Pickwick Lake) and Embayments

FINAL DELISTING DECISION FOR TENNESSEE RIVER (PICKWICK LAKE) AND EMBAYMENTS

AL06030005-0808-103 Tennessee River (Pickwick Lake) AL06030005-0808-104 Tennessee River (Pickwick Lake) AL06030005-1203-100 Tennessee River (Pickwick Lake) AL06030005-0902-111 Second Creek (Pickwick Lake) AL06030005-0807-111 Cane Creek (Pickwick Lake) AL06030005-0605-111 Cypress Creek (Pickwick Lake)

NUTRIENTS

Alabama Department of Environmental Management Water Quality Branch Water Division April 2020 Final Tennessee River (Pickwick Lake) Delisting Decision Nutrients

Final Tennessee River (Pickwick Lake) Delisting Decision Nutrients

1.0 Executive Summary

The following Assessment Units (AUs) with listing information are proposed for delisting in this report.

SIZE AU_ID WATERBODY CLASS DOWNSTREAM UPSTREAM (acres) Tennessee River Lower end of Seven Sheffield AL06030005-0808-103 (Pickwick Lake) F&W Mile Island water intake 2424 Tennessee River Sheffield water AL06030005-0808-104 (Pickwick Lake) PWS/F&W intake Wilson Dam 1112 Lower end of Tennessee River Alabama-Tennessee Seven Mile AL06030005-1203-100 (Pickwick Lake) PWS/S/F&W state line Island 19370 Second Creek End of AL06030005-0902-111 (Pickwick Lake) PWS/S/F&W Tennessee River embayment 677 Cane Creek End of AL06030005-0807-111 (Pickwick Lake) PWS/S/F&W Tennessee River embayment 41 Cypress Creek End of AL06030005-0605-111 (Pickwick Lake) PWS/F&W Tennessee River embayment 57

In 2014, all of the above waterbodies were included in the three Tennessee River (Pickwick Lake) mainstem AUs listed above and were placed on the State of Alabama’s §303(d) list based on data collected by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) from 2010-2011. The following reason was listed in the Fact Sheet: “The chlorophyll a mean growing season criterion for Pickwick Lake was exceeded in 2010 and 2011 and the exceedances were not the result of unusual or extreme hydrologic conditions.”

In 2016, separate AUs were created for Second Creek (Pickwick Lake), Cane Creek (Pickwick Lake), and Cypress Creek (Pickwick Lake), and these tributary embayments were included on the State of Alabama’s 2016 §303(d) list based on the same information used to list the mainstem AUs in 2014.

All of the above AUs remained on the State of Alabama’s 2018 §303(d) list.

This report addresses the results of the delisting analysis for nutrients for the above listed segments. Based on the assessment of all available water quality data, ADEM has determined that a nutrient impairment for the above listed segments does not currently exist. Therefore, ADEM will not develop a TMDL due to “more recent or accurate data,” which is just cause for delisting a waterbody according to Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 130.7(b)(6)(iv).

Final Tennessee River (Pickwick Lake) Delisting Decision Nutrients

2.0 Basis for 303(d) Listing

Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act (CWA), as amended by the Water Quality Act of 1987 and EPA’s Water Quality Planning and Management Regulations (Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 130), requires states to identify waterbodies which are not meeting water quality standards applicable to their designated use classifications. The identified waters are prioritized based on severity of pollution with respect to designated use classifications. Total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) for all pollutants causing violation of applicable water quality standards are established for each identified water. Such loads are established at levels necessary to implement the applicable water quality standards with seasonal variations and margins of safety. The TMDL process establishes the allowable loading of pollutants, or other quantifiable parameters for a waterbody, based on the relationship between pollution sources and in-stream water quality conditions, so that states can establish water- quality based controls to reduce pollution from both point and non-point sources and restore and maintain the quality of their water resources (USEPA, 1991).

