 

Microscopic analyses of pyrite-bearing coals from Alabama 

indicate that arsenic-bearing pyrite may be more easily dissolved than arsenic-poor pyrite (Diehl and others, 2003).

Historical Overview

FMC has occupied a critical position in the history of 

Birmingham’s development. The first public water supply for 

Birmingham in the 1870s was withdrawn from FMC at a point 

near Lawson Road in Tarrant. In the late 1880s, an aqueduct 

carried water from the creek to the main downtown areas 

of Birmingham. As the city grew, FMC was not adequate to 

meet the demand for water, and the aqueduct was abandoned. 

Deposits of limestone and coal were discovered along the 

creek at shallow depths. These easily acquired mineral deposits brought industrial development to this area in the days of 

Birmingham’s early steel industry. 

Coalburg was one of the first major coal mining developments in the FMC watershed. In the 1870s, John Milner 

bought 10,000 acres in this part of northern Jefferson County 

and established coal mines and a railway at Coalburg. By 

1886, the mining operation consisted of 76 coke battery units 

and a coal-washing machine, with another 114 battery units 

under construction. At peak production, over 1,300 men 

worked the mine and coke batteries. The mining operation 

included a steam-engine ram that pushed coke from the ovens 

rather than relying on human labor (White, 1981).

Coke for steel and iron production was in high demand 

in the early 1900s, and soon mines dotted the hillsides. Major 

works including both mines and coke ovens were established 

at Lewisburg (Mary Lee Mines) and Brookside. Large mining operations were ongoing at Republic. Eventually 11,000 

miners worked in Jefferson County, and 143 operations were 

documented (Lewis, 1994). During the early days of mining, environmental controls were primitive or unknown, and 

management practices differed substantially from modern 

practices. Even after the early coke ovens became obsolete, 

strip mines were operated in the rich coal deposits of the Warrior fields as recently as the 1990s. Persistent compounds from 

these past mining operations have the potential to influence 

water-quality conditions even today.

Railroads were a major factor in establishing the prominent role that northern Jefferson County played in the early 

steel industry. A railway connected the Coalburg mines to 

Birmingham as early as 1879 (Grieg, 1889). The Boyles Yard 

developed as a major rail yard during the early stages of coal 

transportation and is still a major transportation hub today. 

Railways wound their way through the valleys where grades 

were less severe, which commonly situated them alongside 

FMC. Contaminants released by spillages of hauled materials or the hazardous constituents used in railway maintenance 

are likely to reach the stream because of the proximity of the 

railways to the creek. 

The use of rail transportation routes in the watershed has 

diminished over the years. The Mary Lee Line has been abandoned and is now being evaluated as a “rails-to-trails” route 

for hikers and bikers. The old Coalburg line is now long abandoned. Major highway transportation routes, however, have 

developed along some of these same routes. Alabama State 

Highway 79 has a traffic volume of approximately 36,000 

vehicles a day through the watershed (Alabama Department 

of Transportation, 2005). Automobiles are a source of spilled 

oils, transmission fluids, and other similar materials. During 

the era of leaded fuels, automobile emissions were a source of 

lead, which may be persistent today near roadways.

Effects of Urbanization

Due to industrial, commercial, and residential development in the upper basin of FMC, hydrologic conditions have 

drastically changed since 1992 (Lee and Hedgecock, 2007). 

The 2001 National Land Cover Dataset (NLCD) and aerial 

photography (2004) indicated that the watershed upstream 
Approach and Methods 7

from Boyles Gap is approximately 75 percent developed 

(industrial, commercial, and residential land use), with the 

remaining 25 percent located in flood plains or ridge areas 

with a low probability for development. The 2001 NLCD, 

aerial photography, and field reconnaissance were used to 

estimate a current (2006) impervious cover of 20 percent for 

the portion of the FMC watershed upstream from Boyles Gap. 

Comparison of 1992 NLCD to these datasets also indicated 

that the percentages of impervious area had risen from 12 percent in 1992 to 20 percent in 2004. This growth in development has the potential to produce flood peaks of greater 

magnitudes and shorter durations in FMC. The changes in 

flow magnitude also could result in increased loading of contaminants and sediments in the creek with subsequent changes 

to benthic invertebrate and fish communities in surface waters. 

Several studies have documented the disruptive effects of 

urban development on stream hydrology and ecology (Booth, 

1990; Richards and Host, 1994; Finkenbine and others, 2000; 

Wang and others, 2000). 

Increases in impervious area in urban environments can 

cause frequent fluctuations in flow and rapid fluctuations of 

water levels that may lead to reductions in biodiversity. Established habitat that normally provides resources and shelter 

for fish and other organisms may be removed during greater 

stream velocities during peak flows. Floods of greater intensity 

and greater frequency can also interfere with life-cycle activity 

of aquatic organisms (Booth, 1990). Major flooding occurred 

at FMC in March 2000 and May 2003. The recorded stages 

for these floods at the USGS streamgaging station, FMC 

at Ketona, were 17.2 and 19.2 feet (ft) above gage datum, 

respectively. The higher-than-anticipated flood stages could be 

attributed to recent development in the basin (Lee and Hedgecock, 2007). 

As the percentages of impervious surface increase in 

urban landscapes, the areas of land surface available to provide 

recharge to ground-water resources is diminished. This reduction in ground-water recharge can result in low base flow during certain seasons. This change in base flow can interfere with 

breeding cycles by stranding fish or by drying eggs of aquatic 

insects during critical periods (Finkenbine and others, 2000). 

Approach and Methods

The overall approach of this investigation was to assess 

environmental conditions along as much of FMC as possible, 

with special emphasis on areas identified by the Fivemile 

Creek Greenway Partnership as potential public-access points 

to the creek. When and where possible, data-collection efforts 

also were designed to complement ongoing site investigations 

funded under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 

Brownfields Program. Changes in sampling design, including 

additions and deletions of sampling sites, were made throughout the project in response to cooperator needs and funding fluctuations. 

Sampling Sites

Samples were collected from 12 sites along FMC during this investigation (fig. 3 and table 1). The 12 sites were 

sampled at varying frequencies and for various constituents 

(tables 1 and 2). For brevity of presentation, site short names 

are used to identify the sites in the tables, figures, and text of 

this report. 

Many samples were collected from sites near the city of 

Tarrant to assess water-quality conditions in support of remediation efforts already in development. Samples occasionally 

were collected from various sites upstream and downstream 

from Tarrant. Several sites were selected near proposed or 

existing recreation areas. FMC at Hewitt Park and FMC at 

Brookside Park are public access areas along the creek, and 

FMC below Springdale Road is the proposed site of a constructed wetland that will be used for public education. 

Changes in streamwater quality can be related to changes 

in streamflow, or discharge. Sources of chemical and bacterial constituents of streamwater include precipitation, ground 

water, point-source discharges, surface geology, and dispersed 

smaller sources throughout the watershed known as nonpointsource contributions. Water quality and discharge often vary 

with changes in the relative contributions of the sources. For 

instance, storm runoff will increase stream discharge, which 

may dilute the effects of ground water and point sources and 

increase nonpoint-source contributions. In contrast, periods of 

low stream discharge may reflect a greater point source and 

ground-water contribution to overall stream conditions. 

During this investigation, samples were collected from 

FMC during various flow conditions. By observing instantaneous discharges, valuable information can be gained about 

streamflow and water-quality relations at the sites. The use of 

continuous discharge data adds the ability to discern whether 

flow conditions were stable or changing over time. FMC at 

Ketona (USGS Station ID 02457000) is a continuous discharge gaging station located in the upper FMC watershed. 

The record of discharge from FMC at Ketona was used to 

show the temporal changes in stream discharge. Mean daily 

discharge for the study period (2003–2005) and instantaneous 

discharge from FMC at Ketona at the times of sample collection were used to compare flow conditions among the samples 

(fig. 4). A limitation of this approach, which should be noted, 

is that it may misrepresent the relative hydrologic conditions 

for some periods when stream inputs, especially precipitation, were different at FMC at Ketona than at other sites 

along FMC. 

Water-Chemistry Sampling Methods

Most stream samples were composited from samples 

collected from multiple vertical transects evenly-spaced 

across the stream width. All collection bottles and compositing devices were cleaned according to appropriate protocols 

outlined in Wilde and others (1999). Stream samples analyzed 
8 Assessment of Water-Quality Conditions in Fivemile Creek in the Vicinity of the Fivemile Creek Greenway, Alabama

Table 1. Data-collection sites and number of water-quality samples in the Fivemile Creek watershed, Jefferson County, Alabama, 

2003–2005.

[USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; °, degrees; ', minutes; ", seconds; mi2, square mile; FMC, Fivemile Creek; —, no samples collected]

USGS 

station 

number

Station name and short name Latitude Longitude Drainage 

area (mi2)

Major 

ions Nutrients Trace metals Pesticides

Organic 

wastewater 

indicators

02456900 Fivemile Creek at Fivemile Road near 

Huffman, Alabama

33°36'29" 86°42'00" 9.7 1 1 1 1 1

FMC at Fivemile Road

02456980 Fivemile Creek at Lawson Road near 

Tarrant City, Alabama

33°36'25" 86°44'35" 18.6 1 1 1 1 1

FMC at Lawson Road

02456999 Fivemile Creek at Tarrant Park near 

Tarrant, Alabama 1

33°36'16" 86°45'09" 22.5 11 7 11 10 8

FMC at Hewitt Park

02457500 Fivemile Creek at Tarrant City, Alabama 33°35'21" 86°46'11" 25.2 2 2 2 2 2

FMC at Huffman Road

02457502 Fivemile Creek below Springdale Road 

near Tarrant, Alabama

33°35'21" 86°46'27" 25.5 8 5 8 7 6

FMC below Springdale Road

02457510 Fivemile Creek at Lewisburg, Alabama 33°35'26" 86°48'13" 32.5 8 5 8 7 5

FMC at Lewisburg

02457595 Fivemile Creek near Republic, Alabama 33°35'49" 86°52'05" 51.9 1 1 1 1 1

FMC near Republic

02457599 Fivemile Creek at Republic Ford, 

Alabama

33°36'19" 86°53'08" 57.5 2 — 2 2 2

FMC at Republic Ford

02457625 Fivemile Creek at Brookside 33°38'12" 86°54'53" 64.4 2 1 2 2 2

FMC at Brookside

02457635 Fivemile Creek at Cardiff Road Bridge 

at Brookside, Alabama

33°38'15" 86°55'19" 80.3 — — — — —

FMC at Brookside Park

02457700 Fivemile Creek at Linn Crossing, 

Alabama

33°40'18" 86°57'52" 96.2 1 1 1 1 1

FMC at Linn Crossing

02457703 Fivemile Creek at U.S. Highway 78 

near Graysville

33°39'53" 86°58'14" 96.6 — — — — —

FMC at Graysville

Total 37 24 37 34 29
Approach and Methods 9

Table 1. Data-collection sites and number of water-quality samples in the Fivemile Creek watershed, Jefferson County, Alabama, 

2003–2005.—Continued

[USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; °, degrees; ', minutes; ", seconds; mi2, square mile; FMC, Fivemile Creek; —, no samples collected]

USGS 

station 

number

Station name and short name

Fecal 

indicator 

bacteria

Bed 

sediment 

organics

Bed 

sediment 

metals

Semivolatile 

organic 

compounds

Pheophytin a

and 

chlorophyll a

Benthic 

invertebrates

02456900 Fivemile Creek at Fivemile Road near 

Huffman, Alabama

1 1 1 — 1 1

FMC at Fivemile Road

02456980 Fivemile Creek at Lawson Road near 

Tarrant City, Alabama

1 1 1 — 1 —

FMC at Lawson Road

02456999 Fivemile Creek at Tarrant Park near 

Tarrant, Alabama 1

32 2 2 1 1 2

FMC at Hewitt Park

02457500 Fivemile Creek at Tarrant City, Alabama 15 1 1 — 2 1

FMC at Huffman Road

02457502 Fivemile Creek below Springdale Road 

near Tarrant, Alabama

15 1 1 1 — 1

FMC below Springdale Road

02457510 Fivemile Creek at Lewisburg, Alabama 14 1 1 1 — —

FMC at Lewisburg

02457595 Fivemile Creek near Republic, Alabama 1 1 1 — 1 —

FMC near Republic

02457599 Fivemile Creek at Republic Ford, 

Alabama

10 — — — — 1

FMC at Republic Ford

02457625 Fivemile Creek at Brookside 2 — — — — 1

FMC at Brookside

02457635 Fivemile Creek at Cardiff Road Bridge 

at Brookside, Alabama

6 — — — — —

FMC at Brookside Park

02457700 Fivemile Creek at Linn Crossing, 

Alabama

1 — — — — —

FMC at Linn Crossing

02457703 Fivemile Creek at U.S. Highway 78 

near Graysville

— — — — — 1

FMC at Graysville

Total 98 8 8 3 6 8

1

 Totals include major ions (3), nutrients (3), trace metals (3), pesticides (2), organic wastewater indicators (3), fecal indicator bacteria (12), bed sediment 

organics (1), bed sediment metals (1), pheophytin a and chlorophyll a (1), and benthic invertebrate (1) samples stored in the National Water Information System (NWIS) under USGS station number 02457000, Fivemile Creek at Ketona, AL.
10 Assessment of Water-Quality Conditions in Fivemile Creek in the Vicinity of the Fivemile Creek Greenway, Alabama

Table 2. Sampling period dates, sites, and numbers and types of samples collected from Fivemile Creek, Jefferson County, Alabama, 

2003–2005.—Continued

[MI, major ions; NU, nutrients; TE, trace elements; PE, pesticides; OWC, organic wastewater compounds; FIB, fecal indicator bacteria; BEDSED, bed 

sediment; SVOC, semivolatile organic compounds; CHL, chlorophyll and pheophytin; BI, benthic invertebrates]

Sample 

period Sample dates Site short name Type of sample

MI NU TE PE OWC FIB BEDSED SVOC CHL BI

A 6/12/2003 FMC at Hewitt Park 1

FMC at Huffman Road 1

B 6/19/2003 FMC at Hewitt Park 1

FMC at Huffman Road 1

C 6/25/2003 FMC at Hewitt Park 1

FMC at Huffman Road 1

D 6/26/2003 FMC at Hewitt Park 1

FMC at Huffman Road 1

E 7/9/2003 FMC at Hewitt Park 1

FMC at Huffman Road 1

F 7/16/2003 FMC at Fivemile Road 1

FMC at Hewitt Park 1 1

FMC at Huffman Road 1 1

G 7/17/2003 FMC at Hewitt Park 1

FMC at Huffman Road 1

H 7/22/2003 FMC at Hewitt Park 1

I 7/30/2003 FMC at Hewitt Park 1

FMC at Huffman Road 1

J 8/12/2003 FMC at Hewitt Park 1

FMC at Huffman Road 1

K 8/15/2003 FMC at Hewitt Park 1

FMC at Huffman Road 1

L 8/26/2003 FMC at Hewitt Park 1

FMC at Huffman Road 1

M 8/29/2003 FMC at Hewitt Park 1

FMC at Huffman Road 1

N 9/9/2003 FMC at Hewitt Park 1

FMC at Huffman Road 1

O 9/18/2003 FMC at Hewitt Park 1

FMC at Huffman Road 1

P 10/28/2003 FMC at Hewitt Park 1 1 1 1 1 1

FMC at Huffman Road 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Q 12/15–17/2003 FMC at Fivemile Road 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

FMC at Lawson Road 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

FMC at Hewitt Park 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

FMC at Huffman Road 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

FMC near Republic 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

R 12/22/2003 FMC at Fivemile Road 1

FMC near Republic 1

S 6/23/2004 FMC at Hewitt Park 1 1 1 1 1

FMC below Springdale Road 1 1 1 1 1

FMC at Lewisburg 1 1 1 1 1

T 7/28/2004 FMC at Hewitt Park 1 1 1 1

FMC below Springdale Road 1 1 1 1

FMC at Lewisburg 1 1 1 1

U 8/31 to 9/1/2004 FMC at Hewitt Park 1 1 1 1

FMC below Springdale Road 1 1 1 1

FMC at Lewisburg 1 1 1 1

V 11/2–3/2004 FMC at Hewitt Park 1 1 1 1

FMC at Lewisburg 1 1 1 1

FMC at Republic Ford 1 1 1 1 1

FMC at Brookside 1 1 1 1 1

W 11/17–19/2004 FMC at Hewitt Park 1

FMC below Springdale Road 1

FMC at Republic Ford 1

FMC at Brookside 1

FMC at Graysville 1
Approach and Methods 11

Table 2. Sampling period dates, sites, and numbers and types of samples collected from Fivemile Creek, Jefferson County, Alabama, 

2003–2005.—Continued

[MI, major ions; NU, nutrients; TE, trace elements; PE, pesticides; OWC, organic wastewater compounds; FIB, fecal indicator bacteria; BEDSED, bed 

sediment; SVOC, semivolatile organic compounds; CHL, chlorophyll and pheophytin; BI, benthic invertebrates]

Sample 

period Sample dates Site short name Type of sample

MI NU TE PE OWC FIB BEDSED SVOC CHL BI

X 12/6–8/2004 FMC at Hewitt Park 1 1 1 1 1

FMC below Springdale Road 1 1 1 1 1

FMC at Republic Ford 1 1 1 1 1

FMC at Brookside 1 1 1 1 1 1

FMC at Linn Crossing 1 1 1 1 1 1

Y 6/2/2005 FMC at Hewitt Park 1

FMC below Springdale Road 1

FMC at Lewisburg 1

Z 6/6–7/2005 FMC at Hewitt Park 1 1 1 1 1 2

FMC below Springdale Road 1 1 1 1 1 2

FMC at Lewisburg 1 1 1 1 1 1

AA 6/15/2005 FMC at Hewitt Park 1

FMC below Springdale Road 1

FMC at Lewisburg 1

FMC at Republic Ford 1

BB 6/29/2005 FMC at Hewitt Park 1

FMC below Springdale Road 1

FMC at Lewisburg 1

FMC at Republic Ford 1

FMC at Brookside Park 1

CC 7/18/2005 FMC at Hewitt Park 1 1 1 1 1

FMC below Springdale Road 1 1 1 1 1

FMC at Lewisburg 1 1 1 1 1

DD 8/3/2005 FMC at Hewitt Park 1

FMC below Springdale Road 1

FMC at Lewisburg 1

FMC at Republic Ford 1

FMC at Brookside Park 1

EE 8/15/2005 FMC at Hewitt Park 1

FMC below Springdale Road 1

FMC at Lewisburg 1

FMC at Republic Ford 1

FF 8/22–23/2005 FMC at Hewitt Park 1 1 1 1 1 1

FMC below Springdale Road 1 1 1 1 1 1

FMC at Lewisburg 1 1 1 1 1 1

FMC at Republic Ford 1

FMC at Brookside Park 1

GG 9/1–2/2005 FMC at Hewitt Park 1

FMC below Springdale Road 1

FMC at Lewisburg 1

FMC at Republic Ford 1

FMC at Brookside Park 1

HH 9/12–13/2005 FMC at Hewitt Park 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

FMC below Springdale Road 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

FMC at Lewisburg 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

FMC at Republic Ford 1

FMC at Brookside Park 1

II 9/28/2005 FMC at Hewitt Park 1

FMC below Springdale Road 1

FMC at Lewisburg 1

FMC at Republic Ford 1

FMC at Brookside Park 1
12 Assessment of Water-Quality Conditions in Fivemile Creek in the Vicinity of the Fivemile Creek Greenway, Alabama

for inorganic constituents were collected using a USGS 

DH-81 sampler and polyethylene bottles and were 

composited into polyethylene churn splitters. Pesticide 

and wastewater samples were collected using a USGS 

DH-81 sampler with a Teflon bottle and composited into 

a 3-liter Teflon bottle. Organic wastewater samples were 

collected by hand-dipping a baked-glass bottle at one 

or more locations across the stream width. Bacteria and 

algal pigment (chlorophyll a and pheophytin a) samples 

were hand-dipped using autoclaved glass bottles at one 

or more locations across the stream width. Instantaneous 

measurements of stream discharge and several basic 

physical and chemical properties of the water, including 

temperature, specific conductance, dissolved-oxygen 

concentration, turbidity, pH, and alkalinity, also were 

recorded for each sample collected. 

Temperature, specific conductance, pH, dissolvedoxygen concentration, and turbidity of streamwater were 

measured when water-quality samples were collected. 

Most of these properties were measured using a Yellow 

Springs Instrument (YSI) multiparameter water-quality 

sonde, except for a few turbidity readings, which were 

made with a Hach 2100P turbidimeter. Temperature 

can affect the solubility of many compounds in water, 

and extreme temperatures can interfere with aquatic life 

cycles. Specific conductance is the electrical conductance of an aqueous solution (Hem, 1985), and the 

specific conductance of streams usually is correlated to 

the amount of dissolved material in solution. The pH 

is a measure of the acidity, or hydrogen ion concentration, of the aqueous solution and affects the solubility of 

many compounds. Extreme pH values can increase the 

bioavailability of some contaminants, such as metals. 

Turbidity is a measure of the scattering of light due to 

the presence of suspended particles in the water, and 

higher turbidities usually are correlated with greater 

amounts of suspended material. 

Samples analyzed for major ions, nutrients, trace 

elements, pesticides, and wastewater indicators were 

processed and preserved in the field according to procedures described in Wilde and others (1999) before being 

shipped to the USGS National Water Quality Laboratory 

(NWQL) in Denver, Colorado, for analysis. Samples 

for total inorganic constituents were collected directly 

from the churn splitter, which was used to ensure that 

suspended sediment present in the sample was evenly 

distributed, while samples analyzed for dissolved inorganic constituents were filtered through a 0.45-micron 

capsule filter. Pesticide and organic wastewater indicator 

samples were filtered through a 0.45-micron glass-fiber 

filter, using stainless steel and Teflon equipment. 

Bacteria samples were processed by USGS 

Alabama Water Science Center personnel using 

membrane-filtration techniques outlined in Myers and 

Wilde (2003). Fecal coliform bacteria were cultured on 

m-FC media. Escherichia coli (E. coli) were cultured 

2003

2004

1,000

500

200

100

50

20

10

5

2

1

1,000

2,000

500

200

100

50

20

10

5

2

1

1,000

2,000

500

200

100

50

20

10

5

2

1

INSTANTANEOUS DISCHARGE AT

 SAMPLE COLLECTION

MEAN DAILY DISCHARGE

June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.

2005

7 14 21 28 7 14 21 28 7 14 21 28 7 14 21 28 7 14 21 28 7 14 21 28 7 14 21 28

DISCHARGE, IN CUBIC FEET PER SECOND

Figure 4. Mean daily and instantaneous discharge at 

Fivemile Creek at Ketona at time of individual sample 

collection from selected sites along Fivemile Creek, 

Jefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005.
Approach and Methods 13

on m-TEC media for all samples prior to August 3, 2005. On 

and after August 3, 2005, E. coli were cultured on modified 

m-TEC media. 

Chlorophyll a and pheophytin a samples were passed 

through a 0.3-micron glass fiber filter. Filters were placed 

in glass screw-top bottles or plastic Petri dishes, which were 

wrapped in foil to prevent exposure to light. The filters were 

shipped on ice to the NWQL for fluorometric analysis.

Household chemical use and discharges of human 

wastewater can contribute a myriad of contaminants to 

surface-water systems. The USGS NWQL has developed a 

method (NWQL Schedule 1433) incorporating solid-phase 

extraction and capillary-column gas chromatography/mass 

spectrometry to rapidly assess the occurrence and concentration of 67 organic compounds commonly associated with 

wastewater discharges (Zaugg and others, 2002). Several of 

the compounds included in the method currently (2007) are 

unregulated but are potential or known endocrine disruptors in 

aquatic organisms (Zaugg and others, 2002). The occurrence 

of these compounds in streams may have a direct effect on 

aquatic community health. 

The laboratory method used to analyze samples for the 

presence of organic wastewater compounds (OWC) differs 

from laboratory methods used to produce data presented in the 

pesticides and semivolatiles sections of this report. Concentrations of six pesticides (carbaryl, prometon, metolachlor, 

diazinon, dichlorvos, and chlorpyrifos) were analyzed using 

the organic wastewater compound method and the pesticide 

method. The OWC method detected low-level concentrations 

of carbaryl in four samples. None of the other five pesticides 

were detected by the organic wastewater compound method. 

The occurrence and concentrations of these six pesticide compounds are not included in the discussion of OWC detections 

because of the low numbers of detections under the OWC 

method and because laboratory pesticide analysis methods are 

accurate to lower concentrations. Ten semivolatile compounds 

are analyzed by both the OWC and semivolatile laboratory 

methods; however, the OWC method measures dissolved 

concentrations, whereas the semivolatile method (Fishman, 

1993, NWQL schedule 1383) represents unfiltered concentrations. Results are designated by separate codes in annual 

data reports and USGS databases (Fishman, 1993; Zaugg and 

others, 2002). Semivolatiles detected by the OWC method are 

included in the “organic wastewater compounds” section of 

this report, and semivolatiles collected under the semivolatilespecific method are presented in the “semivolatile organic 

compounds in surface water” section of this report.

Streambed-Sediment Collection Methods

Streambed-sediment samples were collected from multiple sites along FMC and analyzed for trace element and semivolatile organic compound (SVOC) concentrations. Samples 

were collected from five sites (FMC at Fivemile Road, FMC 

at Lawson Road, FMC at Hewitt Park, FMC at Huffman Road, 

and FMC near Republic) during December 2003 and from 

three sites (FMC at Hewitt Park, FMC below Springdale Road, 

and FMC at Lewisburg) during November 2005. Equipment 

cleaning, sample collection, and sample processing followed 

the procedures outlined in Shelton and Capel (1994).

Samples of fine bed material were collected from depositional areas within each stream reach using Teflon scoops 

and spatulas. Five to 10 samples from each reach were put into 

clean glass bowls and homogenized to form a single sediment 

sample for the site. One portion of the homogenized sample 

was analyzed for trace elements, and the remaining portion 

was analyzed for SVOCs. The trace-element sample was 

sieved through a piece of 63-micron (μm) nylon mesh sieve 

cloth into a wide-mouth 500-milliliter (mL) plastic bottle until 

an adequate sample size was obtained. Trace-element samples 

were taken to the USGS Alabama Water Science Center 

sample processing area and allowed to settle for 2 to 3 days. 

After settling, the liquid was decanted and discarded, and the 

remaining sample was shipped to the NWQL for analysis. 

The SVOC portion of each sediment sample was processed 

through a 2.0-millimeter (mm) stainless-steel sieve into a 

glass jar, packed on ice, and shipped overnight to the NWQL 

for analysis.

Benthic Invertebrate Community Methods

Benthic invertebrates are bottom-dwelling aquatic animals (for example, insect larvae, mollusks, and worms) that 

occupy diverse functional niches in aquatic ecosystems. They 

recycle organic matter, consume smaller organisms, and are 

important components in the diet of fishes. Benthic invertebrates are commonly used to assess the health of aquatic communities because they are easy to collect and identify, usually 

abundant, more sensitive than chemical measures to waterquality changes, relatively sessile (Merritt and Cummins, 

1996), and they integrate the effects of water-quality changes 

over periods of about 1 year. 

Benthic invertebrate samples were collected during two 

sampling periods from sites along FMC to assess the health 

of the aquatic community. Samples were collected at three 

sites during July 2003 and at five sites during November 2004. 

FMC at Hewitt Park was the only site sampled during both 

periods. Seasonal differences in benthic invertebrate community data from a single site can be significant (Resh and 

Jackson, 1993; Clements, 1994). Data from the two sampling periods are presented together in tables and figures in 

this report, but the results are discussed separately because 

comparisons between the two sampling periods are tenuous at 

best. All of the sampling sites were affected by anthropogenic 

land uses such as urbanization and mining. No reference site 

representing undisturbed conditions was sampled as a part of 

this study; consequently, comparisons among sites are more 

qualitative than quantitative. 

Benthic invertebrate samples were collected using USGS 

National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) protocols 

(Cuffney and others, 1993). All richest targeted habitat (RTH) 
14 Assessment of Water-Quality Conditions in Fivemile Creek in the Vicinity of the Fivemile Creek Greenway, Alabama

samples were collected primarily in riffle and run areas using a 

Slack sampler with 425-μm mesh net. Riffles, runs, and pools 

were used for RTH sampling at FMC at Tarrant Park during November 2004. Five 0.25-square-meter (m2

) areas were 

sampled and composited into one RTH sample, representing 

1.25 m2 of sampled area for each site. RTH samples were collected at all sites and were used for semi-quantitative comparisons of benthic invertebrate communities. In addition to RTH 

samples, invertebrates were collected from multiple instream 

habitats during November 2004 using a 210-μm D-frame net 

and visual inspection. These samples, designated as qualitative 

multihabitat (QMH), are designed to provide an inventory of 

as many taxa present at a site as possible and to provide information about the diversity of the invertebrate communities. 

Large or rare invertebrate specimens were preserved in separate bottles to ensure that they were identified and included in 

the taxa counts for the sites. QMH samples at FMC sites were 

collected from several types of instream habitat, including 

riffles, runs, pools, and woody snags. 

Taxonomic ambiguities can occur when organisms cannot be identified to the same taxonomic level. For example, a 

taxonomic family may contain many genera, which, in turn, 

may contain many species. The family can be referred to as 

the parent taxon of the genera and species; each genus is the 

parent taxon of the species within it. A species can be referred 

to as the child taxon of the genus, family, and higher taxonomic levels to which it belongs, a genus is the child taxon of 

the family and higher taxonomic levels to which it belongs, 

and so forth up through the taxonomic hierarchy. When some 

individuals within a parent taxon are able to be identified to 

lower taxonomic levels and some are not, the parent taxon 

and the child taxa are ambiguous. Ambiguous taxa in datasets 

can be handled many ways; in this report, ambiguous taxa are 

treated as distinct taxa.

Benthic invertebrate samples were analyzed by 

EcoAnalysts, Inc., located in Moscow, Idaho. EcoAnalysts, 

Inc., determined taxa to the lowest possible taxonomic level. 

Immature or damaged specimens also were classified to 

the lowest possible taxonomic level based upon individual 

specimen attributes. If undamaged adults of the same genus 

occurred within the same sample and were able to be identified to the species level, the damaged and immature specimens 

were assumed to represent the same taxon unless distinguishing characteristics were identified. If distinguishing characteristics were identified, the immature or damaged specimens 

were left at the lowest level of positive identification and that 

taxon was counted as distinct from any ambiguous child taxa 

(Gary Lester, EcoAnalysts, Inc., oral commun., 2006).

EcoAnalysts, Inc., used taxonomic information to calculate several metrics, or measures, of community structure. 

Several of these metrics are used within this report to assess 

similarities and differences among the sample sites. Metrics 

presented in this report are calculated from RTH samples, 

unless otherwise noted, and include: (1) total taxa richness, 

(2) EPT [Ephemeroptera (mayflies), Plecoptera (stoneflies), 

and Trichoptera (caddisflies)] taxa richness, (3) chironomid 

taxa richness, (4) total abundance, (5) EPT abundance, 

(6) Chironomidae (midge) abundance, (7) dominant taxa and 

percentage of dominant taxon, (8) a biotic index, and (9) presence of intolerant organisms. 

Taxa richness, or the total number of identified taxa, was 

used to describe the diversity of organisms present at each 

site. EPT taxa richness and chironomid taxa richness also 

were considered. EPT taxa richness is the number of taxa 

within the orders Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera 

that have been thought to be intolerant of organic enrichment 

and elevated trace-metal concentrations. The chironomids, or 

midges, are members of the family Chironomidae (Diptera) 

and are considered more tolerant of organic enrichment than 

the EPT taxa. Genera within the family, however, have varying 

levels of tolerance, and the number of distinct chironomid 

genera is expected to decrease in response to increasing stream 

perturbation (Barbour and others, 1999). 

Total abundance is the number of benthic invertebrates 

contained in a sample, and extremely low or high total abundance may be indicative of environmental stressors (Resh and 

Jackson, 1993). EPT abundance is expected to decrease in 

response to increased stream perturbation (Barbour and others, 1999). In contrast, even though chironomid taxa richness 

declines in degraded streams, chironomid abundance tends 

to increase along with stressors such as organic enrichment 

and heavy-metals contamination. Healthy benthic invertebrate communities will have a fairly even distribution among 

Chironomidae, Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera 

taxa. The ADEM calculates a ratio of EPT to Chironomidae 

as follows: (number of EPT organisms) / (number of EPT 

organisms + number of chironomid organisms). Healthy communities will have ratios near 0.75 (Alabama Department of 

Environmental Management, 1996). The dominant taxon is the 

taxon with the greatest number of individual organisms present in a sample. According to the ADEM, the most dominant 

taxon usually accounts for no more than about 30 percent of 

the total abundance in healthy streams (Alabama Department 

of Environmental Management, 1996).

 A biotic index (BI) was calculated for each of the samples. The BI is calculated from tolerance values for specific 

invertebrates using the formula BI =Σ (xit

i

)/n, where xi = number of individual organisms within a taxon, ti

 = tolerance value 

of a taxon, and n = total number of organisms in the sample 

with tolerance values, as described in Section 8.6.1.1 of the 

ADEM’s Standard Operating Procedures Manual (Alabama 

Department of Environmental Management, 1996). Tolerance values range from 0 to 10, with 10 being most tolerant 

to general contamination. Tolerance values used in this report 

are from Appendix X-1 of the ADEM’s Standard Operating 

Procedures Manual (Alabama Department of Environmental 

Management, 1996). BI values increase as the ratio of tolerant 

to intolerant species increases. High BI values imply that some 

change in water quality has occurred that discourages intolerant species, which are defined in this report as those organisms assigned a tolerance value less than 3. The presence of 

intolerant species at a site indicates that the quality of water is 

sufficient to support them. 
Basic Physical and Chemical Properties 15

Data Analysis Methods

Water-chemistry data used in this report are available in 

published USGS Alabama Water Science Center annual data 

reports (Psinakis and others, 2004, 2005, 2006) or through the 

National Water Information System (NWIS; U.S. Geological 

Survey, 2006). Statistical summaries of selected water-quality 

properties and inorganic constituent concentrations collected 

during the course of this investigation are presented in appendix 1. Computed statistics include the maximum, minimum, 

mean, and the 95th, 75th, 50th, 25th, and 5th percentiles. The nth 

percentile is a data value that exceeds no more than n percent 

of the data and is exceeded by no more than 100 minus n 

percent of the data (Helsel and Hirsch, 1992). Before statistics 

were calculated, data were censored to the highest reporting 

limit used for the constituent. Where more than one sample 

was collected, median (50th percentile) values were used to 

compare typical water-quality conditions between sites. 

An estimated concentration is reported when chemical 

analysis indicates the presence of a water-quality constituent 

at a concentration below the currently-accepted laboratory 

reporting limit or when the laboratory has recorded variable 

recoveries for that constituent in past analyses. Greater uncertainty exists in the magnitude of estimated concentrations 

than in the magnitude of nonestimated concentrations. In this 

report, estimated concentrations were treated as actual concentrations in all calculations, but are noted in text and tables by 

the letter “e” preceding the concentration.

Graphical methods used in this report include bar charts, 

stacked bar charts, and box plots. Bar charts are used to show 

detection frequencies and concentrations of organic wastewater compounds, aquatic invertebrate taxa richness and 

abundance, and biotic index values. Stacked bar charts of 

concentrations are used to show the contributions of subgroups 

of constituents. Box plots are used to show the distributions of 

bacterial concentrations at each site in a way that allows easy 

comparison among sites.

Stiff and Piper diagrams are used to display the major 

ionic composition of water samples. Stiff diagrams are polygons constructed from concentrations of major ion species in 

milliequivalents for each sample. Concentrations of cations 

(sodium plus potassium, magnesium, and calcium) are plotted to the left of a central vertical axis, and concentrations of 

anions (chloride plus fluoride, sulfate, and bicarbonate plus 

carbonate) are plotted to the right of the central axis. The diagram is completed by joining the concentrations with a line to 

form a polygon. Differences in polygon shape indicate differences in relative ionic composition among samples, while differences in size indicate greater or lesser ionic concentrations. 

Piper diagrams display the percentage contributions of major 

ions for multiple samples on one plot. The lower left triangle 

plot is for percentage contributions of cations, and the lower 

right triangle plot is for percentage contributions of anions. 

The upper axes display percentage contributions of cations and 

anions together and can show differences in the ionic composition among water samples. 

Basic Physical and Chemical Properties

The temperature of streamwater varies with changes in 

season and weather. Water temperatures in FMC varied with 

season and meteorological changes as expected, with minimum 

measured temperatures always well above freezing and maximum temperatures about 27 degrees Celsius (appendix 1).

The specific conductance of streamwater is strongly 

dependent on the ionic content of the water. Conductance 

values in the upper FMC watershed ranged from 167 to 

432 microsiemens per centimeter (μS/cm; appendix 1). 

Median conductance values at sites FMC at Hewitt Park 

and FMC below Springdale Road were 343 and 355 μS/cm, 

respectively. In the lower watershed, conductance values 

ranged from 332 to 637 μS/cm, and median values at FMC 

at Lewisburg and at FMC at Republic Ford were 512 and 

534 μS/cm, respectively, which is somewhat higher than at the 

upstream sites.

The pH of natural waters can affect the solubility of 

metals and other contaminants. The pH values along FMC are 

expected to vary naturally with changes in geology. Measurements of pH at the upstream sites, within the Southern 

Limestone/Dolomite Valleys and Low Rolling Hills Ecoregion, 

indicated neutral to slightly basic conditions, with pH ranging 

from 7.0 to 8.7 (appendix 1). At FMC at Lewisburg and downstream sites, where the geology is less dominated by carbonate 

rocks, pH values ranged from 6.4 to 8.4. ADEM water-quality 

standards state that the pH of natural fresh waters should be 

between 6.0 and 8.5 (Alabama Department of Environmental 

Management, 2006b). Only one pH value outside of this range 

was measured in the FMC watershed during the course of this 

study; a pH value of 8.7 was measured at FMC at Fivemile 

Road in December 2003. No other measurements of pH were 

made at that location during this investigation.

Concentrations of dissolved oxygen are important to the 

maintenance of aquatic life. Dissolved oxygen in streams designated for fish and wildlife uses should be 5.0 milligrams per 

liter (mg/L) or greater (Alabama Department of Environmental 

Management, 2006b). The lowest dissolved-oxygen concentration measured in the FMC watershed during the course of 

this study was 7.0 mg/L at FMC at Lewisburg (appendix 1). 

Many concentrations of dissolved oxygen indicated extremely 

high, supersaturated oxygen conditions in the stream. Greater 

dissolved-oxygen levels usually indicate well-aerated healthy 

streams, but extremely high dissolved-oxygen levels may be 

caused by the presence of nuisance algal growth. Oxygen is 

released during photosynthesis and consumed during plant 

respiration and decomposition. Photosynthesis is powered by 

light and occurs during the day, while respiration and decomposition occur continuously. Dissolved-oxygen concentrations 

may decrease significantly overnight because of continuous 

oxygen demand and limited oxygen production. All measurements taken for this study were made during daylight hours, so 

the diel variation at individual sites is not known.
16 Assessment of Water-Quality Conditions in Fivemile Creek in the Vicinity of the Fivemile Creek Greenway, Alabama

Turbidity, an indication of water clarity, was measured at 

seven sites along FMC. Sometimes measurements were made 

with a Hach 2100P turbidimeter, and at other times measurements were made using a YSI 6136 turbidity probe. Because 

of physical differences in the way each meter measures turbidity, Hach turbidimeter results are reported in nephelometric 

turbidity ratio units (NTRU) and YSI probe results are reported 

in formazin nephelometric units (FNU). The relation between 

these units is unique to each stream and must be established 

through simultaneous sampling using both methods. A relation 

between the two measurements was not established for FMC 

during this investigation.

ADEM water-quality standards state that anthropogenic additions of water to streams should not cause visible 

changes or interfere with beneficial uses of the stream (Alabama Department of Environmental Management, 2006b). 

In addition, the standards declare that turbidity should never 

exceed background turbidity by more than 50 nephelometric 

units. Measurements made using the Hach turbidimeter ranged 

from a maximum of 430 NTRU (FMC at Republic Ford) to 

a minimum of 1.5 NTRU (FMC at Hewitt Park). YSI probe 

measurements ranged from a maximum of 44 FNU at FMC 

below Springdale Road and at Lewisburg to 0.4 FNU at FMC 

at Hewitt Park. These turbidity measurements could be used to 

establish baseline conditions in the FMC watershed.

Major Ions

Major ions are those ions usually found in the greatest concentrations in natural waters. Major cations include 

sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Major anions 

include carbonate, bicarbonate, chloride, fluoride, and sulfate. 

Natural waters may be characterized by the relative content of 

the major ionic species. Concentrations of ions are influenced 

by geology and environmental setting, and may be influenced 

by anthropogenic inputs as well. For instance, chlorides and 

fluorides often are detected in chlorinated drinking water and 

may, in high concentrations, be indicative of contamination 

from wastewater. 

In FMC, geologic and land-use differences between the 

upper and lower watershed sites are reflected in the major 

ionic composition of creek waters. Upstream sites are characterized by strongly calcium-magnesium carbonate-bicarbonate 

waters, reflecting the influence of the limestone/dolomite 

geology. Downstream sites have a more mixed water type, 

exhibiting a greater proportion of sodium, chloride, and sulfate 

ions (fig. 5). Pyrite (iron sulfite) is common in the rocks and 

coal seams of the Shale Hills Ecoregion, and may be a major 

source of sulfate ions to the lower FMC watershed. 

