Water quality of the Mobile River above its confluence with Chickasaw 

 Creek is generally good, although fecal col i form levels are high during 

 periods of high flows (generally in the winter months) and power plant 

 cooling water discharges increase temperature levels. Below the entrance of 

 Chickasaw Creek (Mobile quadrangle) water quality tends to be lowered 

 somewhat, because of the greater loads of municipal waste water and 

 industrial wastes contributed by Chickasaw Creek, Morton Creek, and Threemile 

 Creek (Mobile quadrangle) (Table 46). The combined municipal and industrial 

 waste discharge into these streams is 68 mgd (SARPC 1979). Offsetting these 

 high waste loads is the greater absorbtive capacity of the Mobile River for 

 oxygen-consuming wastes. Comparing water quality (DO and BOD) from stations 

 above and below these creeks' confluences (Table 46) indicates that they have 

 a moderate influence on these aspects of water quality (U.S. Army Corps of 

 Engineers 1983). However, this influence combined with salt levels, fecal 

 coliform counts, temperature and turbidity in this segment of the river 

 reduces it to an Agricultural and Industrial classification use only (Table 

 46). 



Mobile Bay . Bacterial and viral pollution can be a serious problem in 

 Mobile Bay. When significantly high (14 most probable number per 100 

 milliliters (MPN/100 ml)) levels of bacterial pollution occur, oyster-reef 

 closures are necessary, causing direct economic losses to the area's economy. 

 The pollution of estuaries by bacteria in Alabama can be attributed primarily 

 to municipal and industrial wastes (Chermock 1974). Gallagher et al . (1969) 

 reported that the most significant source of these pollutants in Mobile Bay 

 was the Mobile metropolitan area via the Mobile River. Measurements made 

 during flood stage at the mouth of the river ranged from 11,000 to 150,000 

 MPN/100 ml. Approximately 11% to 97% of this total was attributed to 



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