1-+Problem+Background

**__Course Overview__**
====This course will center around investigating the water quality characteristics of the Big Creek Lake, reservoir and its seven tributaries during normal and high-rainfall events. Big Creek Lake is conveniently located 13 miles from the University of South Alabama campus and is the raw water source for the E.H. Stickney and H.E. Myers Water Treatment Plants. The streams that terminate at the reservoir include Big Creek, Crooked Creek, Hamilton Creek, Collins Creek, Mill Branch, Boggy Branch, and Long Branch. The first three are gauged and monitored by USGS ([]). Students are responsible for learning about the lake watershed and water quality challenges through class interactions, independent literature reviews, and collection and analysis of field data. ====

__**List of Federal Resources**__
==== USGS. Scientific Investigations Report 2005-5171. Water quality and simulated effects of urban land-use change in J.B. Converse Lake Watershed, Mobile County, AL 1990-2003. AC Gill, AK McPherson, RS Moreland. Montgomery, AL USA. This report is available online in pdf format: __ [|USGS SIR 2005–5171] __ (8 MB) [] ====

USGS Real-Time Water Gauging Stations []
[|Carlson, C.S., and Archfield, S.A., 2009, Hydrogeologic conditions and a firm-yield assessment for J.B. Converse Lake, Mobile County, Alabama, 1991–2006: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2008–5005, Second Edition—February 2009, 21 p.] Here is an additional USGS Report I found on J.B. Converse Lake.

[|Journey, C.A., and Gill, A.C., 2001, Assessment of Water-Quality Condidtions in the J.B. Converse Lake Watershed, Mobile County, Alabama, 1990-1998: U.S. Geological Survey Water Resources Investigations Report 01-4225, 138p.] This is a Precurser to SIR 2005-5171. I found it to be an easier read.

[|Journey, C. A., Psinakis, W. L., & Atkins, J. (1995). //Streamflow in and Water Quality and Bottom Material Analysis of the J.B. Converse Lake Basin, Mobile County, Alabama, 1990-92.// Tuscaloosa, Alabama: U.S. Geological Survey, Water Resources Investigations Report 95-4106, 76p.] This report is older but could be beneficial in developing a timeline for the bottom material of the lake. In this report a total of 4 bottom samples were recovered and analyzed for both geologic properties as well as chemical properties. In addition to this report core samples of the lake were also recovered by South Alabama through an EPA Grant but I am unsure of the date. I have included this document in the literature review section. Dr. Webb or Dr. Whelton may be able to follow up on this.

//Limnology and Oceanography//
//Journal of Environmental Engineering and Science// //Journal of Environmental Engineering//