Most streams with multiple samples showed little temporal variation in relative concentrations of major ions, but water 

samples from FMC at Lewisburg had variation in sodium, chloride, and sulfate (fig. 5). Stiff diagrams from two sample dates, 

November 2, 2004, and June 7, 2005, are included in figure 5 

to illustrate temporal differences in ionic composition of water 

samples from FMC at Lewisburg. Samples collected at Lewisburg during the summer of 2005 contained less sodium, chloride, and sulfate than samples collected during 2004. For two 

of the summer 2005 samples, streamflow was elevated above 

base flow as observed in the continuous record of streamflow 

at USGS station 02457000, FMC at Ketona (fig. 4). High flows 

may have diluted the concentrations of sodium, chloride, and 

sulfate during these time periods. 

Most water samples from FMC sites were calciummagnesium bicarbonate water (fig. 6). Samples from sites 

FMC at Hewitt Park and below Springdale Road, two of the 

sites in the Limestone/Dolomite Ecoregion, were dominated 

by calcium and magnesium cations and carbonate and bicarbonate anions. In general, samples from the more downstream 

sites, within the Shale Hills Ecoregion, had greater proportions 

of sodium, chloride, and sulfate than did sites in the Limestone/Dolomite Ecoregion. Samples within the Shale Hills 

Ecoregion also exhibited greater temporal variability in ionic 

composition among samples from each site. Observed spatial 

and temporal differences in major ionic composition are 

reasonably explained by geologic and hydrologic conditions 

at the sites, and no elevated concentrations of ions associated 

with wastewater were noted.

Nutrients 

Nutrients, which are chemical elements that are necessary 

for life, consist primarily of the various species of nitrogen and 

phosphorus. Nutrient concentrations in aquatic systems are of 

interest because excess concentrations can have detrimental 

effects on aquatic health and anthropogenic uses of the system. 

Eutrophication in freshwater systems is usually linked to high 

phosphorus concentrations and can lead to nuisance plant 

growth and algal blooms, which in turn can cause reduced 

light penetration and dissolved-oxygen concentrations, fouled 

water intakes, and taste and odor problems in drinking water. 

Likewise, excess nitrogen has been linked to eutrophication in 

coastal systems. Excess concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus in streams draining to the northern Gulf of Mexico also 

have been linked to oxygen deficiency (hypoxia) in that area 

(Rabalais and others, 1996).

Sources of nutrients can be natural or anthropogenic. 

Natural sources of nutrients include weathering of minerals in rocks and soils and biological remineralization of 

organic matter. Anthropogenic nutrient sources include 

fertilizers, manure, faulty sanitary sewers and septic tanks, 

and wastewater-treatment plant outfalls. Nutrient species 

measured for this study were dissolved ammonia, total and 

dissolved ammonia plus organic nitrogen, dissolved nitrite 

plus nitrate, dissolved orthophosphate, and dissolved and 

total phosphorus. Calculated nutrients were total nitrogen, 

which is the sum of total ammonia plus organic nitrogen and 

dissolved nitrite plus nitrate, total organic nitrogen, which 
Nutrients 17

•

•

•

•

•

•

4 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4

3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4

2.0 1.5 1.0 0.5 0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0

MILLIEQUIVALENTS

3 2 1 0 1 2 3

CL+F 

SO4 

HCO3+CO3

 NA+K

 MG

 CA

CL+F 

SO4

HCO3+CO3

 NA+K

 MG

 CA

MILLIEQUIVALENTS

3 2 1 0 1 2 3

MILLIEQUIVALENTS

3 2 1 0 1 2 3

CL+F 

SO4 

HCO3+CO3

 NA+K

 MG

 CA

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

12/07/04 

 FMC below Springdale Road 

11/03/04 

 FMC at Hewitt Park FMC at Lewisburg 

11/02/04 

•

•

•

•

•

•

 FMC at Lewisburg 

06/07/05 

•

•

•

•

•

•

 FMC at Republic Ford 

11/02/04 

•

•

•

•

•

•

 FMC at Brookside 

11/02/04 

•

•

•

•

•

•

 FMC at Linn Crossing 

12/06/04 

MILLIEQUIVALENTS

MILLIEQUIVALENTS MILLIEQUIVALENTS

MILLIEQUIVALENTS

Figure 5. Stiff diagrams for selected samples in the Fivemile Creek (FMC) watershed, Jefferson County, Alabama.
18 Assessment of Water-Quality Conditions in Fivemile Creek in the Vicinity of the Fivemile Creek Greenway, Alabama

is the difference in ammonia and total organic nitrogen plus 

ammonia, and suspended phosphorus, which is the difference 

in total phosphorus and dissolved phosphorus. In this report, 

no concentrations were estimated for the calculated nutrients 

when one or more components were estimated or undetected. 

For measured nutrient species, undetected concentrations were 

assumed to be zero, and estimated concentrations were used as 

actual concentrations.

Nutrient criteria for Alabama’s rivers and streams are under 

development by the ADEM (Alabama Department of Environmental Management, 2006a). The USEPA has developed nutrient water-quality criteria recommendations intended as a starting 

point for states to develop more refined nutrient criteria (U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency, 2000a). These criteria have 

been developed from existing nutrient data for Level III ecoregions and for larger aggregated groups of Level III ecoregions, 

which are designated nutrient ecoregions. Nutrient data from 

FMC are compared to USEPA nutrient criteria recommendations 

for Nutrient Ecoregion XI and Level III ecoregions 67 and 68 to 

assess changes from background conditions.

Nitrogen

Nitrogen concentrations in FMC generally were highest 

in samples from FMC at Lewisburg, FMC near Republic, and 

FMC at Brookside, which are located near the middle of the 

study area. Total nitrogen concentrations ranged from 0.91 

to 3.0 mg/L (NWIS parameter code 00600; appendix 1). The 

greatest total nitrogen concentration (3.0 mg/L) was detected 

at Lewisburg, which also had the highest concentrations of 

all of the measured species of nitrogen. All samples at FMC 

at Hewitt Park, FMC below Springdale Road, FMC at Lewisburg, FMC near Republic, FMC at Brookside, and FMC at 

Linn Crossing exceeded the USEPA ecoregion nutrient criteria 

for total nitrogen (table 3; U.S. Environmental Protection 

Agency, 2000a).

Total organic nitrogen plus ammonia (TKN; total Kjeldahl nitrogen) concentrations ranged from less than 0.1 to 

0.9 mg/L (NWIS parameter code 00625; appendix 1; fig. 7). 

The highest maximum concentration (0.9 mg/L) occurred at 

FMC at Lewisburg. TKN concentrations exceeded the appropriate USEPA ecoregion nutrient criterion (table 3) in two 

samples from FMC at Hewitt Park, one sample from FMC 

below Springdale Road, and all samples from FMC at Lewisburg, as well as in the single samples collected from FMC near 

Republic, FMC at Brookside, and FMC at Linn Crossing (U.S. 

Geological Survey, 2006; appendix 1).

Dissolved ammonia concentrations ranged from less than 

0.04 to 0.26 mg/L (NWIS parameter code 00608; appendix 1). 

The highest maximum concentration (0.26 mg/L) and the 

highest median concentration (0.05 mg/L) were from FMC 

at Lewisburg. Dissolved ammonia concentrations at FMC at 

Fivemile Road, FMC at Lawson Road, FMC at Hewitt Park, 

FMC at Huffman Road, FMC below Springdale Road, FMC 

near Republic, FMC at Brookside, and FMC at Linn Crossing were less than or equal to 0.04 mg/L. The higher dissolved ammonia concentrations in three samples from FMC at 

Lewisburg are indicative of urban influences such as wastewater-treatment plant effluent; all other samples from FMC at 

Lewisburg were less than 0.04 mg/L.

PERCENT

Calcium

 100 

 80 

 60 

 40 

 20 

 0 

 0 

 20 

 40 

 60 

 80 

 100 

Magnesium

 0 

 20 

 40 

 60 

 80 

 100 

Sodium plus Potassium

Chloride, Fluoride, Nitrite plus Nitrate

 0 

 20 

 40 

 60 

 80 

 100 

 100 

 80 

 60 

 40 

 20 

 0 

Carbonate plus Bicarbonate

 100 

 80 

 60 

 40 

 20 

 0 

Sulfate

 0 

 20 

 40 

 60 

 80 

 100 

Sulfate plus Chloride

 0 

 20 

 40 

 60 

 80 

 100 

Calcium plus Magnesium

 100 

 80 

 60 

 40 

 20 

 0 

 100 

 80 

 60 

 40 

 20 

 0 

PERCENT

PERCENT

EXPLANATION

FMC at Hewitt Park

FMC below Springdale Road

FMC at Lewisburg

FMC at Republic Ford

FMC at Brookside

FMC at Linn Crossing

Figure 6. Piper diagrams of major ionic composition of water 

samples collected during 2003–2005 at selected sites in the 

Fivemile Creek (FMC) watershed, Jefferson County, Alabama.
Nutrients 19

Table 3. Ambient water-quality criteria recommendations for rivers and streams in Nutrient Ecoregion XI (U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency, 2000a).

[mg/L, milligram per liter; μg/L, microgram per liter]

Ecoregion within Aggregate Nutrient Ecoregion XI 

(Central and Eastern Forested Uplands)

Total Kjeldahl

nitrogen

(mg/L)

Nitrite plus

nitrate

(mg/L)

Total

nitrogen

(mg/L)

Total

phosphorus

(mg/L)

Suspended

chlorophyll a

(μg/L)

Level III ecoregion 67—Ridge and Valley 0.169 0.23 0.214 0.01 1.063

Level III ecoregion 68—Southwestern Appalachians 0.1 0.059 0.3 0.006 2

CONCENTRATIONS, IN MILLIGRA

MS PER LITER AS N

Dissolved nitrite plus nitrate

Total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN)

12/16/200312/16/200310/28/200312/16/2003

6/23/2004

6/7/2005

7/18/20058/22/20059/12/2005

10/28/2003

12/15/2003

6/23/2004

6/6/2005

7/18/20058/22/20059/13/2005

6/23/2004

6/7/2005

7/18/20058/23/20059/13/2005

12/15/2003

12/6/200412/6/2004

FMC at Fivemile RoadFMC at Lawson Road

FMC at Hewitt Park FMC below Springdale

Road

SITE NAMES AND SAMPLING DATES

FMC at

Huffman

Road

FMC at Lewisburg

FMC near Republic

FMC at Brookside

FMC at Linn Crossing

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

Figure 7. Concentrations of nitrite plus nitrate and total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) in samples from selected sites along 

Fivemile Creek (FMC), Jefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005.
20 Assessment of Water-Quality Conditions in Fivemile Creek in the Vicinity of the Fivemile Creek Greenway, Alabama

Dissolved nitrite-plus-nitrate concentrations ranged from 

0.76 to 2.51 mg/L (NWIS parameter code 00631; appendix 1). 

Nitrite-plus-nitrate concentrations exceeded the appropriate USEPA ecoregion nutrient criterion (table 3) in all of the 

samples. The highest maximum concentration (2.51 mg/L) 

and median concentration (1.88 mg/L) of nitrite plus nitrate 

among sites with multiple nutrient samples occurred at FMC 

at Lewisburg (fig. 7).

In general, nitrite concentrations were low at most sites in 

the upstream portion of the FMC study area; downstream sites, 

beginning with FMC at Lewisburg, had higher nitrite concentrations (NWIS parameter code 00613; appendix 1). Dissolved 

nitrite concentrations for the sites in the study area ranged 

from less than 0.008 mg/L to 0.12 mg/L. The highest maximum concentration (0.12 mg/L) and highest median concentration (0.04 mg/L) among sites with multiple nutrient samples 

occurred at FMC at Lewisburg. Single samples from FMC 

near Republic, at Brookside, and at Linn Crossing also had 

detectable concentrations of nitrite. Because nitrite generally 

is unstable in oxygenated water (Hem, 1985), its presence can 

be an indication of contamination from wastewater sources.

No samples for nitrite exceeded the drinking-water standard of 

1 mg/L (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2002).

Dissolved nitrite-plus-nitrate nitrogen was the predominant species of the total nitrogen concentration at all sites 

(fig. 7). Dissolved nitrite-plus-nitrate nitrogen contributed 

about 68 to 94 percent of the total nitrogen concentration in 

most samples. TKN accounted for about 6 to 33 percent of the 

total nitrogen concentrations (fig. 7).

Phosphorus

Total phosphorus values ranged from 0.007 to 0.184 mg/L

(NWIS parameter code 00665; appendix 1). The highest maximum concentration (0.184 mg/L) and median concentration 

(0.093 mg/L) of total phosphorus among sites with multiple 

samples occurred at FMC at Lewisburg (fig. 8). Dissolved 

phosphorus contributed 37 to 100 percent of the total phosphorus concentrations in samples from selected sites, and 

suspended phosphorus contributed 0 to 69 percent of the total 

phosphorus concentrations (fig. 8). Total phosphorus concentrations in about 58 percent of all samples were above nutrient 

12/16/200312/16/200310/28/200312/16/2003

6/23/2004

6/7/2005

7/18/20058/22/20059/12/2005

10/28/2003

12/15/2003

6/23/2004

6/6/2005

7/18/20058/22/20059/13/2005

6/23/2004

6/7/2005

7/18/20058/23/20059/13/2005

12/15/2003

12/6/200412/6/2004

Suspended phosphorus

Dissolved phosphorus

CONCENTRATIONS, IN MILLIGRA

MS PER LITER AS P

0

0.08

0.06

0.04

0.02

0.1

0.12

0.14

0.16

0.18

0.2

FMC at Fivemile RoadFMC at Lawson Road

FMC at Hewitt Park FMC below Springdale

Road

SITE NAMES AND SAMPLING DATES

FMC at

Huffman

Road

FMC at Lewisburg

FMC near Republic

FMC at Brookside

FMC at Linn Crossing

Figure 8. Concentrations of suspended and dissolved phosphorus in samples from sites in the Fivemile Creek 

(FMC) watershed, Jefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005. 
Nutrients 21

criteria recommendations (0.01 mg/L for Level III ecoregion 67 and 0.006 mg/L for Level III ecoregion 68; table 3), 

and total phosphorus concentrations measured at sites within 

the Southwestern Appalachians (Ecoregion 68) were an order 

of magnitude greater than the nutrient criterion recommended 

by the USEPA. 

Dissolved phosphorus (parameter code 00666) concentrations ranged from 0.004 to 0.12 mg/L, and dissolved 

orthophosphate (parameter code 00671) concentrations ranged 

from less than 0.02 to 0.09 mg/L (figs. 8 and 9; appendix 1). 

Maximum concentrations of both dissolved phosphorus and 

dissolved orthophosphate were detected at FMC at Lewisburg. Median concentrations were computed for three sites in 

the study area (FMC at Hewitt Park, FMC below Springdale 

Road, and FMC at Lewisburg) because not enough samples 

were analyzed from other sites to compute median concentrations. The highest median concentrations for dissolved phosphorus (0.072 mg/L) and orthophosphate (0.04 mg/L) were at 

FMC at Lewisburg. All concentrations of orthophosphate were 

below the reporting limit (0.02 mg/L) for sites in the upper 

watershed (FMC at Fivemile Road, FMC at Lawson Road, 

FMC at Hewitt Park, FMC at Huffman Road, and FMC below 

Springdale Road) and above the reporting limit at sites in the 

lower watershed (FMC at Lewisburg, FMC near Republic, 

FMC at Brookside, and FMC at Linn Crossing) (fig. 9).

Suspended Chlorophyll a and Pheophytin a

Chlorophyll a is green pigment found in most plants and 

algae. Pheophytin a is one of several degradation products of 

chlorophyll a. Chlorophyll a often is used as a measure of living algal populations, and pheophytin a is used as a measure 

of dead algal populations. These populations can account for 

organic carbon in the aquatic system. 

Seven samples were collected from among five sites 

(FMC at Fivemile Road, FMC at Lawson Road, FMC at 

Hewitt Park, FMC at Huffman Road, and FMC near Republic) 

and analyzed for suspended chlorophyll a concentrations. Suspended chlorophyll a was detected in all seven water-column 

samples from all five sites, with concentrations ranging from 

0.25 to 0.53 μg/L (appendix 1). The maximum concentration of suspended chlorophyll a was detected at FMC at 

12/16/200312/16/200310/28/200312/16/2003

6/23/2004

6/7/2005

7/18/20058/22/20059/12/2005

10/28/2003

12/15/2003

6/23/2004

6/6/2005

7/18/20058/22/20059/13/2005

6/23/2004

6/7/2005

7/18/20058/23/20059/13/2005

12/15/2003

12/6/200412/6/2004

Dissolved orthophosphate

CONCENTRATIONS, IN MILLIGRA

MS PER LITER AS P

0

0.04

0.03

0.02

0.01

0.05

0.06

0.07

0.08

0.09

0.1

FMC at Fivemile RoadFMC at Lawson Road

FMC at Hewitt Park FMC below Springdale

Road

SITE NAMES AND SAMPLING DATES

FMC at

Huffman

Road

FMC at Lewisburg

FMC near Republic

FMC at Brookside

FMC at Linn Crossing

Figure 9. Concentrations of dissolved orthophosphate in samples from selected sites along Fivemile Creek (FMC), 

Jefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005.
22 Assessment of Water-Quality Conditions in Fivemile Creek in the Vicinity of the Fivemile Creek Greenway, Alabama

Fivemile Road (0.53 μg/L). The USEPA recommends that 

suspended chlorophyll a not exceed 1.063 or 2 μg/L, respectively, for rivers and streams in Level III ecoregions 67f and 

68f within Nutrient Ecoregion XI (table 3; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2000a). During this study, suspended 

chlorophyll a did not exceed these recommendations in any 

samples collected in the FMC watershed. Pheophytin a was 

detected in all seven water-column samples, with concentrations ranging from 0.31 to 0.69 μg/L (appendix 1). The 

maximum concentration of pheophytin a was detected at FMC 

near Republic. There are no USEPA recommendations for 

pheophytin a for rivers and streams in Nutrient Ecoregion XI.

Fecal Indicator Bacteria 

Ninety-eight samples from FMC were analyzed for fecal 

coliform and E. coli, two types of bacteria that are indicative 

of fecal contamination. Samples were collected from 11 sites 

along FMC at varying frequencies (appendix 1). Two culture 

methods, m-TEC and modified m-TEC, were used to enumerate E. coli in samples from FMC, but in this discussion, results 

of the two tests are combined. 

 Criteria for concentrations of fecal indicator bacteria in 

water intended for various uses have been established by the 

ADEM and USEPA (table 4). The drinking-water standard of 

zero colonies per 100 milliliters (col/100 mL) is enforceable 

but applies only to finished drinking water. All other criteria 

in table 4 are suggested limits for bacteria concentrations in 

water intended for various uses. Many of these criteria are 

designed to be compared to the geometric mean of five or 

more samples collected within 30 days. Sampling frequency 

during most of this study did not meet this requirement, except 

during a few summer sampling periods. Geometric mean 

bacterial concentrations from these summers with greater 

sampling frequency are examined first; then comparisons are 

made between the established criteria and maximum, median, 

and geometric mean concentrations of all bacteria samples collected at each site. Even when sampling is not as frequent as 

prescribed by the criteria, comparisons of data to criteria may 

indicate areas where elevated levels of fecal indicator bacteria 

occasionally occur.

Sample collection from FMC at Hewitt Park and from 

FMC at Huffman Road for a few periods during summer 2003, 

and from FMC below Springdale Road during summer 2005 

met the frequency requirements prescribed in the geometric mean criteria. Geometric means were calculated for five 

overlapping time periods for samples collected during summer 2003 and for one time period during summer 2005 from 

FMC at Hewitt Park (table 5). Geometric mean fecal-coliform 

concentrations ranged from 132 to 241 col/100 mL, and for 

three of these time periods (June 12, 2003, to July 9, 2003; 

July 17, 2003, to August 15, 2003; and August 12, 2003, 

to September 9, 2003), the concentrations were greater 

than the whole-body contact geometric mean criterion 

(200 col/100 mL; table 4). Geometric mean concentrations of 

E. coli at FMC at Hewitt Park for all of the six time periods (table 5) exceeded the whole-body contact geometric 

mean criterion (126 col/100 mL; table 4), but were below 

all other criteria. At Huffman Road, two overlapping time 

periods and one separate period met the sampling frequency 

Table 4. Standards and criteria for concentrations of fecal bacteria for different water-use classifications.

[Alabama Department of Environmental Management (2006b); U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (1986); —, not applicable]

Type of bacteria

Drinking-water 

standard 

(colonies per 

100 milliliters)

Fecal bacterial concentrations by water-use classification 

(colonies per 100 milliliters)

Outstanding 

Alabama

Water

Public water 

supply

Swimming and 

other whole-body 

contact water 

sports

Fish and 

wildlife

Agriculture and 

industrial 

water supply

Fecal coliform 0 a200 a1,000 a1,000

b

(200) b(200) a2,000 

c

2,000 a200 c2,000 c4,000

Escherichia coli 0 — — a

126 — —

d

235 to 576

a

Bacteria shall not exceed a geometric mean of this value. The geometric mean shall be calculated from no less than five 

samples collected at a given station over a 30-day period at intervals not less than 24 hours.

b

Values in parentheses are seasonal geometric mean limits effective during June through September to account for incidental 

water contact and recreational uses.

c

Maximum bacterial concentration that is not to be exceeded in any sample.

d

Range in single-sample maximum concentrations suggested by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for full-body 

contact in recreational waters for different frequencies of use, from designated beaches to infrequently used full-body contact 

recreation areas.
Fecal Indicator Bacteria 23

requirements of the geometric mean criteria (table 4). No 

fecal-coliform geometric mean criteria were exceeded at 

FMC at Huffman Road, but the geometric mean E. coli criterion for whole-body contact was exceeded during two periods (June 12, 2003, to July 9, 2003 and August 12, 2003, to 

September 9, 2003). Geometric mean bacterial concentrations 

calculated for one period (June 2 to June 29, 2005) at FMC 

below Springdale Road (table 5) were below geometric mean 

criteria for fecal coliforms and E. coli (table 4). 

Fecal-coliform concentrations in the FMC study area 

ranged from 6 col/100 mL at the Fivemile Road site to 

10,000 col/100 mL in a sample from below Springdale Road 

(fig. 10A; appendix 1). No samples from FMC at Brookside Park were analyzed for fecal coliform concentrations. 

Samples were analyzed for fecal coliform concentrations only 

once at four sites: FMC at Fivemile Road, FMC at Lawson 

Road, FMC near Republic, and FMC at Linn Crossing. All 

measured concentrations at these sites were below all criteria 

reported in table 4, except the concentration at Linn Crossing 

(300 col/100 mL), which exceeded the geometric mean criterion for whole-body water contact (200 col/100 mL). 

Maximum fecal-coliform concentrations at all sites 

with multiple samples were observed during or just following higher flow conditions, and exceeded at least one 

criterion. The two highest fecal-coliform concentrations 

measured in FMC exceeded the single-sample criterion for 

agricultural and industrial water supply (4,000 col/100 mL; 

table 4). These two samples, one from FMC below Springdale 

Road and one from FMC at Republic Ford, were collected 

Table 5. Geometric mean fecal-coliform and Escherichia coli concentrations for periods when five samples were collected within 

30 days at selected sites along Fivemile Creek, Jefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005.

[shaded cells indicate geometric mean concentrations in exceedance of established criteria]

Station 

number Site short name Periods with five samples in 30 days

Geometric mean 

concentrations of 

fecal coliform for periods 

with five samples in 30 days

(colonies per 100 milliliters)

Geometric mean 

concentrations of 

Escherichia coli for periods 

with five samples in 30 days

(colonies per 100 milliliters)

02456999 FMC at Hewitt Park 6/12/2003 to 7/9/2003 241 223

6/19/2003 to 7/17/2003 187 140

6/25/2003 to 7/22/2003 132 130

7/17/2003 to 8/15/2003 218 203

8/12/2003 to 9/9/2003 225 175

6/2/2005 to 6/29/2005 140 155

02457500 FMC at Huffman Road 6/12/2003 to 7/9/2003 130 147

6/19/2003 to 7/17/2003 74 66

8/12/2003 to 9/9/2003 193 131

02457502 FMC below Springdale Road 6/2/2005 to 6/29/2005 68 96

during high-flow conditions on December 7, 2004. The 

maximum concentration measured at FMC at Hewitt Park 

on June 23, 2004, exceeded the single-sample maximum 

criterion for fish and wildlife water use (2,000 col/100 mL). 

Maximum concentrations measured at FMC at Lewisburg 

and at Brookside equaled or exceeded the geometric mean 

criterion for fish and wildlife water use (1,000 col/100 mL), 

and the maximum concentration at FMC at Huffman Road, 

880 col/100 mL (appendix 1), was well above the whole-body 

contact geometric mean criterion. 

Median fecal-coliform concentrations equaled or 

exceeded criteria at four of the six sites with multiple samples 

(fig. 10A). Median concentrations at FMC at Huffman Road 

and FMC below Springdale Road were below all fecalcoliform criteria. The median fecal-coliform concentration at 

FMC at Brookside, 1,060 col/100 mL, exceeded the geometric 

mean criterion for fish and wildlife water use. Median fecalcoliform concentrations at FMC at Lewisburg and at Republic 

Ford exceeded the whole-body contact geometric mean criterion of 200 col/100 mL, and median concentrations at FMC at 

Hewitt Park equaled this criterion. 

Geometric means calculated from the entire fecalcoliform dataset for each site were compared to fecal-coliform 

criteria. Geometric mean fecal-coliform concentrations were 

below the geometric mean criterion for whole-body contact 

recreation at three of the six sites with multiple samples. Geometric mean concentrations at FMC at Hewitt Park, at Republic Ford, and at Brookside were greater than the whole-body 

contact geometric mean criterion, but below all other fecalcoliform criteria (fig. 10A).
24 Assessment of Water-Quality Conditions in Fivemile Creek in the Vicinity of the Fivemile Creek Greenway, Alabama

E. coli concentrations analyzed at 11 sites ranged 

from 8 col/100 mL at FMC below Springdale Road to 

13,000 col/100 mL, also at the Springdale Road site (fig. 10B). 

Samples were analyzed for E. coli concentrations only once 

at 4 of the 11 sites: FMC at Fivemile Road, FMC at Lawson Road, FMC near Republic, and FMC at Linn Crossing. 

Concentrations of E. coli at two of these sites, FMC at Lawson 

Road and FMC at Linn Crossing, exceeded the geometric 

mean criterion for whole-body contact (126 col/100 mL; 

table 4; appendix 1). 

Maximum E. coli concentrations usually occurred during high-flow conditions and exceeded the infrequently-used 

whole-body contact recreation area single-sample criterion 

at all but one site with multiple samples. The maximum 

concentration of E. coli at FMC at Brookside Park was 

400 col/100 mL, below the infrequently-used whole-body 

contact recreation area single-sample criterion, but above 

the USEPA single-sample maximum criterion for designated beach areas. The two greatest E. coli concentrations 

(13,000 col/100 mL at FMC below Springdale Road and 

9,000 col/100 mL at FMC at Republic Ford) occurred on the 

same sampling date, December 7, 2004, as the two greatest 

fecal-coliform concentrations. 

Median E. coli concentrations for two of the seven sites 

with multiple samples exceeded E. coli criteria. Median E. coli

concentrations exceeded the USEPA geometric mean criterion 

for whole-body contact at FMC at Hewitt Park and at Brookside (fig. 10B). The median E. coli concentration at Brookside 

was 845 col/100 mL, greater than the USEPA single-sample 

maximum criterion for infrequently-used whole-body contact 

recreation areas (576 col/100 mL; table 4). 

Geometric mean E. coli concentrations were below all 

criteria at three of the seven sites with multiple E. coli samples: FMC at Huffman Road, FMC below Springdale Road, 

and FMC at Brookside Park. The geometric mean E. coli concentration at FMC at Brookside exceeded the single-sample 

criterion for waters infrequently used for whole-body contact 

recreation (576 col/100 mL; table 4; fig. 10B), and geometric mean E. coli concentrations at FMC at Hewitt Park, at 

Lewisburg, and at Republic Ford exceeded the geometric mean 

criterion for whole-body contact (126 col/100 mL).

Many maximum concentrations of fecal coliform and 

E. coli were observed during or just after storm periods. Scatter plots of all fecal indicator bacteria concentrations and 

measured streamflow at FMC at Ketona (USGS streamgaging 

station 02457000) indicate that the highest bacterial concentrations occurred during larger stream discharges (fig. 11). The 

majority of bacteria concentrations appeared to be only weakly 

related to stream discharge, indicating a mix of point and nonpoint sources of fecal contamination to the creek.

1

10

100

1,000

10,000

100,000

1

10

100

1,000

10,000

100,000

EXPLANATION

FMC at Fivemile Road

FMC at Lawson Road

FMC at Hewitt Park

FMC at Linn Crossing

FMC at Huffman Road

FMC below Springdale Road

FMC at Lewisburg

FMC near Rebublic

FMC at Republic Ford

FMC at Brookside

FMC at Brookside Park

90th percentile

75th percentile

Median

25th percentile

10th percentile

Geometric mean

 bacteria concen-

 tration

Data value outside

 90th or 10th percentile

Agricultural and industrial single-

 sample maximum criterion

Fish and wildlife single-sample

 maximum criterion

Fish and wildlife geometric mean

 criterion

Whole-body contact geometric

 mean criterion 

A.

Infrequently-used whole-body contact

 recreation area single-sample

 maximum criterion

Designated beach single-sample

 maximum criterion

Whole-body contact geometric

 mean criterion

B.

ESCHERICHIA COLI CONCENTRATIONS, IN COLONIES

PER 100 MILLILITERS

FECAL COLIFORM CONCENTRATIONS, IN COLONIES

PER 100 MILLILITERS

For A.

For B.

SITE NAMES

Figure 10. (A) Fecal coliform and (B) Escherichia coli (E. coli) 

concentrations at selected sites along Fivemile Creek (FMC), 

Jefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005.
Organic Wastewater Compounds 25

Organic Wastewater Compounds

Stream samples were collected to assess the occurrence of organic wastewater compounds (OWC) along FMC. 

Analyses of stream samples for these indicator compounds can 

be used to identify areas along the stream that may be receiving inputs of wastewater or may be affected by the presence 

of endocrine-disrupting compounds. Quality-assurance and 

quality-control samples were analyzed to assess the presence 

of contamination and variability in results. The results of 

quality-assurance and quality-control analyses are presented 

in appendix 2, and should be considered when interpreting the 

environmental data. 

Twenty-nine water samples collected from sites along 

FMC were analyzed for a group of 57 organic compounds that 

are commonly associated with human wastewater (table 6). 

These OWCs can be grouped by their common uses into 

11 general-use categories: (1) antioxidants, (2) detergent 

degradates, (3) disinfectants, (4) fire retardants, (5) flavorings 

or fragrances, (6) polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) 

or combustion byproducts, (7) pesticides, (8) plastics, (9) solvents, (10) sterols or stanols, and (11) stimulants. Forty-six of 

the 57 OWCs, representing all 11 general-use categories, were 

detected in samples from FMC (tables 6 and 7). Detections 

for all compounds other than bromacil were estimated below 

minimum reporting limits. Concentrations estimated below 

laboratory reporting limits are treated as detections in the 

analysis presented herein. 

Detection frequencies were calculated for the 46 detected 

OWCs (fig. 12). Commonly detected compounds may indicate 

the presence of a continuous source or sources of contamination. The most frequently detected compounds represent a 

variety of use categories. Caffeine, a stimulant used in a wide 

array of beverages, foods, and medicines, was the most commonly detected OWC, with 15 detections (table 7). Naphthalene (PAH; 37.9 percent), DEET (pesticide; 37.9 percent), 

phenol (disinfectant; 31.0 percent), fluoranthene (PAH; 

31.0 percent), pyrene (PAH; 31.0 percent), 4-nonylphenol 

(detergent degradate; 27.6 percent), and bisphenol A (plastic; 26.9 percent) also were found in more than 25 percent of 

the samples.

Individual samples collected during this investigation 

are compared in terms of the number of OWCs detected and 

the total concentration of OWCs in each (fig. 13). Samples 

were collected at varying sampling times and frequencies 

from 10 sites along FMC (table 2). Sampling period letter 

designations (table 2) are used in figure 13 so that samples 

collected under similar flow conditions can be compared. Flow 

conditions within sampling periods were generally uniform, 

but storms occurred during periods X (December 6–8, 2004) 

and Z (June 6–7, 2005). Of the five samples collected during 

sampling period X, two samples (FMC at Brookside and at 

Linn Crossing) were collected before the peak of flow, two 

samples (FMC below Springdale Road and at Republic Ford) 

were collected near peak-flow conditions, and one sample 

(FMC at Hewitt Park) was collected after the peak flow. Of the 

three samples collected during sampling period Z, one sample 

(FMC below Springdale Road) was collected before the peak 

flow, and two samples (FMC at Hewitt Park and at Lewisburg) 

were collected after the peak flow. 

The number of detected OWCs in a single sample ranged 

from zero in some of the samples collected from FMC at 

Fivemile Road, at Lawson Road, at Republic Ford, and at Linn 

Crossing to 32 compounds in one sample from FMC at Lewisburg (table 6; fig. 13A). Greater numbers of detections were 

noted in samples from the S (June 2004) and Z (June 2005) 

sampling periods. Summer thunderstorms during these periods 

may have washed additional OWCs into FMC. The lowest 

numbers of detections were from samples collected during sampling periods Q (December 2003) and X (December 

2004), even though the discharge records from USGS streamgaging station 02457000 indicated discharges similar to or 

greater than the summer periods (fig. 4). Seasonal differences 

in numbers of detections may occur because of increased use 

of certain compounds during the summer months as well as 

climate factors.

1

10

100

1,000

10,000

1 10 100 1,000 10,000 100,000

CONCENTRATION OF FECAL COLIFORM BACTERIA IN COLONIES

PER 100 MILLILITERS

DISCHARGE, IN CUBIC FEET PER SECOND 

A.

1

10

100

1,000

10,000

1 10 100 1,000 10,000 100,000

CONCENTRATION OF ESCHERICHIA COLI BACTERIA IN COLONIES

PER 100 MILLILITERS

B.

Figure 11. Relation between concentrations of 

(A) fecal coliforms and (B) Escherichia coli in samples 

from Fivemile Creek, Jefferson County, Alabama, and 

simultaneous discharge from USGS streamgaging 

station 02457000, Fivemile Creek at Ketona.
26 Assessment of Water-Quality Conditions in Fivemile Creek in the Vicinity of the Fivemile Creek Greenway, Alabama

Table 6. Concentrations of organic wastewater compounds in water samples collected from selected sites along Fivemile Creek, 

Jefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005. 

[all values are in micrograms per liter; PAH, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon; <, less than; e, estimated concentration; bold values indicate detections; AHTN, 

6-acetyl-1,1,2,4,4,7-hexamethyltetraline; DEET, N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide; HHCB, 1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethyl-cyclopenta(g)-2-benzopyran; 

—, compound not analyzed]

USGS station number: 02456900 02456980 02456999 02456999 02456999 02456999 02456999 02456999

Sampling site short name:

FMC at 

Fivemile 

Road

FMC at 

Lawson 

Road

FMC at 

Hewitt 

Park

FMC at 

Hewitt 

Park

FMC at 

Hewitt 

Park

FMC at 

Hewitt 

Park

FMC at 

Hewitt 

Park

FMC at 

Hewitt 

Park

Sample date: 12/16/2003 12/16/2003 10/28/2003 12/16/2003 6/23/2004 12/8/2004 6/7/2005 7/18/2005

Sample time: 1230 0800 1120 0930 1000 1030 1000 1200

General-use categories Organic wastewater compound

PAH or combustion byproduct 1-Methylnaphthalene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Pesticide 1,4-Dichlorobenzene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.097 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

PAH or combustion byproduct 2-Methylnaphthalene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

PAH or combustion byproduct 2,6-Dimethylnaphthalene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Sterol or stanol 3-beta-Coprostanol <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 <2

Flavoring or Fragrance 3-Methyl-1H-indole <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 e0.004 <1

Antioxidant 3-tert-Butyl-4-hydroxyanisole <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5

Detergent 4-Cumylphenol <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1

Detergent 4-Nonylphenol <5 <5 e1.1 <5 <5 <5 e0.5 <5

Detergent 4-Octylphenol <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1

Detergent 4-tert-Octylphenol <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1

Antioxidant 5-Methyl-1H-benzotriazole <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 <2

Pesticide 9,10-Anthraquinone <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.09 <0.5 e0.11 <0.5

Flavoring or Fragrance Acetophenone <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Flavoring or Fragrance AHTN <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

PAH or combustion byproduct Anthracene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

PAH or combustion byproduct Benzo[a]pyrene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Pesticide Benzophenone <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Sterol or stanol beta-Sitosterol <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 <2

Sterol or stanol beta-Stigmastanol <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 <2

Plastic Bisphenol A <1 <1 <1 <1 e0.18 <1 <1 <1

Pesticide Bromacil <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Stimulant Caffeine <0.5 <0.5 e0.037 <0.5 e0.19 e0.34 e0.05 <0.5

Flavoring or Fragrance Camphor <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.019 <0.5 e0.005 <0.5

PAH or combustion byproduct Carbazole <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.01 <0.5

Sterol or stanol Cholesterol <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 e0.7

Stimulant Cotinine <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 e0.03 <1

Pesticide DEET <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.13 <0.5 e0.05 <0.5

Detergent Diethoxynonylphenol <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5

Detergent Diethoxyoctylphenol <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1

Flavoring or Fragrance D-Limonene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.042 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Detergent Ethoxyoctylphenol <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1

PAH or combustion byproduct Fluoranthene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.036 <0.5 e0.01 <0.5

Flavoring or Fragrance HHCB <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Flavoring or Fragrance Indole <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.004 <0.5

Flavoring or Fragrance Isoborneol <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Solvent Isophorone <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Solvent Isopropylbenzene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Flavoring or Fragrance Isoquinoline <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Flavoring or Fragrance Menthol <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.044 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Pesticide Metalaxyl <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Flavoring or Fragrance Methyl salicylate <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.07

PAH or combustion byproduct Naphthalene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.028 <0.5 <0.5 e0.01

PAH or combustion byproduct p-Cresol <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 e0.02 <1

Pesticide Pentachlorophenol <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 <2

PAH or combustion byproduct Phenanthrene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Disinfectant Phenol <0.5 <0.5 e0.27 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.21 e0.19

PAH or combustion byproduct Pyrene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.034 <0.5 e0.007 <0.5

Solvent Tetrachloroethene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.004 <0.5

Disinfectant Tribromomethane <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Fire Retardant Tributyl phosphate <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Disinfectant Triclosan <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1

Plastic Triethyl citrate <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Plastic Triphenyl phosphate <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.051 <0.5 e0.007 <0.5

Plastic Tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.21 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Fire Retardant Tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.31 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Fire Retardant Tris(dichloroisopropyl) phosphate <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.079 <0.5 e0.03 <0.5
Organic Wastewater Compounds 27

USGS station number: 02456999 02456999 02457500 02457500 02457502 02457502 02457502

Sampling site short name:

FMC at 

Hewitt 

Park

FMC at 

Hewitt 

Park

FMC at 

Huffman 

Road

FMC at 

Huffman 

Road

FMC below 

Springdale 

Road

FMC below 

Springdale 

Road

FMC below 

Springdale 

Road

Sample date: 8/22/2005 9/12/2005 10/28/2003 12/15/2003 6/23/2004 12/7/2004 6/6/2005

Sample time: 1115 1445 1000 1330 1300 1300 1130

General-use categories Organic wastewater compound 

PAH or combustion byproduct 1-Methylnaphthalene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Pesticide 1,4-Dichlorobenzene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.085 <0.5 <0.5

PAH or combustion byproduct 2-Methylnaphthalene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

PAH or combustion byproduct 2,6-Dimethylnaphthalene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Sterol or stanol 3-beta-Coprostanol <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 <2

Flavoring or Fragrance 3-Methyl-1H-indole <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 e0.006

Antioxidant 3-tert-Butyl-4-hydroxyanisole <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5

Detergent 4-Cumylphenol <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1

Detergent 4-Nonylphenol <5 <5 e1.1 <5 <5 <5 <5

Detergent 4-Octylphenol <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1

Detergent 4-tert-Octylphenol <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1

Antioxidant 5-Methyl-1H-benzotriazole <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 <2

Pesticide 9,10-Anthraquinone <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.084 <0.5 e0.07

Flavoring or Fragrance Acetophenone <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Flavoring or Fragrance AHTN <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

PAH or combustion byproduct Anthracene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

PAH or combustion byproduct Benzo[a]pyrene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Pesticide Benzophenone e0.05 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.01

Sterol or stanol beta-Sitosterol <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 e0.4

Sterol or stanol beta-Stigmastanol <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 e0.4

Plastic Bisphenol A — <1 <1 <1 e0.19 <1 <1

Pesticide Bromacil <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.06

Stimulant Caffeine <0.5 <0.5 e0.064 e0.064 e0.17 e0.08 e0.04

Flavoring or Fragrance Camphor <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.02 <0.5 e0.006

PAH or combustion byproduct Carbazole <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.006

Sterol or stanol Cholesterol <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 e0.6

Stimulant Cotinine <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 e0.03

Pesticide DEET <0.5 <0.5 e0.16 <0.5 e0.11 <0.5 e0.03

Detergent Diethoxynonylphenol <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5

Detergent Diethoxyoctylphenol <1 <1 e0.088 <1 <1 <1 <1

Flavoring or Fragrance D-Limonene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.048 <0.5 <0.5

Detergent Ethoxyoctylphenol <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1

PAH or combustion byproduct Fluoranthene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.035 <0.5 e0.01

Flavoring or Fragrance HHCB <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Flavoring or Fragrance Indole <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.005

Flavoring or Fragrance Isoborneol <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Solvent Isophorone <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.006

