Turkey Creek: Thompson Meadow Above Blue Hole

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The Friends of Turkey Creek Nature Preserve regularly monitor two sites in Turkey Creek Nature Preserve. We do this because there is significant recreational use and the quality of the water impacts the habitat of the endangered Vermillion Darter, found only at Turkey Creek in Jefferson County. Samples for Chemistry analysis are collected year-round in the Thompson Meadow. However, the regular summer Bacteriological monitoring season starts in May and ends in September or October. Currently only one site is sampled on a monthly basis, the Thompson Meadow as the Creek enters the Preserve. Testing below the falls and a pipe that crosses the Creek has been discontinued because it was consistently better than the Thompson Meadow. Each site may be sampled at additional times if deemed necessary. Bacteriology testing is sampled for E. coli bacteria. The Chemistry testing is for dissolved oxygen and temperature, pH, Alkalinity, Hardness and Turbidity. Sample results are posted on the Friends of Turkey Creek Nature Preserve Facebook, page, as well as on Swim Guide as soon as they become available. Monitoring is done by Anne Mathews, certified in Bacteriological, Chemistry and Stream Biomonitoring and using methods (protocols) developed by the Alabama Water Watch Program that have been approved by Region 4 of the U.S. EPA (the EPA-approved AWW bacteriological monitoring plan is available at www.alabamawaterwatch.org/resources/publications.html ). The AWW criterion for acceptable levels of E. coli in waterbodies that are relatively safe for human contact is: AWW Criterion: 200 E. coli/100 mL of water (Note: ADEM Criterion: 235 E. coli/100 mL; EPA BAV: 235 E. coli/100 mL). A beach is marked GREEN when the single-sample result (average of triplicate readings) indicates a bacteria count of zero to 200 E. coli/100 mL of water. A beach is marked RED when results indicate bacteria counts greater than 200 E. coli/100 mL of water. A beach is marked GREY when reliable information is not available. This Friend of Turkey Creek Nature Preserve, AWW volunteer, will continue monitoring these sites as long as resources are available. All monitoring data is routinely uploaded to the AWW online database and is available to the public in chart format.