THREATS

WATER QUALITY
There is extensive aquatic weed growth in Guntersville Lake. Due to the dissolved oxygen impacts that decaying plant growth can cause, these aquatic weed populations are managed by mechanical harvesting and herbicides (this plan was developed by the Guntersville Aquatic Plant Stakeholder Group). Aerial investigations of aquatic macrophytes (primarily milfoil and hydrilla) showed a continued trend for increased growth from 10,500 acres in 1996 to 15,700 acres in 1999.

Lake Guntersville is a nutrient rich (eutrophic) reservoir with the majority of these nutrients attributable to releases from Nickajack Dam.

IMPAIRED STREAMS / SECTIONS
Impairment of Guntersville Lake tributaries is most commonly associated with past surface mining (causing metal and pH problems), and farming (causing pesticide and nutrient enrichment problems).