Untitled - Geological Survey of Alabama

350 Pages·2015·54.75 MB·English

CHOCTAWHATCHEE, PEA AND YELLOW RIVERS
WATERSHED MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY

Barbara Gibson
Executive Director

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF ALABAMA

Berry H. Tew, Jr.
State Geologist

Groundwater Assessment Program
Marlon R. Cook, Director

Choctawhatchee, Pea and Yellow Rivers
Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan

Information Series 82

By
Amye S. Hinson, Alana L. Rogers, and Marlon R. Cook

Published by the

Geological Survey of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA

Tuscaloosa, Alabama
2015

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF ALABAMA

420 Hackberry Lane
P.O. Box 869999
Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35486-6999
Berry H. (Nick) Tew, Jr.
Phone [phone]

State Geologist
Fax [phone]

www.gsa.state.al.us

August 27, 2015

The Honorable Robert Bentley
Governor of Alabama
Montgomery, Alabama
Dear Governor Bentley:
It is with pleasure that I make available to you this report entitled Choctawhatchee, Pea
and Yellow Rivers Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan, by Amye S. Hinson, Alana
L. Rogers, and Marlon R. Cook, which has been published as Information Series 82 by the
Geological Survey of Alabama.
The Choctawhatchee, Pea and Yellow Rivers Watershed Management Authority
initiated development of a comprehensive watershed management plan to consolidate, into
one source, the water-related natural resource issues in the Choctawhatchee, Pea and Yellow
River Watershed, available scientific knowledge and data, and outline future water
management options for the watershed. Preparation of the management plan was guided by a
steering committee of representatives from natural resource agencies and non-governmental
organizations in the state. It represents the most current science and will be annually
updated.
Information included in the Watershed Management Plan provides a framework for the
Choctawhatchee, Pea and Yellow Rivers Watershed Management Authority to assist federal,
state, and local officials and agencies in addition to local stakeholders in protecting and
preserving the natural resources in the Choctawhatchee, Pea and Yellow River Watershed,
while guiding prudent management of resources required for economic development and
improved quality of life for residents in southeast Alabama.
Respectfully,

Berry H. (Nick) Tew, Jr.
State Geologist
Science and Service for the People of Alabama

DISCLAIMER

This document includes general information about the
Choctawhatchee, Pea and Yellow Rivers Watershed Management
Authority (CPYRWMA) and its programs and contains no
representations regarding the laws and regulations that govern the
CPYRWMA. Alabama law and/or administrative rules will supersede
any information in conflict.

All information provided in this document is believed to be correct;
however, no liability is assumed for errors in substance or form of any
of the data or facts contained therein and/or contributed by outside
sources for inclusion in the document.

Some of the views and opinions expressed in said document are
those of the contributors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy
or position of the authors unless so designated by authorizing
documents.

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CONTENTS
DISCLAIMER ................................................................................................................... i
CONTENTS .................................................................................................................... iii 
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................ xix 
VISION FOR FUTURE LOCAL/REGIONAL WATER RESOURCE
MANAGEMENT PLANNING ..................................................................................... xxi 
ABBREVIATIONS ...................................................................................................... xxiii 
INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................ 1 
BOARD STRUCTURE OF THE CHOCTAWHATCHEE, PEA AND
YELLOW RIVERS WATERSHED MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY ....................... 1 
WATERSHED ISSUES AND RECOMMENDATIONS................................................. 5 
DESCRIPTION OF WATERSHEDS ........................................................................ 5 
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING ......................................................................................... 9 
PHYSIOGRAPHY AND TOPOGRAPHY ................................................................. 9 
LAND USE ............................................................................................................... 13 
GEOLOGY................................................................................................................ 15 
CRETACEOUS SYSTEM .................................................................................. 16 
UPPER CRETACEOUS SERIES ...................................................................... 16 
TUSCALOOSA GROUP .............................................................................. 16 
COKER FORMATION ................................................................................. 16 
MIDDLE MARINE SHALE ......................................................................... 16 
GORDO FORMATION ................................................................................ 17 
EUTAW FORMATION ................................................................................ 17 
BLUFFTOWN FORMATION ...................................................................... 17 
CUSSETA SAND MEMBER OF THE RIPLEY FORMATION ................. 17 
RIPLEY FORMATION ................................................................................ 17 
PROVIDENCE SAND.................................................................................. 18 
TERTIARY SYSTEM ......................................................................................... 18 
PALEOCENE SERIES ...................................................................................... 18 
CLAYTON FORMATION ............................................................................ 18 
PORTERS CREEK FORMATION .............................................................. 18 
SALT MOUNTAIN LIMESTONE ............................................................... 18 
NANAFALIA FORMATION ........................................................................ 19 
TUSCAHOMA SAND .................................................................................. 19 
EOCENE SERIES ............................................................................................. 19 
HATCHETIGBEE FORMATION ............................................................... 19
CPYR Water Management Plan

TALLAHATTA FORMATION ..................................................................... 19 
LISBON FORMATION ................................................................................ 20 
JACKSON GROUP UNDIFFERENTIATED ............................................. 20 
EOCENE AND OLIGOCENE SERIES ............................................................ 20 
RESIDUUM AND CRYSTAL RIVER FORMATION ................................. 20 
OLIGOCENE SERIES ....................................................................................... 20 
CHICKASAWHAY LIMESTONE ............................................................... 20 
MIOCENE SERIES ........................................................................................... 21 
MIOCENE SERIES UNDIFFERENTIATED ............................................ 21 
QUATERNARY SYSTEM ................................................................................. 21 
PLEISTOCENE AND HOLOCENE SERIES ................................................... 21 
TERRACE AND ALLUVIAL DEPOSITS ................................................... 21 
BIOLOGY ................................................................................................................. 21 
SOILS ....................................................................................................................... 22 
CLIMATE ................................................................................................................. 25 
PREDICTIONS .................................................................................................. 28 
POTENTIAL IMPACTS .................................................................................... 31 
RECOMMENDATIONS .................................................................................... 33 
POLICY OPTIONS ............................................................................................ 33 
DROUGHT ......................................................................................................... 33 
POPULATION TRENDS ......................................................................................... 37 
ECONOMIC IMPACTS ........................................................................................... 37 
RECOMMENDATIONS .................................................................................... 39 
POLICY OPTIONS ............................................................................................ 39 
WATERSHED TRENDS ......................................................................................... 39 
LAND USE ......................................................................................................... 39 
RECOMMENDATIONS .................................................................................... 39 
POLICY OPTIONS ............................................................................................ 41 
WATER USE ...................................................................................................... 41 
RECOMMENDATIONS .................................................................................... 50 
POLICY OPTION .............................................................................................. 50 
INTERSTATE ISSUES ........................................................................................... 51 
TRI-STATE WATER WARS .............................................................................. 51 
FLORIDAN AQUIFER ...................................................................................... 53 
RECOMMENDATIONS .................................................................................... 54 
POLICY OPTIONS ............................................................................................ 54 

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