In accordance with Alabama’s 2014 Water Quality Assessment and Listing Methodology (CALM), a waterbody was considered impaired for nutrients if the growing season mean chlorophyll a criterion was exceeded in two consecutive years or three times during the previous six years. The 2014 §303(d) list fact sheet indicated the following regarding the Tennessee River (Pickwick Lake): “The chlorophyll a mean growing season criterion for Pickwick Lake was exceeded in 2010 and 2011 and the exceedances were not the result of unusual or extreme hydrologic conditions.”

3.0 Technical Basis for Delisting Decision

3.1 Water Quality Target Identification

ADEM Admin. Code r. 335-6-10-.11(2)(i)1. establishes chlorophyll a criteria for Pickwick Lake as follows:

For the purposes of this delisting decision, 18 μg/l will be the chlorophyll a criterion used to evaluate all of the AUs listed above with regard to nutrients.

Final Tennessee River (Pickwick Lake) Delisting Decision Nutrients

3.2 Data Availability and Analysis

All of the AUs proposed for delisting in this report have been sampled through multiple growing seasons (April-September). For the three mainstem AUs named Tennessee River (Pickwick Lake) listed in this report, ADEM uses data collected by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to make assessment decisions. As stated above, ADEM Admin. Code r. 335-6-10-.11(2)(i)1. establishes chlorophyll a criteria for the Tennessee River (Pickwick Lake) at the deepest point, main river channel, dam forebay. TVA station “PKHFB” is at this location and data collected at “PKHFB” is used as the basis for assessment decisions of all three of the AUs named Tennessee River (Pickwick Lake) in this report.

As for the tributary embayments listed in this report, Cypress Creek (Pickwick Lake), Cane Creek (Pickwick Lake), and Second Creek (Pickwick Lake), data collected by ADEM are used as the basis for assessment decisions. ADEM stations associated with each of these waterbodies are listed in Table 1. A map depicting stations locations for each AU is shown in Figure 1.

The 2020 CALM indicates that a waterbody is not considered impaired for nutrients if the growing season mean chlorophyll a criterion has not been exceeded in two years during the assessment cycle. As stated above, 18 μg/l will be the chlorophyll a criterion used to evaluate all of the AUs listed above with regard to nutrients. As can be seen in Table 1, no AU has two years during the 2020 data assessment cycle (2013-2018) where the established criterion of 18 µg/l was exceeded.

In addition to TVA station PKHFB, ADEM has established a trend station in the Tennessee River (Pickwick Lake) at the state line referred to as TENR-215. This station has been sampled monthly since 2015. Growing season averages for TENR-215 are also shown in Table 1, and none exceeded 18 µg/l.

Detailed nutrient data summaries can be found in Appendix A.

Table 1: Chlorophyll a Growing Season Averages

Waterbody Station 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Cypress Creek PICL-1 4 3 5 Cane Creek PICL-3 6 4 7 Second Creek PICL-4 12 8 10 State_Line_Trend TENR-215 7 11 13 6 Pickwick Lake PKHFB 16 17 13 26 15

Final Tennessee River (Pickwick Lake) Delisting Decision Nutrients

Figure 1: Tennessee River (Pickwick Lake) and Embayment Station Locations

Final Tennessee River (Pickwick Lake) Delisting Decision Nutrients

4.0 Conclusions

Based on an examination of all available water quality data and information related to the AUs listed on the Cover Page of this report, ADEM has determined that a nutrient impairment does not currently exist. Therefore, ADEM will not develop a TMDL due to “more recent or accurate data,” which is just cause for delisting a waterbody in accordance with Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 130.7(b)(6)(iv).

5.0 Public Participation

As part of the public participation process, this Delisting Decision (DD) was placed on public notice and made available for review and comment. A public notice was prepared and published in the major daily newspapers in Montgomery, Huntsville, Birmingham, and Mobile, as well as submitted to persons who have requested to be on ADEM’s postal and electronic mailing distributions. In addition, the public notice and subject DD were made available on ADEM’s Website: www.adem.alabama.gov. The public could also request hard or electronic copies of the DD by contacting Ms. Kimberly Minton at 334-271-7826 or [email protected]. The public was given an opportunity to review the DD and submit comments to the Department in writing. At the end of the comment period, all written comments received during the public notice period became part of the administrative record. ADEM considered all comments received by the public prior to final completion of this DD and subsequent submission to EPA Region 4 for final approval.

