NC0036668_Report_19940601

NPDES DOCU LENT SCANNING COVER SHEET
NPDES Permit:
NC0036668
Kenansville WWTP
Document Type:
Permit Issuance
Wasteload Allocation
Authorization to Construct (AtC)
Permit Modification
Complete File - Historical
Engineering Alternatives (EAA)
Correspondence
Owner Name Change
(ep�t{
Instream Assessment (67b)
Speculative Limits
Environmental Assessment (EA)
Document Date:
June 1, 1994
This document is printed on reuse paper - ignore arty
content on the rezzerse side

Division of Environmental Management
Biological Assessment Group
.June 1, 1994
MEMORANDUM
To: Ken Eagleson
Through: Jimmie Overton
Trish Finn MacPhe on1 -
From: David Penrose IV'.
Subject:
Biological results of special studies in Duplin (Kenansville WWTP,
NC 0036668 and Stevecoknit Fabric, NC 0003450) and Pender
(proposed Burgaw WWTP discharge, NC 0021113) Counties.
Subbasins 03-06-21 and 03-06-23.
BACKGROUND
Benthic macroinvertebrate samples were collected on May 3 and May 5, 1994, from
streams within the Northeast Cape Fear River watershed as part of special studies at three
facilities. These facilities include Kenansville WWTP (Grove Creek), Stevecoknit
Fabrics (Little Rockfish Creek), and Burgaw WWTP (Northeast Cape Fear River). These
investigations were conducted in response to requests from the Instream Assessment Unit
and the Wilmington Regional Office. Flow information for these three facilities are listed
below.
Kenansville currently has an authorization to construct an upgrade to their facility and
plans to increase their design flow to 0.25 - 0.30 MGD. Burgaw currently discharges
their waste to Osgood Canal (thus the 100% instream waste concentration), but may
discharge their waste to the Northeast Cape Fear River. If this relocation is authorized,
Burgaw will increase their design flow to 0.75 - 1.0 MGD.
Facility Receiving Str, Design Flow Mean/Maximum Daily Flow WC
Kenansville WWTP Grove Cr 0.17 MGD 0.163/0.27 MGD 34.5%
Stevecoknit Fabrics L Rockfish Cr 5.0 MGD 2.0/3.27 MGD 99%
Burgaw WWTP NE CPF River 0.5 MGD 0.269/0.77 MGD 100%
Stevecoknit Fabrics is currently operating under an SOC noting chronic toxicity
values well under the 90% compliance threshold which suggests chronic toxicity in the
effluent.
STATION LOCATIONS (Figures 1-3, Table 1)
Stations were selected above and below the Kenansville discharge point on Grove
Creek (Figure 1), below the Stevecoknit Fabrics discharge point on Little Rockfish Creek
(Figure 2), and above and below the proposed Burgaw WWTP discharge point on the
Northeast Cape Fear River. An additional benthos collection site was selected on the
Northeast Cape Fear River to serve as a potential recovery location and also to collect
data from a previously unassessed reach of the river (Figure 3). An upstream collection
site on Little Rockfish Creek, above Stevecoknit Fabrics, was not sampled due to lack of
flow. Station descriptions and water chemistry results are listed on Table 1.

Figure 1. Monitoring Locations. Kenansville WWTP. Duplin County,
North Carolina. May, 1994.
SR 1301
NC 24/50
SEWAGE
DISPOSAL
L
NC 11
Grove Creek
Figure 2. Monitoring Locations. Stevecoknit Fabrics. Duplin County
North Carolina. May, 1994
NC.117
NC 41
NC 11
LITTLE ROCKFISH
NC 41
STEVECCNIT FABRICS
NC 117
ROCKFISH CREEK

Figure 3. MonitoringLocations. Proposed Burgaw WWTP Discharge.
North1994.
Pender County, Carolina. May,
I-40
proposed discharge
BURGAW
WILMINGTON
SR 1352
NC 53
HOLLY
SHELTER CREEK
NORTHEAST CAPE FEAR RIVER

