Water Quality Management Studies. Postimpoundment Study of R.E. 'Bob' Woodruff Lake, Alabama River, Alabama.

Abstract

Abstract : Water, biological, and sediment samples were collected during five sampling runs from 18 stations above and one station immediately below Robert F. Henry Lock and dam. Eighteen stations were located in the R. E. Bob Woodruff Reservoir (between river miles 0.5 and 4.4 on the Coosa River, between river miles 0.0 and 0.5 on the Tallapoosa River, and between river miles 302.0 and 236.0 on the Alabama River). Additionally, three tributary stations were sampled for dissolved oxygen, conductivity, pH, temperature, oxidation reduction potential, and turbidity to determine how tributaries influenced the reservoir. Also, selected parameters were examined for stratification and mixing within the reservoir at chosen stations. Water samples from the main samples stations were analyzed for 43 water-quality parameters, including nutrients, minerals, physical characteristics, heavy metals, bacterial populations, chlorophylls a, b and c, adenosine triphosphate, and algal growth potential. Sediments were tested twice at all major stations for concentrations of heavy metals, nutrients, physical characteristics, organics, and pesticides. Biological sampling included plankton, benthic macroinvertebrates, and macrophyte communities. Selected chemical and biological data were plotted for each of the five sampling runs and were placed on the EPA STORET computer system.