The Rivers of Madison County: Determination of Bacterial Contamination in the Flint River during Winter Flood Stage

When a small community experiences significant growth in a short period of time the impact on land and water use greatly affects the surrounding areas. Madison County Alabama was once a small farming community but has experienced a 40% growth over the past two decades. This growth has led to environmental concerns over the amount of pollution in the major watershed, the Flint River. This study was performed to determine bacterial concentrations along the length of the river as it passes from the agricultural county, to the City and eventually to the Tennessee River, to observe whether there is a gradual rise in the concentration of E. Coli and Coliform colonies as the river travels. This sampling was performed under "winter," wet weather conditions to determine if there are risks for individuals living along the river banks and for the county water supply. This type of information is especially beneficial in a dynamic, high flow condition such as the Flint River in Alabama.