METHODS
Benthic macroinvertebrates were collected using DEM's standard qualitative sampling
method at all sites on Grove and Little Rockfish Creeks. The standard method uses a
wide variety of collection techniques to inventory the aquatic fauna: kicks, sweeps, rock
and log washes, a sand sample, a leafpack, and visual collections (10 samples total).
Flow was reduced at both Grove Creek locations, however, swamp collection techniques
were not employed. Standardized boat collection techniques were used on the Northeast
Cape Fear River. In such habitats, petite ponar dredge sampling replaces kick -net
samples, but all other standard qualitative collection techniques are still usable. The
primary output for these sampling methods is a taxa list with an indication of relative
abundance (Rare, Common, Abundant) for each taxon.
Several metrics and indices can be used with these qualitative samples to examine
between -site differences in water quality. EPT taxa richness (taxa richness for the most
intolerant groups), EPT abundance and total taxa richness calculations were used to
examine between -site differences in water quality for this survey. Unstressed streams and
rivers have many species, while polluted areas have fewer species. Water quality
assessments also may use the abundance of "pollution indicator" groups.
Indices used to compare sites were the Common Taxa Index (C'i'i), Common Dominants Index
(CDI), and the NC Biotic Index (BI). The CTI and CDI, which were used only at the Grove
Creek locations above and below the Kenansville discharge, look at the species which are found
at both sites ("common" taxa) and vary from 0 to 100%. Both of these indices are based on
Arkansas criteria and compare a suspected impact site to a control site, producing ratings of No
Impact, Slight Impact, Moderate Impact, or Severe Impact. The BI values for each site are
based on relative tolerance values for the taxa found at the site. Both the tolerance values for
Table 1. Physical Characteristics. Northeast Cape Fear River Investigations: Grove Creek, Little Rockfish Creek,
and the Northeast Cape Fear River. Duplin and Pender Counties, North Carolina. May, 1994
Stream Name Grove Creek Little Rockfish Cr Northeast Cape Fear R
Station Number 1 2 i 1 2 3
Station Location SR 1301 NC 11 NC 11 ab NC 53 be NC 53 Wildlife Ramp
@ White Stocking
Width (M) 3 3 3 40 40 40
Depth (M)
Average 0.7 0.8 0.4
Maximum 1.0 1.0 1.0 3+ 3+ 3+
Bank Erosion None None Moderate None None None
Canopy (%) 100 100 90 20 20 20
Aufwuchs Abundant Abundant None Moderate Moderate Moderate
Substrate (%)
Boulder
Rubble _
Gravel - -
Sand 55 40 65 80 90 90
Silt 45 60 35 15 10 10
Detritus 5 Trace
Water Chemistry*
Temperature (oC) 14.2 15 20 19.3 19.6 19.8
Dissolved Oxygen (mg/1) 6.3 3.5 7.8 5.5 5.4 5.3
Conductivity (umhos @ 25oC) 85 134 2493 245 237 208
pH (units) 6.8 6.8 8.1 6.7 6.8 6.7
Salinity (ppt)
* Depth integrated profiles were conducted on the Northeast Cape Fear River, with very little variation noted; therefore, only the
surface water.nuality values are reported here.