Solvent Isopropylbenzene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Flavoring or Fragrance Isoquinoline <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Flavoring or Fragrance Menthol <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Pesticide Metalaxyl <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Flavoring or Fragrance Methyl salicylate <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.01

PAH or combustion byproduct Naphthalene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.036 <0.5 e0.03

PAH or combustion byproduct p-Cresol <1 e0.03 <1 <1 <1 <1 e0.04

Pesticide Pentachlorophenol — <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 <2

PAH or combustion byproduct Phenanthrene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.008

Disinfectant Phenol <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.34

PAH or combustion byproduct Pyrene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.035 <0.5 e0.006

Solvent Tetrachloroethene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Disinfectant Tribromomethane <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Fire Retardant Tributyl phosphate <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.095 <0.5 <0.5

Disinfectant Triclosan <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1

Plastic Triethyl citrate <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Plastic Triphenyl phosphate <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.05 <0.5 e0.006

Plastic Tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.22 <0.5 <0.5

Fire Retardant Tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.24 <0.5 <0.5

Fire Retardant Tris(dichloroisopropyl) phosphate <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.077 <0.5 e0.03

Table 6. Concentrations of organic wastewater compounds in water samples collected from selected sites along Fivemile Creek, 

Jefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005.—Continued 

[all values are in micrograms per liter; PAH, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon; <, less than; e, estimated concentration; bold values indicate detections; AHTN, 

6-acetyl-1,1,2,4,4,7-hexamethyltetraline; DEET, N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide; HHCB, 1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethyl-cyclopenta(g)-2-benzopyran; 

—, compound not analyzed]
28 Assessment of Water-Quality Conditions in Fivemile Creek in the Vicinity of the Fivemile Creek Greenway, Alabama

USGS station number: 02457502 02457502 02457502 02457510 02457510 02457510 02457510

Sampling site short name:

FMC below 

Springdale 

Road

FMC below 

Springdale 

Road

FMC below 

Springdale 

Road

FMC at 

Lewisburg

FMC at 

Lewisburg

FMC at 

Lewisburg

FMC at 

Lewisburg

Sample date: 7/18/2005 8/22/2005 9/13/2005 6/23/2004 6/7/2005 7/18/2005 8/23/2005

Sample time: 1040 1500 0830 1400 1230 1545 0900

General-use categories Organic wastewater compound 

PAH or combustion byproduct 1-Methylnaphthalene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.01 e0.02 <0.5

Pesticide 1,4-Dichlorobenzene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.1 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

PAH or combustion byproduct 2-Methylnaphthalene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.01 e0.02 <0.5

PAH or combustion byproduct 2,6-Dimethylnaphthalene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.005 <0.5 <0.5

Sterol or stanol 3-beta-Coprostanol <2 <2 <2 <2 e0.5 <2 <2

Flavoring or Fragrance 3-Methyl-1H-indole <1 <1 <1 <1 e0.004 <1 <1

Antioxidant 3-tert-Butyl-4-hydroxyanisole <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5

Detergent 4-Cumylphenol <1 <1 <1 <1 e0.007 <1 <1

Detergent 4-Nonylphenol e0.5 <5 e0.8 e1.2 e0.7 e0.8 <5

Detergent 4-Octylphenol <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1

Detergent 4-tert-Octylphenol <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1

Antioxidant 5-Methyl-1H-benzotriazole <2 <2 <2 <2 e0.2 <2 <2

Pesticide 9,10-Anthraquinone <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.12 e0.08 e0.03 <0.5

Flavoring or Fragrance Acetophenone <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Flavoring or Fragrance AHTN <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

PAH or combustion byproduct Anthracene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.066 e0.02 e0.01 <0.5

PAH or combustion byproduct Benzo[a]pyrene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Pesticide Benzophenone e0.03 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.02 <0.5 <0.5

Sterol or stanol beta-Sitosterol <2 <2 <2 <2 e0.8 <2 <2

Sterol or stanol beta-Stigmastanol <2 <2 <2 <2 e0.9 <2 <2

Plastic Bisphenol A <1 — <1 e0.21 <1 <1 — 

Pesticide Bromacil <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 1 2.4 0.68 <0.5

Stimulant Caffeine <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.2 e0.05 e0.08 <0.5

Flavoring or Fragrance Camphor <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.023 e0.008 <0.5 <0.5

PAH or combustion byproduct Carbazole <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.13 e0.02 e0.03 e0.04

Sterol or stanol Cholesterol e0.6 <2 <2 <2 e1.0 e0.7 <2

Stimulant Cotinine <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1

Pesticide DEET e0.06 <0.5 <0.5 e0.12 e0.05 e0.09 <0.5

Detergent Diethoxynonylphenol <5 <5 <5 e4.7 <5 <5 <5

Detergent Diethoxyoctylphenol <1 <1 <1 e0.13 <1 <1 <1

Flavoring or Fragrance D-Limonene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.05 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Detergent Ethoxyoctylphenol <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1

PAH or combustion byproduct Fluoranthene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.078 e0.04 e0.03 e0.05

Flavoring or Fragrance HHCB <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.01 <0.5 <0.5

Flavoring or Fragrance Indole <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Flavoring or Fragrance Isoborneol <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Solvent Isophorone <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.005 <0.5 e0.03

Solvent Isopropylbenzene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Flavoring or Fragrance Isoquinoline <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.14 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Flavoring or Fragrance Menthol <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Pesticide Metalaxyl <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Flavoring or Fragrance Methyl salicylate <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

PAH or combustion byproduct Naphthalene e0.01 <0.5 e0.03 e0.11 e0.1 e0.17 e0.09

PAH or combustion byproduct p-Cresol <1 <1 e0.02 <1 e0.02 <1 <1

Pesticide Pentachlorophenol <2 — <2 <2 e0.08 <2 — 

PAH or combustion byproduct Phenanthrene <0.5 <0.5 e0.006 e0.058 e0.02 e0.03 e0.03

Disinfectant Phenol e0.25 <0.5 <0.5 e0.2 e0.17 e0.23 <0.5

PAH or combustion byproduct Pyrene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.064 e0.04 e0.02 e0.04

Solvent Tetrachloroethene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Disinfectant Tribromomethane <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Fire Retardant Tributyl phosphate <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.02 <0.5 <0.5

Disinfectant Triclosan <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1

Plastic Triethyl citrate <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Plastic Triphenyl phosphate <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.055 e0.007 <0.5 <0.5

Plastic Tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.27 e0.14 <0.5 <0.5

Fire Retardant Tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.18 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Fire Retardant Tris(dichloroisopropyl) phosphate <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.089 e0.03 <0.5 <0.5

Table 6. Concentrations of organic wastewater compounds in water samples collected from selected sites along Fivemile Creek, 

Jefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005.—Continued 

[all values are in micrograms per liter; PAH, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon; <, less than; e, estimated concentration; bold values indicate detections; AHTN, 

6-acetyl-1,1,2,4,4,7-hexamethyltetraline; DEET, N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide; HHCB, 1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethyl-cyclopenta(g)-2-benzopyran; 

—, compound not analyzed]
Organic Wastewater Compounds 29

Table 6. Concentrations of organic wastewater compounds in water samples collected from selected sites along Fivemile Creek, 

Jefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005.—Continued 

[all values are in micrograms per liter; PAH, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon; <, less than; e, estimated concentration; bold values indicate detections; AHTN, 

6-acetyl-1,1,2,4,4,7-hexamethyltetraline; DEET, N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide; HHCB, 1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethyl-cyclopenta(g)-2-benzopyran; 

—, compound not analyzed]

USGS station number: 02457510 02457595 02457599 02457599 02457625 02457625 02457700

Sampling site short name:

FMC at 

Lewisburg

FMC near 

Republic

FMC at 

Republic 

Ford

FMC at 

Republic 

Ford

FMC at 

Brookside

FMC at 

Brookside

FMC 

at Linn 

Crossing

Number 

of detections

Total 

concentration of all 

detections

Sample date: 9/13/2005 12/15/2003 11/2/2004 12/7/2004 11/2/2004 12/6/2004 12/6/2004

Sample time: 1130 1045 1715 0900 1430 1515 1230

General-use categories Organic wastewater compound 

PAH or combustion byproduct 1-Methylnaphthalene e0.01 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 3 0.04

Pesticide 1,4-Dichlorobenzene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 3 0.282

PAH or combustion byproduct 2-Methylnaphthalene e0.01 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 3 0.04

PAH or combustion byproduct 2,6-Dimethylnaphthalene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 1 0.005

Sterol or stanol 3-beta-Coprostanol e0.2 e0.74 <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 3 1.44

Flavoring or Fragrance 3-Methyl-1H-indole <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 3 0.014

Antioxidant 3-tert-Butyl-4-hydroxyanisole <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 0 0

Detergent 4-Cumylphenol <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 1 0.007

Detergent 4-Nonylphenol <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 8 6.7

Detergent 4-Octylphenol <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 0 0

Detergent 4-tert-Octylphenol <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 0 0

Antioxidant 5-Methyl-1H-benzotriazole e0.08 <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 2 0.28

Pesticide 9,10-Anthraquinone <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 7 0.584

Flavoring or Fragrance Acetophenone <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 0 0

Flavoring or Fragrance AHTN <0.5 <0.5 e0.07 <0.5 e0.04 e0.02 <0.5 3 0.13

PAH or combustion byproduct Anthracene e0.01 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 4 0.106

PAH or combustion byproduct Benzo[a]pyrene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 0 0

Pesticide Benzophenone <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 4 0.11

Sterol or stanol beta-Sitosterol e0.3 <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 3 1.5

Sterol or stanol beta-Stigmastanol e0.4 <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 3 1.7

Plastic Bisphenol A e0.03 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 7 0.61

Pesticide Bromacil <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 4 4.14

Stimulant Caffeine e0.03 e0.17 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.14 <0.5 15 1.705

Flavoring or Fragrance Camphor e0.008 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 7 0.089

PAH or combustion byproduct Carbazole e0.02 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 7 0.256

Sterol or stanol Cholesterol <2 e0.95 <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 6 4.55

Stimulant Cotinine <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 2 0.06

Pesticide DEET e0.04 e0.09 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 11 0.93

Detergent Diethoxynonylphenol <5 e4.2 e2.7 <5 e2.7 <5 <5 4 14.3

Detergent Diethoxyoctylphenol e0.05 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 3 0.268

Flavoring or Fragrance D-Limonene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 3 0.14

Detergent Ethoxyoctylphenol <1 e0.72 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 1 0.72

PAH or combustion byproduct Fluoranthene e0.03 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 9 0.319

Flavoring or Fragrance HHCB <0.5 <0.5 e0.24 <0.5 e0.11 e0.09 <0.5 4 0.45

Flavoring or Fragrance Indole e0.008 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 3 0.017

Flavoring or Fragrance Isoborneol <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 0 0

Solvent Isophorone e0.006 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 4 0.047

Solvent Isopropylbenzene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 0 0

Flavoring or Fragrance Isoquinoline e0.01 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 2 0.15

Flavoring or Fragrance Menthol <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 1 0.044

Pesticide Metalaxyl <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 0 0

Flavoring or Fragrance Methyl salicylate <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 2 0.08

PAH or combustion byproduct Naphthalene e0.09 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 11 0.704

PAH or combustion byproduct p-Cresol e0.02 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 6 0.15

Pesticide Pentachlorophenol <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 4 0.08

PAH or combustion byproduct Phenanthrene e0.02 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 7 0.172

Disinfectant Phenol <0.5 <0.5 e0.38 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 9 2.24

PAH or combustion byproduct Pyrene e0.03 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 9 0.276

Solvent Tetrachloroethene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 1 0.004

Disinfectant Tribromomethane <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 0 0

Fire Retardant Tributyl phosphate <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 2 0.115

Disinfectant Triclosan <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 0 0

Plastic Triethyl citrate <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 0 0

Plastic Triphenyl phosphate <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 6 0.176

Plastic Tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 4 0.84

Fire Retardant Tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 3 0.73

Fire Retardant Tris(dichloroisopropyl) phosphate <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 6 0.335
30 Assessment of Water-Quality Conditions in Fivemile Creek in the Vicinity of the Fivemile Creek Greenway, Alabama

Table 7. General-use categories and summary of detections of 57 organic wastewater compounds in samples collected from selected 

sites along Fivemile Creek, Jefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005.

[Detected compounds shown in bold. Green shading denotes greatest detection frequency, median concentration, or maximum concentration within the generaluse category. MRL, minimum reporting limit; μg/L, micrograms per liter; ND, not detected; —, not applicable; e, estimated; K, known; S, suspected; HHCB, 

1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethyl-cyclopenta(g)-2-benzopyran; AHTN, 6-acetyl-1,1,2,4,4,7-hexamethyltetraline; PAH, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon; *, compound is intended to repel, rather than kill, pests]

General-use categories 

and compounds 

Endocrinedisrupting 

potential

MRL 

(μg/L)

Number of 

detections

Sample 

size

Detection 

frequency 

(percent)

Median 

concentration (μg/L)

Maximum 

detected 

concentration (μg/L)

Site with maximum 

concentration

Antioxidants 2 29 6.9 0.2a FMC at Lewisburg

3-tert-Butyl-4-hydroxyanisole K 5 ND 29 — — — —

5-Methyl-1H-benzotriazole — 2 2 29 6.9 0.14 e0.2 FMC at Lewisburg

Detergent degradates 12 29 41.4 6.03a FMC at Lewisburg

4-Cumylphenol K 1 1 29 3.5 0.007 e0.007 FMC at Lewisburg

4-Nonylphenol K 5 8 29 27.7 0.8 e1.2 FMC at Lewisburg

4-Octylphenol K 1 ND 29 — — — —

4-tert-Octylphenol K 1 ND 29 — — — —

Diethoxynonylphenol (total, 

NPEO2)

K 5 4 29 13.8 3.45 e4.7 FMC at Lewisburg

Diethoxyoctylphenol 

(OPEO2)

K 1 3 29 10.3 0.088 e0.13 FMC at Lewisburg

Ethoxyoctylphenol (OPEO1) K 1 1 29 3.4 0.06 e0.72 FMC near Republic

Disinfectants 9 29 31.0 0.38a FMC at Republic Ford

Phenol — 0.5 9 29 31.0 0.23 e0.38 FMC at Republic Ford

Tribromomethane — 0.5 ND 29 — — — —

Triclosan S 1 ND 29 — — — —

Fire Retardants 6 29 20.7 0.412a FMC below Springdale Rd.

Tributyl phosphate — 0.5 2 29 6.9 0.0575 e0.095 FMC below Springdale Rd.

Tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate S 0.5 3 29 10.3 0.24 e0.31 FMC at Hewitt Park

Tris(dichloroisopropyl) 

phosphate

S 0.5 6 29 20.7 0.0535 e0.089 FMC at Lewisburg

Flavorings or Fragrances 11 29 37.9 0.31a FMC at Republic Ford

3-Methyl-1H-indole (skatole) — 1 3 29 10.3 0.004 e0.006 FMC below Springdale Rd.

Acetophenone — 0.5 ND 29 — — — —

HHCB — 0.5 4 29 13.8 0.1 e0.24 FMC at Republic Ford

Camphor — 0.5 7 29 24.1 0.008 e0.023 FMC at Lewisburg

D-Limonene — 0.5 3 29 10.3 0.048 e0.05 FMC at Lewisburg

AHTN — 0.5 3 29 10.3 0.04 e0.07 FMC at Republic Ford

Indole — 0.5 3 29 10.3 0.005 e0.008 FMC at Lewisburg

Isoborneol — 0.5 ND 29 — — — —

Isoquinoline — 0.5 2 29 6.9 0.075 e0.14 FMC at Lewisburg

Menthol — 0.5 1 29 3.5 0.044 e0.044 FMC at Hewitt Park

Methyl salicylate — 0.5 2 29 6.9 0.04 e0.07 FMC at Hewitt Park
Organic Wastewater Compounds 31

Table 7. General-use categories and summary of detections of 57 organic wastewater compounds in samples collected from selected 

sites along Fivemile Creek, Jefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005.—Continued

[Detected compounds shown in bold. Green shading denotes greatest detection frequency, median concentration, or maximum concentration within the generaluse category. MRL, minimum reporting limit; μg/L, micrograms per liter; ND, not detected; —, not applicable; e, estimated; K, known; S, suspected; HHCB, 

1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethyl-cyclopenta(g)-2-benzopyran; AHTN, 6-acetyl-1,1,2,4,4,7-hexamethyltetraline; PAH, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon; *, compound is intended to repel, rather than kill, pests]

General-use categories 

and compounds 

Endocrinedisrupting 

potential

MRL 

(μg/L)

Number of 

detections

Sample 

size

Detection 

frequency 

(percent)

Median 

concentration (μg/L)

Maximum 

detected 

concentration (μg/L)

Site with maximum 

concentration

PAHs or combustion 

byproducts

13 29 44.8 0.506a FMC at Lewisburg

2-Methylnaphthalene — 0.5 3 29 10.3 0.01 e0.02 FMC at Lewisburg

1-Methylnaphthalene — 0.5 3 29 10.3 0.01 e0.02 FMC at Lewisburg

2,6-Dimethylnaphthalene — 0.5 1 29 3.5 0.005 e0.005 FMC at Lewisburg

Anthracene — 0.5 4 29 13.8 0.015 e0.066 FMC at Lewisburg

Benzo[a]pyrene K 0.5 ND 29 — — — —

Carbazole — 0.5 7 29 24.1 0.02 e0.13 FMC at Lewisburg

Fluoranthene — 0.5 9 29 31.0 0.035 e0.078 FMC at Lewisburg

Naphthalene — 0.5 11 29 37.9 0.036 e0.17 FMC at Lewisburg

p-Cresol S 1 6 29 20.7 0.02 e0.04 FMC below Springdale Rd.

Phenanthrene — 0.5 7 29 24.1 0.02 e0.058 FMC at Lewisburg

Pyrene — 0.5 9 29 31.0 0.034 e0.064 FMC at Lewisburg

Pesticides 12 29 41.4 2.63a

Benzophenone S 0.5 4 29 13.8 0.025 e0.05 FMC at Hewitt Park

1,4-Dichlorobenzene S 0.5 3 29 10.3 0.097 e0.1 FMC at Lewisburg

Bromacil — 0.5 4 29 13.8 0.84 2.4 FMC at Lewisburg

N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide 

(DEET)*

— 0.5 11 29 37.9 0.09 e0.16 FMC at Huffman Rd.

Metalaxyl — 0.5 ND 29 — — — —

Pentachlorophenol S 2 4 26 15.4 0.08 e0.08 FMC at Lewisburg

9,10-Anthraquinone* — 0.5 7 29 24.1 0.084 e0.12 FMC at Lewisburg

Plastics 10 29 34.5 0.535a FMC at Lewisburg

Bisphenol A K 1 7 26 26.9 0.185 e0.21 FMC at Lewisburg

Triethyl citrate — 0.5 ND 29 — — — —

Triphenyl phosphate — 0.5 6 29 20.7 0.0285 e0.055 FMC at Lewisburg

Tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate — 0.5 4 29 13.8 0.215 e0.27 FMC at Lewisburg

Solvents 5 29 17.2 0.03a FMC at Lewisburg

Isophorone — 0.5 4 29 13.8 0.006 e0.03 FMC at Lewisburg

Isopropylbenzene — 0.5 ND 29 — — — —

Tetrachloroethene — 0.5 1 29 3.5 0.004 e0.004 FMC at Hewitt Park

Sterols or stanols 7 29 24.1 3.2a FMC at Lewisburg

3-beta-Coprostanol — 2 3 29 10.3 0.5 e0.74 FMC near Republic

beta-Sitosterol — 2 3 29 10.3 0.4 e0.8 FMC at Lewisburg

beta-Stigmastanol — 2 3 29 10.3 0.4 e0.9 FMC at Lewisburg

Cholesterol — 2 6 29 20.7 0.7 e1 FMC at Lewisburg

Stimulants 15 29 51.7 0.34a FMC at Hewitt Park

Caffeine — 0.5 15 29 51.7 0.08 e0.34 FMC at Hewitt Park

Cotinine — 1 2 29 6.9 0.03 e0.03 FMC below Springdale Rd. a

 Value represents maximum sum of compounds in this category found in a single sample.
32 Assessment of Water-Quality Conditions in Fivemile Creek in the Vicinity of the Fivemile Creek Greenway, Alabama

The greatest total concentrations of OWCs in single 

samples were measured at FMC at Lewisburg, during 

June 2004 (S) and June 2005 (Z), and concentrations during 

these time periods were much greater than total concentrations 

during other sampling periods at that site (fig. 13B). In contrast, total concentrations in samples collected from the other 

two sites collected during June 2004 and June 2005 (FMC at 

Hewitt Park and FMC below Springdale Road) were similar 

to total OWC concentrations from other time periods at those 

sites. Possible explanations for this include: (1) OWC concentrations are normally greater in the vicinity of FMC at Lewisburg, (2) the samples collected from FMC at Lewisburg were 

collected during hydrologic conditions that maximize concentrations of OWCs, or (3) stormflow contributions of OWCs at 

FMC at Lewisburg are greater than at the two upstream sites. 

Continuous discharge data from all sampled sites are needed 

to clearly distinguish between hydrologic and local effects on 

OWC concentrations.

Frequency of detection and magnitude of detected concentrations need to be considered when evaluating the significance of OWC data. The five most commonly detected groups 

of compounds in FMC were stimulants, PAHs, pesticides, 

detergent degradates, and flavorings or fragrances. 

Most of the stimulant detections were caffeine; cotinine, 

a degradate of nicotine, was detected in only two samples. 

All detections of caffeine were reported below the minimum 

reporting level (MRL) of 0.5 μg/L, and accounted for 0 to 

100 percent of the number of detected OWCs in individual 

samples (table 6). Municipal discharges and disposal of caffeinated beverages, medicines, and other products are likely 

sources of caffeine to streams. A study of caffeine occurrence 

in Switzerland found low (nanogram per liter) concentration 

occurrences in all but the most remote surface-water systems (Buerge and others, 2003). Wastewater-treatment plants 

(WWTP) have been shown to efficiently remove caffeine from 

their influents, but still discharge measurable concentrations 

of caffeine (Buerge and others, 2003; Skadsen and others, 

2004). Caffeine is thought to be a suitable wastewater tracer 

in areas without natural plant sources, but it is slowly bio- and 

photodegraded in surface waters (Buerge and others, 2003). 

Laboratory experiments have predicted a caffeine half-life of 

approximately 12 days under sunny conditions (Buerge and 

others, 2003), indicating that detected caffeine in FMC had 

probably recently entered the stream environment at the time 

of sampling. 

All but one of the analyzed PAH or combustion-byproduct 

compounds were detected in at least one sample from FMC. 

Most detections of PAHs occurred during the summer months. 

PAHs detected in 24 percent or more of samples were carbazole, fluoranthene, naphthalene, phenanthrene, and pyrene. 

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

DETECTION FREQUENCY, IN PERCENT

Caffeine

Naphthalene

DEET

Phenol

Fluoranthene

Pyrene

4-Nonylphenol

Bisphenol A

Camphor

Phenanthrene

Carbazole

9,10-Anthraquinone

Tris(dichloroisopropyl) phosphate

p-Cresol

Triphenyl phosphate

Cholesterol

Pentachlorophenol

Diethoxynonylphenol

AHTN

Indole

Anthracene

 Benzophenone

Bromacil

Tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate

Isophorone

Diethoxyoctylphenol

Tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate

3-Methyl-1H-indole

D-Limonene

HHCB

 2-Methylnaphthalene

1-Methylnaphthalene

1,4-Dichlorobenzene

3-beta-Coprostanol

beta-Sitosterol

beta-Stigmastanol

5-Methyl-1H-benzotriazole

Tributyl phosphate

Isoquinoline

Methyl salicylate

Cotinine

Ethoxyoctylphenol

4-Cumylphenol

 Menthol

2,6-Dimethylnaphthalene

Tetrachloroethene

Stimulant

Sterol or stanol

Solvent

Plastics

Pesticide

PAH or combustion by-product

Flavoring or fragrance

Fire retardant

Disinfectant

Detergent

Antioxidant

Figure 12. Detection frequencies of selected organic wastewater compounds found in samples collected from selected 

sites along Fivemile Creek, Jefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005.
Organic Wastewater Compounds 33

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

FMC at Fivemile Road

FMC at Lawson Road

FMC at Hewitt ParkFMC at Hewitt ParkFMC at Hewitt ParkFMC at Hewitt ParkFMC at Hewitt ParkFMC at Hewitt Park

FMC at Hewitt ParkFMC at Hewitt Park

FMC at Huffman Road

FMC below Springdale RoadFMC below Springdale RoadFMC below Springdale RoadFMC below Springdale RoadFMC below Springdale RoadFMC below Springdale Road

FMC below Springdale Road

FMC at LewisburgFMC at Lewisburg

FMC at Lewisburg

FMC at LewisburgFMC at Lewisburg

FMC near Republic

FMC at Republic FordFMC at Republic Ford

FMC at BrooksideFMC at Brookside

FMC at Linn Crossing

NUMBER OF INDIVIDUAL COMPOUND DETECTIONS

A.

Stimulant

Sterol or stanol

Solvent

Plastics

Pesticide

PAH or combustion byproduct

Flavoring or fragrance

Fire retardant

Disinfectant

Detergent

Antioxidant

Sampling period letter designation

 from table 2

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

TOTAL CONCENTRATION, IN MICROGRAMS PER LITER

B.

Q Q

Q Q Q FF HH Q

HH

Q X X

P

P P

S

S S

Z

Z

Z

Q

V

V

S

CC

CC

CC

X X X X X FF FF

HH

X

V

V X

Z

Z

Z

Z

CC

CC

CC

FF

FF

FF

HH

HH

HH

P

Q

Q

X

S

S

Figure 13. Summary of (A) number of detections and (B) total concentrations of general-use categories of organic 

wastewater compounds detected per sample at selected sites along Fivemile Creek (FMC), Jefferson County, 

Alabama, 2003–2005.
34 Assessment of Water-Quality Conditions in Fivemile Creek in the Vicinity of the Fivemile Creek Greenway, Alabama

Naphthalene, carbazole, fluoranthene, anthracene, and pyrene 

were the PAHs detected at the greatest concentrations; median 

concentrations of naphthalene, fluoranthene, and pyrene were 

about 0.03 μg/L. Potential sources of PAHs in the FMC watershed include automobiles, locomotives, coke production, and 

industrial processes. Naphthalene is recognized by the U.S. 

Department of Health and Human Services, the International 

Agency for Research on Cancer, and the USEPA as a possible 

human carcinogen. The compounds 1-methylnaphthalene and 

2-methylnaphthalene have caused lung problems in animal 

studies, but not enough data exist to determine their human 

carcinogenicity (U.S. Department of Health and Human 

Services, 2006a). The other PAH compounds detected in FMC 

by the NWQL method for OWCs are not known carcinogens 

(U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2006b). 

The most commonly detected pesticides in FMC 

included the mosquito repellent, DEET, and the bird repellent, 

9,10-anthraquinone. DEET was detected in almost 40 percent 

of the FMC samples. Most detections of DEET occurred in 

June, July, and August, but DEET also was detected in a few 

samples collected during September, October, and December. 

DEET was detected at least once at each of the sites where 

summer samples were collected: FMC at Hewitt Park, FMC at 

Huffman Road, FMC at Lewisburg, and FMC below Springdale Road. The pesticide 9,10-anthraquinone was detected only 

in summer samples. Concentrations of pesticides were generally low, with maximum concentrations for all but one compound, bromacil, estimated below minimum reporting levels.

The pesticide bromacil was the only OWC detected above 

the MRL, and all but one detection of bromacil was above the 

MRL (tables 6 and 7). Bromacil is an herbicide used to kill 

grass and brush, and detections of bromacil occurred exclusively in samples collected during summer months. Bromacil 

was detected in three samples from FMC at Lewisburg and 

in one sample from FMC below Springdale Road. Detected 

concentrations ranged from an estimated 0.06 μg/L below 

Springdale Road to 2.4 μg/L at Lewisburg (table 6), and were 

well below concentrations considered toxic to aquatic life 

(Turner, 2003).

Detergent degradates were the fourth most commonly 

detected group, but they accounted for more than 50 percent of 

the total OWC concentrations in 8 of the 29 samples (table 6). 

All of these detected compounds are known endocrine disruptors in aquatic organisms (Jobling and Sumpter, 1993; Zaugg 

and others, 2002). Five of the seven detergent-degradate 

analytes were detected in FMC. The most commonly detected 

detergent degradate was 4-nonylphenol (fig. 12). The detergent 

degradate with the maximum estimated detected concentration, 4.7 μg/L, was diethoxynonylphenol (NPEO2; table 7). 

Detections of detergent degradates did not exhibit a strong 

seasonal or hydrologic pattern (figs. 4 and 13). 

Flavorings and fragrance compounds were detected 

in more than 35 percent of the samples collected in FMC 

(table 7). Camphor was the only individual compound in the 

group detected in more than 20 percent of samples. Camphor 

is used in flavorings, odorants, and ointments (Zaugg and 

others, 2002). Concentrations of compounds in the flavorings and fragrances group were generally low; maximum 

concentrations for five of the nine compounds were equal to 

or less than 0.05 μg/L. The greatest maximum concentration 

and median concentration were attributed to HHCB, a musk 

fragrance. More flavorings and fragrances were detected in 

samples collected during high streamflow periods than during 

low streamflow periods (figs. 4 and 13).

Cholesterol, which does not fall into one of the most 

commonly detected general-use categories discussed above, 

can be an indicator of fecal contamination but also can be 

derived from plants (Zaugg and others, 2002). Cholesterol was 

detected in six samples during this study. The greatest detections of cholesterol were 1.0 μg/L in a sample from FMC at 

Lewisburg, and 0.95 μg/L in a sample from FMC near Republic (table 6).

Twelve compounds known or suspected to cause endocrine disruption were detected in samples from FMC (tables 6 

and 7). Five of the 12 are detergent degradates, while the other 

endocrine-disrupting compounds are from the fire retardants, 

PAHs, pesticides, and plastics categories. The single sample 

with the greatest concentration of endocrine disruptors was 

collected from FMC at Lewisburg on June 23, 2004. This sample and the June 2005 sample at Lewisburg had seven detections each of endocrine-disrupting compounds, which was the 

greatest number of detections in a single sample. Detections of 

endocrine-disrupting compounds appeared to increase during 

periods of increased streamflow (table 6; fig. 4), but the greatest concentrations of endocrine-disrupting compounds were 

detected in a variety of flow conditions.

Pesticides in Surface Water 

From October 2003 through September 2005, a total 

of 33 surface-water samples were collected at 10 sites in the 

FMC study area and were analyzed for 85 pesticides and 

degradation products. Of the 85 pesticides, 22 were detected 

in 1 or more stream samples (table 8). Of the detected pesticides, 12 were herbicides, 9 were insecticides, and 1 was a 

fungicide (table 8; fig. 14). The detected pesticides include 

one carbamate, three dinitroanilines, two organochlorines, 

two organophosphates, two phenyl ureas, five pyrazoles, six 

triazenes, and one triazole. The detected pesticides include 

seven degradates: dieldrin, 3,4-dichloroaniline, desulfinyl 

fipronil, desulfinylfipronil amide, fipronil sulfide, fipronil 

sulfone, and 2-chloro-4-isopropylamino-6-amino-s-triazine 

(CIAT). Atrazine and simazine were the most frequently 

detected herbicides in the FMC study area. Fipronil sulfide 

was the most frequently detected compound from the insecticides and insecticide degradates; myclobutanil, detected in 

27 percent of samples, was the only detected fungicide in the 

FMC study area. 

Herbicides accounted for 62 percent of the number of 

pesticide detections in the FMC study area. These herbicides listed in order of decreasing detection frequency were 
Pesticides in Surface Water 35

atrazine, simazine, CIAT, prometon, tebuthiuron, prometryn, 

3,4-dichloroaniline, hexazinone, pendimethalin, trifluralin, 

benfluralin, and dacthal (DCPA; fig. 14). Two herbicides, atrazine and simazine, were detected in 100 percent of the surfacewater samples (table 8). Atrazine and simazine are widely used 

as herbicides to control the growth of weeds. Atrazine is used 

primarily as a preemergent herbicide on corn in agricultural 

areas and on lawns and golf courses in urban areas. Simazine 

is used in urban areas for weed control along roadways and 

railways, along fences, and in other public areas (Hoffman and 

others, 2000). 

Insecticides accounted for about 37 percent of the pesticide detections in the FMC study area. Fipronil sulfide was 

the most commonly detected insecticide-derived compound, 

occurring in 52 percent of the surface-water samples. Fipronil 

sulfide is a degradation product of fipronil, which is used as 

an insecticide and conventional barrier treatment for termites. 

Other insecticides and insecticide degradates detected in FMC 

listed in order of decreasing detection frequency were fipronil 

sulfone, desulfinylfipronil amide, fipronil, desulfinyl fipronil, 

carbaryl, dieldrin, diazinon, and malathion (fig. 14). 

Water-quality standards and guidelines have been developed for many pesticides to protect human health and aquatic 

life. Eleven of the pesticides detected in this study have recommended drinking-water standards, guidelines, or health advisory levels, and 8 of the pesticides detected in this study have 

Table 8. Detected pesticide compound name and type, parameter code, minimum reporting limit, and number 

of and percentage of detections in samples in the Fivemile Creek watershed, Jefferson County, Alabama, 

2003–2005. 

[MRL, minimum reporting level, in micrograms per liter; DCPA, dacthal; CIAT, 2-chloro-4-isopropylamino-6-amino-s-triazine]

Pesticide compound Type of pesticide compound 

(parent pesticide if degradate)

Parameter 

code MRL Number of detections

Percent of samples 

with detections

Carbamate

Carbaryl Insecticide 82680 0.041 10 30

Dinitroanilines

Benfluralin Herbicide 82673 0.01 2 6

Pendimethalin Herbicide 82683 0.022 3 9

Trifluralin Herbicide 82661 0.009 3 9

Organochlorines

DCPA Herbicide 82682 0.003 1 3

Dieldrin Insecticide, degradate (Aldrin) 39381 0.009 5 15

Organophosphates

Malathion Insecticide 39532 0.027 1 3

Diazinon Insecticide 39572 0.005 1 3

Phenyl urea

3,4-Dichloroaniline Herbicide, degradate (Propanil) 61625 0.004 1 9

Tebuthiuron Herbicide 82670 0.016 17 52

Pyrazoles

Desulfinyl fipronil Insecticide, degradate (fipronil) 62170 0.012 12 36

Desulfinylfipronil amide Insecticide, degradate (fipronil) 62169 0.029 13 39

Fipronil Insecticide 62166 0.016 13 39

Fipronil sulfide Insecticide, degradate (fipronil) 62167 0.013 17 52

Fipronil sulfone Insecticide, degradate (fipronil) 62168 0.024 14 42

Triazenes

CIAT Herbicide, degradate (Atrazine) 04040 0.006 24 73

Atrazine Herbicide 39632 0.007 33 100

Hexazinone Herbicide 04025 0.013 1 9

Prometon Herbicide 04037 0.010 24 73

Prometryn Herbicide 04036 0.005 3 27

Simazine Herbicide 04035 0.005 33 100

Triazoles

Myclobutanil Fungicide 61599 0.008 3 27
36 Assessment of Water-Quality Conditions in Fivemile Creek in the Vicinity of the Fivemile Creek Greenway, Alabama

aquatic-life criteria established by the National Academy of 

Sciences and National Academy of Engineering (NAS/NAE; 

1973), the USEPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 

2003a, b, and c; 2004a and b), and the Canadian Council of 

Ministers of the Environment (2006) (table 9). Measured pesticide concentrations that exceeded water-quality standards and 

guidelines for pesticides to protect human health and aquatic 

life do not necessarily indicate that adverse effects are occurring, but rather, indicate that adverse effects may occur and 

that sites where water-quality standards and guidelines were 

exceeded may need further investigation.

Detected pesticide concentrations in FMC only exceeded 

one drinking-water criterion. The USEPA specific dose at 10–6

cancer risk, or RSD6, represents the concentration of a pesticide that corresponds to an estimated lifetime cancer risk of 1 

in 1,000,000. Two estimated concentrations of one insecticide, 

dieldrin, exceeded the USEPA specific dose at 10–6 cancer risk 

(0.002 μg/L; table 9) in one sample collected from FMC at 

Hewitt Park on July 18, 2005 (e0.003 μg/L), and in one sample 

collected from FMC below Springdale Road on July 18, 2005 

(e0.004 μg/L; table 10).

A few estimated concentrations of carbaryl and malathion exceeded aquatic-life criteria. Detected concentrations 

of carbaryl exceeded the NAS/NAE aquatic-life criterion 

(table 9) in samples collected in December 2004 from FMC 

below Springdale Road (e0.023 μg/L) and FMC at Republic 

Ford (e0.064 μg/L; table 10). The concentration of malathion 

measured at FMC at Lewisburg (e0.022 μg/L) on July 18, 

2005, exceeded the NAS/NAE criterion. 

The most commonly detected pesticide compounds in 

FMC were the herbicides atrazine and simazine, which were 

detected in all of the samples collected. Concentrations of 

atrazine at sites in the FMC study area ranged from 0.01 to 

0.8 μg/L. The highest concentration of atrazine occurred in 

December 2004 at FMC below Springdale Road. All concentrations of atrazine were below water-quality standards 

or guidelines (table 9). Concentrations of simazine at sites in 

the FMC study area ranged from 0.011 to 0.816 μg/L with the 

highest concentration occurring in December 2004 at FMC 

below Springdale Road. All concentrations of simazine were 

below water-quality standards or guidelines (tables 9 and 10). 

Several other herbicides also were detected frequently in 

the FMC study area. The herbicides CIAT and prometon were 

each detected in 73 percent of the samples and were detected 

at five and seven of the sites, respectively. All concentrations 

of CIAT detected in the FMC study area were estimated. 

Concentrations of CIAT at sites in the FMC study area ranged 

from less than the MRL of 0.006 μg/L to an estimated concentration of 0.018 μg/L in December 2004 at FMC below 

Springdale Road. Concentrations of prometon at sites in 

the FMC study area ranged from less than the MRL of 0.01 

to 0.021 μg/L. The highest concentration of prometon was 

detected in a sample collected in July 2004 from FMC below 

Springdale Road. The herbicide tebuthiuron was detected in 

52 percent of the samples and detected at eight sites. Concentrations of tebuthiuron at sites in the FMC study area ranged 

from less than the MRL of 0.016 to 0.827 μg/L. The highest concentration of tebuthiuron was detected in a sample 

Herbicide

Insecticide

Fungicide

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

FREQUENCY OF DETECTIONS, IN PERCENT

Atrazine

Simazine

CIAT

Dacthal (DCPA)

Prometon

Tebuthiuron

Desulfinylfipronil amide

Fipronil sulfide

Fipronil sulfone

Desulfinyl fipronil

Carbaryl

Fipronil

Dieldrin

Myclobutanil

Pendimethalin

Trifluralin

Prometryn

Benfluralin

3,4-Dichloroaniline

Hexazinone

Malathion

Diazinon

Figure 14. Frequency of detection of selected pesticides in samples collected from selected sites along 

Fivemile Creek, Jefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005.
Pesticides in Surface Water 37

Table 9. Water-quality standards, guidelines, and maximum concentrations of pesticides detected in surface-water samples from the 

Fivemile Creek watershed, Jefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005.

