Choctawhatchee River at Highway 92 Boat Ramp

Clayhatchee, Alabama

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Another sample collected on May 26th had low E. coli and the beach has been rates as green. Note that when it rains almost any stream can be contaminated because of pollutants washed off the land and there is also a possibility that there can be contamination from sewer overflows if there is a large rain event or rain over a number of days. If there is enough rain to create "muddy" water it is best to allow the water time for the water to get clearer before swimming in it, this is especially important for persons who might be at higher risk because cancer treatments or medications have impaired their immune systems.

The E. coli in a sample collected on the 18th was elevated. The source is not known but there was rain in the prior 24 hours. Be cautious about this site for 24 to 72 hours after a rain event. The Little Choctawhatchee River E. coli numbers were not as high so if this came from contamination there it is either not from a Dothan SSO or is passed Hwy 92. If it is not from that source and from nonpoint sources each new rain could cause a new increase in E. coli.

This site has slight to moderate use with folks camping and swimming at the beach on the opposite (east) bank of the river.

Historical data for this site is available at the Alabama Water Watch website http://www.alabamawaterwatch.org/ using Site Code 04007108

To date Choctawhatchee Riverkeeper has not collected a sample with E. coli at a level that creates concern. Testing will be done again a few days before Independence Day and a few days before Labor Day.

WATER QUALITY

Passed water quality tests 60-95% of the time
Historical Status
This status is based on the latest sample, taken on . Choctawhatchee Riverkeeper updates the status of this beach as soon as test results become available. These results were posted to Swim Guide on at

For water quality icon legend, click:

CURRENT WEATHER

22°C

Cloudy

Report Pollution

MONITORING FREQUENCY

SOURCE INFORMATION

S. EPA.

Choctawhatchee Riverkeeper will monitor these sites for E. coli early in the swimming season until at least Labor Day. If resources allow these sites will at a minimum be monitored once prior to each major summer holiday. If additional resources are available these 5 will be monitored five times a month in May, June-July and August to check for contamination. All data will be reported to the media. Sites that fail to meet water quality standards will be reported to county health departments, the local watershed management authority, posted to the blog on the Choctawhatchee Riverkeeper website and reported directly to members of Choctawhatchee Riverkeeper and the Wiregrass Canoe and Kayak Club.

Sites that fail to meet water quality standards will be tested approximately once a week until they meet water quality standards. If they continue to fail to meet water quality standards, efforts will be made to post the sites as failing or have them posted. Sites that meet water quality standards in the early testing period will be tested prior to each major summer holiday. If at any point they fail to meet water quality standards, they will be tested as above.

For safe and unsafe levels, Choctawhatchee Riverkeeper uses several levels based upon the use of the site. For single samples Choctawhatchee Riverkeeper uses the numbers that Alabama Water Watch uses in its training materials which are slightly rounded from the numbers in EPA 440/5-84-002

These are: We/AWW Uses EPA Number

Designated Beach Area 200 235
Moderately Used Swimming Area 300 298
Lightly Used Swimming Area 400 409
Rarely Used Swimming Area 600 575

WATER QUALITY GRAPH