US EPA
Nonpoint Source Program
Success Story
Brier Fork/Beaverdam Creek Watershed
Best Management Practices Reduce Sediment and Improve
Water Quality
Agricultural practices and other land uses had caused excessive
erosion and increased sediment in the Brier Fork/Beaverdam
Creek Watershed. To address these issues, best management
practices (BMPs) including conservation tillage, alternative water sources, fencing, grassed
waterways, underground outlets and sediment basins were installed in the watershed. As a
result, monitoring data indicate that fish and benthic populations have improved and erosion
control BMPs have reduced sedimentation levels.
OVERVIEW
The Brier Fork/Beaverdam Creek Watershed is just north of Huntsville in Madison County and
lies within the Wheeler Lake Watershed in the Tennessee River Basin. Both Brier Fork and Bea-
verdam Creek are tributaries to the Flint River. The watershed encompasses approximately
67,208 acres (40% cropland, 24% pasture-land, 16% forestland, 13.5% urban land, 6.2%
open water and wetlands, and 0.03% other). Brier Fork has a drainage area of approximately
40.8 sq. miles and Beaverdam Creek has a drainage area of approximately 37.2 sq. miles.
Urban sprawl from Huntsville increasingly threatens the watershed; agricultural sources include
both row crops and pasture grazing. Erosion and sediment from both agriculture and land de-
velopment are impairing Brier Fork and Beaverdam Creek; the water use classification for both
streams is Fish and Wildlife. Brier Fork is listed on the Section 303(d) List as impaired from the
Flint River to the Alabama-Tennessee State line (20-mile segment), while Beaverdam Creek is
listed on the Section 303(d) List as impaired from Brier Fork to its source (19-mile segment).
HIGHLIGHTS
The primary goals of the ongoing Brier Fork and Beaverdam Creek projects are to develop wa-
tershed management plans and implement BMPs to improve water quality. The projects are de-
signed to bring Brier Fork and Beaverdam Creek into compliance with state water quality stan-
dards. To recruit landowner participation, a continuous sign-up process was announced and 34
applications were initially accepted. Twenty of the applications were for BMPs that address ero-
sion, such as terraces, grassed waterways, sediment basins, and underground outlets to reduce
soil loss on crop land. Livestock practices such as stream crossings and heavy use feeding areas
were also requested to help reduce erosion.
A watershed-based plan has been developed and will be implemented through partnerships be-
tween public and private organizations. The Madison County Soil and Water Conservation
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Nonpoint Source Program Success Story
District (SWCD) has significant experience in identifying and resolving watershed issues and
coordinates the local watershed protection implementation efforts.
Winter Cover Crop in the Brier Fork/Beaverdam Creek Watershed
RESULTS
As a result of the Brier Fork/Beaverdam Creek Watershed projects, over 6,000 acres of farm-
land have been improved using cover crops as well as conservation tillage. Nine sediment ba-
sins have been installed and 54,270 feet of broad-based terraces to address gulley erosion
have been implemented. A 2,900-foot grassed waterway and 4,604 feet of underground outlet
have been installed. Cropland has been converted to permanent hay on 65 acres and 113 acres
of pastures have been planted and improved by five different cattle producers. Four watering
facilities, three heavy use areas, two livestock stream crossings, and 1500 feet of exclusion
fencing have been completed.
The following table summarizes BMPs installed in the watershed:
BMPs Installed in the Brier Fork/Beaverdam Creek
Watershed
BMP
Alternative Water Sources
Conservation Tillage
Fence
Grassed Waterway
Heavy Use Area Protection
Livestock Stream Crossing
Pasture & Hayland Planting
Sediment Basin
Terrace
Underground Outlet
Size/Units
4 Units
6000 Acres
1500 Ft
2900 Ft
3 Units
2 Units
113 Acres
9 Units
54270 Ft
4604 Ft
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US EPA Region 4
PageS
Livestock exclusion fencing in the Brier Fork Watershed
Through erosion control BMPs, the Brier Fork/Beaverdam Creek Watershed projects have im-
proved water quality with a sedimentation-siltation load reduction estimate of 102,000 tons/
year. In addition, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has conducted an Index of Biological
Integrity survey on two sites within the targeted area of the Brier Fork Watershed. Sampling
revealed that fish and benthic populations and diversity have improved since the last sample
period. The results are likely related to the first Brier Fork and Beaverdam Creek 319 project
initiated in 2006.
f«. 5-1
Newly installed sediment basin in the Brier Fork Watershed
A second phase of the ongoing Brier Fork/Beaverdam Creek Watershed projects started in
2008 with a kickoff meeting held at the Alabama A&M University Experiment Station. The
Madison County SWCD accepted twenty-two applications for BMPs to include conservation till-
age and winter cover crops, terrace projects to address gulley erosion on crop land, grazing
land requests, and cropland conversion to permanent vegetation.
Education and outreach activities have included the 2008 environmental education teacher
workshop, the 2008 Madison County Drinking Water Festival, the 2008 Madison County Land
Judging Contest, the 2008 Earth Day festival, and two Flint River Canoe Cleanups, newslet-
ters, and newspaper inserts.
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Page 4 Nonpoint Source Program Success Story
PARTNERS AND FUNDING
The two phases of this project are funded by $635,130 in US Environmental Protection Agency
Section 319 funding. The first phase of this project, which is now complete, had a state match
of $316,894. The 2nd phase of this project, which is ongoing, has a match of $77,489. The
match from both phases of the project was provided by Landowners, Madison County Soil and
Water Conservation Board, District Administrative Coordinator; Tennessee Valley Authority,
and the Watershed Advisory Committee. Participating partners include the: Alabama Depart-
ment of Environmental Management; Madison County Soil and Water Conservation District;
Tennessee Valley Authority; the Flint River Conservation Association; and the Clean Water
Partnership.
For additional information contact:
Carmen Yelle
Senior Environmental Scientist
Alabama Department of Environmental Management
Nonpoint Source Unit
P.O. Box 301463
Montgomery, AL 36130-1463
E-mail: cyelle@adem.state.al.us
Phone: 334-394-4397
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