[Concentrations in micrograms per liter; FMC, Fivemile Creek; MCL, maximum contaminant level; HAL, health advisory level; USEPA, U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency; NAS/NAE, National Academy of Sciences and National Academy of Engineering; —, no standard of guideline has been established; e, 

estimated value; DCPA, dacthal; e0.064, concentration in red indicates standard or guideline exceeded]

Pesticide 

compound

Type of pesticide 

compound 

(parent pesticide if 

degradate)

Maximum 

concentration 

detected in the 

FMC study

Drinking-water guidelines Aquatic-life criteria

USEPA 

drinkingwater 

standard 

or MCLa

USEPA

 lifetime 

HALa

USEPA 

specific dose 

at 10–6 cancer 

risk (RSD6) a

USEPA waterquality 

criteria—

aquatic lifeb

Canadian 

waterquality 

guideline—

aquatic lifec

NAS/NAE 

maximum 

recommended 

concentrationd

Carbamate

Carbaryl Herbicide e0.064 — 700 — — 0.2 0.02

Dinitroaniline

Trifluralin Herbicide e0.005 — 5 5 — 0.2 —

Organochlorines

DCPA Herbicide e0.002 — 70 — — — —

Dieldrin Insecticide, degradate 

(Aldrin)

e0.004 — — 0.002 0.24e, 0.056f — 0.005

Organophosphates

Malathion Insecticide e0.022 — 100 — 0.1f — 0.008

Diazinon Insecticide e0.004 — 0.6 — 0.1g — 0.009

Phenyl urea

Tebuthiuron Herbicide 0.827 — 500 — — 1.6 —

Triazenes

Atrazine Herbicide 0.8 3 — — 1,500h 1.8 —

Hexazinone Herbicide 0.016 — 400 — — — —

Prometon Herbicide 0.021 — 100 — — — —

Simazine Herbicide 0.816 4 4 — — 10 10

a

 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2004a).

b

 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2004b).

c

 Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (2006).

d

 National Academy of Sciences and National Academy of Engineering (1973).

e

 Criterion maximum concentration for aquatic life (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2004b).

f

 Criterion continuous concentration for aquatic life (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2004b).

g

 Criterion maximum and continuous concentration for aquatic life (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2003b,c).

h

 Criterion maximum concentration for aquatic life (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2003a).
Table 10. Pesticides detected in the Fivemile Creek watershed, Jefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005. [Concentrations in micrograms per liter; MRL, minimum reporting limit; CIAT, 2-chloro-4-isopropylamino-6-amino-s-triazine; —, no data; DCPA, dacthal; <, less than; e, estimare in bold; shaded values indicate that concentrations exceed water-quality standards or criteria] Compound MRL Site short name and number and sample collection dates FMC at Fivemile Road 02456900 FMC at Lawson Road 02456980 FMC at Hewitt Park 02456999 12/16/2003 12/16/2003 10/28/2003 12/16/2003 7/28/2004 9/1/2004 11/3/2004 12/8/2004 6/7/2005 7/18/20

3,4-Dichloroaniline <0.004 — — — — — — — — <0.004 <0.00Atrazine <0.007 0.015 0.012 0.011 0.011 0.044 0.018 0.016 0.194 0.027 0.02

Benfluralin <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 e0.006 <0.01 Carbaryl <0.041 <0.041 e0.004 <0.041 e0.006 <0.041 <0.041 <0.041 <0.041 e0.007 <0.04

CIAT <0.006 <0.006 <0.006 e0.004 <0.006 e0.01 e0.009 e0.006 e0.01 e0.011 e0.01DCPA <0.003 <0.003 <0.003 <0.003 <0.003 <0.003 <0.003 <0.003 <0.003 <0.003 <0.00Desulfinyl fipronil <0.012 <0.012 <0.012 <0.012 <0.012 e0.004 <0.012 <0.012 <0.012 e0.004 e0.00Diazinon <0.005 <0.005 <0.005 <0.005 <0.005 <0.005 <0.005 <0.005 <0.005 <0.005 <0.00Dieldrin <0.009 <0.009 <0.009 <0.009 <0.009 <0.009 <0.009 <0.009 <0.009 e0.001 e0.00Desulfinylfipronil amide <0.029 <0.029 <0.029 <0.029 <0.029 e0.004 <0.029 <0.029 <0.029 e0.007 e0.00Fipronil sulfide <0.013 e0.007 e0.005 e0.004 e0.004 e0.004 <0.013 <0.013 <0.013 e0.006 e0.00Fipronil sulfone <0.024 <0.024 <0.024 e0.005 <0.024 e0.006 <0.024 <0.024 <0.024 e0.007 e0.00Fipronil <0.016 e0.007 e0.003 <0.016 e0.003 e0.009 <0.016 <0.016 <0.016 e0.01 e0.00

Hexazinone <0.013 — — — — — — — — <0.013 <0.01Malathion <0.027 <0.027 <0.027 <0.027 <0.027 <0.027 <0.027 <0.027 <0.027 <0.027 <0.02Myclobutanil <0.008 — — — — — — — — e0.006 e0.00Pendimethalin <0.022 <0.022 <0.022 <0.022 <0.022 <0.022 <0.022 <0.022 <0.022 e0.01 <0.02Prometon <0.01 0.005 0.006 0.006 0.007 0.017 0.011 <0.01 <0.01 e0.009 e0.00Prometryn <0.005 — — — — — — — — <0.005 <0.00Simazine <0.005 0.052 0.059 0.011 0.051 0.028 0.017 0.033 0.191 0.021 0.01

Tebuthiuron <0.016 <0.016 <0.016 e0.009 <0.016 <0.016 <0.016 <0.016 <0.016 <0.016 <0.01Trifluralin <0.009 <0.009 <0.009 <0.009 <0.009 <0.009 <0.009 <0.009 <0.009 e0.005 <0.00
Table 10. Pesticides detected in the Fivemile Creek watershed, Jefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005.—Continued[Concentrations in micrograms per liter; MRL, minimum reporting limit; CIAT, 2-chloro-4-isopropylamino-6-amino-s-triazine; —, no data; DCPA, dacthal; <, less than; e, estimconcentration; detections are in bold; shaded values indicate that concentrations exceed water-quality standards or criteria]

Compound MRL

Site short name, number, and sample collection dates

FMC at Huffman Road

02457500

FMC below Springdale Road

02457502

10/28/2003 12/15/2003 7/28/2004 8/31/2004 12/7/2004 6/6/2005 7/18/2005 8/22/2005 9/13/2005

3,4-Dichloroaniline <0.004 — — — — — <0.004 <0.004 <0.004 <0.004

Atrazine <0.007 0.012 0.013 0.043 0.02 0.8 0.029 0.022 0.013 0.012Benfluralin <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01Carbaryl <0.041 <0.041 e0.006 <0.041 <0.041 e0.023 e0.01 <0.041 <0.041 <0.041CIAT <0.006 <0.006 <0.006 e0.012 e0.009 e0.018 e0.012 e0.01 e0.009 e0.01DCPA <0.003 <0.003 <0.003 <0.003 <0.003 <0.003 e0.002 <0.003 <0.003 <0.003Desulfinyl fipronil <0.012 <0.012 <0.012 e0.005 <0.012 <0.012 e0.005 e0.004 e0.005 e0.007Diazinon <0.005 <0.005 e0.004 <0.005 <0.005 <0.005 <0.005 <0.005 <0.005 <0.005Dieldrin <0.009 <0.009 <0.009 <0.009 <0.009 <0.009 e0.002 e0.004 <0.009 <0.009Desulfinylfipronil 

amide

<0.029 <0.029 <0.029 e0.004 <0.029 <0.029 e0.007 e0.005 e0.006 e0.014

Fipronil sulfide <0.013 e0.004 e0.004 <0.013 <0.013 <0.013 e0.006 e0.006 e0.006 0.013Fipronil sulfone <0.024 e0.005 <0.024 e0.006 <0.024 <0.024 e0.007 e0.006 e0.007 e0.013Fipronil <0.016 <0.016 <0.016 <0.016 <0.016 <0.016 e0.009 e0.007 <0.016 e0.016Hexazinone <0.013 — — — — — <0.013 <0.013 <0.013 <0.013Malathion <0.027 <0.027 <0.027 <0.027 <0.027 <0.027 <0.027 <0.027 <0.027 <0.027Myclobutanil <0.008 — — — — — <0.008 e0.005 <0.008 <0.008Pendimethalin <0.022 <0.022 <0.022 <0.022 <0.022 <0.022 e0.009 <0.022 <0.022 <0.022Prometon <0.01 0.006 0.007 0.021 0.014 <0.01 0.012 e0.007 e0.009 0.01

Prometryn <0.005 — — — — — <0.005 <0.005 <0.005 <0.005Simazine <0.005 0.012 0.067 0.026 0.018 0.816 0.018 0.016 0.015 0.015

Tebuthiuron <0.016 e0.008 <0.016 <0.016 <0.016 <0.016 0.018 <0.016 e0.011 <0.016Trifluralin <0.009 <0.009 <0.009 <0.009 <0.009 <0.009 e0.004 <0.009 <0.009 <0.009
Table 10. Pesticides detected in the Fivemile Creek watershed, Jefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005.—Continued [Concentrations in micrograms per liter; MRL, minimum reporting limit; CIAT, 2-chloro-4-isopropylamino-6-amino-s-triazine; —, no data; DCPA, dacthal; <, less than; e, estimare in bold; shaded values indicate that concentrations exceed water-quality standards or criteria] Compound name Site short name, number, and sample collection dates FMC at Lewisburg 02457510 FMC near Republic 02457595 FMC at Republic Ford 02457599 FMC 

0

MRL 7/28/2004 8/31/2004 11/2/2004 6/7/2005 7/18/2005 9/13/2005 12/15/2003 11/2/2004 12/7/2004 11/2/20

3,4-Dichloroaniline <0.004 — — — e0.01 <0.004 <0.004 — — — — Atrazine <0.007 0.038 0.017 0.013 0.019 0.019 0.01 0.016 0.013 0.058 0.01Benfluralin <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 e0.005 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 Carbaryl <0.041 <0.041 <0.041 <0.041 e0.01 e0.006 <0.041 e0.007 <0.041 e0.064 <0.04CIAT <0.006 e0.007 e0.007 <0.006 e0.009 e0.009 e0.009 e0.005 e0.003 e0.004 <0.00DCPA <0.003 <0.003 <0.003 <0.003 <0.003 <0.003 <0.003 <0.003 <0.003 <0.003 <0.00Desulfinyl fipronil <0.012 <0.012 <0.012 <0.012 e0.004 e0.005 <0.012 <0.012 <0.012 <0.012 <0.01Diazinon <0.005 <0.005 <0.005 <0.005 <0.005 <0.005 <0.005 <0.005 <0.005 <0.005 <0.00Dieldrin <0.009 <0.009 <0.009 <0.009 e0.002 <0.009 <0.009 <0.009 <0.009 <0.009 <0.00Desulfinylfipronil amide <0.029 <0.029 <0.029 <0.029 e0.006 e0.005 e0.014 <0.029 <0.029 <0.029 <0.02Fipronil sulfide <0.013 <0.013 <0.013 <0.013 e0.006 e0.006 <0.013 <0.013 <0.013 <0.013 <0.01Fipronil sulfone <0.024 <0.024 <0.024 <0.024 e0.006 e0.007 <0.024 <0.024 <0.024 <0.024 <0.02Fipronil <0.016 <0.016 <0.016 <0.016 e0.008 e0.007 <0.016 <0.016 <0.016 <0.016 <0.01Hexazinone <0.026 — — — <0.013 <0.013 0.016 — — — — Malathion <0.027 <0.027 <0.027 <0.027 <0.027 e0.022 <0.027 <0.027 <0.027 <0.027 <0.02Myclobutanil <0.008 — — — <0.008 <0.008 <0.008 — — — — Pendimethalin <0.022 <0.022 <0.022 <0.022 e0.011 <0.022 <0.022 <0.022 <0.022 <0.022 <0.02Prometon <0.01 0.02 0.014 <0.01 0.014 0.011 0.01 0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 

Prometryn <0.005 — — — 0.026 0.006 0.008 — — — — Simazine <0.005 0.021 0.012 0.019 0.015 0.015 0.013 0.068 0.037 0.087 0.03

Tebuthiuron <0.016 0.076 0.038 0.022 0.827 0.09 0.034 0.019 <0.016 e0.016 0.01

Trifluralin <0.009 <0.009 <0.009 <0.009 e0.004 <0.009 <0.009 <0.009 <0.009 <0.009 <0.00
Trace Elements in Surface Water 41

collected in June 2005 from FMC at Lewisburg. The remaining herbicides pendimethalin, prometryn, trifluralin, benfluralin, dacthal (DCPA), 3,4-dichloroaniline, and hexazinone 

were detected in less than 30 percent of the samples and were 

detected at three or fewer sites. 

Many insecticides and insecticide degradates were 

detected frequently in the FMC study area. Fipronil sulfide, detected at six sites, was the most frequently detected 

insecticide-derived compound with detections in 52 percent of 

samples. All but one reported concentration of fipronil sulfide 

were less than the MRL of 0.013 μg/L. The greatest detected 

concentration of fipronil sulfide reported was equal to the 

MRL, and was measured in a sample collected from FMC 

below Springdale Road in September 2005. Fipronil sulfone 

was detected in 42 percent of samples and was detected at 

four sites. Concentrations of fipronil sulfone at sites in the 

FMC study area were less than the MRL of 0.024 μg/L. 

The highest estimated concentration of fipronil sulfone, 

0.013 μg/L, occurred in September 2005 at FMC below 

Springdale Road. The insecticide fipronil and its degradate, 

desulfinylfipronil amide, were each detected in 39 percent 

of the samples and detected at five and three of the sites, 

respectively. Concentrations of fipronil and desulfinylfipronil 

amide in the FMC study area were all equal to or less than 

their MRLs. The insecticide degradate desulfinyl fipronil 

was detected in 36 percent of the samples and was detected 

at three sites. Concentrations of desulfinyl fipronil in the 

FMC study area were all equal to or less than the MRL. The 

insecticide carbaryl was detected in 30 percent of the samples 

and was detected at seven sites with concentrations at sites in 

the FMC study area ranging from less than the MRL of 0.041 

to an estimated concentration of 0.064 μg/L. The highest 

concentration of carbaryl was detected in a sample collected 

in December 2004 at FMC at Republic Ford. The insecticide 

dieldrin was detected in 15 percent of the samples and was 

detected at three sites. The highest concentration of dieldrin 

was in a sample from FMC below Springdale Road at an estimated concentration of 0.004 μg/L in July 2005. The insecticides malathion and diazinon were detected in 3 percent of 

the samples and were detected at one site each. Concentrations of malathion and diazinon in the FMC study area were 

all equal to or less than their respective MRLs.

The fungicide myclobutanil was detected in 27 percent 

of the samples and was detected at two sites. Concentrations 

of myclobutanil at sites in the FMC study area were all less 

than the MRL of 0.008 μg/L. The highest estimated concentrations of myclobutanil were detected in samples in June and 

July 2005 from FMC at Hewitt Park.

Trace Elements in Surface Water

Trace and major elements commonly are found in surface 

water and may occur naturally due to geochemical weathering 

of rocks and soil. Trace elements, such as arsenic, cadmium, 

chromium, copper, lead, mercury, nickel, selenium, silver, and 

zinc, generally are present in water in concentrations less than 

25 μg/L (Hem, 1985). Major elements such as iron, manganese, and aluminum commonly are found in greater concentrations and are frequently detected in the water column. High 

frequencies of detection of trace and major elements do not 

necessarily imply anthropogenic sources; however, industrial 

and municipal discharges, as well as urban land-use activities, often account for elevated concentrations above natural 

background levels. 

Laboratory methods for arsenic, chromium, cobalt, iron, 

and selenium changed during this study. The new methods 

were implemented in approximately August 2005 for these 

trace elements and allow detections to be reported at lower 

concentrations. For each of these five elements, there was an 

MRL in effect before the method change, and a new, lower 

MRL in effect after the new method was implemented. Values 

reported as non-detects, as less than the higher MRL, could be 

similar in magnitude to values reported as detections under the 

new, lower MRL. To maximize the available information, all 

concentrations reported as detections were left uncensored in 

detection frequency summaries in this report. For the calculation of summary statistics, however, all values below the 

greater MRL were considered to be non-detections.

From October 2003 through September 2005, a total 

of 37 surface-water samples were collected at 10 sites in the 

FMC study area and analyzed for 18 trace elements. Of the 18 

trace elements, 16 were detected in 1 or more stream samples 

(table 11; appendix 1). The 16 detected trace elements listed 

in order of decreasing detection frequency were: aluminum, 

barium, cobalt, copper, manganese, uranium, nickel, zinc, 

molybdenum, iron, antimony, arsenic, selenium, chromium, 

lead, and cadmium. Concentrations of beryllium and silver 

were below detection levels in all samples. Maximum concentrations for seven of the trace elements measured during this 

study occurred at FMC at Lewisburg.

Water-quality standards and guidelines have been 

developed for many trace metals to protect human health and 

aquatic life. Fifteen of the 18 trace metals analyzed in this 

study have recommended maximum concentration levels 

established by the USEPA (U.S. Environmental Protection 

Agency, 2003d, 2004a) and ADEM (Alabama Department of 

Environmental Management, 2005a, 2005b, 2006b; table 12). 
42 Assessment of Water-Quality Conditions in Fivemile Creek in the Vicinity of the Fivemile Creek Greenway, Alabama

Table 11. Concentrations of trace elements reported in water samples collected from Fivemile Creek, Jefferson County, Alabama, 

2003–2005.

[Concentrations in micrograms per liter; minimum reporting levels are given below each trace element name in parentheses; shading indicates a detection; 

<, less than; e, estimated concentration]

Site short name Site 

number

Sample 

date

Sample 

time Hardness

Aluminum 

(1.6)

Antimony 

(0.2)

Arsenic 

(1.9

0.12a)

Barium

(0.2) 

Beryllium

(0.06) 

Cadmium

(0.04) 

Chromium

(0.8

0.04a) 

FMC at Fivemile Road 02456900 12/16/2003 1230 200 2.5 <0.2 <1.9 21.4 <0.06 <0.04 <0.8

FMC at Lawson Road 02456980 12/16/2003 0800 210 1.6 <0.2 <1.9 25.6 <0.06 <0.04 <0.8

FMC at Hewitt Park 02456999 10/28/2003 1120 190 6.4 <0.2 <1.9 27.3 <0.06 <0.04 <0.8

02456999 12/16/2003 0930 210 1.6 <0.2 <1.9 26.4 <0.06 <0.04 <0.8

02456999 6/23/2004 1000 130 8.3 e0.2 <1.9 27.4 <0.06 <0.04 <0.8

02456999 7/28/2004 1400 180 5.7 e0.1 <1.9 32.7 <0.06 <0.04 <0.8

02456999 9/1/2004 0830 190 6 <0.2 <1.9 30.5 <0.06 <0.04 <0.8

02456999 11/3/2004 0800 190 6.7 <0.2 <1.9 32 <0.06 <0.04 <0.8

02456999 12/8/2004 1030 150 5 <0.2 <1.9 28.3 <0.06 <0.04 <0.8

02456999 6/7/2005 1000 170 6.1 0.2 <1.9 29.4 <0.06 <0.04 <0.8

02456999 7/18/2005 1200 170 6.2 <0.2 <1.9 33.7 <0.06 <0.04 <0.8

02456999 8/22/2005 1115 190 4 <0.2 <1.9 30.3 <0.06 <0.04 <0.8

02456999 9/12/2005 1445 190 1.8 <0.2 0.3 60.7 <0.06 <0.04 0.2

FMC at Huffman Road 02457500 10/28/2003 1000 190 2.4 <0.2 <1.9 29.7 <0.06 <0.04 e0.5

02457500 12/15/2003 1330 190 2 <0.2 <1.9 26 <0.06 <0.04 <0.8

FMC below 

Springdale Road

02457502 6/23/2004 1300 160 9.2 0.2 <1.9 30.4 <0.06 <0.04 <0.8

02457502 7/28/2004 1115 200 5.7 e0.2 <1.9 36.1 <0.06 <0.04 <0.8

02457502 8/31/2004 1545 200 6.7 <0.2 e1.1 32.6 <0.06 <0.04 <0.8

02457502 12/7/2004 1300 81 16.3 e0.1 e1.1 17.8 <0.06 <0.04 <0.8

02457502 6/6/2005 1130 140 33.9 <0.2 <1.9 24.5 <0.06 <0.04 <0.8

02457502 7/18/2005 1040 180 7 <0.2 e1.6 35.8 <0.06 <0.04 <0.8

02457502 8/22/2005 1500 190 6.5 <0.2 <1.9 31.7 <0.06 <0.04 e0.4

02457502 9/13/2005 0830 220 3.6 e0.1 0.5 31.6 <0.06 <0.04 0.2

FMC at Lewisburg 02457510 6/23/2004 1400 140 16.4 0.4 3.4 58.7 <0.06 e0.02 1.2

02457510 7/28/2004 0815 190 14 0.4 2.8 60.2 <0.06 e0.03 1.2

02457510 8/31/2004 1315 190 37.9 0.3 4.1 112 <0.06 e0.03 2.1

02457510 11/2/2004 1130 210 35.5 0.3 3.4 115 <0.06 <0.04 2

02457510 6/7/2005 1230 190 15.7 0.4 <1.9 50.9 <0.06 <0.04 <0.8

02457510 7/18/2005 1545 180 23.4 0.3 2.2 49.9 <0.06 <0.04 <0.8

02457510 8/23/2005 0900 190 31.8 0.3 2.5 116 <0.06 e0.03 1.3

02457510 9/13/2005 1130 190 36.9 0.4 3.6 126 <0.06 0.41 1.3

FMC near Republic 02457595 12/15/2003 1045 190 23.9 e0.1 3 37.7 <0.06 <0.04 e0.5

FMC at Republic Ford 02457599 11/2/2004 1715 180 18 0.2 e1.8 53.9 <0.06 e0.03 e0.4

02457599 12/7/2004 0900 120 21 e0.2 <1.9 31.8 <0.06 <0.04 <0.8

FMC at Brookside 02457625 11/2/2004 1430 180 13.7 0.2 e1.7 57.3 <0.06 e0.03 <0.8

02457625 12/6/2004 1515 170 15.9 e0.2 <1.9 42.9 <0.06 <0.04 e0.4

FMC at Linn Crossing 02457700 12/6/2004 1230 160 77.9 e0.1 <1.9 40.4 <0.06 e0.03 <0.8
Trace Elements in Surface Water 43

Table 11. Concentrations of trace elements reported in water samples collected from Fivemile Creek, Jefferson County, Alabama, 

2003–2005.—Continued

[Concentrations in micrograms per liter; minimum reporting levels are given below each trace element name in parentheses; shading indicates a detection; 

<, less than; e, estimated concentration]

Site short name Site 

number

Sample 

date

Sample 

time

Cobalt

(0.014) 

Copper

(0.4) 

Iron

(6.4

6.0b) 

Lead 

(0.08)

Manganese 

(0.2)

Molybdenum

(0.4) 

Nickel

(0.06) 

Selenium

(2.6

0.08a) 

Silver

(0.2) 

Uranium

(0.04) 

Zinc

(0.6) 

FMC at Fivemile Road 02456900 12/16/2003 1230 0.146 e0.2 e3.6 <0.08 2.6 <0.4 0.13 <2.6 <0.2 0.26 e0.5

FMC at Lawson Road 02456980 12/16/2003 0800 0.151 e0.2 e4.3 <0.08 14.4 <0.4 0.12 <2.6 <0.2 0.3 e0.6

FMC at Hewitt Park 02456999 10/28/2003 1120 0.165 e0.3 <6.4 <0.08 4.8 e0.2 0.39 <2.6 <0.2 0.38 12.7

02456999 12/16/2003 0930 0.161 e0.3 <6.4 <0.08 5.4 <0.4 0.18 <2.6 <0.2 0.31 0.8

02456999 6/23/2004 1000 0.172 1.2 8.2 <0.08 4.6 0.7 0.61 <2.6 <0.2 0.19 1.2

02456999 7/28/2004 1400 0.221 0.8 e4.8 <0.08 6 0.6 1.77 <2.6 <0.2 0.34 1.4

02456999 9/1/2004 0830 0.161 0.5 e4.8 <0.08 3.9 e0.2 0.84 e1.6 <0.2 0.32 <0.6

02456999 11/3/2004 0800 0.12 0.5 e5 <0.08 4 0.4 <0.06 <2.6 <0.2 0.33 1.1

02456999 12/8/2004 1030 0.124 0.6 7 <0.08 7.3 e0.3 1.63 <2.6 <0.2 0.23 0.9

02456999 6/7/2005 1000 0.109 0.6 11 <0.08 8.8 0.6 1.21 <2.6 <0.2 0.19 0.9

02456999 7/18/2005 1200 0.12 0.6 <6 <0.08 6.5 0.6 1.44 <2.6 <0.2 0.28 0.9

02456999 8/22/2005 1115 0.119 0.5 e3 e0.05 6.6 e0.2 2.46 <2.6 <0.2 0.25 1.2

02456999 9/12/2005 1445 0.091 1.4 <6 <0.08 7.8 e0.4 2.16 0.1 <0.2 0.05 2.9

FMC at Huffman Road 02457500 10/28/2003 1000 0.138 e0.3 <6.4 <0.08 7.2 e0.2 0.49 <2.6 <0.2 0.38 3.5

02457500 12/15/2003 1330 0.164 0.4 9.3 <0.08 10.7 e0.3 0.2 <2.6 <0.2 0.32 1.9

FMC below 

Springdale Road

02457502 6/23/2004 1300 0.24 1.2 e5.7 <0.08 5.4 1.3 0.84 <2.6 <0.2 0.56 1.1

02457502 7/28/2004 1115 0.387 1.1 e3.9 <0.08 8.4 1.7 2.7 <2.6 <0.2 0.99 1.7

02457502 8/31/2004 1545 0.237 0.8 e5.1 <0.08 6.5 1.1 1.35 3.7 <0.2 0.81 0.6

02457502 12/7/2004 1300 0.131 1.2 47 e0.06 6.7 0.5 1.18 <2.6 <0.2 0.22 1.2

02457502 6/6/2005 1130 0.214 2.2 e3 <0.08 5.8 0.6 2.03 <2.6 <0.2 0.32 4.4

02457502 7/18/2005 1040 0.146 0.5 <6 <0.08 8.3 0.7 1.52 <2.6 <0.2 0.32 1.1

02457502 8/22/2005 1500 0.142 0.7 7 0.15 11.7 0.6 2.38 <2.6 <0.2 0.37 0.9

02457502 9/13/2005 0830 0.166 0.7 <6 <0.08 9.6 0.8 2.07 0.3 <0.2 0.58 1.3

FMC at Lewisburg 02457510 6/23/2004 1400 0.278 1.7 24.7 <0.08 26.6 4.7 0.97 3 <0.2 0.42 2.3

02457510 7/28/2004 0815 0.41 2.1 27.6 <0.08 34.6 4 2.81 3.6 <0.2 0.98 1.9

02457510 8/31/2004 1315 0.357 1.7 17.1 e0.04 22.9 6.4 1.78 7.8 <0.2 0.74 1.4

02457510 11/2/2004 1130 0.325 1.5 29 <0.08 22.4 3.3 0.58 5.9 <0.2 0.86 2.2

02457510 6/7/2005 1230 0.384 1.7 13 <0.08 28.7 1.9 2.43 e1.5 <0.2 0.57 3.9

02457510 7/18/2005 1545 0.297 0.8 11 0.11 25.3 1.6 2.26 e2.2 <0.2 0.57 2.4

02457510 8/23/2005 0900 0.252 2 27 e0.07 18.7 2.7 3.05 4.6 <0.2 0.42 1.9

02457510 9/13/2005 1130 0.239 2.1 28 e0.07 19.2 3.4 2.54 5.4 <0.2 0.46 5.2

FMC near Republic 02457595 12/15/2003 1045 0.366 1 39.3 <0.08 76.3 5.2 1.41 4.7 <0.2 0.53 2.4

FMC at Republic Ford 02457599 11/2/2004 1715 0.27 2 32 e0.07 16.3 2.5 1.05 e1.9 <0.2 0.5 7.6

02457599 12/7/2004 0900 0.315 1.2 51 0.14 39.8 0.9 2.04 <2.6 <0.2 0.31 1.5

FMC at Brookside 02457625 11/2/2004 1430 0.304 1.7 30 e0.05 16.3 2.4 0.96 e1.8 <0.2 0.44 4.1

02457625 12/6/2004 1515 0.566 1.1 20 <0.08 59.5 1.2 3.16 <2.6 <0.2 0.44 3.3

FMC at Linn Crossing 02457700 12/6/2004 1230 1.53 1.2 6 <0.08 108 0.9 5.69 <2.6 <0.2 0.37 5.2

a

 New reporting level for all samples collected after August 2005.

b

 New reporting level for all samples collected after September 2004.
44 Assessment of Water-Quality Conditions in Fivemile Creek in the Vicinity of the Fivemile Creek Greenway, Alabama

Table 12. Standards, criteria, and maximum concentrations for trace and major elements in surface-water samples from 

Fivemile Creek, Jefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005.

[USEPA, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; ADEM, Alabama Department of Environmental Management; bold indicates USEPA priority pollutant; 

all concentrations except hardness in micrograms per liter; hardness concentrations in milligrams per liter; <, less than; e, 2.718; LN, natural log; 

CF, conversion factor]

Trace 

element

Maximum 

concentration 

measured in 

Fivemile Creek

Primary 

Drinking 

Water 

Standard

Secondary 

Drinking 

Water 

Standard

ADEM acute aquatic-life criteriona ADEM chronic aquatic-life criteriona

Aluminum 77.9 — 200d

50–200b

— —

Antimony 0.4 6 — — —

Arsenic 4.1 50b,c — 340 150

Barium 126 2,000b,c — — —

Beryllium <0.06 4b,c — — —

Cadmium 0.41 5b,c — =(e((1.0166*LN(Hardness))–3.924)) (CF); where

CF=1.136672–[LN(Hardness)

(0.041838)]

=e((0.7409*LN(Hardness))–4.719) (CF); where

CF=1.101672–[LN(hardness)(0.041838)]

Chromium 2.1 100b,c — =e((0.8190*LN(Hardness))+3.7256) (CF); 

where CF=0.316

=e((0.819*LN(Hardness))+0.6848) (CF); 

where CF=0.860

Cobalt 1.53 — — — —

Copper 2.2 1,300b 1,000b,d =e((0.9422*LN(Hardness))–1.7) (CF); 

where CF=0.960

=e((0.8545*LN(Hardness))–1.702) (CF); 

where CF=0.960

Iron 51 — 300b,d — —

Lead 0.15 15b,c — =e((1.273*LN(Hardness))–1.46) (CF); where

CF=1.46203–[LN(hardness)(0.145712)]

=e((1.273*LN(Hardness))–4.705) (CF); where

CF=1.46203–[LN(hardness)(0.145712)]

Manganese 108 — 50b,d — —

Molybdenum 6.4 — — — —

Nickel 5.69 100c — =e((0.846*LN(Hardness))+2.255) (CF); 

where CF=0.998

=e((0.846*LN(Hardness))+0.0584) (CF); 

where CF=0.997

Selenium 7.8 50b,c — 20 5.0

Silver <0.2 — 100b,d =e((1.72*LN(Hardness))–6.59) (CF); 

where CF=0.85 —

Uranium 0.99 — — — —

Zinc 12.7 — 5,000b,d =e((0.8473*LN(Hardness))+0.884) (CF); 

where CF=0.978

=e((0.8473*LN(Hardness))+0.884) (CF); 

where CF=0.986

a

 Alabama Water Quality Criteria (Alabama Department of Environmental Management, 2006b). 

b

 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2003d, 2004a).

c

 Alabama Primary Drinking Water Standards (Alabama Department of Environmental Management, 2005a). 

d

 Alabama Secondary Drinking Water Standards (Alabama Department of Environmental Management, 2005b). 
Trace Elements in Surface Water 45

Antimony, arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, copper, 

lead, nickel, selenium, silver, and zinc are USEPA priority 

pollutants because of their potential harmful effects on human 

health or aquatic life. Drinking-water standards apply to 

finished drinking water only. Primary drinking-water standards are enforceable; secondary drinking-water standards are 

suggested limits to avoid problems with taste, odor, and color. 

Aquatic-life criteria are intended to protect aquatic organisms 

and are enforceable. Aquatic-life criteria for trace elements are 

sometimes computed by equations based on the hardness of 

the water because some trace elements are more lethal to fish 

and invertebrates in soft water than in hard water (Alabama 

Department of Environmental Management, 2006b; table 12). 

Values greater than acute and chronic toxicity limits calculated 

from the equations indicate that the trace-element concentrations can be acutely or chronically toxic to fish and other 

aquatic organisms. In the following discussion, descriptions 

of the potential environmental effects of metals concentrations 

are largely derived from information provided on the USEPA’s 

Region 5 Superfund Toxicity Profiles web page (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2006).

Few trace-element concentrations measured in FMC were 

above established standards or criteria. No primary drinkingwater standards were exceeded. Some detections of aluminum 

and manganese were above secondary drinking-water standards. The concentration of aluminum, 77.9 μg/L, at FMC at 

Linn Crossing in December 2004 was above the lower end 

of the range of National Secondary Drinking Water Regulations recommended by the USEPA (tables 11 and 12). Three 

concentrations of manganese measured in the FMC study area 

exceeded the secondary drinking-water standard of 50 μg/L. 

Manganese exceeded the standard in one sample each from 

FMC near Republic in December 2003 and FMC at Brookside 

and FMC at Linn Crossing in December 2004. Concentrations 

of cadmium and selenium exceeded ADEM chronic aquaticlife criteria in a few samples. The cadmium concentration in 

a sample from FMC at Lewisburg in September 2005 was 

above the chronic aquatic-life criterion (0.40 μg/L for sample 

hardness of 190 mg/L). Samples from FMC at Lewisburg in 

August 2004, November 2004, and September 2005 had selenium concentrations above the chronic aquatic-life criterion of 

5.0 μg/L. 

 Aluminum is one of the most abundant elements in the 

earth’s crust, but it is not generally present in natural water at 

concentrations greater than a few tenths of a milligram per liter 

(Hem, 1985). Fish have been observed to be more sensitive to 

aluminum toxicity than aquatic invertebrates (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2006). Elevated concentrations of 

aluminum have been observed in acid water from mine drainage and in runoff and lakes of regions affected by acidic precipitation (Driscoll, 1985). Concentrations of aluminum at sites 

in the FMC study area ranged from 1.6 to 77.9 μg/L (table 11, 

appendix 1). The highest concentration of aluminum was 

detected in a sample collected in December 2004 from FMC at 

Linn Crossing and exceeded the USEPA National Secondary 

Drinking Water Regulations (50–200 μg/L; table 12).

Antimony is a USEPA priority pollutant that can be toxic 

to plants and animals. In addition to natural occurrences of 

antimony in bedrock and streambed sediment, antimony salts 

are used in the fireworks, rubber, textile, ceramic, glass, and 

paint industries (National Academy of Sciences and National 

Academy of Engineering, 1973). Concentrations of antimony 

at sites in the FMC study area ranged from less than the MRL 

of 0.2 to 0.4 μg/L (table 11, appendix 1). Concentrations of 

0.4 μg/L of antimony were detected in samples collected in 

June and July 2004, June 2005, and September 2005 from 

FMC at Lewisburg.

Arsenic is listed as a USEPA priority pollutant and is 

recognized as a potential carcinogen. Arsenic and its compounds are used as pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, and 

various alloys. Arsenic is a carcinogen, teratogen, and possible 

mutagen (causing mutations in genes and DNA) in mammals. 

Aquatic organisms also can be affected by carcinogens and 

mutagens. Effects include behavioral impairments, growth 

reduction, and metabolic failure. Aquatic bottom feeders are 

the most susceptible of the aquatic organisms to the effects 

of arsenic. In plants, arsenic has been shown to cause wilting, 

chlorosis, browning, dehydration, mortality, and inhibition of 

light activity (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2006). 

About 68 percent of samples had arsenic concentrations below 

the old MRL of 1.9 μg/L. Detected concentrations of arsenic 

at sites in the FMC study area ranged from 0.3 to 4.1 μg/L 

(table 11, appendix 1). The highest concentration of arsenic was detected in a sample collected in August 2004 from 

FMC at Lewisburg. All concentrations of arsenic were below 

drinking-water standards and aquatic-life criteria.

Barium is an alkaline-earth metal that is present in most 

surface water and ground water, as well as in treated drinking water (Hem, 1985). Concentrations of barium at sites in 

the FMC study area ranged from 17.8 to 126 μg/L (table 11, 

appendix 1). The highest concentration of barium was detected 

in a sample collected in September 2005 from FMC at Lewisburg. All concentrations of barium were below drinking-waterquality standards.

Detectable concentrations of cadmium in surface or 

ground water not associated with human activity are rare. 

Cadmium is a USEPA priority pollutant and is known to 

bioaccumulate in plants and animals. Cadmium is a carcinogen and a teratogen, potentially causes mutations, and can 

have severe sub-lethal and lethal effects at low environmental concentrations. Cadmium affects respiratory function, 

enzyme levels, muscle contractions, growth, and reproduction. Cadmium accumulates in the livers and kidneys of fish. 

Crustaceans appear to be more sensitive to cadmium than fish 

and mollusks (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2006). 

Concentrations of cadmium at sites in the FMC study area 

ranged from less than the MRL of 0.04 to 0.41 μg/L (table 11, 

appendix 1). The highest concentration of cadmium was 

detected in a sample collected in September 2005 from FMC 

at Lewisburg and exceeded the ADEM chronic aquatic-life 

criterion. All other concentrations of cadmium were below 

water-quality standards or criteria. 
46 Assessment of Water-Quality Conditions in Fivemile Creek in the Vicinity of the Fivemile Creek Greenway, Alabama

Chromium is a transition metal that may be present 

in surface water as trivalent cations or hexavalent anions 

(Hem, 1985). Hexavalent chromium is listed as a USEPA 

priority pollutant, and the primary drinking-water standard 

has been established at 100 μg/L (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1991). The toxicity of chromium to aquatic life 

varies with the valence state and form of chromium, oxidationreduction and pH relations, and synergistic or antagonistic 

effects of other constituents. Chromium exhibits no significant 

biomagnifications in aquatic food webs. Chromium can cause 

a wide range of adverse effects in the aquatic community such 

as reduced ability to reproduce (fecundity) and survive, inhibition of growth, and abnormal movement patterns. In addition, 

fish have demonstrated reduced disease resistance, morphological changes, and chromosomal changes when exposed to 

chromium. Most of the toxic effects are found in the lower 

trophic levels. Primary toxic effects result from direct exposure of algae, benthic invertebrates, and embryos and fingerlings of freshwater fish and amphibians to chromium (U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency, 2006). Eighty-four percent 

of samples had chromium concentrations less than the old 

MRL of 0.8 μg/L. Detected concentrations of chromium at 

sites along FMC ranged from 0.2 to 2.1 μg/L (table 11, appendix 1), with the highest concentration of chromium collected 

in a water sample in August 2004 from FMC at Lewisburg. 

All concentrations of chromium were below drinking-water 

standards and aquatic-life criteria.

Cobalt is a transition metal that usually is present in 

streams only in very small concentrations (Hem, 1985). Cobalt 

can be found in various ores and is used in alloys. Compounds of cobalt are used in the production of inks, paints, 

and varnishes. Uncontaminated water should contain no 

more than a few micrograms per liter of cobalt (Hem, 1985). 

Concentrations of cobalt at sites in the FMC study area ranged 

from 0.091 to 1.53 μg/L (table 11, appendix 1). The highest 

concentration of cobalt was detected in a sample collected in 

December 2004 from FMC at Linn Crossing. No water-quality 

standards or criteria exist for cobalt.

Copper is a macronutrient for the growth of plants and 

animals, but is identified by the USEPA as a priority pollutant because even small concentrations of copper in surface 

water can be toxic to aquatic life. The toxicity of copper is a 

function of the total hardness of water because copper ions 

form complexes with anions that contribute to water hardness. 

Copper is highly toxic to amphibians, and adverse effects 

have been observed in tadpoles and embryos exposed to high 

concentrations of copper. The potential for bioconcentration is low in fish but high in mollusks (U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency, 2006). Copper strongly adsorbs to organic 

matter, clay, and carbonates, which reduces its bioavailability. Concentrations of copper at sites in the FMC study area 

ranged from 0.2 μg/L, which was estimated below the MRL 

(0.4 μg/L), to 2.2 μg/L. The highest concentration of copper 

was measured in a water sample collected in June 2005 from 

FMC below Springdale Road. All concentrations of copper 

were below water-quality standards or criteria.

Although iron is one of the most abundant elements in the 

earth’s outer crust, concentrations of iron in water generally 

are small (Hem, 1985). Iron is an objectionable constituent 

in water supplies because of unpleasant taste or staining of 

plumbing fixtures and laundry. Although iron is an essential 

element in the metabolism of plants and animals, elevated 

concentrations of iron can be acutely or chronically toxic to 

aquatic organisms. Ferric hydroxide precipitates can interfere 

with respiratory processes of aquatic fauna or adversely affect 

bottom-dwelling organisms by degrading aquatic microhabitats. Concentrations of iron at sites in the FMC study area 

ranged from less than the MRL of 6.0 to 51 μg/L (table 11, 

appendix 1). The highest concentration of iron was detected in 

a sample collected in December 2004 from FMC at Republic 

Ford. All concentrations of iron were below drinking-waterquality standards.

Although lead is widely dispersed in the environment, 

natural sources (sedimentary rocks in particular) release small 

concentrations of lead to water because of the low solubility 

of lead hydroxyl carbonates (Hem, 1985). Sources of lead 

include shale and other sedimentary rocks and also human 

activities, including combustion of leaded gasoline and coal. 

Lead is a USEPA priority pollutant that can be acutely or 

chronically toxic to humans (particularly children) and aquatic 

life. Lead pipe was used in water-distribution systems prior 

to the beginning of the 20th century and is still present in 

many old buildings. Lead is a carcinogen and has adverse 

effects on reproduction, liver and thyroid function, and disease 

resistance in humans (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 

2006). Potential ecological effects typically result from direct 

exposure of algae, invertebrates, fingerlings of fish, and 

amphibians to lead. Exposure to high levels of lead can result 

in a wide range of effects including neurological degeneration and reproductive problems. Ordinarily, lead partitions 

to sediments, but becomes more bioavailable under low pH, 

hardness, and organic-matter-content conditions (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2006). Concentrations of lead 

at sites in the FMC study area ranged from less than the MRL 

of 0.08 to 0.15 μg/L (table 11, appendix 1), with the highest concentration of lead detected in a sample collected in 

August 2005 from FMC below Springdale Road. All concentrations of lead were below water-quality standards or criteria.

Although manganese is an essential element in plant 

metabolism, it is an undesirable impurity in water supplies because water that contains appreciable concentrations 

of manganese can deposit black oxide stains and have an 

unpleasant taste and odor. Concentrations of manganese at 

sites in the FMC study area ranged from 2.6 to 108 μg/L 

(table 11, appendix 1). Concentrations of manganese in single 

samples from FMC near Republic, FMC at Brookside, and 

FMC at Linn Crossing exceeded the USEPA National Secondary Drinking Water Regulation (50 μg/L; table 12). 

Molybdenum is a transition metal and an essential element in animal and plant nutrition, particularly in legumes 

(Hem, 1985). Molybdenum is an essential micronutrient for 

the growth of algae, and certain species may concentrate 
Semivolatile Organic Compounds in Surface Water 47

molybdenum by a factor of as much as 15 (National Academy 

of Sciences and National Academy of Engineering, 1973). 

Molybdenum is used extensively as an alloy in steel. It is generally present in fossil fuels and can be spread in the environment by the burning of fossil fuels (Hem, 1985). Concentrations of molybdenum at sites in the FMC study area ranged 

from less than the MRL of 0.4 to 6.4 μg/L (table 11, appendix 1) with the highest concentration of molybdenum detected 

in a sample collected in August 2004 from FMC at Lewisburg. 

