by: eric reutebuch
Two volunteer groups have been ‘watching the waters’ of local streams in the Auburn-Opelika area for several years. Most of the two-city area falls in either the Saugahatchee Watershed or the Chewacla Watershed (see map below).
Watersheds in the Auburn-Opelika area (click map to enlarge) include 1) Saugahatchee, 2) Chewacla, 3) Uphapee, 4) Halawakee and 5) Little Uchee. The first 3 are in the Tallapoosa River Basin, 4 and 5 are in the Chattahoochee River Basin.
The two volunteer groups have been monitoring water chemistry and bacterial contamination (E. coli levels) at several stream sites for over a decade. Save Our Saugahatchee (SOS) formed in 1997 to address impacts to Saugahatchee Creek, and has measured water quality at 42 sites on the creek and its tributary streams (25 sites are currently monitored). Friends of Chewacla Creek and the Uphapee Watershed (CHEWUP) formed in 1998 to address impacts to Chewacla Creek, and has measured 26 sites on Choctafaula Creek and on Chewacla Creek and its tributary streams (24 sites are currently monitored). Trend graphs of these data can be viewed at the AWW website (go to www.alabamawaterwatch.org and click AWW Data). Below is a graph of bacteria data monitored over the past seven years by SOS monitor Mary Burkhart at her site on Saugahatchee Creek in the Turtle Cove subdivision.
Click to explore SOS bacteria data
Click here to explore CHEWUP bacteria data
In 2006, interest in bacteria monitoring greatly increased after a few monitors reported high E. coli levels in a couple of streams in the watershed. Several citizen monitors got trained and certified by AWW in bacteria monitoring. ‘Blitz’ monitoring across both Saugahatchee and Chewacla Creek watersheds began in January of 2007. During a ‘blitz’ ten to twelve volunteer monitors that have been certified by AWW in Bacteriological Monitoring test about 30 sites in Chewacla and Saugahatchee watersheds in and around Auburn-Opelika. After samples are poured onto petri dishes and incubated from 30-48 hours, E. coli are counted and the counts are linked back to their respective sample site locations.
Click here for more blitz pictures
Results are communicated to local municipal officials and to Auburn University (AU) officials. High levels of E. coli have been found at multiple sites in both cities and on the AU campus. Municipal and campus officials have worked with local monitors to resolve the sources of bacterial contamination in a timely manner, preventing further environmental and human harm. Successfully resolved problems have included underground sewer leaks, clogged sewer pipes, and improperly connected sewer pipes. Results of the most recent blitz conducted in November 2010 are shown below.
Click map to enlarge
The volunteer monitors found significant E. coli contamination at 10 sites. Highest E. coli levels were at Chewacla Creek at Nixon’s Farm above Lake Ogletree at CR 27 bridge (site #10; 900 E. coli per 100 mL of water), and at Parkerson Mill Creek at Thach Avenue near the rugby field (site #25; 1,233 E. coli per 100 mL of water). Citizen monitors continue to supply their data to local resource managers to collaborate in finding sources of contamination and resolving them so that we can all fully benefit from clean waters.
Thanks to the dedication of SOS and CHEWUP monitors, our local waters run a lot cleaner! A special thanks goes to the World Wildlife Fund for grant support of this volunteer monitor watershed stewardship effort – Thank You WWF!
Historic Bacteria Sampling Results