Final Tennessee River (Pickwick Lake) Delisting Decision Nutrients

6.0 References

ADEM Administrative Code, 2017. Water Quality Program, Chapter 335-6-10, Water Quality Criteria, and Chapter 335-6-11, Use Classifications for Interstate and Intrastate Waters.

Alabama’s §303(d) Monitoring Program. ADEM.

Alabama’s Ambient Water Quality Monitoring Program. ADEM.

Alabama Department of Environmental Management. 2020. Alabama’s Water Quality Assessment and Listing Methodology.

Alabama Department of Environmental Management, 2014, 2016 and 2018 §303(d) Lists.

United States Environmental Protection Agency. 1991. Guidance for Water Quality-Based Decisions: The TMDL Process, Office of Water, EPA 440/4-91-001.

Final Tennessee River (Pickwick Lake) Delisting Decision Nutrients

Appendix A: Data used for delisting

Station Reservoir River Mile Date Time Chlorophyll a Units Criteria = 18 PKHFB Pickwick TRM 207.3 5/21/2013 9:26 18 mg/M3 PKHFB Pickwick TRM 207.3 6/25/2013 16:52 29 mg/M3 PKHFB Pickwick TRM 207.3 7/29/2013 13:46 21 mg/M3 PKHFB Pickwick TRM 207.3 8/14/2013 9:10 6 mg/M3 PKHFB Pickwick TRM 207.3 9/25/2013 10:29 5 mg/M3 16 PKHFB Pickwick TRM 207.3 4/22/2014 17:32 14 mg/M3 PKHFB Pickwick TRM 207.3 5/20/2014 12:13 8 mg/M3 PKHFB Pickwick TRM 207.3 6/17/2014 13:15 19 mg/M3 PKHFB Pickwick TRM 207.3 7/22/2014 14:29 21 mg/M3 PKHFB Pickwick TRM 207.3 8/26/2014 17:59 19 mg/M3 PKHFB Pickwick TRM 207.3 9/25/2014 12:25 19 mg/M3 17 PKHFB Pickwick TRM 207.3 4/14/2015 11:36 6 mg/M3 PKHFB Pickwick TRM 207.3 5/19/2015 8:22 19 mg/M3 PKHFB Pickwick TRM 207.3 6/16/2015 8:21 16 mg/M3 PKHFB Pickwick TRM 207.3 7/21/2015 9:26 21 mg/M3 PKHFB Pickwick TRM 207.3 8/18/2015 8:52 7 mg/M3 PKHFB Pickwick TRM 207.3 9/15/2015 8:56 8 mg/M3 13 PKHFB Pickwick TRM 207.3 4/19/2016 8:09 17 mg/M3 PKHFB Pickwick TRM 207.3 5/12/2016 8:09 44 mg/M3 PKHFB Pickwick TRM 207.3 6/16/2016 7:29 27 mg/M3 PKHFB Pickwick TRM 207.3 7/21/2016 9:40 23 mg/M3 PKHFB Pickwick TRM 207.3 8/11/2016 10:26 26 mg/M3 PKHFB Pickwick TRM 207.3 9/29/2016 12:14 16 mg/M3 26 PKHFB Pickwick TRM 207.3 4/18/2018 10:00 5 mg/M3 PKHFB Pickwick TRM 207.3 5/16/2018 10:40 18 mg/M3 PKHFB Pickwick TRM 207.3 6/20/2018 10:05 19 mg/M3 PKHFB Pickwick TRM 207.3 7/11/2018 9:45 21 mg/M3 PKHFB Pickwick TRM 207.3 8/8/2018 10:25 20 mg/M3 PKHFB Pickwick TRM 207.3 9/12/2018 9:25 8 mg/M3 15