No drinking-water-quality standards or aquatic-life criteria for 

molybdenum are listed by the USEPA or ADEM.

Nickel is a USEPA priority pollutant that can adversely 

affect humans and aquatic organisms. Nickel is an important 

industrial metal that is used extensively in the production of 

stainless steel. Substantial amounts of nickel can be contributed to the environment by waste disposal (Hem, 1985) and 

atmospheric emissions. Nickel ions are toxic, particularly to 

plant life, and can exhibit synergism when present with other 

metallic ions (National Academy of Sciences and National 

Academy of Engineering, 1973). Nickel also is a carcinogen 

and a mutagen. Mollusks and crustaceans are more sensitive to nickel than are other organisms (U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency, 2006). Concentrations of nickel at sites in 

the FMC study area ranged from less than the MRL of 0.06 to 

5.69 μg/L (table 11, appendix 1), with the highest concentration of nickel occurring in December 2004 from FMC at Linn 

Crossing. All concentrations of nickel were below waterquality standards or criteria.

Selenium is a nonmetallic trace element that is listed 

as a primary pollutant by the USEPA. Selenium is an essential macronutrient for plants and animals but can be toxic in 

excessive amounts. Selenium is a rare element, and concentrations of selenium in natural waters seldom exceed 1 μg/L 

(Hem, 1985). Anthropogenic sources of selenium include coal 

burning and the mining and smelting of sulfide ores. Selenium 

is found in highest quantities in sulfide ores such as pyrite. 

Selenium undergoes bioconcentration, bioaccumulation, and 

biomagnification as trophic levels increase and also causes 

growth reduction in green algae at elevated concentrations. 

Adverse effects in aquatic organisms include neurological 

disorders, liver damage, reproductive failure, reduced movement rates, and chromosomal aberrations (U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency, 2006). Concentrations of selenium at sites 

in the FMC study area ranged from 0.1 to 7.8 μg/L (table 11, 

appendix 1), with the highest concentration of selenium 

detected in a sample collected in August 2004 from FMC at 

Lewisburg. Concentrations of selenium exceeded the chronic 

aquatic-life criterion (5.0 μg/L) in three samples from FMC 

at Lewisburg.

Uranium is a naturally occurring element found in low 

concentrations within rock, soil, and water. Concentrations of 

uranium occur in substances such as phosphate rock deposits, 

lignite, and monazite sands in uranium-rich ores. Uranium is 

present in concentrations between 0.1 and 10 μg/L in most 

natural waters (Hem, 1985). Concentrations of uranium at 

sites in the FMC study area ranged from 0.05 to 0.99 μg/L 

(table 11, appendix 1). The highest concentration of uranium 

was detected in a sample collected in July 2004 from FMC 

below Springdale Road. Water-quality standards or criteria 

have not been established for concentrations of uranium.

Zinc, a USEPA priority pollutant, is an essential micronutrient for plant and animal metabolism that can be acutely 

or chronically toxic to aquatic organisms. Adverse synergistic effects can occur when zinc is present with cadmium, 

copper, or other metals, and zinc is known to biomagnify 

through the aquatic food chain (National Academy of Sciences and National Academy of Engineering, 1973). Many 

aquatic organisms have adverse effects from exposure to 

elevated zinc levels. These effects include reduced growth, 

lower survival rates, and lower reproduction rates. In aquatic 

environments, zinc tends to be partitioned into sediments and 

is less frequently dissolved as hydrated zinc ions and organic 

and inorganic complexes. Elevated zinc can cause a wide 

range of problems in mammals (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2006). Concentrations of zinc at sites in the FMC 

study area ranged from less than the MRL of 0.6 to 12.7 μg/L 

(table 11, appendix 1) with the highest concentration of zinc 

occurring in the October 2003 sample from FMC at Hewitt 

Park. All concentrations of zinc were below water-quality 

standards or criteria.

Semivolatile Organic Compounds 

in Surface Water 

Surface-water samples were collected and analyzed for 

57 semivolatile organic compounds (SVOC) at three sites 

along FMC (tables 13 and 14). The samples were collected in 

September 2005 at FMC at Hewitt Park, FMC below Springdale Road, and FMC at Lewisburg. Only 10 compounds were 

detected in surface water from these three FMC sites, and 

all of the detected compounds were below the method detection limits and assigned estimated concentrations (table 14). 

Complete analytical results for these analyses are available in 

the report “Water Resources Data, Alabama, Water Year 2005” 

(Psinakis and others, 2006).

No SVOCs were detected at FMC at Hewitt Park. 

Two compounds, acenaphthene (estimated concentration 0.004 μg/L) and naphthalene (estimated concentration 

0.03 μg/L), were detected in water from FMC below Springdale Road (table 14). Ten of the 57 compounds were detected 

at FMC at Lewisburg. All of the compounds were detected at 

low levels and are reported as estimated concentrations. The 

SVOCs identified in FMC are typical for streams affected 

by industrial sources, and compounds such as acenaphthene, 

naphthalene, acenaphthylene, 9H-fluorene, and phenanthrene 

are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) typically associated with coal operations and coal tar.
48 Assessment of Water-Quality Conditions in Fivemile Creek in the Vicinity of the Fivemile Creek Greenway, Alabama

Analyte Method detection level

1,2-Diphenylhydrazine < 2.2

2,4,6-Trichlorophenol < 1.4

2,4-Dichlorophenol < 2.5

2,4-Dimethylphenol < 2.0

2,4-Dinitrophenol < 3.3

2,4-Dinitrotoluene < 1.4

2,6-Dinitrotoluene < 2.3

2-Chloronaphthalene < 1.0

2-Chlorophenol < 1.0

2-Methyl-4,6-dinitrophenol < 1.8

2-Nitrophenol < 1.4

3,3'-Dichlorobenzidine < 0.9

4-Bromophenyl phenyl ether < 2.1

4-Chloro-3-methylphenol < 1.6

4-Chlorophenyl phenyl ether < 1.2

4-Nitrophenol < 2.4

9H-Fluorene < 1.2

Acenaphthene < 1.9

Acenaphthylene < 1.8

Anthracene < 2.0

Benzidine < 1,000

Benzo[a]anthracene < 1.6

Benzo[a]pyrene < 1.3

Benzo[b]fluoranthene < 1.9

Benzo[ghi]perylene < 1.6

Benzo[k]fluoranthene < 1.4

Benzyl n-butyl phthalate < 1.8

Bis(2-chloroethoxy)methane < 1.0

Bis(2-chloroethyl) ether < 1.0

Analyte Method detection level

Bis(2-chloroisopropyl) ether < 1.0

Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate < 1.8

Chrysene < 1.2

Dibenzo[a,h]anthracene < 2.2

Diethyl phthalate < 1.6

Dimethyl phthalate < 1.0

Di-n-butyl phthalate < 1.7

Di-n-octyl phthalate < 2.3

Fluoranthene < 1.4

Hexachlorobenzene < 1.0

Hexachlorocyclopentadiene < 1.2

Indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene < 1.8

Isophorone < 2.2

Nitrobenzene < 1.4

N-Nitroso-dimethylamine < 1.6

N-Nitroso-di-n-propylamine < 1.6

N-Nitroso-diphenylamine < 1.9

Pentachlorophenol < 1.8

Phenanthrene < 1.0

Phenol < 1.6

Pyrene < 1.6

1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene < 1.2

1,2-Dichlorobenzene < 1.5

1,3-Dichlorobenzene < 1.2

1,4-Dichlorobenzene < 1.4

Hexachlorobutadiene < 1.2

Hexachloroethane < 1.6

Naphthalene < 1.6

Table 13. Analytes for semivolatile organic analyses in Fivemile Creek, Jefferson County, Alabama. 

[<, less than; method detection levels in micrograms per liter]
Semivolatile Organic Compounds and Trace Elements in Streambed-Sediment Samples 49

Semivolatile Organic Compounds 

and Trace Elements in StreambedSediment Samples

Eight streambed-sediment samples were collected in 

either December 2003 or November 2005 from seven sites 

along FMC, and analyzed for a group of SVOCs (tables 15 

and 16) and a group of trace elements (table 17). Forty-nine 

of 98 SVOCs were detected in streambed-sediment samples 

from FMC (table 15); all concentrations for eight of these 

SVOCs were below the highest MRLs used in this study for 

the respective compounds (table 16). Forty-five of 47 trace elements were detected at one or more sites in FMC (table 17).

Occurrence of Semivolatile Organic Compounds 

in Streambed Sediment

SVOCs can be divided by chemical composition into 

many classes. Classes of SVOCs detected in FMC included 

PAHs, alkylated PAHs (alkyl-PAHs), azaarenes, organochlorines, phenols, phthalates, quinones, sulfurous-PAHs, and 

chloroaromatics (table 15). Many of these SVOCs have been 

designated as priority pollutants by the USEPA (table 15), 

are toxic to humans and aquatic life, and are associated with 

industrial activities and processes. Other SVOC classes 

analyzed for but not detected include bromo-ethers, chloroethers, cyclic ketones, nitro-aromatics, and nitrosoamines.

PAHs can be found in streambed sediments all over the 

world (Hites and others, 1980). The presence of PAHs in the 

environment is primarily anthropogenic. PAHs are found 

naturally in petroleum products and also are released during 

combustion. PAHs enter the water, soil, and air through fuel 

spills, tar coatings, coal and other fossil-fuel usage, road dust, 

and from the atmospheric deposition of combustion products 

(Prahl and others, 1984; Wakeham and others, 1980). Typically, urban areas may have high concentrations of PAHs 

because of transportation-related sources such as vehicle 

exhaust, paving materials, and releases of fuel or oil. Natural 

sources of PAHs include forest fires, which may contribute 

small amounts of PAHs. Many PAHs are listed as USEPA 

priority pollutants (tables 15 and 16). 

All 8 streambed-sediment samples from FMC contained concentrations of multiple PAH compounds, and 

all 16 analyzed PAH compounds were detected in several 

samples. The least number of PAH compounds was detected in 

the FMC at Hewitt Park sample collected in November 2005 

(table 16). All of the 16 PAH SVOCs analyzed were detected 

in samples from FMC at Fivemile Road, FMC at Huffman 

Road, FMC below Springdale Road, FMC at Lewisburg, and 

FMC near Republic and in the December 2003 sample from 

FMC at Hewitt Park. Fluoranthene had the highest concentration (9,700 μg/kg) of all PAH SVOCs detected. Maximum 

concentrations for 12 of the 16 PAH compounds were measured in the sample from FMC at Lewisburg. 

All of the eight streambed-sediment samples contained 

multiple alkyl-PAH compounds. The least number of alkylPAH compounds was detected in the FMC at Hewitt Park 

sample collected in November 2005 (table 16). The greatest 

number (10) of alkyl-PAH compounds in a single sample was 

detected in samples collected from FMC at Huffman Road, 

FMC at Lewisburg, and FMC near Republic. The maximum 

detected concentration (950 μg/kg) of a single alkyl-PAH compound was measured for 4,5-methylenephenanthrene at FMC 

at Lewisburg in November 2005. Maximum concentrations of 

7 of the 10 detected alkyl-PAH compounds were detected in 

the FMC at Lewisburg sample.

Table 14. Concentrations of semivolatile organic compounds detected in surface water from Fivemile Creek, Jefferson County, 

Alabama, 2003–2005.

[Values are in micrograms per liter; <, less than; e, estimated value] 

Station

number Station short name Sample date

2,4-Dimethylphenol, 

water unfiltered 

recoverable 

9H-Fluorene, 

water unfiltered 

recoverable 

Acenaphthene, 

water unfiltered 

recoverable 

Acenaphthylene, 

water unfiltered 

recoverable 

Bis(2-chloroethyl) 

ether, water 

unfiltered 

recoverable

02456999 FMC at Hewitt Park 9/12/2005 <2 <1.2 <1.9 <1.8 <1

02457502 FMC below Springdale Rd. 9/13/2005 <2 <1.2 e0.004 <1.8 <1

02457510 FMC at Lewisburg 9/13/2005 e0.04 e0.03 e0.04 e0.03 e0.007

Station

number Station short name Sample date

Fluoranthene, 

water unfiltered 

recoverable 

Nitrobenzene, 

water unfiltered 

recoverable 

Phenanthrene, 

water unfiltered 

recoverable 

Pyrene, 

water unfiltered 

recoverable 

Naphthalene, 

water unfiltered 

recoverable 

02456999 FMC at Hewitt Park 9/12/2005 <1.4 <1.4 <1 <1.6 <1.6

02457502 FMC below Springdale Rd. 9/13/2005 <1.4 <1.4 <1 <1.6 e0.03

02457510 FMC at Lewisburg 9/13/2005 e0.05 e0.02 e0.03 e0.04 e0.1
50 Assessment of Water-Quality Conditions in Fivemile Creek in the Vicinity of the Fivemile Creek Greenway, Alabama

Table 15. Semivolatile organic compounds analyzed in streambed-sediment samples collected from 

locations along Fivemile Creek, Jefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005.—Continued

[SVOC, semivolatile organic compound; PAH, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon; shading indicates priority pollutant; 

bold, indicates compound detected in Fivemile Creek; Y, yes; N, no]

Compound name SVOC class Priority 

pollutanta

Minimum 

reporting level 

(micrograms per liter)

1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene chloroaromatic Y 50

1,2-Dichlorobenzene chloroaromatic Y 50

1,2-Dimethylnaphthalene alkyl-PAH N 50

1,3-Dichlorobenzene chloroaromatic Y 50

1,4-Dichlorobenzene chloroaromatic Y 50

1,6-Dimethylnaphthalene alkyl-PAH N 50

1-Methyl-9H-fluorene alkyl-PAH N 50

1-Methylphenanthrene alkyl-PAH N 50

1-Methylpyrene alkyl-PAH N 50

2,2'-Biquinoline azaarene N 50

2,3,6-Trimethylnaphthalene alkyl-PAH N 50

2,4,6-Trimethylphenol phenol N 50

2,4-Dinitrotoluene nitroaromatic Y 50

2,6-Dimethylnaphthalene alkyl-PAH N 50

2,6-Dinitrotoluene nitroaromatic Y 50

2-Chloronaphthalene chloroaromatic Y 50

2-Chlorophenol phenol Y 50

2-Ethylnaphthalene alkyl-PAH N 50

2-Methylanthracene alkyl-PAH N 50

3,5-Dimethylphenol phenol N 50

4,5-Methylenephenanthrene alkyl-PAH N 50

4-Bromophenyl phenyl ether bromoether Y 50

4-Chloro-3-methylphenol phenol Y 50

4-Chlorophenyl phenyl ether chloroether Y 50

9,10-Anthraquinone quinone N 50

9H-Fluorene PAH Y 50

Acenaphthene PAH Y 50

Acenaphthylene PAH Y 50

Acridine azaarene N 50

Aldrin organochlorine pesticide Y 1.0

alpha-Endosulfan organochlorine pesticide Y 1.0

alpha-HCH organochlorine pesticide Y 1.0

Anthracene PAH Y 50

Azobenzene nitroaromatic N 50

Benzo[a]anthracene PAH Y 50

Benzo[a]pyrene PAH Y 50

Benzo[b]fluoranthene PAH Y 50

Benzo[c]cinnoline azaarene N 50

Benzo[ghi]perylene PAH Y 50

Benzo[k]fluoranthene PAH Y 50

Benzyl n-butyl phthalate phthalate Y 50

beta-HCH organochlorine pesticide Y 1.0

Bis(2-chloroethoxy)methane chloroether Y 50

Bis(2-chloroethyl) ether chloroether Y 50

Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate phthalate Y 50

C8-Alkylphenol phenol N 50

Carbazole azaarene N 50

Chloroneb organochlorine pesticide N 5.0

Chrysene PAH Y 50

cis-Chlordane organochlorine pesticide N 1.0
Semivolatile Organic Compounds and Trace Elements in Streambed-Sediment Samples 51

Table 15. Semivolatile organic compounds analyzed in streambed-sediment samples collected from 

locations along Fivemile Creek, Jefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005.—Continued

[SVOC, semivolatile organic compound; PAH, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon; shading indicates priority pollutant; 

bold, indicates compound detected in Fivemile Creek; Y, yes; N, no]

Compound name SVOC class Priority 

pollutanta

Minimum 

reporting level 

(micrograms per liter)

cis-Nonachlor organochlorine pesticide N 1.0

cis-Permethrin organochlorine pesticide N 5.0

DCPA organochlorine pesticide N 5.0

Dibenzo[a,h]anthracene PAH Y 50

Dibenzothiophene sulfurous-PAH N 50

Dieldrin organochlorine pesticide Y 1.0

Diethyl phthalate phthalate Y 50

Dimethyl phthalate phthalate Y 50

Di-n-butyl phthalate phthalate Y 50

Di-n-octyl phthalate phthalate Y 50

Endrin organochlorine pesticide Y 2.0

Fluoranthene PAH Y 50

Heptachlor organochlorine pesticide Y 1.0

Heptachlor epoxide organochlorine pesticide Y 1.0

Hexachlorobenzene organochlorine pesticide Y 50

Indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene PAH Y 50

Isodrin organochlorine pesticide N 1.0

Isophorone cyclic ketone Y 50

Isoquinoline azaarene N 50

Lindane organochlorine pesticide Y 1.0

Mirex organochlorine pesticide N 1.0

Naphthalene PAH Y 50

Nitrobenzene nitroaromatic Y 50

N-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine nitrosoamine Y 50

N-Nitrosodiphenylamine nitrosoamine Y 50

o,p'-DDD organochlorine pesticide N 1.0

o,p'-DDE organochlorine pesticide N 1.0

o,p'-DDT organochlorine pesticide N 2.0

o,p'-Methoxychlor organochlorine pesticide N 5.0

Oxychlordane organochlorine pesticide N 1.0

p,p'-DDD organochlorine pesticide Y 1.0

p,p'-DDE organochlorine pesticide Y 1.0

p,p'-DDT organochlorine pesticide Y 2.0

p,p'-Methoxychlor organochlorine pesticide N 5.0

PCBs PCB Y 50

p-Cresol phenol N 50

Pentachloroanisole organochlorine pesticide N 50

Pentachloronitrobenzene chloroaromatic N 50

Pentachlorophenol phenol Y 50

Phenanthrene PAH Y 50

Phenanthridine azaarene N 50

Phenol phenol Y 50

Pyrene PAH Y 50

Quinoline azaarene N 50

Toxaphene organochlorine pesticide Y 50

trans-Chlordane organochlorine pesticide N 1.0

trans-Nonachlor organochlorine pesticide N 1.0

trans-Permethrin organochlorine pesticide N 5.0

a

 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2004b.
Table 16. Concentrations of semivolatile organic compounds in streambed-sediment samples collected from selected sites along Fivemile Creek, Je2003–2005.—Continued [FMC, Fivemile Creek; concentrations in micrograms per kilogram; shading indicates reported detections; e, estimated concentration; <, less than; PAHs, polycyclic aromatic halkyl-PAHs, alkylated PAHs] Station number: 02456900 02456980 02456999 02456999 02457500 02457502 02457510 02Station short name: FMC at Fivemile Road FMC at Lawson Road FMC at Hewitt Park FMC at Hewitt Park FMC at Huffman Road FMC below Springdale Road FMC at Lewisburg FM

Re

Sample date: 12/22/2003 12/17/2003 12/17/2003 11/7/2005 12/17/2003 11/7/2005 11/7/2005 12/Sample start time: 1030 1230 1100 1030 1430 1200 1330 

Minimum reporting level Number of detections 

PAHs Anthracene 50 8 94 e37 e49 e25 1,500 96 2,000 1,

Benzo[a]anthracene 50 8 510 180 170 e52 2,800 480 5,800 2,Benzo[a]pyrene 50 8 650 210 170 70 2,700 610 4,800 2,Benzo[b]fluoranthene 50 8 880 260 200 110 2,100 940 6,400 2,Benzo[ghi]perylene 50 8 540 160 130 e54 1,700 e310 e3,100 1,Benzo[k]fluoranthene 50 8 590 200 150 62 1,600 340 2,600 1,Chrysene 50 8 830 250 200 68 2,600 640 5,400 2,Fluoranthene 50 8 1,400 470 400 120 5,000 610 9,700 4,Indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene 50 8 640 200 160 e62 1,700 330 3,000 1,Phenanthrene 50 8 560 180 210 e46 5,200 200 3,100 1,Pyrene 50 8 1,100 340 290 88 7,000 690 6,900 3,9H-Fluorene 50 7 e30 e8 e16 <57 370 e27 540 Acenaphthene 50 7 e20 <50 e10 e16 480 e12 280 Acenaphthylene 50 7 e30 e13 e9 <57 e80 e26 1,100 Dibenzo[a,h]anthracene 50 7 150 66 57 <57 430 e59 e340 Naphthalene 50 7 e20 <50 e10 e8.1 140 e30 1,100 Total number of PAH compounds detected per sample 16 14 16 13 16 16 16 
Table 16. Concentrations of semivolatile organic compounds in streambed-sediment samples collected from selected sites along Fivemile Creek, Je2003–2005.—Continued[FMC, Fivemile Creek; concentrations in micrograms per kilogram; shading indicates reported detections; e, estimated concentration; <, less than; PAHs, polycyclic aromatic halkyl-PAHs, alkylated PAHs]Station number: 02456900 02456980 02456999 02456999 02457500 02457502 02457510 02Station short name:

FMC at 

Fivemile 

Road

FMC at 

Lawson 

Road

FMC at 

Hewitt 

Park

FMC at 

Hewitt 

Park

FMC at 

Huffman 

Road

FMC below 

Springdale 

Road

FMC at 

Lewisburg

FM

Re

Sample date: 12/22/2003 12/17/2003 12/17/2003 11/7/2005 12/17/2003 11/7/2005 11/7/2005 12/Sample start time: 1030 1230 1100 1030 1430 1200 1330 

Minimum 

reporting 

level

Number of 

detections 

Alkyl-PAHs

2,6-Dimethylnaphthalene 50 8 68 e12 e14 e31 180 e44 270 4,5-Methylenephenanthrene 50 8 66 e18 e21 e23 710 e36 950 1-Methylphenanthrene 50 7 e28 e10 e12 <57 540 e43 580 1-Methylpyrene 50 7 e40 e20 e19 <57 630 85 570 2-Methylanthracene 50 6 e24 e15 e18 <57 380 <61 640 1,6-Dimethylnaphthalene 50 5 <65 <50 <50 e16 e91 e21 150 2,3,6-Trimethylnaphthalene 50 5 <65 <50 <50 e20 e53 e17 130 1,2-Dimethylnaphthalene 50 4 <65 <50 <50 <57 e40 e12 e53 1-Methyl-9H-fluorene 50 4 <65 <50 <50 <57 100 e16 150 2-Ethylnaphthalene 50 4 <65 <50 <50 <57 120 e16 80 Total number of alkyl-PAH 

compound detections per sample

5 5 5 4 10 9 10 

Azaarenes

Carbazole 50 8 110 e32 e28 e17 120 e58 390 Acridine 50 7 e64 e30 e20 <57 e71 e31 280 Phenanthridine 50 7 e24 e17 e17 <57 e37 e22 e65 Isoquinoline 50 4 e26 <50 e22 <57 e47 <61 <71 2,2'-Biquinoline 50 3 <65 <50 e46 <57 e99 <61 210 Quinoline 50 1 <65 <50 <50 <57 <100 <61 <71 Total number of azaarene 

compounds detected per sample

4 3 5 1 5 3 4 
Table 16. Concentrations of semivolatile organic compounds in streambed-sediment samples collected from selected sites along Fivemile Creek, Je2003–2005.—Continued [FMC, Fivemile Creek; concentrations in micrograms per kilogram; shading indicates reported detections; e, estimated concentration; <, less than; PAHs, polycyclic aromatic halkyl-PAHs, alkylated PAHs] Station number: 02456900 02456980 02456999 02456999 02457500 02457502 02457510 02Station short name: FMC at Fivemile Road FMC at Lawson Road FMC at Hewitt Park FMC at Hewitt Park FMC at Huffman Road FMC below Springdale Road FMC at Lewisburg FM

Re

Sample date: 12/22/2003 12/17/2003 12/17/2003 11/7/2005 12/17/2003 11/7/2005 11/7/2005 12/Sample start time: 1030 1230 1100 1030 1430 1200 1330 

Minimum reporting level Number of detections 

Organochlorines PCBs 50 3 <50 <50 <50 <50 e83 e130 <50 

cis-Chlordane 1.0 3 e0.96 <1 <1 <1 1.1 <1 <1 Dieldrin 1.0 3 e0.81 <1 <1 <1 1.2 <1 <1 trans-Chlordane 1.0 3 1.1 <1 <1 <1 1.3 <1 <1 trans-Nonachlor 1.0 3 1.3 <1 <1 <1 1.4 <1 <1 p,p'-DDE 1.0 1 <1 <1 <1 <1 e0.71 <1 <1 p,p'-DDT 2.0 1 <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 Total number of organo- chlorine compounds detected per sample 4 0 0 0 6 1 0 

Phenols p-Cresol 50 7 e33 e23 e23 <57 e45 e26 e110 

Phenol 50 3 <65 <50 <50 e20 <100 e37 120 C8-Alkylphenol 50 2 <65 <50 <50 <57 <100 e24 e38 3,5-Dimethylphenol 50 1 <65 <50 <50 <57 <100 <61 e36 Pentachlorophenol 50 1 e110 Total number of phenol compounds detected per sample 1 1 1 1 1 4 4 
Table 16. Concentrations of semivolatile organic compounds in streambed-sediment samples collected from selected sites along Fivemile Creek, Je2003–2005.—Continued[FMC, Fivemile Creek; concentrations in micrograms per kilogram; shading indicates reported detections; e, estimated concentration; <, less than; PAHs, polycyclic aromatic halkyl-PAHs, alkylated PAHs]Station number: 02456900 02456980 02456999 02456999 02457500 02457502 02457510 02Station short name:

FMC at 

Fivemile 

Road

FMC at 

Lawson 

Road

FMC at 

Hewitt 

Park

FMC at 

Hewitt 

Park

FMC at 

Huffman 

Road

FMC below 

Springdale 

Road

FMC at 

Lewisburg

FM

Re

Sample date: 12/22/2003 12/17/2003 12/17/2003 11/7/2005 12/17/2003 11/7/2005 11/7/2005 12/Sample start time: 1030 1230 1100 1030 1430 1200 1330 

Minimum 

reporting 

level

Number of 

detections 

Phthalates

Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate 50 4 590 — — <68 740 e130 360 Di-n-octyl phthalate 50 2 <65 <50 <50 <57 e64 e30 <71 Total number of phthalate

compounds detected per sample

1 0 0 0 2 2 1 

Quinone

9,10-Anthraquinone 50 8 220 78 58 e47 350 120 480 

Sulfurous-PAH

Dibenzothiophene 50 5 e25 <50 <50 <57 330 e17 200 

Chloroaromatic

1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene 50 1 <65 <50 <50 <57 <100 <61 e13 
56 Assessment of Water-Quality Conditions in Fivemile Creek in the Vicinity of the Fivemile Creek Greenway, Alabama

Azaarenes are nitrogen analogues of PAHs, and they 

usually are found in water in association with sediment 

(Steinheimer and Ondrus, 1986). As a class, azaarenes are 

contributors to the biological activity of fossil-fuel combustion 

products. Azaarenes are believed to be formed during combustion or pyrolysis processes involving fossil fuels (Steinheimer and Ondrus, 1986). As with PAHs, some azaarenes 

are carcinogenic. All eight streambed-sediment samples 

analyzed contained concentrations of azaarene compounds 

(table 16). Seven of the samples contained multiple azaarene 

compounds. Only one azaarene compound was detected in 

the FMC at Hewitt Park sample collected in November 2005. 

December 2003 samples from FMC at Hewitt Park, FMC at 

Huffman Road, and FMC near Republic contained five of the 

six detected azaarene compounds. Carbazole had the highest 

detected concentration (390 μg/kg) of all azaarene compounds. 

Organochlorine compounds degrade slowly in the environment and are routinely detected in environmental samples, 

even though they are no longer used in the United States. 

The USEPA has listed many organochlorine compounds as 

priority pollutants because they cause a variety of adverse 

health effects in wildlife (Nowell and others, 1999; table 15). 

Organochlorines are hydrophobic, which means that they do 

not dissolve readily in water, and are mostly associated with 

sediments or tissue in aquatic systems. Most organochlorine 

compounds are anthropogenic, and many organochlorines 

are pesticides, such as DDT and chlordanes, that were used 

widely in the 1950s–60s. Some organochlorine pesticides 

were restricted or banned in the United States during the 

1970s–80s. Organochlorine polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) 

were used for a variety of applications, mostly as insulators 

in electrical transformers and equipment. PCBs are measured 

and reported as a group rather than as individual compounds, 

and are counted as a single constituent in the discussion 

presented below. 

Only 7 of 32 organochlorine compounds analyzed 

for were detected, and only 4 of the 8 streambed-sediment 

samples from FMC contained concentrations of organochlorine SVOCs (table 16). No organochlorines were detected in 

samples from FMC at Lawson Road, FMC at Hewitt Park, and 

FMC at Lewisburg. Only PCBs were detected at FMC below 

Springdale Road. Sediment samples from FMC at Huffman 

Road and FMC near Republic each had six organochlorine 

compounds detected, the greatest number in a single sample 

(table 16). All of the organochlorine compounds detected in 

streambed-sediment samples, except PCBs, are organochlorine 

pesticides or related compounds.

All of the eight streambed-sediment samples analyzed 

contained concentrations of phenol SVOCs, and two samples 

contained multiple phenol compounds (table 16). Of the 

eight phenol compounds analyzed, only five were detected 

(tables 15 and 16). Phenol had the highest concentration 

(120 μg/kg) of all phenol compounds detected, and p-cresol 

was the most frequently detected phenol compound (table 16). 

Samples collected from FMC at Fivemile Road, FMC at 

Lawson Road, FMC at Hewitt Park, FMC at Huffman Road, 

and FMC near Republic contained only one phenol compound 

each. The greatest number (four) of phenol compounds was 

detected in samples collected from FMC below Springdale 

Road and FMC at Lewisburg.

Phthalate SVOCs often are associated with urban activities. Phthalates are aromatic esters widely used as solvents, 

plasticizers, and insect repellents (Budavari and others, 1989). 

They are used in a variety of industrial applications and in 

inks, adhesives, and resins. Some of the phthalates are environmentally persistent and have become widespread contaminants (Manahan, 1992). Phthalates are thought to be endocrine disrupters; Jobling and others (1995) found that some 

phthalates are weakly estrogenic. The USEPA considers some 

phthalates to be possible carcinogens. Of the eight streambedsediment samples analyzed, four contained concentrations 

of phthalate compounds (table 16). No phthalate compounds 

were detected in samples from FMC at Lawson Road, FMC at 

Hewitt Park, or FMC near Republic. Only two phthalate compounds, bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate and di-n-octyl phthalate, 

were detected at sites in FMC. Samples from FMC at Huffman 

Road and FMC below Springdale Road contained concentrations of both phthalate compounds. The maximum detected 

concentrations of bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (740 μg/kg) and 

di-n-octyl phthalate (e64 μg/kg) occurred in the FMC at Huffman Road sample. 

Single compounds from three additional classes of 

SVOCs—quinones, sulfurous-PAHs, and chloroaromatics—

were detected in streambed-sediment samples from FMC. 

The quinone compound, 9,10-anthraquinone was detected in 

all samples (table 16). The sulfurous-PAH, dibenzothiophene, 

was detected in the FMC at Fivemile Road, FMC at Huffman 

Road, FMC below Springdale Road, FMC at Lewisburg, and 

FMC near Republic samples. The chloroaromatic compound, 

1,2,4-trichlorobenzene, was detected only in the FMC at 

Lewisburg sample.

Occurrence of Trace Elements in 

Streambed Sediment

Multiple trace elements were detected in all eight 

streambed-sediment samples analyzed from the seven sites 

(table 17). Gold and tantalum were the only analyzed trace 

elements not detected at least once. Seven elements (europium, gold, holmium, neodymium, tantalum, tin, and ytterbium) were analyzed in samples collected in 2003 but not in 

samples from 2005. Rubidium and cesium were added to the 

analysis for the 2005 samples but were not analyzed in the 

2003 samples. Aluminum concentrations were not determined 

in 2005 because of matrix interference. 

Forty-one of the 47 trace elements were detected in every 

sample collected from FMC for which they were analyzed 

(table 17). Twelve of the trace elements have been designated 

as priority pollutants by the USEPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2004b). Because the priority pollutants can be 

detrimental to aquatic life, their relative concentrations among 
Semivolatile Organic Compounds and Trace Elements in Streambed-Sediment Samples 57

Table 17. Concentrations of trace elements in streambed-sediment samples collected from selected sites along Fivemile Creek, 

Jefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005.

[Concentrations in micrograms per gram; bold indicates trace elements designated as priority pollutants by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; —, no data; 

<, less than]

Station 

number: 02456900 02456980 02456999 02456999 02457500 02457502 02457510 02457595

Station short 

name:

FMC at 

Fivemile 

Road

FMC at 

Lawson 

Road

FMC at 

Hewitt 

Park

FMC at 

Hewitt 

Park

FMC at 

Huffman 

Road

FMC 

below 

Springdale 

Road

FMC at 

Lewisburg

FMC near 

Republic

Sample date: 12/22/2003 12/17/2003 12/17/2003 11/7/2005 12/17/2003 11/7/2005 11/7/2005 12/22/2003

Sample time: 1030 1230 1100 1030 1430 1200 1330 1330 Minimum Maximum Median

Aluminum 46,000 43,000 47,000 — 42,000 — — 64,000 42,000 64,000 46,000

Antimony 0.93 0.81 0.81 0.62 3.3 1 1.2 1.2 0.62 3.3 0.965

Arsenic 15 15 14 12 14 18 12 20 12 20 14.5

Barium 250 230 240 219 200 352 181 500 181 500 235

Beryllium 1.9 1.4 1.8 1.6 1.5 1.6 1.3 2 1.3 2 1.6

Bismuth <1 <1 <1 0.27 <1 0.41 0.32 <1 0.27 0.41 0.32

Cadmium 0.41 0.37 0.33 0.28 2.4 0.64 0.75 0.36 0.28 2.4 0.39

Calcium 36,000 12,000 18,000 33,500 55,000 31,700 43,800 13,000 12,000 55,000 32,600

Cerium 74 72 76 73.1 63 68.5 67.6 75 63 76 72.55

Cesium — — — 3.4 — 5.4 3 — 3 5.4 3.4

Chromium 53 48 53 46.9 56 61.9 51.2 68 46.9 68 53

Cobalt 18 14 15 12.2 12 17.2 12.3 16 12 18 14.5

Copper 25 28 28 23.4 40 33 29.2 32 23.4 40 28.6

Europium 1.3 1.2 1.4 — 1 — — 1.4 1 1.4 1.3

Gallium 12 11 12 10 10 11 9.6 16 9.6 16 11

Gold <1 <1 <1 — <1 — — <1 — — —

Holmium 1 <1 1 — <1 — — <1 1 1 1

Iron 30,000 28,000 28,000 24,000 26,000 26,000 24,000 33,000 24,000 33,000 27,000

Lanthanum 32 32 36 31.3 28 28.3 26.6 37 26.6 37 31.65

Lead 42 41 39 28.1 200 47.2 75.9 41 28.1 200 41.5

Lithium 29 28 31 24.8 28 34.1 24 43 24 43 28.5

Magnesium 6,200 5,700 6,100 5,760 21,000 7,890 12,100 6,000 5,700 21,000 6,150

Manganese 1,600 2,100 1,800 1,960 1,300 1,730 1,050 1,000 1,000 2,100 1,665

Mercury 0.09 0.09 0.09 0.08 0.15 0.15 0.16 0.13 0.08 0.16 0.11

Molybdenum 0.78 0.9 0.9 0.78 1.6 1.2 0.98 1.4 0.78 1.6 0.94

Neodymium 30 29 31 — 24 — — 33 24 33 30

Nickel 26 23 25 22.4 24 28 22.2 26 22.2 28 24.5

Niobium 11 11 12 11 11 13 15 12 11 15 11.5

Phosphorus 820 680 720 650 640 1,100 560 740 560 1,100 700

Potassium 9,500 7,500 8,200 7,190 8,000 9,950 7,000 16,000 7,000 16,000 8,100

Rubidium — — — 45.5 — 61.9 38.8 — 38.8 61.9 45.5

Scandium 8.8 8.2 9 8.4 8.1 8.9 7.6 13 7.6 13 8.6

Selenium 0.59 0.71 0.59 0.71 0.89 5.1 0.71 3.4 0.59 5.1 0.71

Silver 0.21 0.20 0.22 <3 0.32 <3 <3 0.22 0.2 0.32 0.22

Sodium 550 480 780 571 560 1,600 606 1,600 480 1,600 588.5

Strontium 48 33 39 41 53 81.1 43 71 33 81.1 45.5

Sulfur 700 600 500 600 1,000 1,800 700 800 500 1,800 700

Tantalum <1 <1 <1 — <1 — — <1 — — —

Thallium <1 <1 <1 0.5 <1 0.52 0.5 <1 0.5 0.52 0.5

Thorium 9.8 9.9 10 10.2 8.6 9.3 9.4 11 8.6 11 9.85

Tin 2.4 2.7 3.2 — 20 — — 4.4 2.4 20 3.2

Titanium 2,800 2,800 3,000 3,400 2,700 3,400 3,300 3,100 2,700 3,400 3,050

Uranium 3.2 3.4 3.4 2.9 3 2.7 2.6 3.7 2.6 3.7 3.1

Vanadium 63 64 64 52 56 53.8 50.1 94 50.1 94 59.5

Ytterbium 2.5 2.2 2.4 — 1.9 — — 2.2 1.9 2.5 2.2

Yttrium 24 20 24 33 18 26.1 24.2 20 18 33 24

Zinc 150 110 130 114 1,000 292 236 200 110 1,000 175
58 Assessment of Water-Quality Conditions in Fivemile Creek in the Vicinity of the Fivemile Creek Greenway, Alabama

the eight samples collected in FMC were examined in detail. 

At FMC at Hewitt Park and FMC at Lawson Road, concentrations of eight and nine of the priority pollutants, respectively, 

were below the respective element’s median concentration 

reported for this study. The lowest concentrations of six priority pollutants (antimony, cadmium, copper, lead, mercury, 

and thallium) were present in the streambed-sediment sample 

collected from FMC at Hewitt Park in November 2005. In 

contrast, concentrations of 10 and 9 of the priority pollutants 

at FMC below Springdale Road and FMC near Republic, 

respectively, were greater than their study median concentrations. Maximum concentrations of six priority pollutants 

(antimony, cadmium, copper, lead, silver, and zinc) were 

detected in the sample collected from FMC at Huffman Road 

in December 2003. 

Comparison of Concentrations of 

Organochlorine Compounds, 

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Compounds, 

and Trace Elements in Streambed-Sediment 

Samples with Standards and Guidelines

Concentrations of organochlorine compounds, PAH 

compounds, and trace elements in streambed-sediment 

samples from the FMC study area were compared with two 

types of consensus-based sediment-quality guidelines (SQGs; 

table 18), which were developed to distinguish between sediments with little or no toxicity and those with probable toxic 

effects on sediment-dwelling organisms. Threshold-effect 

concentrations (TECs) define a level below which toxic effects 

are not likely to be observed, while probable-effect concentrations (PECs) define a level above which toxic effects are likely 

to be observed (MacDonald and others, 2000). MacDonald 

and others (2000) determined SQGs for multiple semivolatile 

compounds and eight trace elements, and tested the guidelines 

against datasets of sediment quality and toxicity. The SQGs 

predicted toxicity better for some substances than for others, 

with the most useful guidelines being TECs and PECs that 

correctly defined lack of toxicity or toxicity, respectively, in 

at least 75 percent of cases. All SQGs available for substances 

analyzed in FMC are used in this report, but the SQGs that 

did not meet the 75-percent accuracy criterion are identified 

(table 18).

Detections of SVOCs in streambed sediment collected 

from FMC were compared to SQGs. PAH-compound concentrations detected in streambed-sediment samples exceeded 

PECs at three sites: FMC at Huffman Road, FMC at Lewisburg, and FMC near Republic (table 18). Concentrations 

of nine PAH-compounds exceeded their respective PECs. 

Anthracene, benzo[a]anthracene, benzo[a]pyrene, chrysene, 

fluoranthene, phenanthrene, and pyrene concentrations were 

higher than PECs in the samples from FMC at Huffman Road, 

FMC at Lewisburg, and FMC near Republic. The naphthalene 

and 9H-fluorene concentrations in the sample from FMC at 

Lewisburg also were higher than the PEC. Concentrations of 

multiple individual PAH compounds exceeded TECs in every 

sample except one from FMC at Hewitt Park in 2005, and the 

calculated total concentrations of PAH compounds exceeded 

the TEC for total PAHs in all samples except the two from 

FMC at Hewitt Park. Total PAH-compound concentrations 

exceeded the PEC in the FMC at Huffman Road and FMC at 

Lewisburg samples. No organochlorine-compound concentrations in streambed-sediment samples exceeded PECs in any of 

the samples, but estimated concentrations of PCBs exceeded 

the TEC at FMC at Huffman Road in 2003 and FMC below 

Springdale Road in 2005.

Trace-element concentrations can be elevated in streambed sediments as a result of anthropogenic activities, such 

as mining or industrial or urban development, or as a result 

of natural geologic factors. Data from previous studies have 

shown that median concentrations of chromium, copper, lead, 

nickel, and zinc were higher at sites downstream from urban 

areas than at non-urban sites (Rice, 1999). 

