TVA monitored Wheeler Reservoir annually from 1991 through 1995 to establish baseline data on the reservoir’s ecological health under a range of weather and flow conditions. Wheeler is now monitored every other year.

Wheeler Reservoir rated good in 2005, but only one point above fair. Although the overall ecological condition of Wheeler Reservoir was fair in 1999, 2001, and 2003, the 2003 and 2005 scores were notably higher. Generally, lower ecological health scores occur during years with lower flows as a result of higher chlorophyll concentrations and lower dissolved oxygen levels. This pattern held true for 1999 and 2001, which were typified by low flows.

Wheeler Reservoir Ecological Health Ratings, 1994-2005

Click chart for raw data.

The table below shows the ratings for individual ecological health indicators at Wheeler in 2005. These ratings are briefly explained in the paragraphs that follow.

Monitoring locations	Dissolved oxygen	Chlorophyll	Fish	Bottom life	Sediment
Ecological Health Indicators at Wheeler Reservoir, 2005
Forebay	Fair	Fair	Good	Poor	Good
Mid-reservoir	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good
Elk River embayment	Poor	Poor	Good	Fair	Good
Inflow			Good	Good
See definitions of the five ecological health indicators and locations of monitoring sites.

Dissolved oxygen

Dissolved oxygen levels rated good at the mid-reservoir and fair near Wheeler Dam due to a small area of low dissolved oxygen (less than two milligrams per liter of oxygen) in the lower water column in August. The Elk River embayment had more extensive areas of low dissolved oxygen during late summer, resulting in a poor rating. Dissolved oxygen has rated good at the mid-reservoir all years, but ratings fluctuate at the forebay and embayment locations, relating mostly to reservoir flows.

Chlorophyll

Chlorophyll rated good at the mid-reservoir, fair at the forebay, and poor at the embayment monitoring location. Chlorophyll concentrations improved (declined) at all locations in 2003 and 2005 as compared to 1999 and 2001, but concentrations were still quite high during most sample periods at the Elk River embayment, resulting in poor ratings. Chlorophyll typically rates good at the mid-reservoir and poor in the forebay and Elk River embayment

Fish

The year 2005 was the first time the fish community rated good at all locations in the same year. Ratings for the fish community have fluctuated at each location between good and fair in previous years.

Bottom life

Bottom life ratings varied by location, rating poor at the forebay, fair at the embayment, and good at the mid-reservoir and inflow. The lower ratings at the forebay and embayment are due to relatively sparse populations predominantly composed of animals able to tolerate poor water quality.

Sediment

Sediment quality rated good at all locations monitored. No pesticides or PCBs were detected, and the concentrations of metals were within expected background levels. Sediment quality typically rates good, but in 2003 the mid-reservoir location rated fair due to the presence of low levels of chlordane, a pesticide previously used to control termites and crop pests.

Swimming advisories

TVA has not issued any swimming advisories for Wheeler Reservoir.

E. coli bacteria levels in samples collected in 2007 were within the Environmental Protection Agency’s suggested guidelines for water contact with the following exception.

Mallard Creek Public Use Area Beach: Exceeded the single sample maximum 1 of 10 sampling events

The locations sampled in 2007 were:

Site Name	Location	County	State
Goldfield Branch Boat Ramp	Tennessee River Mile 284.5L	Lawrence	AL
Guntersville Dam Reservation Tailwater Recreation Area Boat Ramp 1	Tennessee River Mile 349.5	Marshall	AL
Guntersville Dam Reservation Tailwater Recreation Area Boat Ramp 2	Tennessee River Mile 349.5	Marshall	AL
Second Creek Boat Ramp	Tennessee River Mile 275R, Second Creek Mile 2.1	Lauderdale	AL
Joe Wheeler State Park Beach	Tennessee River Mile 278R	Lauderdale	AL
Wheeler Dam Village Boat Ramp	Tennessee River Mile 276.3L	Lauderdale	AL
Elk River / Hwy 72 Boat Ramp	Elk River Mile 4.9R	Limestone	AL
Spring Creek Boat Ramp	Tennessee River Mile 283L, Spring Creek Mile 0.6	Lawrence	AL
Limestone County Park-Lucy's Branch Boat Ramp	Tennessee River Mile 287R	Limestone	AL
Mallard Creek Recreation Area Beach	Tennessee River Mile 293.5L, Mallard Creek Mile 0.8	Lawrence	AL
Round Island Creek Recreation Area Beach	Tennessee River Mile 296.9R	Limestone	AL
Point Mallard Park Beach	Tennessee River Mile 309L, Flint Creek Mile 2.0	Morgan	AL

Fish consumption advisories

There is one fish consumption advisory for Wheeler Reservoir. The state of Alabama advises people not to eat smallmouth buffalo or bigmouth buffalo from the Huntsville Spring Branch or the Indian Creek embayment on Wheeler Reservoir because of DDT contamination.

TVA collected channel catfish and largemouth bass from the reservoir for tissue analysis in fall 2005. The results, which were similar to those of previous years, will be provided to state agencies in Alabama. TVA will analyze fish from Wheeler Reservoir again in autumn 2007.

Wheeler Reservoir is located on the Tennessee River in north central Alabama.

To see monitoring results for other TVA reservoirs, choose from the list below.

View general information on Wheeler Reservoir.

Environmental Stewardship

Wheeler Reservoir

Contents of this page

Ecological health rating

Swimming advisories

Fish consumption advisories

Related Links

More about Wheeler Reservoir

General information

Ecological health rating