PICL-1 Samples Chl a Nutrient: N/A Years Sampled: 1996 - 2018 /Year N Chl A Tot N TKN NO3+NO2-N NH3-N DRP Tot P TSS 2003 6 9.35 6 0.532 6 0.075 6 0.457 6 0.02 6 0.013 6 0.041 6 9.8 6 2009 6 1.31 6 0 0 1.304 6 0 0.050 6 0 14.3 6 2013 6 4.28 6 0.736 6 0.279 6 0.458 6 0.02 6 0.011 6 0.032 6 6.1 6 2015 6 2.75 6 0.852 6 0.396 6 0.456 6 0.06 6 0.014 6 0.034 6 8.7 6 2018 6 5.39 6 0.787 6 0.221 6 0.566 6 0.01 6 0.015 6 0.031 6 6.0 6 4.61 0.72 0.24 0.64 0.03 0.020 0.047 8.98

Chl A Nutrient: N/A Chl A Average Chl a

Average Total Nitrogen Average Total Phophorus

PICL-3 Samples Chl a Nutrient: N/A Years Sampled: 2003 - 2018 /Year N Chl A Tot N TKN NO3+NO2-N NH3-N DRP Tot P TSS 2003 6 4.85 6 0.390 6 0.075 6 0.315 6 0.01 6 0.023 6 0.064 6 10.3 6 2009 6 7.83 6 0 0 0.468 6 0 0.099 6 0 10.4 6 2013 6 5.60 6 0.662 6 0.378 6 0.284 6 0.02 6 0.031 6 0.050 6 6.1 6 2015 6 3.89 6 0.713 6 0.487 6 0.226 6 0.02 6 0.030 6 0.044 6 4.3 6 2018 6 6.62 6 0.499 6 0.269 6 0.230 6 0.00 6 0.027 6 0.042 6 6.7 6 5.76 0.57 0.30 0.30 0.01 0.042 0.050 7.56

Chl A Nutrient: N/A Chl A Average Chl a

Average Total Nitrogen Average Total Phophorus

PICL-4 Samples Chl a Nutrient: N/A Years Sampled: 2003 - 2018 /Year N Chl A Tot N TKN NO3+NO2-N NH3-N DRP Tot P TSS 2003 6 16.89 6 0.225 6 0.113 6 0.112 6 0.02 6 0.008 6 0.054 6 11.8 6 2009 6 16.83 6 0 0 0.002 6 0 0.034 6 0 5.7 6 2013 6 12.43 6 0.589 6 0.579 6 0.011 6 0.01 6 0.004 6 0.031 6 4.0 6 2015 5 8.14 5 0.663 5 0.661 5 0.002 5 0.04 5 0.003 5 0.026 5 7.0 5 2018 6 9.99 6 0.408 6 0.376 6 0.032 6 0.00 6 0.003 6 0.026 6 6.7 6 13.02 0.46 0.42 0.03 0.02 0.011 0.034 7.03

Chl A Nutrient: N/A Chl A Average Chl a

Average Total Nitrogen Average Total Phophorus

TENR-215 Samples Chl a Nutrient: N/A Years Sampled: 2014 - 2019 /Year N Chl A Tot N TKN NO3+NO2-N NH3-N DRP Tot P TSS 2014 3 12.85 3 1.101 3 1.017 3 0.084 3 0.02 3 0.016 3 0.034 3 6.7 3 2015 6 7.36 6 0.612 6 0.485 6 0.127 6 0.05 6 0.020 6 0.038 6 2.8 6 2016 6 11.00 6 0.676 6 0.577 6 0.099 6 0.03 6 0.013 6 0.033 6 4.2 6 2017 6 13.11 6 0.683 6 0.462 6 0.222 6 0.01 6 0.017 6 0.054 6 4.7 6 2018 6 6.24 6 0.611 6 0.443 6 0.169 6 0.00 6 0.022 6 0.044 6 3.4 6 2019 6 14.30 6 0.957 6 0.733 6 0.224 6 0.02 6 0.015 6 0.032 6 4.4 5 10.62 0.74 0.58 0.16 0.02 0.017 0.040 4.13

Chl A Nutrient: N/A Chl A Average Chl a

Average Total Nitrogen Average Total Phophorus