SQGs were exceeded for seven of the eight trace elements (table 18, fig. 15). Concentrations of mercury were 

below the TEC, indicating that adverse effects on stream biota 

caused by mercury were rare at the sampled sites in FMC. 

All but one measured concentration of cadmium, at FMC at 

Huffman Road, were below the TEC. Only two concentrations of trace elements measured in sediment from FMC, lead 

(200 μg/g) and zinc (1,000 μg/g) in the FMC at Huffman Road 

sample, exceeded their respective PECs, indicating probable 

detrimental effects on in-stream biota. Concentrations of arsenic and chromium were between the TEC and PEC at all sites, 

which may indicate occasional detrimental effects on aquatic 

biota. Most sediment samples from FMC contained concentrations of multiple trace elements above the TECs, indicating 

that occasional detrimental effects on aquatic life are likely 

along FMC.
Semivolatile Organic Compounds and Trace Elements in Streambed-Sediment Samples 59

Table 18. Comparison of semivolatile organic compounds and trace-element concentrations in streambed-sediment samples from 

Fivemile Creek, Jefferson County, Alabama, to consensus-based sediment-quality guidelines from MacDonald and others, 2000.

[μg/kg, micrograms per kilogram; μg/g, micrograms per gram; e, estimated concentration; <, less than; —, no data; TEC, threshold-effect concentration; PEC, 

probable-effect concentration; Plain text indicates concentration below TEC; bold italic indicates concentration between TEC and PEC; shaded bold italic 

indicates concentration above PEC; PAH, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon; PCB, polychlorinated biphenyl; p,p'-DDE, p,p'-1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(chlorophenyl)

ethene; p,p'-DDT, p,p'-1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(chlorophenyl)ethane]

Station number: 02456900 02456980 02456999 02456999 02457500 02457502 02457510 02457595

Station short name:

FMC at 

Fivemile 

Road

FMC at 

Lawson 

Road

FMC at 

Hewitt 

Park

FMC at 

Hewitt 

Park

FMC at 

Huffman 

Road

FMC below 

Springdale 

Road

FMC 

at 

Lewisburg

FMC 

near 

Republic

Sample date: 12/22/2003 12/17/2003 12/17/2003 11/7/2005 12/17/2003 11/7/2005 11/7/2005 12/22/2003

Sample start time: 1030 1230 1100 1030 1430 1200 1330 1330

TEC PEC

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Anthracene, μg/kg 57.2 845 94 e37 e 49 e25 1,500 96 2,000 1,100

Benzo[a]anthracene, 

μg/kg

108 1,050 510 180 170 e52 2,800 480 5,800 2,900

Benzo[a]pyrene, μg/kg 150 1,450 650 210 170 70 2,700 610 4,800 2,400

Chrysene, μg/kg 166 1,290 830 250 200 68 2,600 640 5,400 2,900

Fluoranthene, μg/kg 423 2,230 1,400 470 400 120 5,000 610 9,700 4,400

Phenanthrene, μg/kg 204 1,170 560 180 210 e46 5,200 200 3,100 1,700

Pyrene, μg/kg 195 1,520 1,100 340 290 88 7,000 690 6,900 3,200

9H-Fluorene, μg/kg 77.4a,b 536a e30 e8 e16 <57 370 e27 540 220

Dibenzo[a,h]anthracene, 

μg/kg

33b — 150 66 57 <57 430 e59 e340 570

Naphthalene, μg/kg 176 561 e20 <50 e10 e8.1 140 e30 1,100 240

Total PAHs, μg/kg 1,610 22,800 5,294 1,696 1,497 346 27,740 3,326 39,340 19,630

Organochlorines

PCBs, μg/kg 59.8 676 <50 <50 <50 <50 e83 e130 <50 e34

cis-Chlordane, μg/kg 3.24c 17.6c,f e0.96 <1 <1 <1 1.10 <1 <1 e0.56

Dieldrin, μg/kg 1.9 61.8 e0.81 <1 <1 <1 1.20 <1 <1 e0.55

trans-Chlordane, μg/kg 3.24c 17.6c,f 1.10 <1 <1 <1 1.30 <1 <1 e0.56

p,p'-DDE, μg/kg 3.16d 31.3d <1 <1 <1 <1 e0.71 <1 <1 <1

p,p'-DDT, μg/kg 4.16e 62.9e <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 2.60

Trace elements

Arsenic, μg/g 9.79b 33.00 15 15 14 12 14 18 12 20

Cadmium, μg/g 0.99 4.98 0.41 0.37 0.33 0.28 2.40 0.64 0.75 0.36

Chromium, μg/g 43.4b 111.0 53.0 48.0 53.0 46.9 56.0 61.9 51.2 68.0

Copper, μg/g 31.6 149.0 25.0 28.0 28.0 23.4 40.0 33.0 29.2 32.0

Lead, μg/g 35.8 128.0 42.0 41.0 39.0 28.1 200.0 47.2 75.9 41.0

Mercury, μg/g 0.18b 1.06 0.09 0.09 0.09 0.08 0.15 0.15 0.16 0.13

Nickel, μg/g 22.7b 48.6 26.0 23.0 25.0 22.4 24.0 28.0 22.2 26.0

Zinc, μg/g 121 459 150 110 130 114 1,000 292 236 200

a

 Sediment-quality guideline is for fluorene.

b

 Sediment-quality guideline correctly predicted lack of toxicity in less than 75 percent of samples.

c

 Sediment-quality guideline is for chlordane.

d

 Sediment-quality guideline is for the sum of DDE (1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(chlorophenyl)ethene).

e

 Sediment-quality guideline is for the sum of DDT (1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(chlorophenyl)ethane).

f

 Sediment-quality guideline correctly predicted toxicity in less than 75 percent of samples.
60 Assessment of Water-Quality Conditions in Fivemile Creek in the Vicinity of the Fivemile Creek Greenway, Alabama

>PEC (Probable-effect concentration)—Concentrations

 at which adverse biological effects are expected to

 occur frequently

>TEC (Threshold-effect concentration)<PEC—Concentrations

 at which adverse biological effects are expected to occur

 occasionally

<TEC—Concentrations at which adverse biological

 effects are expected to occur rarely

Median concentration

1

10

100

1,000

10,000

As Cr Cu Pb Ni Zn

0.01

0.10

1

10

Cd Hg

CONCENTRATION, IN MICROGRAMS PER GRAM

EXPLANATION

FMC near Republic

FMC at Lewisburg

FMC below Springdale Road

FMC at Huffman Road

FMC at Hewitt Park

1

FMC at Lawson Road

FMC at Fivemile Road

SAMPLING SITES

Figure 15. Concentrations of selected trace elements in streambed sediment, 

sediment-quality guidelines, and median concentrations in the Fivemile Creek, Jefferson 

County, Alabama, study area. [1, value shown is average of detected concentrations in 

2003 and 2005 samples for the site.]
Benthic Invertebrate Communities 61

Benthic Invertebrate Communities 

Benthic invertebrate communities respond to the integrated effects of chemical and physical stream properties, 

and samples of the benthic invertebrate communities along 

FMC were important indicators of the stream’s suitability as 

habitat for aquatic biota. Analysis of samples at selected sites 

along FMC identified 137 benthic invertebrate taxa, including 

14 ambiguous parent taxa (appendix 3). For computation of 

metrics in this report, ambiguous parent taxa are counted as 

distinct taxa. For richest targeted habitat (RTH) samples, total 

taxa richness ranged from a high of 37 taxa at FMC at Hewitt 

Park in November 2004, to only 13 taxa at FMC at Brookside in November 2004 (table 19, appendix 3, fig. 16). Total 

taxa richness was fairly uniform in RTH samples collected in 

July 2003, ranging from 25 distinct taxa at FMC at Huffman 

Road to 21 distinct taxa at FMC at Hewitt Park. Taxa richness 

in samples from Hewitt Park in 2004 was nearly double the 

measured richness in 2003, indicating that changes in benthic 

invertebrate communities across years or seasons may occur.

Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera (EPT) taxa 

richness was greatest at FMC at Graysville (12 EPT taxa) in 

2004 and lowest at Hewitt Park (4 EPT taxa) in 2003 (fig. 16). 

EPT taxa are expected to decrease in response to increased 

stream perturbation, but reference site data are needed to 

determine if any of these sites have unexpectedly small numbers of EPT taxa. Nine EPT taxa were detected at Hewitt Park 

in 2004, indicating that annual, seasonal, or sampling variations may exceed observed differences in benthic invertebrate 

communities between sites.

Chironomids, or midges, are usually considered more tolerant of organic enrichment and heavy metals contamination 

than the EPT taxa (Resh and Jackson, 1993; Alabama Department of Environmental Management, 1996), but because 

this tolerance is not universal within the family Chironomidae, the number of chironomid taxa is generally expected to 

Table 19. Calculated metrics for invertebrate samples collected in July 2003 and November 2004 at selected sites along 

Fivemile Creek, Jefferson County, Alabama.

[USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; FMC, Fivemile Creek; EPT, Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera; %, percent; ADEM, Alabama Department of 

Environmental Management]

Site:

FMC at 

Fivemile 

Road

FMC at 

Hewitt 

Park 

FMC at 

Hewitt 

Park 

FMC at 

Huffman 

Road

FMC below 

Springdale 

Road

FMC at 

Republic 

Ford

FMC at 

Brookside

FMC at 

Graysville

USGS station number: 02456900 02456999 02456999 02457500 02457502 02457599 02457625 02457700

Sample date: 07/16/2003 07/16/2003 11/17/2004 07/16/2003 11/18/2004 11/19/2004 11/18/2004 11/19/2004

Species richness 23 21 37 25 26 17 13 20

EPT richness 5 4 9 5 8 8 8 12

Chironomidae richness 10 8 14 11 5 4 0 3

Total abundance 1,252 3,732 427.2 3,720 698 66 59 238

EPT abundance 552 2,364 252 1,944 570 49 41 226

 EPT abundance relative to 

total abundance 

44.1% 63.3% 59.0% 52.3% 81.7% 74.2% 69.5% 95.0%

Chironomidae abundance 592 900.4 63.6 1,512.6 56 5 0 5

Chironomidae abundance 

relative to total 

abundance 

47.3% 24.1% 14.9% 40.7% 8.0% 7.6% 0.0% 2.1%

Ratio of EPT to 

Chironomidae

0.48 0.72 0.80 0.56 0.91 0.91 1.00 0.98

ADEM biotic index 5.47 5.11 4.51 5.3 4.33 5.34 4.94 3.98

Percent of individuals with 

ADEM tolerance value

99.76 99.87 99.69 99.82 100 100 100 99.79

Number of intolerant taxa 1.0 1.0 5.0 1.0 5.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

Abundance of intolerant 

organisms

4.0 96.0 64.8 36.0 286.0 4.0 7.0 18.0

Intolerant organism 

abundance relative to 

total abundance 

0.3% 2.6% 15.2% 1.0% 41.0% 6.1% 11.9% 7.6%
62 Assessment of Water-Quality Conditions in Fivemile Creek in the Vicinity of the Fivemile Creek Greenway, Alabama

decrease with increasing stream impairment (Barbour and 

others, 1999). No chironomid taxa were identified in the 

sample from FMC at Brookside. Chironomid taxa richness 

at other sampled sites in FMC ranged from a low of 3 taxa at 

Graysville to a high of 14 taxa in the 2004 sample from Hewitt 

Park. In samples collected during November 2004, chironomid 

richness was highest at FMC at Hewitt Park and decreased 

downstream. The incidence of past mining activity and mining 

wastes is greater in the lower portion of the watershed (ecoregion 68f), and heavy-metals contamination would be expected 

to be greater in those areas. 

Dominant taxa at FMC sampling sites were usually 

mayflies, caddisflies, and chironomids (table 20). At all sites 

except Fivemile Road and Hewitt Park, the first dominant 

taxon accounted for more than 30 percent of the total benthic 

invertebrate abundance, which indicates possible community 

imbalance and environmental stressors. Isonychia sp., a fairly 

intolerant (ADEM tolerance value = 3.5; Alabama Department 

of Environmental Management, 1996) mayfly genus (appendix 3), represented more than half of the total abundance at 

Graysville, and the second and third dominant taxa at that 

site accounted for another quarter of the total invertebrates. 

Domination of the benthic invertebrate community by such 

a small number of taxa is often indicative of environmental 

stress (Alabama Department of Environmental Management, 

1996). The Brookside site was dominated by Stenonema 

mediopunctatum,

1

 another moderately intolerant mayfly, but 

1

 All members of the Stenonema genus except Stenonema femoratum now 

have been assigned to the genus Macaffertium. Stenonema was the correct 

genus at the time of sample analysis and is used in this report.

the second most common taxon at the site was the highly 

tolerant (ADEM tolerance value = 7.1; Alabama Department of Environmental Management, 1996) tubificid worms. 

The Cheumatopsyche and Hydropsyche caddisfly genera are 

members of the family Hydropsychidae, also known as the 

hydropsychid caddisflies. Species of hydropsychid caddisflies, 

which filter their food from the water column, were in the top 

three most abundant taxa at five of the sites. Hydropsychid 

caddisflies commonly dominate communities that receive 

large quantities of fine particulate organic matter (Alabama 

Department of Environmental Management, 1996), and their 

prevalence at several sites along FMC suggests that organic 

enrichment is occurring along the stream.

Total abundance of individual invertebrates varied 

greatly among the RTH samples, which were collected in 

riffle habitat (table 19, fig. 17). The greatest total abundances 

were observed at FMC at Hewitt Park (3,732 individuals) and 

Huffman Road (3,720 individuals) in 2003. Total abundance in 

RTH samples collected in 2004 was reduced in comparison to 

July 2003 samples at FMC at Hewitt Park where samples were 

collected both years. Total abundances in the RTH samples 

collected in November 2004 from FMC at Republic Ford and 

FMC at Brookside were 66 and 59 individuals, respectively, 

much less than in samples from other sites. The lower abundances suggest that benthic invertebrate communities at these 

two sites may be stressed. 

Qualitative-multihabitat (QMH) samples were intended to 

document the taxa present within all habitats in each sampling 

reach. QMH samples were only collected in November 2004, 

and total abundance in the QMH samples was relatively high, 

ranging from 946 at FMC at Hewitt Park to 4,607 at FMC at 

Brookside (appendix 3). These results indicate that sampling 

in a variety of habitats may be desirable when trying to characterize and compare sites. 

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

FMC at

Fivemile

Road 2003

FMC at

Huffman Rd.

2003

FMC at

Brookside

2004

FMC at

Graysville

2004

FMC at

Republic

Ford 2004

FMC below

Springdale

Road 2004

FMC at Hewitt Park

SAMPLE SITE AND YEAR

NUMBER OF TAXA

2003 2004

Taxa richness

EPT richness

Chironomid richness

Figure 16. Total taxa richness, Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, 

and Trichoptera (EPT) taxa richness, and chironomid taxa 

richness in richest targeted habitat (RTH) samples collected 

at selected sites along Fivemile Creek, Jefferson County, 

Alabama, 2003 and 2004. 

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

4,000

NUMBER OF INDIVIDUAL ORGANISMS

Total abundance

EPT abundance

Chironomid abundance

FMC at

Fivemile

Road 2003

FMC at

Huffman

Road 2003

FMC at

Brookside

2004

FMC at

Graysville

2004

FMC at

Republic

Ford 2004

FMC below

Springdale

Road 2004

FMC at Hewitt Park

SAMPLE SITE AND YEAR

2003 2004

Figure 17. Total, EPT, and chironomid abundance 

at selected sites along Fivemile Creek, Jefferson 

County, Alabama, July 2003 and November 2004. [EPT, 

Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera]
Benthic Invertebrate Communities 63

According to the ADEM, good biotic condition is indicated by evenly distributed abundance among the EPT taxa 

and the chironomid taxa (Alabama Department of Environmental Management, 1996). Abundance of EPT organisms 

ranged from 44.1 percent of total abundance at FMC at 

Fivemile Road to 95.0 percent of total abundance at FMC at 

Graysville (table 19). The relative abundance of organisms in 

the generally intolerant EPT orders is expected to decrease in 

response to stream perturbation (Barbour and others, 1999). 

EPT organisms account for a minimum of about 50 percent of 

total abundance in samples from sites along FMC, indicating 

that these intolerant organisms are not limited by the presence 

of environmental stressors. No chironomid organisms were 

identified in the sample from FMC at Brookside. Chironomid abundance at the other sites ranged from 2.1 percent of 

total abundance at FMC at Graysville to 47.3 percent of total 

abundance at FMC at Fivemile Road. Calculated ratios of 

EPT to chironomid abundance indicate poor biotic conditions 

at several of the sites along FMC. At FMC at Fivemile Road 

and at Huffman Road, ratios indicate that more chironomids 

are present than are members of the EPT taxa, which can 

indicate organic enrichment or contamination from heavy 

metals (Alabama Department of Environmental Management, 

1996). Ratios calculated for FMC below Springdale Road, at 

Republic Ford, at Brookside, and at Graysville indicate that 

EPT organisms greatly outnumber chironomid organisms. The 

imbalance between EPT and chironomid abundances indicates 

poor biotic conditions at these four sites as well.

Biotic-index (BI) values represent the average tolerance 

of the invertebrate community to degraded water quality. 

Lower BI values at a site indicate the presence of less tolerant, more sensitive invertebrate communities, and suggest that 

water-quality conditions at the site are adequate to support 

such a community. BI values ranged from 3.98 at FMC at 

Graysville to 5.47 at FMC at Fivemile Road (table 19). During July 2003, BI values were similar among the three sites 

sampled, ranging from 5.11 at FMC at Hewitt Park to 5.47 

at FMC at Fivemile Road (fig. 18). During November 2004, 

Table 20. Three most abundant invertebrate taxa and their respective cumulative percentages of total abundance at selected sites in 

Fivemile Creek, Jefferson County, Alabama, July 2003 and November 2004.

Station short name, 

number, 

and date of sample

1st Dominant Taxon 2nd Dominant Taxon 3rd Dominant Taxon Percentage of 

total 

abundance in 

first dominant 

taxon

Percentage of 

total 

abundance in 

first and 

second 

dominant taxa

Percentage of 

total 

abundance in 

first, second, 

and third 

dominant taxa

Scientific name Scientific name Scientific name

Common group 

name

Common group 

name

Common group 

name

FMC at Fivemile Rd. 

02456900

07/16/2003

Baetis flavistriga

mayfly

Cricotopus sp.

chironomid

Cricotopus 

bicinctus gr.

chironomid

26.2 43.13 59.42

FMC at Hewitt Park 

02457000

07/16/2003

Hydropsyche 

sparna1

caddisfly

Cheumatopsyche sp.

caddisfly

Baetis flavistriga

mayfly

29.58 49.2 60.45

FMC at Hewitt Park 

02456999

11/17/2004

Cheumatopsyche sp.

caddisfly

Simulium sp.

black fly

Chimarra obscura

caddisfly

19.1 37.08 50

FMC at Huffman Rd.

02457500

07/16/2003

Baetis flavistriga

mayfly

Cricotopus sp.

chironomid

Cricotopus 

bicinctus gr.

chironomid

34.52 50 60.65

FMC below Springdale Rd.

02457502

11/18/2004

Chimarra obscura

caddisfly

Cheumatopsyche sp.

caddisfly

Baetis flavistriga

mayfly

36.1 60.17 68.19

FMC at Republic Ford

02457599

11/19/2004

Cheumatopsyche sp.

caddisfly

Isonychia sp.

mayfly

Baetis flavistriga

mayfly

30.3 40.91 50

FMC at Brookside

02457625

11/18/2004

Stenonema 

mediopunctatum2

mayfly

Tubificidae

worm

Cheumatopsyche sp.

caddisfly

32.2 47.46 59.32

FMC at Graysville

02457700

11/19/2004

Isonychia sp.

mayfly

Stenonema 

mediopunctatum2

mayfly

Cheumatopsyche sp.

caddisfly

51.26 64.71 73.53

1

 Wiggins, 1996.

2

 All members of the Stenonema genus except Stenonema femoratum now have been assigned to the genus Macaffertium. Stenonema was the correct genus at 

the time of sample analysis and is used in this report.
64 Assessment of Water-Quality Conditions in Fivemile Creek in the Vicinity of the Fivemile Creek Greenway, Alabama

more variability was observed among the sites. The greatest 

BI values measured in 2004 RTH samples were from FMC 

at Republic Ford and FMC at Brookside. When compared 

to relations between BI values and water quality observed 

in North Carolina Piedmont streams (table 21), the ranges 

observed in this study indicate very good to excellent water 

quality along FMC. 

The number of intolerant taxa is expected to decrease 

in response to increasing stream perturbation (Barbour and 

others, 1999), but the absence of an intolerant taxon does not 

necessarily indicate that its environmental needs are not met 

in the stream (Johnson and others, 1993). All RTH samples 

collected along FMC had at least one intolerant taxon present (table 19). Samples from FMC at Hewitt Park in 2004 and 

from FMC below Springdale Road each had five intolerant 

taxa present. Intolerant organisms accounted for fairly low 

percentages of total abundance at most sites. The greatest percentage of intolerant organisms in an RTH sample (41.0 percent) was from FMC 

below Springdale 

Road. Though the 

presence of historical 

mining operations in 

the lower watershed 

is one explanation for 

the reduced numbers 

of intolerant taxa at 

the more downstream 

sites, ecoregion and 

habitat differences 

might also account 

for the reduced 

numbers.

Summary 

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation 

with the City of Tarrant, the Freshwater Land Trust, and the 

Jefferson County Commission, conducted a water-quality 

assessment of Fivemile Creek (FMC) during 2003–2005. 

Samples were collected from 12 sites along FMC and were 

analyzed for a variety of biological and chemical indicators of 

water-quality condition. Data collected during this assessment 

were compared to available standards, criteria, and guidelines 

to evaluate the suitability of the creek for human body-contact 

recreation and as habitat for aquatic organisms.

In most cases, properties of FMC measured at the time 

of sampling indicated water-quality conditions adequate for 

recreational and aquatic-life uses. Temperatures varied with 

season and meteorological conditions, never dropping below 

freezing. Specific conductance values ranged from 167 to 

637 microsiemens per centimeter (μS/cm), with slightly 

greater values recorded at the more downstream sites. Values 

of pH generally indicated neutral to slightly basic conditions, 

ranging from 6.4 to 8.7 units. One recorded pH value was outside the range recommended by the Alabama Department of 

Environmental Management; this value was measured at FMC 

at Fivemile Road. Dissolved-oxygen measurements indicated 

well-aerated to super-saturated conditions along the stream. 

Turbidity measurements ranged from 1.5 to 430 nephelometric 

turbidity ratio units and from 0.4 to 44 formazin nephelometric 

units, and could be used as a baseline for evaluating changes 

in optical properties of the stream.

Major ionic composition in FMC has been strongly 

influenced by the geology of the watershed. Limestone and 

dolomite present in the upper watershed have given the 

stream a strong calcium-magnesium bicarbonate signature. 

Downstream from ecoregion 67f, the proportions of sodium, 

chloride, and sulfate ions were greater than upstream.

High nutrient concentrations can fuel nuisance algal 

growth and cause changes in the ecological communities of 

streams. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) 

nutrient ecoregion criteria recommendations can be used to 

prioritize the location of nutrient-control efforts in the watershed. The highest concentrations of most nitrogen and phosphorus species were measured at the FMC at Lewisburg site, 

but the concentrations exceeded ecoregion criteria at many of 

the sites along FMC. 

Total nitrogen concentrations ranged from 0.91 to 

3.0 milligrams per liter (mg/L) and exceeded the USEPA’s 

respective ecoregion total nitrogen criterion for all samples at 

FMC at Hewitt Park, FMC below Springdale Road, FMC at 

Lewisburg, FMC near Republic, FMC at Brookside, and FMC 

at Linn Crossing. Total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) concentrations ranged from less than 0.1 to 0.9 mg/L and exceeded the 

USEPA’s respective ecoregion criterion for TKN in two samples from FMC at Hewitt Park, one sample from FMC below 

Springdale Road, all samples from FMC at Lewisburg, and in 

the single samples collected from FMC near Republic, FMC at 

3

3.5

4

4.5

5

5.5

6

BIOTIC INDEX CALCULATED USING ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT TOLERANCE VALUES 

02456900

FMC at

Fivemile

Road 2003

02457500

FMC at

Huffman

Road 2003

02457625

FMC at

Brookside

2004

02457700

FMC at

Linn

Crossing

2004

02457599

FMC at

Republic

Ford 2004

02457502

FMC below

Springdale

Road 2004

02456999

FMC at Hewitt Park

STATION NAME AND SAMPLE DATE

2003 2004

Figure 18. Biotic index values calculated for samples 

collected during July 2003 and November 2004 from 

selected sites along Fivemile Creek, Jefferson County, 

Alabama.

Table 21. North Carolina biotic index 

values and associated water-quality 

conditions (Alabama Department of 

Environmental Management, 1996).

Piedmont biotic 

index values

Water-quality 

conditions

0.00–5.18 Excellent

5.19–5.78 Very good

5.79–6.48 Good–Fair

6.49–7.48 Fair

7.49–10.00 Poor
Summary 65

Brookside, and FMC at Linn Crossing. Dissolved ammonia 

concentrations ranged from less than 0.04 to 0.26 mg/L. The 

maximum concentration (0.26 mg/L) and the highest median 

concentration (0.05 mg/L) were from FMC at Lewisburg. The 

high dissolved ammonia concentrations at FMC at Lewisburg 

are indicative of urban influences. Dissolved nitrite-plusnitrate concentrations ranged from 0.76 to 2.51 mg/L. Nitriteplus-nitrate concentrations exceeded the USEPA’s respective 

ecoregion nutrient criterion in 100 percent of the samples 

from FMC. The highest maximum concentration (2.51 mg/L) 

and median concentration (1.88 mg/L) of nitrite plus nitrate 

occurred at FMC at Lewisburg. 

Total phosphorus values ranged from 0.007 to 0.184 mg/L. 

The highest maximum concentration (0.184 mg/L) and median 

concentration (0.093 mg/L) of total phosphorus among sites 

with multiple samples occurred at FMC at Lewisburg. About 

58 percent of total phosphorus concentrations of all samples 

were above the respective ecoregion nutrient criterion. Total 

phosphorus concentrations in samples collected from FMC 

at Hewitt Park, FMC at Springdale Road, FMC at Lewisburg, FMC near Republic, FMC at Brookside, and FMC at 

Linn Crossing exceeded the total phosphorus criterion for the 

respective ecoregion. Dissolved phosphorus concentrations 

ranged from 0.004 to 0.12 mg/L, and dissolved orthophosphate concentrations ranged from less than 0.02 to 0.09 mg/L. 

Maximum and highest median concentrations for dissolved 

phosphorus (0.12 mg/L and 0.072 mg/L, respectively) and 

orthophosphate (0.09 mg/L and 0.04 mg/L, respectively) were 

observed at FMC at Lewisburg. 

Suspended chlorophyll a was measured and detected 

in seven samples collected from among five sites (FMC at 

Fivemile Road, FMC at Lawson Road, FMC at Hewitt Park, 

FMC at Huffman Road, and FMC near Republic). Suspended 

chlorophyll a concentrations ranged from 0.25 to 0.53 μg/L. 

The maximum concentration of suspended chlorophyll a was 

detected at FMC at Fivemile Road (0.53 μg/L). For rivers and 

streams in Level III ecoregions 67f and 68f within Nutrient Ecoregion XI, the USEPA recommends that suspended 

chlorophyll a not exceed 1.063 or 2 μg/L, respectively (U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency, 2000a). During this study, 

suspended chlorophyll a did not exceed these recommendations in any samples collected in the FMC watershed. 

Ninety-eight samples from FMC were analyzed for fecal 

coliform and E. coli, two types of bacteria that are indicative 

of fecal contamination. Samples were collected from 11 sites 

along FMC at varying frequencies. Sample results were compared to criteria established by the Alabama Department of 

Environmental Management (ADEM) and USEPA to protect 

human and aquatic health. The highest concentrations of fecal 

indicator bacteria measured in FMC occurred during elevated 

streamflow; most bacterial concentrations, however, showed 

little or no relation to streamflow, indicating a mix of point 

and nonpoint sources of fecal contamination.

Fecal-coliform concentrations from FMC sites ranged 

from 6 colonies per 100 milliliters (col/100 mL) at FMC at 

Fivemile Road to 10,000 col/100 mL in a sample from FMC 

below Springdale Road. Concentrations of fecal coliform 

exceeded criteria for human whole-body contact in some 

samples collected from seven sites on FMC: FMC at Hewitt 

Park, FMC at Huffman Road, FMC below Springdale Road, 

FMC at Lewisburg, FMC at Republic Ford, FMC at Brookside, and FMC at Linn Crossing. Fish and wildlife criteria 

were equaled or exceeded by fecal-coliform concentrations 

measured at five FMC sites: FMC at Hewitt Park, FMC below 

Springdale Road, FMC at Lewisburg, FMC at Republic Ford, 

and FMC at Brookside. At two sites, FMC below Springdale 

Road and FMC at Republic Ford, fecal-coliform concentrations exceeded the single-sample criterion for agricultural and 

industrial water supply (4,000 col/100 mL).

E. coli concentrations ranged from 8 col/100 mL at FMC 

below Springdale Road to 13,000 col/100 mL, also at the 

Springdale Road site. Maximum E. coli concentrations usually 

were in samples collected during high-flow conditions and 

exceeded the single-sample infrequently-used whole-body 

contact recreation area criterion (576 col/100 mL) at all but 

one site (FMC at Brookside Park) with multiple samples. 

Median E. coli concentrations for two of the seven sites with 

multiple samples, FMC at Hewitt Park and FMC at Brookside, 

exceeded the USEPA’s geometric mean criterion for wholebody contact (126 col/100 mL). The median E. coli concentration at Brookside, 845 col/100 mL, also exceeded USEPA’s 

single-sample maximum criterion for infrequently-used 

whole-body contact recreation areas. 

Discharges of wastewater can contribute a wide array of 

contaminants to streams, including many that are harmful to 

aquatic life. Twenty-nine samples were collected from sites 

along FMC and analyzed by the USGS National Water Quality 

Laboratory for the presence of 57 organic wastewater compounds. All detections of organic wastewater compounds were 

estimated below laboratory reporting limits except for several 

detections of the herbicide bromacil. Forty-six organic wastewater compounds were detected in FMC samples, representing 11 general-use categories. The most commonly detected 

categories were stimulants, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons 

(PAHs), pesticides, detergent degradates, and flavorings or 

fragrances. The number of compounds detected in a single 

sample ranged from 32 compounds from FMC at Lewisburg 

to no detections in some samples from FMC at Fivemile Road, 

FMC at Lawson Road, FMC at Republic Ford, and FMC at 

Linn Crossing. Caffeine, a stimulant, was the most commonly 

detected compound, and was present in approximately 50 

percent of the samples. Other compounds found in more than 

25 percent of the samples were DEET, naphthalene, phenol, fluoranthene, pyrene, 4-nonylphenol, and bisphenol A. 

Diethoxynonylphenol, bromacil, 4-nonylphenol, and cholesterol were the compounds detected or estimated in the highest 

concentrations. Twelve of the detected organic wastewater 

compounds are known or suspected to cause endocrine disruption. The greatest number and concentration of endocrine-disrupting compounds were detected at FMC at Lewisburg during 

high streamflow events. 
66 Assessment of Water-Quality Conditions in Fivemile Creek in the Vicinity of the Fivemile Creek Greenway, Alabama

A total of 33 surface-water samples were collected at 

10 sites in the FMC study area and analyzed for 85 pesticides 

and degradates. Of the 85 compounds, 22 were detected in 

one or more stream samples. Of the 22 detected pesticides, 

12 were herbicides, 9 were insecticides, and 1 was a fungicide. Atrazine and simazine were the most frequently detected 

herbicides. Fipronil sulfide was the most frequently detected 

insecticide-derived compound, and myclobutanil was the only 

detected fungicide.

Eleven of the pesticides detected in this study have 

recommended drinking-water standards, guidelines, or 

health advisory levels, and 8 of the pesticides detected in this 

study have aquatic-life criteria established by the USEPA, 

the National Academy of Sciences and National Academy 

of Engineering (NAS/NAE), and the Canadian Council of 

Ministers of the Environment. Estimated concentrations of 

one insecticide, dieldrin, exceeded the USEPA specific dose at 

10–6 cancer risk in one sample from FMC at Hewitt Park collected on July 18, 2005, and in one sample from FMC below 

Springdale Road on July 18, 2005. A few estimated concentrations of carbaryl and malathion exceeded aquatic-life criteria. 

Estimated concentrations of carbaryl exceeded the NAS/NAE 

aquatic-life criterion in samples collected in December 2004 

from FMC below Springdale Road (0.023 μg/L) and FMC at 

Republic Ford (0.064 μg/L). The estimated concentration of 

malathion measured at FMC at Lewisburg (0.022 μg/L) on 

July 18, 2005, exceeded the NAS/NAE criterion. Measured 

pesticide concentrations that exceeded water-quality standards 

and guidelines for pesticides to protect human health and 

aquatic life do not necessarily indicate that adverse effects are 

occurring, but rather, indicate that adverse effects may occur 

and that sites where water-quality standards and guidelines 

were exceeded may need further investigation.

A total of 37 surface-water samples were collected at 

10 sites in the FMC study area and analyzed for 18 trace elements. Of the 18 trace elements, 16 were detected in one or 

more stream samples. Concentrations of beryllium and silver 

were below detection levels in all samples. The concentration 

of aluminum in a sample from FMC at Linn Crossing and 

concentrations of manganese in single samples collected from 

FMC near Republic, FMC at Brookside, and FMC at Linn 

Crossing exceeded secondary drinking-water standards. The 

concentration of cadmium in a sample from FMC at Lewisburg exceeded the chronic aquatic-life criterion established 

by ADEM. 

Surface-water samples from three sites along FMC were 

analyzed for 57 semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs). No 

SVOCs were detected at FMC at Hewitt Park. Two SVOCs 

were detected in the sample from FMC below Springdale 

Road, and 10 SVOCs were detected at FMC at Lewisburg. 

All detected SVOC concentrations were estimated below the 

method detection limits.

Streambed-sediment samples were collected at seven 

sites along FMC, and analyzed for 98 SVOCs and 47 trace 

elements. Forty-nine SVOCs were detected in streambedsediment samples. Forty-five trace elements were detected at 

one or more FMC sites. 

Concentrations of SVOCs and trace elements in sediment 

were compared to sediment-quality guidelines designed to 

evaluate toxicity to sediment-dwelling organisms. Sedimentquality guidelines have been established for 15 individual 

SVOCs, 8 trace elements, total PAHs, and polychlorinated 

biphenyls. Concentrations of PAH compounds and trace 

elements detected in streambed-sediment samples exceeded 

probable-effect concentrations (PECs) at three sites: FMC at 

Huffman Road, FMC at Lewisburg, and FMC near Republic. Concentrations of nine PAH compounds exceeded their 

respective PECs. Anthracene, benzo[a]anthracene, benzo[a]

pyrene, chrysene, fluoranthene, phenanthrene, and pyrene 

concentrations were higher than PECs in the samples from 

FMC at Huffman Road, FMC at Lewisburg, and FMC near 

Republic. The naphthalene and 9H-fluorene concentrations 

in the sample from FMC at Lewisburg also were higher than 

the PEC. Total PAH-compound concentrations exceeded the 

PEC in the FMC at Huffman Road and FMC at Lewisburg 

samples. Concentrations of multiple individual PAH compounds exceeded threshold-effect concentrations (TECs) in 

every sample except one from FMC at Hewitt Park in 2005. 

No organochlorine-compound concentrations in streambedsediment samples exceeded PECs, but estimated concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) exceeded the 

TEC at FMC at Huffman Road in 2003 and at FMC below 

Springdale Road in 2005. Lead and zinc were the only trace 

elements with concentrations higher than their PECs. Most 

streambed-sediment samples from FMC contained concentrations of multiple trace elements above the TECs, suggesting 

that occasional detrimental effects on aquatic life are likely. 

