The Flint River, with an area of 568 square miles, is a tributary to the Tennessee River. Much of the watershed (342 sq. mi.) is contained in Madison County, Alabama. The land within this watershed is predominantly agricultural and has experienced significant recent residential growth from the City of Huntsville, Alabama. The U.S. Geological Survey National Water-Quality Assessment Program is currently investigating water quality in the lower Tennessee River basin with several monitoring activities targeted in the Flint River Basin.