The limited benthic invertebrate community data collected as part of this watershed assessment indicate that possible stream impairment exists at some of the sites. The low total 

abundance, low chironomid abundance, and relatively high 

biotic-index values at FMC at Brookside and FMC at Republic 

Ford during 2004 indicate poor water quality or the presence 

of some other environmental stressors. FMC at Graysville had 

greater Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera abundance 

and a lower biotic-index value than sites directly upstream, 

indicating better water quality than the upstream sites, but the 

abundance at FMC at Graysville was dominated by a few taxa, 

indicating possible impairment. Lower numbers of intolerant 

taxa at FMC at Republic Ford, Brookside, and Graysville than 

at the upstream sites FMC at Hewitt Park and FMC below 

Springdale Road in November 2004 also suggest that waterquality differences exist among the sites. Nearby historical 

mining sites may be a factor in the benthic invertebrate community impairment evident at the three downstream sites. A 

more structured study based on available water-chemistry data 

and incorporating hypotheses formed by this limited benthic 

invertebrate community collection could better determine 

differences in and effects of land use in benthic invertebrate 

communities in FMC. 
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at http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/criteria/nrwqc-2004.pdf

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Appendixes

Appendix 1. Summary of Descriptive Statistics of Selected Water-Quality Properties and Inorganic Constituents for Selected Surface-Water Sites aJefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005.—Continued[NWIS, National Water Information System; mS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter; °C, degrees Celsius; —, value not calculated; wf, filtered water; wu, unfiltered water; mg/L, mg/L, micrograms per liter; N, nitrogen; P, phosphorus; NTU, nephelometric turbidity units; FNU, formazin nephelometric units; mL, milliliters; modif m, modified m-TEC; *, log-probability regression to predict the values of data below the detection limit]

NWIS 

parameter 

code

Water-quality constituent Sample size Maximum Minimum Mean Median 95 % 75% 50% 

02456900, Fivemile Creek at Fivemile Road near Huffman, Alabama, December 2003

00010 Water temperature, °C 1 13.1 — — — — — 00095 Specific conductance, mS/cm at 25 °C 1 308 — — — — — 00400 pH 1 8.7 — — — — — 00300 Dissolved oxygen, mg/L 1 14.7 — — — — — 00930 Sodium, wf, mg/L 1 2.13 — — — — — 00935 Potassium, wf, mg/L 1 0.75 — — — — — 00915 Calcium, wf, mg/L 1 45.2 — — — — — 00925 Magnesium, wf, mg/L 1 19.9 — — — — — 00940 Chloride, wf, mg/L 1 3.70 — — — — — 00950 Fluoride, wf, mg/L 1 <0.17 — — — — — 00945 Sulfate, wf, mg/L 1 5.27 — — — — — 00623 Ammonia plus organic nitrogen, wf, mg/L as N 1 <0.10 — — — — — 00625 Ammonia plus organic nitrogen, wu, mg/L as N 1 <0.10 — — — — — 00608 Ammonia, wf, mg/L as N 1 <0.04 — — — — — 00631 NO2+NO3, wf, mg/L as N 1 0.76 — — — — — 00613 Nitrite, wf, mg/L as N 1 <0.008 — — — — — 00671 Orthophosphate, mg/L as P 1 <0.020 — — — — — 00666 Phosphorus, wf, mg/L 1 0.007 — — — — — 00665 Phosphorus, wu, mg/L 1 0.009 — — — — — 62360 Pheophytin a, mg/L 1 0.51 — — — — — 70953 Chlorophyll a, mg/L 1 0.53 — — — — — 31633 Escherichia coli, colonies per 100 mL 1 14 — — — — — 31625 Fecal coliform, colonies per 100 mL 1 6 — — — — — 01106 Aluminum, wf, mg/L 1 2.5 — — — — — 01095 Antimony, wf, mg/L 1 <0.20 — — — — — 
Appendix 1. Summary of Descriptive Statistics of Selected Water-Quality Properties and Inorganic Constituents for Selected Surface-Water Sites aJefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005.—Continued [NWIS, National Water Information System; mS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter; °C, degrees Celsius; —, value not calculated; wf, filtered water; wu, unfiltered water; mg/L, mg/L, micrograms per liter; N, nitrogen; P, phosphorus; NTU, nephelometric turbidity units; FNU, formazin nephelometric units; mL, milliliters; modif m, modified m-TEC; *, log-probability regression to predict the values of data below the detection limit] NWIS parameter code Water-quality constituent Sample size Maximum Minimum Mean Median 95 % 75% 50% 

02456900, Fivemile Creek at Fivemile Road near Huffman, Alabama, December 2003—Continued 01000 Arsenic, wf, mg/L 1 <1.9 — — — — — 

01005 Barium, wf, mg/L 1 21.4 — — — — — 01010 Beryllium, wf, mg/L 1 <0.060 — — — — — 01025 Cadmium, wf, mg/L 1 <0.040 — — — — — 01030 Chromium, wf, mg/L 1 <0.80 — — — — — 01035 Cobalt, wf, mg/L 1 0.146 — — — — — 01040 Copper, wf, mg/L 1 0.2 — — — — — 01046 Iron, wf, mg/L 1 <6.4 — — — — — 01049 Lead, wf, mg/L 1 <0.08 — — — — — 01056 Manganese, wf, mg/L 1 2.6 — — — — — 01060 Molybdenum, wf, mg/L 1 <0.4 — — — — — 01065 Nickel, wf, mg/L 1 0.13 — — — — — 01145 Selenium, wf, mg/L 1 <2.6 — — — — — 01075 Silver, wf, mg/L 1 <0.2 — — — — — 01090 Zinc, wf, mg/L 1 <0.6 — — — — — 22703 Uranium, wf, mg/L 1 0.26 — — — — — 

02456980, Fivemile Creek at Lawson Road near Tarrant City, Alabama, December 2003 00010 Water temperature, °C 1 9.6 — — — — — 

00095 Specific conductance, mS/cm at 25 °C 1 340 — — — — — 00400 pH 1 8.1 — — — — — 00300 Dissolved oxygen, mg/L 1 11.2 — — — — — 00930 Sodium, wf, mg/L 1 2.74 — — — — — 00935 Potassium, wf, mg/L 1 0.80 — — — — — 00915 Calcium, wf, mg/L 1 47.1 — — — — — 00925 Magnesium, wf, mg/L 1 22.7 — — — — — 00940 Chloride, wf, mg/L 1 4.34 — — — — — 
Appendix 1. Summary of Descriptive Statistics of Selected Water-Quality Properties and Inorganic Constituents for Selected Surface-Water Sites aJefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005.—Continued[NWIS, National Water Information System; mS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter; °C, degrees Celsius; —, value not calculated; wf, filtered water; wu, unfiltered water; mg/L, mg/L, micrograms per liter; N, nitrogen; P, phosphorus; NTU, nephelometric turbidity units; FNU, formazin nephelometric units; mL, milliliters; modif m, modified m-TEC; *, log-probability regression to predict the values of data below the detection limit]

NWIS 

parameter 

code

Water-quality constituent Sample size Maximum Minimum Mean Median 95 % 75% 50% 

02456980, Fivemile Creek at Lawson Road near Tarrant City, Alabama, December 2003—Continued

00950 Fluoride, wf, mg/L 1 <0.17 — — — — — 00945 Sulfate, wf, mg/L 1 5.69 — — — — — 00623 Ammonia plus organic nitrogen, wf, mg/L as N 1 <0.10 — — — — — 00625 Ammonia plus organic nitrogen, wu, mg/L as N 1 <0.10 — — — — — 00608 Ammonia, wf, mg/L as N 1 <0.04 — — — — — 00631 NO2+NO3, wf, mg/L as N 1 1.03 — — — — — 00613 Nitrite, wf, mg/L as N 1 <0.008 — — — — — 00671 Orthophosphate, mg/L as P 1 <0.020 — — — — — 00666 Phosphorus, wf, mg/L 1 0.007 — — — — — 00665 Phosphorus, wu, mg/L 1 0.009 — — — — — 62360 Pheophytin a, mg/L 1 0.36 — — — — — 70953 Chlorophyll a, mg/L 1 0.28 — — — — — 31633 Escherichia coli, colonies per 100 mL 1 160 — — — — — 31625 Fecal coliform, colonies per 100 mL 1 110 — — — — — 01106 Aluminum, wf, mg/L 1 1.6 — — — — — 01095 Antimony, wf, mg/L 1 <0.20 — — — — — 01000 Arsenic, wf, mg/L 1 <1.9 — — — — — 01005 Barium, wf, mg/L 1 25.6 — — — — — 01010 Beryllium, wf, mg/L 1 <0.060 — — — — — 01025 Cadmium, wf, mg/L 1 <0.040 — — — — — 01030 Chromium, wf, mg/L 1 <0.80 — — — — — 01035 Cobalt, wf, mg/L 1 0.151 — — — — — 01040 Copper, wf, mg/L 1 0.2 — — — — — 01046 Iron, wf, mg/L 1 <6.4 — — — — — 01049 Lead, wf, mg/L 1 <0.080 — — — — — 
Appendix 1. Summary of Descriptive Statistics of Selected Water-Quality Properties and Inorganic Constituents for Selected Surface-Water Sites aJefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005.—Continued [NWIS, National Water Information System; mS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter; °C, degrees Celsius; —, value not calculated; wf, filtered water; wu, unfiltered water; mg/L, mg/L, micrograms per liter; N, nitrogen; P, phosphorus; NTU, nephelometric turbidity units; FNU, formazin nephelometric units; mL, milliliters; modif m, modified m-TEC; *, log-probability regression to predict the values of data below the detection limit] NWIS parameter code Water-quality constituent Sample size Maximum Minimum Mean Median 95 % 75% 50% 

02456980, Fivemile Creek at Lawson Road near Tarrant City, Alabama, December 2003—Continued 01056 Manganese, wf, mg/L 1 14.4 — — — — — 

01060 Molybdenum, wf, mg/L 1 <0.4 — — — — — 01065 Nickel, wf, mg/L 1 0.12 — — — — — 01145 Selenium, wf, mg/L 1 <2.6 — — — — — 01075 Silver, wf, mg/L 1 <0.2 — — — — — 01090 Zinc, wf, mg/L 1 <0.6 — — — — — 22703 Uranium, wf, mg/L 1 0.30 — — — — — 

02456999, Fivemile Creek at Tarrant Park near Tarrant, Alabama, June 2003 to November 2005 00010 Water temperature, °C 33 23.1 10.5 20.2 23.0 22.0 20.9 

00095 Specific conductance, mS/cm at 25 °C 33 432 237 336 388 354 343 00400 pH 33 8.4 7.0 7.8 8.3 8.0 7.9 00300 Dissolved oxygen, mg/L 33 12.4 7.1 9.8 12 10.4 9.8 63676 Turbidity, NTRU 5 24 1.5 — — — — 63680 Turbidity, FNU 5 43 0.4 — — — — 00930 Sodium, wf, mg/L 11 2.88 1.90 2.50 2.88 2.67 2.52 00935 Potassium, wf, mg/L 11 1.70 0.76 1.10 1.70 1.30 1.08 00915 Calcium, wf, mg/L 11 45.4 32.0 40.4 45.4 42.2 41.6 00925 Magnesium, wf, mg/L 11 22.3 13.0 18.7 22.3 21.4 20.2 00452 Carbonate, wf, mg/L 4 2 0 — — — — 00453 Bicarbonate, wf, mg/L 4 215 179 — — — — 00940 Chloride, wf, mg/L 11 4.32 2.81 3.54 4.32 3.77 3.55 00950 Fluoride, wf, mg/L 11 <0.17 <0.17 — <0.17 <0.17 <0.17 00945 Sulfate, wf, mg/L 11 9.50 5.20 6.80 9.50 8.18 6.62 00623 Ammonia plus organic nitrogen, wf, mg/L as N 7 0.10 <0.10 — 0.10 <0.10 <0.10 00625 Ammonia plus organic nitrogen, wu, mg/L as N 7 0.30 <0.10 — 0.30 0.20 <0.10 
Appendix 1. Summary of Descriptive Statistics of Selected Water-Quality Properties and Inorganic Constituents for Selected Surface-Water Sites aJefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005.—Continued[NWIS, National Water Information System; mS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter; °C, degrees Celsius; —, value not calculated; wf, filtered water; wu, unfiltered water; mg/L, mg/L, micrograms per liter; N, nitrogen; P, phosphorus; NTU, nephelometric turbidity units; FNU, formazin nephelometric units; mL, milliliters; modif m, modified m-TEC; *, log-probability regression to predict the values of data below the detection limit]

NWIS 

parameter 

code

Water-quality constituent Sample size Maximum Minimum Mean Median 95 % 75% 50% 

02456999, Fivemile Creek at Tarrant Park near Tarrant, Alabama, June 2003 to November 2005—Continued

00608 Ammonia, wf, mg/L as N 7 <0.040 <0.040 — <0.040 <0.040 <0.0400631 NO2+NO3, wf, mg/L as N 7 1.02 0.76 0.91 1.02 0.98 0.94 00613 Nitrite, wf, mg/L as N 7 <0.008 <0.008 — <0.008 <0.008 <0.0000600 Total nitrogen, mg/L 3 1.2 0.91 — — — — 00671 Orthophosphate, mg/L as P 7 <0.020 <0.020 — <0.020 <0.020 <0.0200666 Phosphorus, wf, mg/L 7 0.024 0.006 0.010 0.024 0.013 0.0000665 Phosphorus, wu, mg/L 7 0.065 0.007 0.018 0.065 0.015 0.0062360 Pheophytin a, mg/L 2 0.33 0.31 — — — — 70953 Chlorophyll a, mg/L 2 0.37 0.29 — — — — 90902 Escherichia coli, modif m colonies per 100 mL 6 120 25 70 120 102 66 31633 Escherichia coli, colonies per 100 mL 25 3,400 30 380 2,600 520 200 31625 Fecal coliform, colonies per 100 mL 24 2,100 53 324 1,800 338 200 01106 Aluminum, wf, mg/L 11 8.3 1.6 5.3 8.3 6.4 6.0 01095 Antimony, wf, mg/L 11 0.20 <0.20 — 0.20 <0.20 <0.20 01000 Arsenic, wf, mg/L 11 <1.9 <1.9 — <1.9 <1.9 <1.9 01005 Barium, wf, mg/L 11 60.7 26.4 32.6 60.7 32.7 30.3 01010 Beryllium, wf, mg/L 11 <0.060 <0.060 — <0.060 <0.060 <0.0601025 Cadmium, wf, mg/L 11 <0.040 <0.040 — <0.040 <0.040 <0.0401030 Chromium, wf, mg/L 11 <0.80 <0.80 — <0.80 <0.80 <0.80 01035 Cobalt, wf, mg/L 11 0.221 0.091 0.142 0.221 0.165 0.1201040 Copper, wf, mg/L 11 1.4 0.3 0.7 1.4 0.8 0.6 01046 Iron, wf, mg/L 11 11.0 <6.4 — 11.0 7.0 <6.4 01049 Lead, wf, mg/L 11 <0.080 <0.080 — <0.080 <0.080 <0.0801056 Manganese, wf, mg/L 11 8.8 3.9 6 8.8 7.3 6.0 01060 Molybdenum, wf, mg/L 11 0.7 <0.4 0.443* 0.7 0.6 <0.4 
Appendix 1. Summary of Descriptive Statistics of Selected Water-Quality Properties and Inorganic Constituents for Selected Surface-Water Sites aJefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005.—Continued [NWIS, National Water Information System; mS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter; °C, degrees Celsius; —, value not calculated; wf, filtered water; wu, unfiltered water; mg/L, mg/L, micrograms per liter; N, nitrogen; P, phosphorus; NTU, nephelometric turbidity units; FNU, formazin nephelometric units; mL, milliliters; modif m, modified m-TEC; *, log-probability regression to predict the values of data below the detection limit] NWIS parameter code Water-quality constituent Sample size Maximum Minimum Mean Median 95 % 75% 50% 

02456999, Fivemile Creek at Tarrant Park near Tarrant, Alabama, June 2003 to November 2005—Continued 01065 Nickel, wf, mg/L 11 2.46 <0.060 1.167* 2.46 1.77 1.21 

01145 Selenium, wf, mg/L 11 <2.6 <2.6 — <2.6 <2.6 <2.6 01075 Silver, wf, mg/L 11 <0.2 <0.2 — <0.2 <0.2 <0.2 01090 Zinc, wf, mg/L 11 12.7 <0.6 2.205* 12.7 1.4 1.1 22703 Uranium, wf, mg/L 11 0.38 0.050 0.26 0.38 0.33 0.28 

02457500, Fivemile Creek at Tarrant City, Alabama, June 2003 to December 2003 00010 Water temperature, °C 16 23.2 11.0 20.8 23.2 23 22 

00095 Specific conductance, mS/cm at 25 °C 16 423 276 341 423 358 340 00400 pH 16 8.4 7.4 7.9 8.4 8.1 7.9 00300 Dissolved oxygen, mg/L 16 13.400 8.7 10.3 13.4 11.1 10.2 00930 Sodium, wf, mg/L 2 2.78 2.66 — — — — 00935 Potassium, wf, mg/L 2 0.99 0.95 — — — — 00915 Calcium, wf, mg/L 2 44.0 42.3 — — — — 00925 Magnesium, wf, mg/L 2 20.7 20.0 — — — — 00940 Chloride, wf, mg/L 2 4.18 3.97 — — — — 00950 Fluoride, wf, mg/L 2 <0.17 <0.17 — — — — 00945 Sulfate, wf, mg/L 2 9.04 6.54 — — — — 00623 Ammonia plus organic nitrogen, wf, mg/L as N 2 <0.10 <0.10 — — — — 00625 Ammonia plus organic nitrogen, wu, mg/L as N 2 <0.10 <0.10 — — — — 00608 Ammonia, wf, mg/L as N 2 <0.040 <0.040 — — — — 00631 NO2+NO3, wf, mg/L as N 2 0.89 0.81 — — — — 00613 Nitrite, wf, mg/L as N 2 <0.008 <0.008 — — — — 00671 Orthophosphate, mg/L as P 2 <0.020 <0.020 — — — — 00666 Phosphorus, wf, mg/L 2 0.005 0.005 — — — — 00665 Phosphorus, wu, mg/L 2 0.009 0.008 — — — — 
Appendix 1. Summary of Descriptive Statistics of Selected Water-Quality Properties and Inorganic Constituents for Selected Surface-Water Sites aJefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005.—Continued[NWIS, National Water Information System; mS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter; °C, degrees Celsius; —, value not calculated; wf, filtered water; wu, unfiltered water; mg/L, mg/L, micrograms per liter; N, nitrogen; P, phosphorus; NTU, nephelometric turbidity units; FNU, formazin nephelometric units; mL, milliliters; modif m, modified m-TEC; *, log-probability regression to predict the values of data below the detection limit]

NWIS 

parameter 

code

Water-quality constituent Sample size Maximum Minimum Mean Median 95 % 75% 50% 

02457500, Fivemile Creek at Tarrant City, Alabama, June 2003 to December 2003—Continued

62360 Pheophytin a, mg/L 2 0.49 0.39 — — — — 70953 Chlorophyll a, mg/L 2 0.44 0.25 — — — — 31633 Escherichia coli, colonies per 100 mL 15 800 14 171 800 210 82 31625 Fecal coliform, colonies per 100 mL 14 880 11 219 880 338 88 01106 Aluminum, wf, mg/L 2 2.4 2.0 — — — — 01095 Antimony, wf, mg/L 2 <0.20 <0.20 — — — — 01000 Arsenic, wf, mg/L 2 <1.9 <1.9 — — — — 01005 Barium, wf, mg/L 2 29.7 26.0 — — — — 01010 Beryllium, wf, mg/L 2 <0.060 <0.060 — — — — 01025 Cadmium, wf, mg/L 2 <0.040 <0.040 — — — — 01030 Chromium, wf, mg/L 2 <0.80 <0.80 — — — — 01035 Cobalt, wf, mg/L 2 0.164 0.138 — — — — 01040 Copper, wf, mg/L 2 0.4 0.3 — — — — 01046 Iron, wf, mg/L 2 9.3 <6.4 — — — — 01049 Lead, wf, mg/L 2 <0.08 <0.08 — — — — 01056 Manganese, wf, mg/L 2 10.7 7.2 — — — — 01060 Molybdenum, wf, mg/L 2 <0.4 <0.4 — — — — 01065 Nickel, wf, mg/L 2 0.49 0.20 — — — — 01145 Selenium, wf, mg/L 2 <2.6 <2.6 — — — — 01075 Silver, wf, mg/L 2 <0.2 <0.2 — — — — 01090 Zinc, wf, mg/L 2 3.5 1.9 — — — — 22703 Uranium, wf, mg/L 2 0.38 0.32 — — — — 

02457502, Fivemile Creek below Springdale Road near Tarrant, Alabama, June 2004 to November 2005

00010 Water temperature, °C 15 27.7 17.0 22.4 27.7 24.1 23.0 00095 Specific conductance, mS/cm at 25 °C 15 397 167 343 397 380 355 00400 pH 15 8.2 7.0 8 8.2 8.1 8.1 
Appendix 1. Summary of Descriptive Statistics of Selected Water-Quality Properties and Inorganic Constituents for Selected Surface-Water Sites aJefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005.—Continued [NWIS, National Water Information System; mS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter; °C, degrees Celsius; —, value not calculated; wf, filtered water; wu, unfiltered water; mg/L, mg/L, micrograms per liter; N, nitrogen; P, phosphorus; NTU, nephelometric turbidity units; FNU, formazin nephelometric units; mL, milliliters; modif m, modified m-TEC; *, log-probability regression to predict the values of data below the detection limit] NWIS parameter code Water-quality constituent Sample size Maximum Minimum Mean Median 95 % 75% 50% 

02457502, Fivemile Creek below Springdale Road near Tarrant, Alabama, June 2004 to November 2005—Continued 00300 Dissolved oxygen, mg/L 14 11.4 7.9 9.7 11.4 10.5 9.7 

63676 Turbidity, NTRU 1 210 — — — — — 63680 Turbidity, FNU 4 44 1.1 — — — — 00930 Sodium, wf, mg/L 8 3.25 1.45 2.58 3.25 3.04 2.76 00935 Potassium, wf, mg/L 8 1.97 0.89 1.36 1.97 1.80 1.27 00915 Calcium, wf, mg/L 8 48.9 20.5 39.1 48.9 45.7 41.1 00925 Magnesium, wf, mg/L 8 24.0 7.34 18 24.0 22.8 18.7 00452 Carbonate, wf, mg/L 4 2 0 — — — — 00453 Bicarbonate, wf, mg/L 4 227 195 — — — — 00940 Chloride, wf, mg/L 8 4.78 1.85 3.63 4.78 4.29 3.62 00950 Fluoride, wf, mg/L 8 <0.17 <0.17 — <0.17 <0.17 <0.17 00945 Sulfate, wf, mg/L 8 30.5 10.1 17.1 30.5 20.0 17.8 00623 Ammonia plus organic nitrogen, wf, mg/L as N 5 0.10 <0.10 — — — 0.08 00625 Ammonia plus organic nitrogen, wu, mg/L as N 5 0.20 <0.10 — — — 0.10 00608 Ammonia, wf, mg/L as N 5 <0.04 <0.04 — — — 0.04 00631 NO2+NO3, wf, mg/L as N 5 1.06 0.78 — — — 0.96 00613 Nitrite, wf, mg/L as N 5 <0.008 <0.008 — — — 0.01 00600 Total nitrogen, mg/L 4 1.20 0.92 — — — 1.10 00671 Orthophosphate, mg/L as P 5 <0.020 <0.020 — — — 0.02 00666 Phosphorus, wf, mg/L 5 0.016 0.004 — — — 0.01 00665 Phosphorus, wu, mg/L 5 0.051 0.008 — — — 0.01 90902 Escherichia coli, modif m colonies per 100 mL 6 68 8 37 68 66 36 31633 Escherichia coli, colonies per 100 mL 8 13,000 31 2,020 13,000 1,725 200 31625 Fecal coliform, colonies per 100 mL 7 10,000 14 1,600 10,000 500 130 01106 Aluminum, wf, mg/L 8 33.9 3.6 11.1 34 14.5 6.85 
Appendix 1. Summary of Descriptive Statistics of Selected Water-Quality Properties and Inorganic Constituents for Selected Surface-Water Sites aJefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005.—Continued[NWIS, National Water Information System; mS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter; °C, degrees Celsius; —, value not calculated; wf, filtered water; wu, unfiltered water; mg/L, mg/L, micrograms per liter; N, nitrogen; P, phosphorus; NTU, nephelometric turbidity units; FNU, formazin nephelometric units; mL, milliliters; modif m, modified m-TEC; *, log-probability regression to predict the values of data below the detection limit]

NWIS 

parameter 

code

Water-quality constituent Sample size Maximum Minimum Mean Median 95 % 75% 50% 

02457502, Fivemile Creek below Springdale Road near Tarrant, Alabama, June 2004 to November 2005—Continued

01095 Antimony, wf, mg/L 8 0.20 <0.20 — 0.20 <0.20 <0.20 01000 Arsenic, wf, mg/L 8 <1.9 <1.9 — <1.9 <1.9 <1.9 01005 Barium, wf, mg/L 8 36.1 17.8 30.1 36.1 35.0 31.6 01010 Beryllium, wf, mg/L 8 <0.060 <0.060 — <0.060 <0.060 <0.0601025 Cadmium, wf, mg/L 8 <0.040 <0.040 — <0.040 <0.040 <0.0401030 Chromium, wf, mg/L 8 <0.80 <0.80 — <0.80 <0.80 <0.80 01035 Cobalt, wf, mg/L 8 0.387 0.131 0.208 0.387 0.239 0.1901040 Copper, wf, mg/L 8 2.2 0.5 1.0 2.2 1.2 1 01046 Iron, wf, mg/L 8 47 <6.4 — 47 <6.4 <6.4 01049 Lead, wf, mg/L 8 0.15 <0.080 — 0.15 <0.080 <0.0801056 Manganese, wf, mg/L 8 11.7 5.4 7.8 11.7 9.3 7.5 01060 Molybdenum, wf, mg/L 8 1.7 0.5 0.9 1.7 1.2 0.8 01065 Nickel, wf, mg/L 8 2.7 0.84 1.76 2.70 2.30 1.78 01145 Selenium, wf, mg/L 8 3.7 <2.6 — 3.70 <2.6 <2.6 01075 Silver, wf, mg/L 8 <0.2 <0.2 — <0.2 <0.2 <0.2 01090 Zinc, wf, mg/L 8 4.4 0.6 1.5 4.4 1.6 1.2 22703 Uranium, wf, mg/L 8 0.99 0.22 0.52 0.99 0.75 0.47 

02457510, Fivemile Creek at Lewisburg, Alabama, June 2004 to November 2005

00010 Water temperature, °C 15 27.6 19.8 24.4 27.6 26.2 25.2 00095 Specific conductance, mS/cm at 25 °C 15 637 358 495 637 537 512 00400 pH 15 8.4 7.1 7.9 8.4 8.1 8.0 00300 Dissolved oxygen, mg/L 15 11.4 7.0 8.9 11.4 9.6 8.7 63676 Turbidity, NTRU 1 3.3 — — — — — 63680 Turbidity, FNU 3 44 1.6 — — — — 00930 Sodium, wf, mg/L 8 52.1 12.1 30.9 52.1 38.9 32.6 00935 Potassium, wf, mg/L 8 7.50 3.29 4.80 7.50 5.26 4.49 
Appendix 1. Summary of Descriptive Statistics of Selected Water-Quality Properties and Inorganic Constituents for Selected Surface-Water Sites aJefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005.—Continued [NWIS, National Water Information System; mS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter; °C, degrees Celsius; —, value not calculated; wf, filtered water; wu, unfiltered water; mg/L, mg/L, micrograms per liter; N, nitrogen; P, phosphorus; NTU, nephelometric turbidity units; FNU, formazin nephelometric units; mL, milliliters; modif m, modified m-TEC; *, log-probability regression to predict the values of data below the detection limit] NWIS parameter code Water-quality constituent Sample size Maximum Minimum Mean Median 95 % 75% 50% 

02457510, Fivemile Creek at Lewisburg, Alabama, June 2004 to November 2005—Continued 00915 Calcium, wf, mg/L 8 56.2 36.9 48.6 56.2 50.2 49.7 

00925 Magnesium, wf, mg/L 8 16.9 10.8 15.5 16.9 16.5 16.0 00452 Carbonate, wf, mg/L 3 0.7 0.0 — — — — 00453 Bicarbonate, wf, mg/L 3 178 168 — — — — 00940 Chloride, wf, mg/L 8 31.0 6.84 21.47 31.0 30.8 23.3 00950 Fluoride, wf, mg/L 8 0.95 0.37 0.68 0.95 0.82 0.69 00945 Sulfate, wf, mg/L 8 118 46.2 78.3 118 99.8 74.8 00623 Ammonia plus organic nitrogen, wf, mg/L as N 5 0.50 0.30 — — — 0.4 00625 Ammonia plus organic nitrogen, wu, mg/L as N 5 0.90 0.40 — — — 0.5 00608 Ammonia, wf, mg/L as N 5 0.26 <0.040 — — — 0.05 00618 Nitrate, wf, mg/L as N 5 2.48 1.62 — — — 1.82 00631 NO2+NO3, wf, mg/L as N 5 2.51 1.64 — — — 1.88 00613 Nitrite, wf, mg/L as N 5 0.120 0.020 — — — 0.04 00600 Total nitrogen, mg/L 5 3.0 2.0 — — — 2.4 00671 Orthophosphate, mg/L as P 5 0.090 0.020 — — — 0.04 00666 Phosphorus, wf, mg/L 5 0.120 0.044 — — — 0.0700665 Phosphorus, wu, mg/L 5 0.184 0.068 — — — 0.0990902 Escherichia coli, modif m colonies per 100 mL 6 80 15 50 80 68 53 31633 Escherichia coli, colonies per 100 mL 7 2,000 20 763 2,000 2,000 320 31625 Fecal coliform, colonies per 100 mL 6 1,000 34 400 1,000 760 315 01106 Aluminum, wf, mg/L 8 37.9 14.0 26.4 37.9 36.6 27.6 01095 Antimony, wf, mg/L 8 0.40 0.30 0.35 0.40 0.40 0.35 01000 Arsenic, wf, mg/L 8 4.1 <1.9 2.974* 4.1 3.4 2.8 01005 Barium, wf, mg/L 8 126 50 86 126 116 86 01010 Beryllium, wf, mg/L 8 <0.060 <0.060 — <0.060 <0.060 <0.06
Appendix 1. Summary of Descriptive Statistics of Selected Water-Quality Properties and Inorganic Constituents for Selected Surface-Water Sites aJefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005.—Continued[NWIS, National Water Information System; mS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter; °C, degrees Celsius; —, value not calculated; wf, filtered water; wu, unfiltered water; mg/L, mg/L, micrograms per liter; N, nitrogen; P, phosphorus; NTU, nephelometric turbidity units; FNU, formazin nephelometric units; mL, milliliters; modif m, modified m-TEC; *, log-probability regression to predict the values of data below the detection limit]

NWIS 

parameter 

code

Water-quality constituent Sample size Maximum Minimum Mean Median 95 % 75% 50% 

02457510, Fivemile Creek at Lewisburg, Alabama, June 2004 to November 2005—Continued

01025 Cadmium, wf, mg/L 8 0.41 <0.040 — 0.41 <0.040 <0.0401030 Chromium, wf, mg/L 8 2.10 <0.80 1.337* 2.1 1.3 1.2 01035 Cobalt, wf, mg/L 8 0.410 0.239 0.318 0.410 0.377 0.3101040 Copper, wf, mg/L 8 2.1 0.8 1.7 2.1 2.1 1.7 01046 Iron, wf, mg/L 8 29 11 22 29 28 26 01049 Lead, wf, mg/L 8 0.11 <0.080 — 0.11 <0.080 <0.0801056 Manganese, wf, mg/L 8 34.6 18.7 24.8 34.6 28.2 24.1 01060 Molybdenum, wf, mg/L 8 6.4 1.6 3.5 6.4 4.5 3.4 01065 Nickel, wf, mg/L 8 3.05 0.58 2.05 3.05 2.74 2.34 01145 Selenium, wf, mg/L 8 7.8 <2.6 4.281* 7.8 5.4 3.6 01075 Silver, wf, mg/L 8 <0.2 <0.2 — <0.2 <0.2 <0.2 01090 Zinc, wf, mg/L 8 5.2 1.4 2.6 5.2 3.5 2.2 22703 Uranium, wf, mg/L 8 0.98 0.42 0.63 0.98 0.83 0.57 

02457595, Fivemile Creek near Republic, Alabama, December 2003

00010 Water temperature, °C 1 6.9 — — — — — 

00095 Specific conductance, mS/cm at 25 °C 1 578 — — — — — 00400 pH 1 8.1 — — — — — 00300 Dissolved oxygen, mg/L 1 13.1 — — — — — 00930 Sodium, wf, mg/L 1 58.4 — — — — — 00935 Potassium, wf, mg/L 1 3.40 — — — — — 00915 Calcium, wf, mg/L 1 47.2 — — — — — 00925 Magnesium, wf, mg/L 1 18.2 — — — — — 00940 Chloride, wf, mg/L 1 20.7 — — — — — 00950 Fluoride, wf, mg/L 1 0.73 — — — — — 00945 Sulfate, wf, mg/L 1 98.1 — — — — — 00623 Ammonia plus organic nitrogen, wf, mg/L as N 1 0.30 — — — — — 
Appendix 1. Summary of Descriptive Statistics of Selected Water-Quality Properties and Inorganic Constituents for Selected Surface-Water Sites aJefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005.—Continued [NWIS, National Water Information System; mS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter; °C, degrees Celsius; —, value not calculated; wf, filtered water; wu, unfiltered water; mg/L, mg/L, micrograms per liter; N, nitrogen; P, phosphorus; NTU, nephelometric turbidity units; FNU, formazin nephelometric units; mL, milliliters; modif m, modified m-TEC; *, log-probability regression to predict the values of data below the detection limit] NWIS parameter code Water-quality constituent Sample size Maximum Minimum Mean Median 95 % 75% 50% 

02457595, Fivemile Creek near Republic, Alabama, December 2003—Continued 00625 Ammonia plus organic nitrogen, wu, mg/L as N 1 0.30 — — — — — 

00608 Ammonia, wf, mg/L as N 1 <0.040 — — — — — 00618 Nitrate, wf, mg/L as N 1 2.45 — — — — — 00631 NO2+NO3, wf, mg/L as N 1 2.47 — — — — — 00613 Nitrite, wf, mg/L as N 1 0.020 — — — — — 00600 Total nitrogen, mg/L 1 2.7 — — — — — 00671 Orthophosphate, mg/L as P 1 0.040 — — — — — 00666 Phosphorus, wf, mg/L 1 0.081 — — — — — 00665 Phosphorus, wu, mg/L 1 0.097 — — — — — 62360 Pheophytin a, mg/L 1 0.69 — — — — — 70953 Chlorophyll a, mg/L 1 0.38 — — — — — 31633 Escherichia coli, colonies per 100 mL 1 60 — — — — — 31625 Fecal coliform, colonies per 100 mL 1 64 — — — — — 01106 Aluminum, wf, mg/L 1 23.9 — — — — — 01095 Antimony, wf, mg/L 1 <0.20 — — — — — 01000 Arsenic, wf, mg/L 1 3.0 — — — — — 01005 Barium, wf, mg/L 1 37.7 — — — — — 01010 Beryllium, wf, mg/L 1 <0.060 — — — — — 01025 Cadmium, wf, mg/L 1 <0.040 — — — — — 01030 Chromium, wf, mg/L 1 <0.80 — — — — — 01035 Cobalt, wf, mg/L 1 0.366 — — — — — 01040 Copper, wf, mg/L 1 1.0 — — — — — 01046 Iron, wf, mg/L 1 39.3 — — — — — 01049 Lead, wf, mg/L 1 <0.080 — — — — — 01056 Manganese, wf, mg/L 1 76.3 — — — — — 01060 Molybdenum, wf, mg/L 1 5.2 — — — — — 01065 Nickel, wf, mg/L 1 1.41 — — — — — 
Appendix 1. Summary of Descriptive Statistics of Selected Water-Quality Properties and Inorganic Constituents for Selected Surface-Water Sites aJefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005.—Continued[NWIS, National Water Information System; mS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter; °C, degrees Celsius; —, value not calculated; wf, filtered water; wu, unfiltered water; mg/L, mg/L, micrograms per liter; N, nitrogen; P, phosphorus; NTU, nephelometric turbidity units; FNU, formazin nephelometric units; mL, milliliters; modif m, modified m-TEC; *, log-probability regression to predict the values of data below the detection limit]

NWIS 

parameter 

code

Water-quality constituent Sample size Maximum Minimum Mean Median 95 % 75% 50% 

02457595, Fivemile Creek near Republic, Alabama, December 2003—Continued

01145 Selenium, wf, mg/L 1 4.7 — — — — — 01075 Silver, wf, mg/L 1 <0.2 — — — — — 01090 Zinc, wf, mg/L 1 2.4 — — — — — 22703 Uranium, wf, mg/L 1 0.53 — — — — — 

02457599, Fivemile Creek at Republic Ford, Alabama, November 2004 to September 2005

00010 Water temperature, °C 8 26.6 16.2 23.5 26.6 25.8 24.1 00095 Specific conductance, mS/cm at 25 °C 8 581 332 513 581 574 534 00400 pH 8 8.2 6.4 7.8 8.2 8.1 7.9 00300 Dissolved oxygen, mg/L 8 11.1 7.8 9.1 11.1 9.9 8.8 63676 Turbidity, NTRU 2 430 2.8 — — — — 63680 Turbidity, FNU 2 2.8 1.8 — — — — 00930 Sodium, wf, mg/L 2 44.5 16.1 — — — — 00935 Potassium, wf, mg/L 2 5.07 3.15 — — — — 00915 Calcium, wf, mg/L 2 44.4 27.9 — — — — 00925 Magnesium, wf, mg/L 2 16.2 11.2 — — — — 00940 Chloride, wf, mg/L 2 22.0 6.17 — — — — 00950 Fluoride, wf, mg/L 2 0.55 0.23 — — — — 00945 Sulfate, wf, mg/L 2 77.0 54.0 — — — — 90902 Escherichia coli, modif m colonies per 100 mL 6 110 53 77 110 99 73 31633 Escherichia coli, colonies per 100 mL 4 9,000 30 — — — — 31625 Fecal coliform, colonies per 100 mL 3 9,400 71 — — — — 01106 Aluminum, wf, mg/L 2 21.0 18.0 — — — — 01095 Antimony, wf, mg/L 2 0.20 <0.20 — — — — 01000 Arsenic, wf, mg/L 2 <1.9 <1.9 — — — — 01005 Barium, wf, mg/L 2 53.9 31.8 — — — — 
Appendix 1. Summary of Descriptive Statistics of Selected Water-Quality Properties and Inorganic Constituents for Selected Surface-Water Sites aJefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005.—Continued [NWIS, National Water Information System; mS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter; °C, degrees Celsius; —, value not calculated; wf, filtered water; wu, unfiltered water; mg/L, mg/L, micrograms per liter; N, nitrogen; P, phosphorus; NTU, nephelometric turbidity units; FNU, formazin nephelometric units; mL, milliliters; modif m, modified m-TEC; *, log-probability regression to predict the values of data below the detection limit] NWIS parameter code Water-quality constituent Sample size Maximum Minimum Mean Median 95 % 75% 50% 

02457599, Fivemile Creek at Republic Ford, Alabama, November 2004 to September 2005—Continued 01010 Beryllium, wf, mg/L 2 <0.060 <0.060 — — — — 

01025 Cadmium, wf, mg/L 2 <0.040 <0.040 — — — — 01030 Chromium, wf, mg/L 2 <0.80 <0.80 — — — — 01035 Cobalt, wf, mg/L 2 0.315 0.270 — — — — 01040 Copper, wf, mg/L 2 2.0 1.2 — — — — 01046 Iron, wf, mg/L 2 51 32 — — — — 01049 Lead, wf, mg/L 2 0.14 <0.080 — — — — 01056 Manganese, wf, mg/L 2 39.8 16.3 — — — — 01060 Molybdenum, wf, mg/L 2 2.5 0.9 — — — — 01065 Nickel, wf, mg/L 2 2.04 1.05 — — — — 01145 Selenium, wf, mg/L 2 <2.6 <2.6 — — — — 01075 Silver, wf, mg/L 2 <0.2 <0.2 — — — — 01090 Zinc, wf, mg/L 2 7.6 1.5 — — — — 22703 Uranium, wf, mg/L 2 0.50 0.31 — — — — 

02457625, Fivemile Creek at Brookside, Alabama, November 2004 to December 2004 00010 Water temperature, °C 2 22.1 14.3 — — — — 

00095 Specific conductance, mS/cm at 25 °C 2 483 431 — — — — 00400 pH 2 8.1 6.6 — — — — 00300 Dissolved oxygen mg/L 2 9.8 8.9 — — — — 63676 Turbidity, NTRU 1 9.7 — — — — — 00930 Sodium, wf, mg/L 2 46.1 24.7 — — — — 00935 Potassium, wf, mg/L 2 5.05 3.53 — — — — 00915 Calcium, wf, mg/L 2 45.1 41.9 — — — — 00925 Magnesium, wf, mg/L 2 16.9 16.0 — — — — 00940 Chloride, wf, mg/L 2 18.7 7.94 — — — — 
Appendix 1. Summary of Descriptive Statistics of Selected Water-Quality Properties and Inorganic Constituents for Selected Surface-Water Sites aJefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005.—Continued[NWIS, National Water Information System; mS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter; °C, degrees Celsius; —, value not calculated; wf, filtered water; wu, unfiltered water; mg/L, mg/L, micrograms per liter; N, nitrogen; P, phosphorus; NTU, nephelometric turbidity units; FNU, formazin nephelometric units; mL, milliliters; modif m, modified m-TEC; *, log-probability regression to predict the values of data below the detection limit]

NWIS 

parameter 

code

Water-quality constituent Sample size Maximum Minimum Mean Median 95 % 75% 50% 

02457625, Fivemile Creek at Brookside, Alabama, November 2004 to December 2004—Continued

00950 Fluoride, wf, mg/L 2 0.53 0.27 — — — — 00945 Sulfate, wf, mg/L 2 94.1 72.0 — — — — 00623 Ammonia plus organic nitrogen, wf, mg/L as N 1 0.20 — — — — — 00625 Ammonia plus organic nitrogen, wu, mg/L as N 1 0.20 — — — — — 00608 Ammonia, wf, mg/L as N 1 0.040 — — — — — 00618 Nitrate, wf, mg/L as N 1 1.55 — — — — — 00631 NO2+NO3, wf, mg/L as N 1 1.58 — — — — — 00613 Nitrite, wf, mg/L as N 1 0.040 — — — — — 00600 Total nitrogen, mg/L 1 1.8 — — — — — 00671 Orthophosphate, mg/L as P 1 0.050 — — — — — 00666 Phosphorus, wf, mg/L 1 0.065 — — — — — 00665 Phosphorus, wu, mg/L 1 0.085 — — — — — 31633 Escherichia coli, colonies per 100 mL 2 1,400 290 — — — — 31625 Fecal coliform, colonies per 100 mL 2 1,700 420 — — — — 01106 Aluminum, wf, mg/L 2 15.9 13.7 — — — — 01095 Antimony, wf, mg/L 2 0.20 <0.20 — — — — 01000 Arsenic, wf, mg/L 2 <1.9 <1.9 — — — — 01005 Barium, wf, mg/L 2 57.3 42.9 — — — — 01010 Beryllium, wf, mg/L 2 <0.060 <0.060 — — — — 01025 Cadmium, wf, mg/L 2 <0.040 <0.040 — — — — 01030 Chromium, wf, mg/L 2 <0.80 <0.80 — — — — 01035 Cobalt, wf, mg/L 2 0.566 0.304 — — — — 01040 Copper, wf, mg/L 2 1.7 1.1 — — — — 01046 Iron, wf, mg/L 2 30 20 — — — — 01049 Lead, wf, mg/L 2 <0.08 <0.08 — — — — 01056 Manganese, wf, mg/L 2 59.5 16.3 — — — — 01060 Molybdenum, wf, mg/L 2 2.4 1.2 — — — — 
Appendix 1. Summary of Descriptive Statistics of Selected Water-Quality Properties and Inorganic Constituents for Selected Surface-Water Sites aJefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005.—Continued [NWIS, National Water Information System; mS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter; °C, degrees Celsius; —, value not calculated; wf, filtered water; wu, unfiltered water; mg/L, mg/L, micrograms per liter; N, nitrogen; P, phosphorus; NTU, nephelometric turbidity units; FNU, formazin nephelometric units; mL, milliliters; modif m, modified m-TEC; *, log-probability regression to predict the values of data below the detection limit] NWIS parameter code Water-quality constituent Sample size Maximum Minimum Mean Median 95 % 75% 50% 

02457625, Fivemile Creek at Brookside, Alabama, November 2004 to December 2004—Continued 01065 Nickel, wf, mg/L 2 3.16 0.96 — — — — 

01145 Selenium, wf, mg/L 2 <2.6 <2.6 — — — — 01075 Silver, wf, mg/L 2 <0.2 <0.2 — — — — 01090 Zinc, wf, mg/L 2 4.1 3.3 — — — — 22703 Uranium, wf, mg/L 2 0.44 0.44 — — — — 

02457635, Fivemile Creek at Cardiff Road Bridge at Brookside, Alabama, June 2005 to September 2005 00010 Water temperature, °C 4 27.5 24.3 — — — — 

00095 Specific conductance, mS/cm at 25 °C 5 575 446 — — — — 00400 pH 5 8.3 7.7 — — — — 00300 Dissolved oxygen, mg/L 5 13.5 7.9 — — — — 63680 Turbidity, FNU 3 3.8 1.5 — — — — 90902 Escherichia coli, modif m colonies per 100 mL 5 51 21 — — — — 31633 Escherichia coli, colonies per 100 mL 1 400 — — — — — 

02457700, Fivemile Creek at Linn Crossing, Alabama, December 2004 00010 Water temperature, °C 1 13.5 — — — — — 

00095 Specific conductance, mS/cm at 25 °C 1 421 — — — — — 00400 pH 1 7.5 — — — — — 00300 Dissolved oxygen, mg/L 1 10.6 — — — — — 63676 Turbidity, NTRU 1 12 — — — — — 00930 Sodium, wf, mg/L 1 22.7 — — — — — 00935 Potassium, wf, mg/L 1 3.08 — — — — — 00915 Calcium, wf, mg/L 1 37.5 — — — — — 00925 Magnesium, wf, mg/L 1 17.2 — — — — — 00940 Chloride, wf, mg/L 1 7.14 — — — — — 00950 Fluoride, wf, mg/L 1 0.23 — — — — — 00945 Sulfate, wf, mg/L 1 89.4 — — — — — 
Appendix 1. Summary of Descriptive Statistics of Selected Water-Quality Properties and Inorganic Constituents for Selected Surface-Water Sites aJefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005.—Continued[NWIS, National Water Information System; mS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter; °C, degrees Celsius; —, value not calculated; wf, filtered water; wu, unfiltered water; mg/L, mg/L, micrograms per liter; N, nitrogen; P, phosphorus; NTU, nephelometric turbidity units; FNU, formazin nephelometric units; mL, milliliters; modif m, modified m-TEC; *, log-probability regression to predict the values of data below the detection limit]

NWIS 

parameter 

code

Water-quality constituent Sample size Maximum Minimum Mean Median 95 % 75% 50% 

02457700, Fivemile Creek at Linn Crossing, Alabama, December 2004—Continued

00623 Ammonia plus organic nitrogen, wf, mg/L as N 1 0.10 — — — — — 00625 Ammonia plus organic nitrogen, wu, mg/L as N 1 0.20 — — — — — 00608 Ammonia, wf, mg/L as N 1 <0.040 — — — — — 00618 Nitrate, wf, mg/L as N 1 1.44 — — — — — 00631 NO2+NO3, wf, mg/L as N 1 1.48 — — — — — 00613 Nitrite, wf, mg/L as N 1 0.030 — — — — — 00600 Total nitrogen, mg/L 1 1.6 — — — — — 00671 Orthophosphate, mg/L as P 1 0.040 — — — — — 00666 Phosphorus, wf, mg/L 1 0.044 — — — — — 00665 Phosphorus, wu, mg/L 1 0.078 — — — — — 31633 Escherichia coli, colonies per 100 mL 1 140 — — — — — 31625 Fecal coliform, colonies per 100 mL 1 300 — — — — — 01106 Aluminum, wf, mg/L 1 77.9 — — — — — 01095 Antimony, wf, mg/L 1 <0.20 — — — — — 01000 Arsenic, wf, mg/L 1 <1.9 — — — — — 01005 Barium, wf, mg/L 1 40.4 — — — — — 01010 Beryllium, wf, mg/L 1 <0.060 — — — — — 01025 Cadmium, wf, mg/L 1 <0.040 — — — — — 01030 Chromium, wf, mg/L 1 <0.80 — — — — — 01035 Cobalt, wf, mg/L 1 1.53 — — — — — 01040 Copper, wf, mg/L 1 1.2 — — — — — 01046 Iron, wf, mg/L 1 6 — — — — — 01049 Lead, wf, mg/L 1 <0.08 — — — — — 01056 Manganese, wf, mg/L 1 108 — — — — — 01060 Molybdenum, wf, mg/L 1 0.9 — — — — — 
Appendix 1. Summary of Descriptive Statistics of Selected Water-Quality Properties and Inorganic Constituents for Selected Surface-Water Sites aJefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005.—Continued [NWIS, National Water Information System; mS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter; °C, degrees Celsius; —, value not calculated; wf, filtered water; wu, unfiltered water; mg/L, mg/L, micrograms per liter; N, nitrogen; P, phosphorus; NTU, nephelometric turbidity units; FNU, formazin nephelometric units; mL, milliliters; modif m, modified m-TEC; *, log-probability regression to predict the values of data below the detection limit] NWIS parameter code Water-quality constituent Sample size Maximum Minimum Mean Median 95 % 75% 50% 

02457700, Fivemile Creek at Linn Crossing, Alabama, December 2004—Continued 01065 Nickel, wf, mg/L 1 5.69 — — — — — 

01145 Selenium, wf, mg/L 1 <2.6 — — — — — 01075 Silver, wf, mg/L 1 <0.2 — — — — — 01090 Zinc, wf, mg/L 1 5.2 — — — — — 22703 Uranium, wf, mg/L 1 0.37 — — — — — 
Appendix 2. Quality-Assurance and Quality-Control Samples for Organic Wastewater Compounds 91

In addition to regular stream samples, field blanks and replicate stream samples were analyzed for organic wastewater 

compound (OWC) concentrations to assess contamination introduced during sampling procedures and to assess reproducibility 

of results. Field blanks are samples of certified organic compound-free water that are processed in the field with exactly the 

same procedures as stream samples. One replicate stream sample was spiked to determine the effects of the native water (matrix) 

on detection of the OWCs. During the course of this investigation, three field blanks were analyzed for OWC concentrations. 

Six OWCs were detected once each in field blank, and most detections were at concentrations estimated (e) below the laboratory 

minimum reporting levels (table 2–1). Benzophenone (e0.007 μg/L), DEET (e0.01 μg/L), and phenol (e0.13 μg/L) were detected 

in a blank field-processed at FMC at Hewitt Park on June 7, 2005. Two detergent degradates, diethoxynonylphenol (e2.4 μg/L) 

and ethoxyoctylphenol (e0.6 μg/L), and one flavoring/fragrance compound, acetophenone (0.62 μg/L), were detected in a field 

blank processed at FMC at Huffman Road on December 15, 2003. 

All concentrations of benzophenone, DEET, phenol, diethoxynonylphenol, and ethoxyoctylphenol in field blanks were estimated below the laboratory minimum reporting limits. Environmental concentrations for these compounds, however, also were 

estimated below laboratory reporting limits. Concentrations present in environmental samples at levels equal to or less than concentrations reported in field blanks are considered highly suspect and were censored out of the OWC dataset used in this report. 

The concentration of acetophenone reported in the blank from Huffman Road was above the minimum reporting level 

(MRL) in effect at the time of collection. Concentrations of detections above the MRL are more certain than concentrations estimated below the MRL, and detections in field blanks of concentrations above the MRL indicate the presence of contamination. 

Detections of this magnitude in field blanks usually require more stringent censoring of affected environmental data; however, 

acetophenone was not detected in the environmental samples collected during this study.

Results of replicate samples collected during the study for two sites indicated low variability in results (table 2–2). Only 

three OWCs—4-nonylphenol, caffeine, and p-cresol—were detected in replicates. The concentration of the detergent degradate, 

4-nonylphenol, was estimated to be 0.8 μg/L, well below the detection limit of 5 μg/L, in one replicate at FMC at Hewitt Park 

on September 12, 2005, and was not detected in the other replicate. Concentrations of caffeine were estimated below reporting 

limits in both samples collected on December 15, 2003, and concentrations of p-cresol were estimated below reporting limits 

in both samples collected on September 12, 2005. Estimated concentrations reported for caffeine and p-cresol in the replicate 

samples agreed within 0.01 μg/L. 

One spike of an environmental sample was processed to assess any interference between the native water (matrix) and the 

detection of OWCs (table 2–2). Matrix spike recoveries for each of the OWCs were calculated as follows:

Recovery (%) = (detected concentration in spike) – (detected concentration in unspiked sample) * 100

Expected concentration in spike

Matrix spike recoveries ranged from 50 percent for the antioxidant, 3-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole, to a maximum of 203 percent 

for the detergent degradate, diethoxynonylphenol. Recoveries for six compounds were more than 25 percent greater or less than 

expected. The six compounds were 3-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole, diethoxynonylphenol, d-limonene, indole, tetrachloroethene, 

and tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate. Reported concentrations of these compounds may be affected by interference and may be 

greater or less than actual concentrations.

Appendix 2. Quality-Assurance and Quality-Control Samples 

for Organic Wastewater Compounds
92 Assessment of Water-Quality Conditions in Fivemile Creek in the Vicinity of the Fivemile Creek Greenway, Alabama

USGS station number: 02456999 02456999 02457500

Station short name:

FMC at 

Hewitt 

Park

FMC at 

Hewitt 

Park

FMC at 

Huffman 

Road

Date of sample: 6/7/2005 8/23/2005 12/15/2003

Time of sample: 8:30 7:30 13:00

Compound name

1,4-Dichlorobenzene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

1-Methylnaphthalene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

2,6-Dimethylnaphthalene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

2-Methylnaphthalene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

3-beta-Coprostanol <2 <2 <2

3-Methyl-1H-indole <1 <1 <1

3-tert-Butyl-4-hydroxyanisole <5 <5 <5

4-Cumylphenol <1 <1 <1

4-Nonylphenol <5 <5 <5

4-Octylphenol <1 <1 <1

4-tert-Octylphenol <1 <1 <1

5-Methyl-1H-benzotriazole <2 <2 <2

9,10-Anthraquinone <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Acetophenone <0.5 <0.5 0.62

AHTN <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Anthracene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Benzo[a]pyrene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Benzophenone e0.007 <0.5 <0.5

beta-Sitosterol <2 <2 <2

beta-Stigmastanol <2 <2 <2

Bisphenol A <1 — <1

Bromacil <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Caffeine <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Camphor <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Carbaryl <0.041 <0.041 <0.041

Carbazole <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Chlorpyrifos <0.005 <0.005 <0.005

Cholesterol <2 <2 <2

Cotinine <1 <1 <1

DEET e0.01 <0.5 <0.5

Diazinon <0.005 <0.005 <0.005

Dichlorvos <0.012 <0.012 <1

USGS station number: 02456999 02456999 02457500

Station short name:

FMC at 

Hewitt 

Park

FMC at 

Hewitt 

Park

FMC at 

Huffman 

Road

Date of sample: 6/7/2005 8/23/2005 12/15/2003

Time of sample: 8:30 7:30 13:00

Compound name

Diethoxynonylphenol <5 <5 e2.4

Diethoxyoctylphenol <1 <1 <1

D-Limonene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Ethoxyoctylphenol <1 <1 e0.6

Fluoranthene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

HHCB <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Indole <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Isoborneol <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Isophorone <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Isopropylbenzene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Isoquinoline <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Menthol <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Metalaxyl <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Methyl salicylate <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Metolachlor <0.006 <0.006 <0.013

Naphthalene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

p-Cresol <1 <1 <1

Pentachlorophenol <2 — <2

Phenanthrene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Phenol e0.13 <0.5 <0.5

Prometon <0.01 <0.01 <0.005

Pyrene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Tetrachloroethene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Tribromomethane <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Tributyl phosphate <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Triclosan <1 <1 <1

Triethyl citrate <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Triphenyl phosphate <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Tris(dichloroisopropyl) phosphate <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

Table 2–1. Concentrations of selected organic wastewater compounds in field blanks processed in the Fivemile Creek watershed, 

Jefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005.

[FMC, Fivemile Creek; all values are in micrograms per liter; <, less than; e, estimated concentration; —, value not reported; shaded indicates detection; AHTN, 

6-acetyl-1,1,2,4,4,7-hexamethyltetraline; DEET, N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide; HHCB, 1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethyl-cyclopenta(g)-2-benzopyran]
Appendix 2. Quality-Assurance and Quality-Control Samples for Organic Wastewater Compounds 93

Table 2–2. Concentrations of selected organic wastewater compounds in replicate and spike samples and calculated spike recoveries 

for samples collected from Fivemile Creek, Jefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005.—Continued 

[USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; NWQL, National Water Quality Laboratory; μg/L, microgram per liter; AHTN, 6-acetyl-1,1,2,4,4,7-hexamethyltetraline; 

—, compound not included in sample fortification solution; DEET, N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide; HHCB, 1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethylcyclopenta(g)-2-benzopyran; <, less than; dates given in month/day/year format; e, estimated; bold value indicates detection in stream samples]

USGS station number: 02457500 02457500 02456999 02456999 02456999 LS 1433 field spike 

mixture NWQL lot number: 

WWS1SP134A NWIS-I lot 

number: 90412

Matrix spike 

recovery, in 

percent

Station short name:

FMC at 

Huffman 

Road

FMC at 

Huffman 

Road

FMC at 

Hewitt 

Park

FMC at 

Hewitt 

Park

FMC at 

Hewitt 

Park

Date: 12/15/2003 12/15/2003 9/12/2005 9/12/2005 9/12/2005 NWQL certificate date: 

December 10, 2004 

Time: 13:30 13:31 14:45 15:15 15:16 Sample

fortification

Sample type: Sample

(μg/L)

Replicate

(μg/L)

Sample

(μg/L)

Replicate

(μg/L)

Spike

(μg/L)

Spike 

concentration*

(μg/L)

Compound name

1,4-Dichlorobenzene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.77 0.8 96

1-Methylnaphthalene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 0.83 0.8 104

2,6-Dimethylnaphthalene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 0.8 0.8 100

2-Methylnaphthalene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 0.79 0.8 99

3-beta-Coprostanol <2 <2 <2 <2 e3.8 3.2 119

3-Methyl-1H-indole <1 <1 <1 <1 e0.7 0.8 88

3-tert-Butyl-4-hydroxyanisole <5 <5 <5 <5 e0.4 0.8 50

4-Cumylphenol <1 <1 <1 <1 e0.9 0.8 112

4-Nonylphenol <5 <5 <5 e0.8 e6.2 6.4 84

4-Octylphenol <1 <1 <1 <1 e0.7 0.8 88

4-tert-Octylphenol <1 <1 <1 <1 e0.9 0.8 112

5-Methyl-1H-benzotriazole <2 <2 <2 <2 5 6.4 78

9,10-Anthraquinone <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 0.8 0.8 100

Acetophenone <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 0.86 0.8 108

AHTN <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 0.82 — —

Anthracene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 0.76 0.8 95

Benzo[a]pyrene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 0.62 0.8 78

Benzophenone <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 0.93 0.8 116

beta-Sitosterol <2 <2 <2 <2 2.5 3.2 78

beta-Stigmastanol <2 <2 <2 <2 e2.7 3.2 84

Bisphenol A <1 <1 <1 <1 e0.7 0.8 88

Bromacil <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 3.6 3.2 112

Caffeine e0.064 e0.071 <0.5 <0.5 0.87 0.8 109

Camphor <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 0.89 0.8 111

Carbazole <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 0.78 0.8 98

Cholesterol <2 <2 <2 <2 e3.6 3.2 112

Cotinine <1 <1 <1 <1 3.2 3.2 100

DEET <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 0.97 0.8 121
94 Assessment of Water-Quality Conditions in Fivemile Creek in the Vicinity of the Fivemile Creek Greenway, Alabama

Table 2–2. Concentrations of selected organic wastewater compounds in replicate and spike samples and calculated spike recoveries 

for samples collected from Fivemile Creek, Jefferson County, Alabama, 2003–2005.—Continued 

[USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; NWQL, National Water Quality Laboratory; μg/L, microgram per liter; AHTN, 6-acetyl-1,1,2,4,4,7-hexamethyltetraline; 

—, compound not included in sample fortification solution; DEET, N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide; HHCB, 1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethylcyclopenta(g)-2-benzopyran; <, less than; dates given in month/day/year format; e, estimated; bold value indicates detection in stream samples]

USGS station number: 02457500 02457500 02456999 02456999 02456999 LS 1433 field spike 

mixture NWQL lot number: 

WWS1SP134A NWIS-I lot 

number: 90412

Matrix spike 

recovery, in 

percent

Station short name:

FMC at 

Huffman 

Road

FMC at 

Huffman 

Road

FMC at 

Hewitt 

Park

FMC at 

Hewitt 

Park

FMC at 

Hewitt 

Park

Date: 12/15/2003 12/15/2003 9/12/2005 9/12/2005 9/12/2005 NWQL certificate date: 

December 10, 2004 

Time: 13:30 13:31 14:45 15:15 15:16 Sample

fortification

Sample type: Sample

(μg/L)

Replicate

(μg/L)

Sample

(μg/L)

Replicate

(μg/L)

Spike

(μg/L)

Spike 

concentration*

(μg/L)

Compound name

Diethoxynonylphenol <5 <5 <5 <5 e13 6.4 203

Diethoxyoctylphenol <1 <1 <1 <1 e0.5 0.47 106

D-Limonene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.55 0.8 69

Ethoxyoctylphenol <1 <1 <1 <1 e1.7 1.6 106

Fluoranthene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 0.8 0.8 100

HHCB <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 0.78 — —

Indole <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 0.56 0.8 70

Isoborneol <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 0.85 0.8 106

Isophorone <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 0.87 0.8 109

Isopropylbenzene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.66 0.8 82

Isoquinoline <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 0.7 0.8 88

Menthol <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 0.82 0.8 102

Metalaxyl <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 0.92 0.8 115

Methyl salicylate <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 0.75 0.8 94

Naphthalene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 0.82 0.8 102

p-Cresol <1 <1 e0.03 e0.02 e0.7 0.8 85

Pentachlorophenol <2 <2 <2 <2 e3.2 3.2 100

Phenanthrene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 0.81 0.8 101

Phenol <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 0.85 0.8 106

Pyrene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 0.79 0.8 99

Tetrachloroethene <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.54 0.8 68

Tribromomethane <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e0.68 0.8 85

Tributyl phosphate <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 0.77 0.8 96

Triclosan <1 <1 <1 <1 e0.8 0.8 100

Triethyl citrate <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 0.7 0.8 88

Triphenyl phosphate <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 0.92 0.8 115

Tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 e1.1 0.8 138

Tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 1 0.8 125

Tris(dichloroisopropyl) phosphate <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 0.85 0.8 106
Appendix 3. Abundance and Alabama Department of Environmental Management Tolerance Values of Benthic Invertebrate Taxa Found at Selected SitJefferson County, Alabama, July 2003 and November 2004.—Continued[RTH, richest targeted habitat; QMH, qualitative multihabitat; L/R, large/rare organisms; shading indicates taxa found; —, taxa not found; 1, tolerance value for taxonomic class usefamily used; 3, tolerance value for taxonomic subfamily used; 4, tolerance value for taxonomic tribe used; 5, higher reported tolerance value used; 6, abundance corrected for subsamp7, taxonomy from Wiggins, 1996]

RTH QMH 

Sampling station

FMC at 

Fivemile 

Rd

FMC at 

Hewitt 

Park

FMC at 

Hewitt 

Park

FMC at 

Huffman 

Rd

FMC 

below 

Springdale Rd

FMC at 

Brookside

FMC at 

Republic 

Ford

FMC at 

Graysville

FMC at 

Hewitt 

Prk

FMC 

below 

Springdale Rd

FMC at 

Brookside

FMC at 

Republic 

Ford

FMC at 

Graysville

USGS station number 02456900 02456999 02456999 02457500 02457502 02457625 02457599 02457700 02456999 02457502 02457625 02457599 02457700 

Date 07/16/2003 07/16/2003 11/17/2004 07/16/2003 11/18/2004 11/18/2004 11/19/2004 11/19/2004 11/17/2004 11/18/2004 11/18/2004 11/19/2004 11/19/200

Percent subsampled 25.00 8.33 83.33 8.33 50.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 43.67 37.45 7.29 16.67 33.33 

Taxon

ADEM 

tolerance 

value 1996

PLATYHELMINTHES

Turbellaria NA 4 2 1 3 — — — 2 2 2 — 6 1 

NEMERTEA

Prostoma sp. NA — — — — — — — — 1 — 1 2 1 

MOLLUSCA

Gastropoda

Planorbidae

Micromenetus

sp. 2

6.3 2 — —

Micromenetus 

dilatatus 2

6.3 — — — — — — — — — 3 1 1 — 

Ancylidae 7.1 — — — — 1 — — — — — 2 — — 

Ferrissia sp. 6.6 — 1 —

Pleuroceridae 3.4 — — 3 — 1 — — — — — — — — 

Elimia sp. 7 — — — — 1 — — — 5 5 — 1 — 

Bivalvia NA — — — — — — — — — — — — 4 

Veneroida

Corbiculidae

Corbicula sp. 6.1 — — — 1 4 4 5 — — 2 4 3 10 

Sphaeriidae 7.6 1 — — — — — — — — — — 1 3 

ANNELIDA

Oligochaeta 8.4 — — — — — — — — — 1 — — — 

Haplotaxida

Tubificina

Enchytraeidae 9.8 — — — — — 3 — — — 2 — — 3 Naididae 6.1 10 3 7 1 2 — — — 29 16 — 12 — Tubificidae 7.1 — — — — — 9 4 — 13 61 3 9 16 

Lumbricina 1 8.4 1 2 — 8 — — — — — — — — 2 

Lumbriculida

 Lumbriculidae 7 — — 2 — — 1 — — 2 10 2 — 2 
Appendix 3. Abundance and Alabama Department of Environmental Management Tolerance Values of Benthic Invertebrate Taxa Found at Selected SitJefferson County, Alabama, July 2003 and November 2004.—Continued [RTH, richest targeted habitat; QMH, qualitative multihabitat; L/R, large/rare organisms; shading indicates taxa found; —, taxa not found; 1, tolerance value for taxonomic class usefamily used; 3, tolerance value for taxonomic subfamily used; 4, tolerance value for taxonomic tribe used; 5, higher reported tolerance value used; 6, abundance corrected for subsamp7, taxonomy from Wiggins, 1996] RTH QMH 

Sampling station FMC at Fivemile Rd FMC at Hewitt Park FMC at Hewitt Park FMC at Huffman Rd FMC below Spring- dale Rd FMC at Brookside FMC at Republic Ford FMC at Grays- ville FMC at Hewitt Prk FMC below Spring- dale Rd FMC at Brookside FMC at Republic Ford FMC at Grays- ville 

USGS station number 02456900 02456999 02456999 02457500 02457502 02457625 02457599 02457700 02456999 02457502 02457625 02457599 02457700 

Date 07/16/2003 07/16/2003 11/17/2004 07/16/2003 11/18/2004 11/18/2004 11/19/2004 11/19/2004 11/17/2004 11/18/2004 11/18/2004 11/19/2004 11/19/200

Percent subsampled 25.00 8.33 83.33 8.33 50.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 43.67 37.45 7.29 16.67 33.33 

Taxon ADEM tolerance value 1996 ARTHROPODA Chelicerata Arachnida Acari NA — — — — — — — — — — 1 — — 

Hygrobates sp. NA — — 3 — — — — — — — — — — 

Oribatei NA — — 1 — — — — — — — — — — 

Crustacea Malacostraca Amphipoda Crangonyctidae Crangonyx sp. 7.9 — — — — — — — — — — — 3 — 

 Gammaridae Gammarus sp. 9.1 — — — — — — — — 1 — — — — Decapoda Cambaridae 6.6 — — — 1 — — — — — — 1 — 1 

Orconectes sp. 2.6 — — — — — — — — — — — — — 

Isopoda Asellidae Lirceus sp. 7.9 — — — — 3 — 1 — 9 7 — — — 

Ostracoda NA — — — — — — — — — — — — 3 

Hexapoda Insecta Ephemeroptera Baetidae Baetis sp. 4.5 — — — — — — 5 — 1 — — 1 7 

Baetis flavistriga 4.5 82 35 11 107 28 1 6 — 16 7 — 11 5 Baetis interca- laris 4.5 7 9 — 20 — 1 — 5 — — 3 — 9 Centroptilum sp. 6.6 — — — — — — — — — 1 — — — 

 Caenidae

Caenis sp. 7.4 — — — — — — — — — — — — — Caenis latipennis 7.4 — — — — — — — — — — — 3 — 
Appendix 3. Abundance and Alabama Department of Environmental Management Tolerance Values of Benthic Invertebrate Taxa Found at Selected SitJefferson County, Alabama, July 2003 and November 2004.—Continued[RTH, richest targeted habitat; QMH, qualitative multihabitat; L/R, large/rare organisms; shading indicates taxa found; —, taxa not found; 1, tolerance value for taxonomic class usefamily used; 3, tolerance value for taxonomic subfamily used; 4, tolerance value for taxonomic tribe used; 5, higher reported tolerance value used; 6, abundance corrected for subsamp7, taxonomy from Wiggins, 1996]

RTH QMH 

Sampling station

FMC at 

Fivemile 

Rd

FMC at 

Hewitt 

Park

FMC at 

Hewitt 

Park

FMC at 

Huffman 

Rd

FMC 

below 

Springdale Rd

FMC at 

Brookside

FMC at 

Republic 

Ford

FMC at 

Graysville

FMC at 

Hewitt 

Prk

FMC 

below 

Springdale Rd

FMC at 

Brookside

FMC at 

Republic 

Ford

FMC at 

Graysville

USGS station number 02456900 02456999 02456999 02457500 02457502 02457625 02457599 02457700 02456999 02457502 02457625 02457599 02457700 

Date 07/16/2003 07/16/2003 11/17/2004 07/16/2003 11/18/2004 11/18/2004 11/19/2004 11/19/2004 11/17/2004 11/18/2004 11/18/2004 11/19/2004 11/19/200

Percent subsampled 25.00 8.33 83.33 8.33 50.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 43.67 37.45 7.29 16.67 33.33 

Taxon

ADEM 

tolerance 

value 1996

 Heptageniidae 4 — — — — — — — — — — — 6 — 

Stenacron sp. 3.6 — — — — — — — — 2 — — — — Stenacron 

interpunctatum

3.6 — — — — — — — 1 — — — — 1 

Stenonema sp. 3.5 — — — — — — — 5 1 — 26 3 28 Stenonema femoratum 3.5 — — — — — — — — — — — 1 — Stenonema 

mediopunctatum

3.5 — — — — — 19 4 32 — — 7 13 9 

Stenonema 

terminatum

3.5 — — — — — — — 1 — — — — 6 

 Isonychiidae

Isonychia sp. 3.5 — — 7 — 25 5 7 122 12 13 113 24 72 

 Leptohyphidae

Tricorythodes sp. 5.1 — — — — — — — — 1 — 7 2 17 

Odonata

Zygoptera Coenagrionidae 7.2 — — — — — — — — — 1 — — 1 

Argia sp. 8.2 — — 1 — — — 1 2 1 3 7 5 4 

 Calopterygidae

Hetaerina sp. 5.6 — — — — — — — — — — — 2 — 

Anisoptera

 Gomphidae 5 — — — — — 1 — — 1 — — — — 

Dromogomphus 

spinosus

5.9 — — — — — — — — — — — — 2 

Erpetogomphus 

designatus

4 — — — — — — — 1 — — 2 1 1 

Gomphus sp. 5.8 — — — — — — — — — — — 1 2 Gomphus modestus 5.8 — — — — — — — — — — — — 1 
Appendix 3. Abundance and Alabama Department of Environmental Management Tolerance Values of Benthic Invertebrate Taxa Found at Selected SJefferson County, Alabama, July 2003 and November 2004.—Continued [RTH, richest targeted habitat; QMH, qualitative multihabitat; L/R, large/rare organisms; shading indicates taxa found; —, taxa not found; 1, tolerance value for taxonomic class usfamily used; 3, tolerance value for taxonomic subfamily used; 4, tolerance value for taxonomic tribe used; 5, higher reported tolerance value used; 6, abundance corrected for subsam7, taxonomy from Wiggins, 1996] RTH QMH 

Sampling station FMC at Fivemile Rd FMC at Hewitt Park FMC at Hewitt Park FMC at Huffman Rd FMC below Spring- dale Rd FMC at Brookside FMC at Republic Ford FMC at Grays- ville FMC at Hewitt Prk FMC below Spring- dale Rd FMC at Brookside FMC at Republic Ford FMC a

Grays

ville 

USGS station number 02456900 02456999 02456999 02457500 02457502 02457625 02457599 02457700 02456999 02457502 02457625 02457599 0245770

Date 07/16/2003 07/16/2003 11/17/2004 07/16/2003 11/18/2004 11/18/2004 11/19/2004 11/19/2004 11/17/2004 11/18/2004 11/18/2004 11/19/2004 11/19/20

Percent subsampled 25.00 8.33 83.33 8.33 50.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 43.67 37.45 7.29 16.67 33.33 

Taxon ADEM tolerance value 1996 Hagenius brevistylus 4 — — — — — — — — — — — 1 — 

 Corduliidae Macromia sp. 6.2 — — — — — — — — — — 2 — 1 

Plecoptera Perlidae 1.7 — — — — — — — — 1 — — — — 

 Taeniopterygidae Taeniopteryx sp. 5.4 — — — — — — — 1 — — — — — 

Megaloptera Corydalidae Corydalus sp. 5.2 — — — — — — 1 1 — — 1 3 — Trichoptera Brachycentridae Micrasema sp. 0.6 — — — — — — — — — — — 1 — 

 Glossosomatidae Glossosoma sp. 1.6 — — — — — — — — 1 — — — —  Hydropsychidae 3.1 — — 5 — — — — — 4 — — — 2 

Cheumatopsyche sp. 6.2 44 61 68 26 84 7 20 21 33 44 41 104 34 Hydropsyche sp. 4.3 — — 10 6 3 — — 9 — 1 5 5 8 Hydropsyche betteni 4.3 — — — — 4 1 2 9 — 1 1 1 — Hydropsyche morosa gr. 7 4.3 — — — — — — — 12 — — 1 — 5 Hydropsyche scalaris 4.3 — — — — — — — — — — — — 1 Hydropsyche sparna 7 4.3 4 92 26 — 10 1 3 — 19 4 — — — Diplectrona sp. 2.2 — — 1 — — — — — — — — — — 

 Hydroptilidae 3.1 — — — — — — — — — — — — 1 

Hydroptila sp. 6.2 1 — — 3 — — — — — — — 1 3 

 Leptoceridae
Appendix 3. Abundance and Alabama Department of Environmental Management Tolerance Values of Benthic Invertebrate Taxa Found at Selected SitJefferson County, Alabama, July 2003 and November 2004.—Continued[RTH, richest targeted habitat; QMH, qualitative multihabitat; L/R, large/rare organisms; shading indicates taxa found; —, taxa not found; 1, tolerance value for taxonomic class usefamily used; 3, tolerance value for taxonomic subfamily used; 4, tolerance value for taxonomic tribe used; 5, higher reported tolerance value used; 6, abundance corrected for subsamp7, taxonomy from Wiggins, 1996]

RTH QMH 

Sampling station

FMC at 

Fivemile 

Rd

FMC at 

Hewitt 

Park

FMC at 

Hewitt 

Park

FMC at 

Huffman 

Rd

FMC 

below 

Springdale Rd

FMC at 

Brookside

FMC at 

Republic 

Ford

FMC at 

Graysville

FMC at 

Hewitt 

Prk

FMC 

below 

Springdale Rd

FMC at 

Brookside

FMC at 

Republic 

Ford

FMC at 

Graysville

USGS station number 02456900 02456999 02456999 02457500 02457502 02457625 02457599 02457700 02456999 02457502 02457625 02457599 02457700 

Date 07/16/2003 07/16/2003 11/17/2004 07/16/2003 11/18/2004 11/18/2004 11/19/2004 11/19/2004 11/17/2004 11/18/2004 11/18/2004 11/19/2004 11/19/200

Percent subsampled 25.00 8.33 83.33 8.33 50.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 43.67 37.45 7.29 16.67 33.33 

Taxon

ADEM 

tolerance 

value 1996

Mystacides sp. 2.7 — — — — — — — — — 1 — — — 

 Philopotimidae

Chimarra aterrima 2.8 — — 36 — 5 — — — 11 4 — — — Chimarra obscura 2.8 — — 46 — 126 6 2 8 8 31 5 1 8 

Polycentropodidae

Polycentropus sp. 3.5 — — — — — — — — 1 1 — — — 

Lepidoptera

 Pyralidae

Petrophila sp. 2.1 — — 1 — — — — — — — — — — 

Coleoptera

 Elmidae

Ancyronyx 

variegata

6.5 — — — — — — — — — — — 1 — 

Dubiraphia sp. 5.9 — — — — — — — — — 1 1 — 2 Macronychus 

glabratus

4.6 — — — — — — — — — — 7 — — 

Microcylloepus 

pusillus

2.1 — 5 1

Microcylloepus sp. 2.1 — — — — 2 — — — 3 — 3 3 3 Oulimnius 

latiusculus

1.8 — — — — — — — — 2 — — — — 

Stenelmis sp. 5.1 1 6 3 2 8 — — — 24 7 13 6 1 

Hydrophilidae

Berosus sp. 8.4 — — — — — — — — — — — — 1 

 Psephenidae

Psephenus herricki 2.4 — — 3 — 3 — — — 2 1 — — — 

Diptera

Nematocera

CeratopogonidaeBezzia/Palpomyia

sp. 5

6.9 — — — — — — — — — — 1 — — 

Chironomidae
Appendix 3. Abundance and Alabama Department of Environmental Management Tolerance Values of Benthic Invertebrate Taxa Found at Selected SitJefferson County, Alabama, July 2003 and November 2004.—Continued [RTH, richest targeted habitat; QMH, qualitative multihabitat; L/R, large/rare organisms; shading indicates taxa found; —, taxa not found; 1, tolerance value for taxonomic class usedfamily used; 3, tolerance value for taxonomic subfamily used; 4, tolerance value for taxonomic tribe used; 5, higher reported tolerance value used; 6, abundance corrected for subsamp7, taxonomy from Wiggins, 1996] RTH QMH 

Sampling station FMC at Fivemile Rd FMC at Hewitt Park FMC at Hewitt Park FMC at Huffman Rd FMC below Spring- dale Rd FMC at Brookside FMC at Republic Ford FMC at Grays- ville FMC at Hewitt Prk FMC below Spring- dale Rd FMC at Brookside FMC at Republic Ford FMC at Grays- ville 

USGS station number 02456900 02456999 02456999 02457500 02457502 02457625 02457599 02457700 02456999 02457502 02457625 02457599 02457700 

Date 07/16/2003 07/16/2003 11/17/2004 07/16/2003 11/18/2004 11/18/2004 11/19/2004 11/19/2004 11/17/2004 11/18/2004 11/18/2004 11/19/2004 11/19/200

Percent subsampled 25.00 8.33 83.33 8.33 50.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 43.67 37.45 7.29 16.67 33.33 

Taxon ADEM tolerance value 1996 Chironominae Chironomini 6.1 — — — — — — — — — — — 1 — 

Apedilum sp. 3 6.1 — — — — — — — — 1 — — — — Chironomus sp. 9.6 — — — — — — — — 1 — — — — Cryptochironomus sp. 6.4 — — — — — — — — — 5 5 2 2 Dicrotendipes sp. 8.1 1 — — — — — — — — — 2 5 — Dicrotendipes neomodestus 8.1 — — — — — — — — — 1 — 1 2 Paracladopelma sp. 5.5 — — — — — — — — — — — 1 — Paratendipes sp. 5.1 — — — — — — — — — 2 — — — Phaenopsectra sp. 6.5 — — 1 — — — — — 1 3 2 1 — Polypedilum sp. 5.8 27 12 — 15 — — — 1 — — 6 — 7 Polypedilum aviceps 5.8 — — 21 — 2 — — — 44 5 — — — Polypedilum fallax gr. 5.8 — — — — — — — — — 1 — 1 — Polypedilum flavum 5.8 — — 2 — — — — — — 1 14 22 7 Polypedilum halterale gr. 5.8 — — — — — — — — — — 1 — — Polypedilum illinoense gr. 5.8 — — — — — — — — 4 — 4 1 3 Polypedilum scalaenum gr. 5.8 — — — — — — — — 1 2 8 2 4 Pseudochironomus sp. 5.4 — — — — — — — — 1 2 — — — Rheotanytarsus sp. 5.9 — 8 9 Rheotanytarsus exiguus gr. 5.9 — — 3 — — — — — 5 4 9 7 — 
Appendix 3. Abundance and Alabama Department of Environmental Management Tolerance Values of Benthic Invertebrate Taxa Found at Selected SitJefferson County, Alabama, July 2003 and November 2004.—Continued[RTH, richest targeted habitat; QMH, qualitative multihabitat; L/R, large/rare organisms; shading indicates taxa found; —, taxa not found; 1, tolerance value for taxonomic class usefamily used; 3, tolerance value for taxonomic subfamily used; 4, tolerance value for taxonomic tribe used; 5, higher reported tolerance value used; 6, abundance corrected for subsamp7, taxonomy from Wiggins, 1996]

RTH QMH 

Sampling station

FMC at 

Fivemile 

Rd

FMC at 

Hewitt 

Park

FMC at 

Hewitt 

Park

FMC at 

Huffman 

Rd

FMC 

below 

Springdale Rd

FMC at 

Brookside

FMC at 

Republic 

Ford

FMC at 

Graysville

FMC at 

Hewitt 

Prk

FMC 

below 

Springdale Rd

FMC at 

Brookside

FMC at 

Republic 

Ford

FMC at 

Graysville

USGS station number 02456900 02456999 02456999 02457500 02457502 02457625 02457599 02457700 02456999 02457502 02457625 02457599 0245770

Date 07/16/2003 07/16/2003 11/17/2004 07/16/2003 11/18/2004 11/18/2004 11/19/2004 11/19/2004 11/17/2004 11/18/2004 11/18/2004 11/19/2004 11/19/200

Percent subsampled 25.00 8.33 83.33 8.33 50.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 43.67 37.45 7.29 16.67 33.33 

Taxon

ADEM 

tolerance 

value 1996

Rheotanytarsus 

pellucidus gr.

5.9 — — 1 — — — — — 3 5 — — — 

Sergentia sp. 4 6.1 — — — — — — — — — — 1 — — Tanytarsus sp. 6.8 6 — — 1 — — — — 4 10 1 6 1 Tribelos sp. 6.3 — — — — — — — — — 1 — — — OrthocladiinaeBrillia sp. 5.2 — — — — — — — — — — 1 — — Cardiocladius sp. 5.9 — 15 3 5 6 — 1 — — — — — — Corynoneura sp. 6 — — 1 — 1 — — — 25 4 4 10 2 Cricotopus sp. 5.8 53 24 9 48 18 — — — 7 9 — — — Cricotopus 

bicinctus gr.

5.8 51 10 1 33 — — — — 2 6 — 2 — 

Cricotopus 

trifascia gr.

5.8 — — 2

Nanocladius sp. 7.1 — — — — — — 2 3 — 1 3 1 1 Orthocladius 

Complex 2

4.7 5 3 1 3 — — — — — — — — — 

Parakiefferiella sp. 5.4 — — — — — — — — 1 — — — — Parametriocnemus

sp.

3.7 — — — — — — — — — — 1 — — 

Pseudosmittia sp. 2 1 — —Rheocricotopus sp. 7.3 — 2 1 1 — — — — 1 2 — 1 — Thienemanniella

sp.

5.9 1 1 5 3 — — — — 58 5 3 10 4 

Tvetenia bavarica

gr.

3.6 — — 2 — 1 — — — 5 1 — 1 — 

Tvetenia 

discoloripes gr.

3.6 — — — — — — — — — — — — 3 

TanypodinaePentaneurini 2 6.6 — — — — — — — — — 3 — — 1 Ablabesmyia sp. 7.2 1 — — — — — 1 — 1 — 6 — 1 
Appendix 3. Abundance and Alabama Department of Environmental Management Tolerance Values of Benthic Invertebrate Taxa Found at Selected SiJefferson County, Alabama, July 2003 and November 2004.—Continued [RTH, richest targeted habitat; QMH, qualitative multihabitat; L/R, large/rare organisms; shading indicates taxa found; —, taxa not found; 1, tolerance value for taxonomic class usefamily used; 3, tolerance value for taxonomic subfamily used; 4, tolerance value for taxonomic tribe used; 5, higher reported tolerance value used; 6, abundance corrected for subsamp7, taxonomy from Wiggins, 1996] RTH QMH 

Sampling station FMC at Fivemile Rd FMC at Hewitt Park FMC at Hewitt Park FMC at Huffman Rd FMC below Spring- dale Rd FMC at Brookside FMC at Republic Ford FMC at Grays- ville FMC at Hewitt Prk FMC below Spring- dale Rd FMC at Brookside FMC at Republic Ford FMC at Grays- ville 

USGS station number 02456900 02456999 02456999 02457500 02457502 02457625 02457599 02457700 02456999 02457502 02457625 02457599 0245770

Date 07/16/2003 07/16/2003 11/17/2004 07/16/2003 11/18/2004 11/18/2004 11/19/2004 11/19/2004 11/17/2004 11/18/2004 11/18/2004 11/19/2004 11/19/200

Percent subsampled 25.00 8.33 83.33 8.33 50.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 43.67 37.45 7.29 16.67 33.33 

Taxon ADEM tolerance value 1996 Ablabesmyia mallochi 7.2 — — — — — — — — — 8 — 4 3 

Labrundinia sp. 5.9 — — — — — — — — — 1 2 — 1 Nilotanypus sp. 3.9 — — — — — — — — — — — 1 — Nilotanypus fimbriatus 3.9 — — — — — — — — 1 — 1 — — Paramerina sp. 4.3 — — — — — — — — 1 — — — — Pentaneura sp. 4.7 — — — — — — — — — — — — 1 Thienemannimyia gr. sp. 6.2 2 — 2 6 — — 1 1 3 3 2 2 2 Zavrelimyia sp. 9.1 — — — — — — — — — — — — 1 

Simuliidae Simulium sp. 4 7 17 64 5 7 — — — 33 6 — 3 — Tipulidae Antocha sp. 4.3 — 1 2 1 2 — — — — — — — — 

Tipula sp. 7.3 — — — — — — — 1 — — 3 1 3 

Brachycera Athericidae Atherix sp. 2.1 — — — — 1 — — — — — — — — 

 Empididae 7.6 — — — — — — — — 1 — 1 — — 

Hemerodromia sp. 7.6 — 2 1 — 1 — — — 2 1 — 1 1 Wiedemannia sp. 2 7.6 — — 1 — — — — — — — — — — 

NEMATODA 6 1 — — — — — — — 1 — — 1 2 Total organisms identified in subsample 313 311 356 310 349 59 66 238 413 322 341 326 333 Corrected abundance 6 1,252 3,732 427 3,720 698 59 66 238 946 860 4,607 1,932 990 
Prepared by:

USGS Publishing Network

Raleigh Publishing Service Center

3916 Sunset Ridge Road

Raleigh, NC 27607

For additional information regarding this publication, contact:

Amy C. Gill, Hydrologist

USGS Alabama Water Science Center

75 TechnaCenter Drive

Montgomery, AL 36117

phone: 334–395–4120

email: acgill@usgs.gov

Or visit the USGS Alabama Water Science Center website at:

http://al.water.usgs.gov/
Printed on recycled paper

Gill and others—Assessment of Water-Quality Conditions in Fivemile Creek in the Vicinity of the Fivemile Creek Greenway, Alabama—Scientific Investigations Report 2007–5272