individual species and the Biotic Index vary from 0 to 10, with higher numbers indicating
more tolerant species or more stress conditions. The Biotic Index is used with the EPT
taxa richness to assign bioclassifications. A seasonal correction value of 0.3 was added to
each BI value from Grove and Little Rockfish Creeks prior to final bioclassification.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION (Table 2 and Appendix 1)
Results of these three investigations are summarized on Table 2 and all benthic
macroinvertebrates collected are listed in Appendix 1.
Kenansville WWTP (Grove Creek). Slight to moderate levels of impact were noted at
station 2 below the Kenansville effluent compared to station 1 above the discharge point.
EPT taxa richness and abundance values were lower and biotic index values higher at
station 2, indicating poorer water quality at this site. The bioclassification also was lower
at station 2: Fair compared to Good/Fair at the upstream location.
The results of this investigation suggests that there are some effects of the discharge
on the benthic fauna. Dissolved oxygen values were significantly lower at station 2 (3.5
mg/1) than station 1 (6.3 mg/1). The benthic fauna is responding to the effects of
enrichment and lower dissolved oxygen. Several tolerant chironomidae were collected
more abundantly at station 2 (i.e. Chironomus., Dicrotendipes nervosus, and
Procladius j) and most EPT taxa were less abundant (i.e. Acerpenna pygmaeus,
$tenonema modestum, Agarodes spz, Triaenodes tardusl. Interestingly, the burrowing
mayfly Hexagenia 5.gg, was only collected at station 2, perhaps responding to greater fine
particulate matter in the substrate due to the discharge.
Stevecoknit Fabrics (Little Rockfish Creek). This investigation was done at the
request of the Wilmington Regional Office. No EPT taxa were collected and a Poor
bioclassification was assigned to Little Rockfish Creek. Only very tolerant taxa were
abundant (i.e. Polypedilum illinoense and Argia :) and evidence of toxicological
deformities were noted in some individual chironomidae (Chironomus spp and
phaenospectra flavipes).
Samples from Rockfish Creek above (SR 1165) and below (I-40) Wallace and Little
Rockfish Creek were collected in August 1993. The bioclassification dropped from
Good/Fair at the upstream location to Fair at the downstream location. The Wallace
WWTP discharges to Rockfish Creek between these two collection locations. The Poor
water quality in Little Rockfish Creek contributes to the decline in water quality at the
lower location.
Burgaw WWTP (Northeast Cape Fear River). Previous biological investigations have
been conducted on this facility (T 880729). Benthic macroinvertebrates were collected in
December 1987 from Burgaw Creek above and below Osgood Canal which receives the
Burgaw effluent. Data from the site on Burgaw Creek below Osgood Canal clearly
indicated a combination of very low dissolved oxygen and toxics. These observations
were also supported by the self monitoring toxicity tests. The facility has passed its three
most recent toxicity tests (Oct. 93, Jan. 94, and April 94), however, a review of previous
test results have indicated consistent failures during all Julyreporting periods since 1990.
However, Burgaw is currently planning to relocate its discharge to the Northeast Cape
Fear River near the Highway 53 bridge. This investigation was conducted to determine
pre -discharge biological integrity of the Northeast Cape Fear River.
A final bioclassification was not assigned to the three monitoring locations on the
Northeast Cape Fear River due to the presence of two freshwater tolerant Crustacea:
Cassidinea ovalis and Cyathura gag. The presence of these two Crustacea suggest that
there are intermittent brackish water intrusions in this reach of the Northeast Cape Fear
River and classification criteria have not been established for these habitat types. These
intermittent brackish water intrusions temporally stress the freshwater fauna leading to
lower diversity and taxa richness values. For example, the EPT values from these three
locations are substantially lower than those recorded from the ambient location on the
Northeast Cape Fear River at Chinquapin (6-10 during this investigation compared to 22-

31 at the Chinquapin location). Somewhat lower EPT values, particularly Trichoptera,
were noted at Station 2. These values are likely due to the absence of adequate snag
habitats at this location, rather than to water quality.
Table 2. Summary Statistics. Benthic macroinveitebrates from Grove Creek, Little Rockfish Creek, and the
Northeast Cape Fear River. Duplin and Pender Counties, North Carolina. May, 1994.
Stream Name Grove Creek Little Rockfish Cr Northeast Cape Fear R
Station Number 1 2 1 1 2 3
Station Location SR 1301 NC 11 NC 11 ab NC 53 be NC 53 Wildlife Ramp
@ White Stocking
Ephemeroptera 6 5 0 3 3 2
Plecoptera 1 1 0 2 1 2
Trichoptera 6 • 3 0 5 2 5
Coleoptera 7 7 6 9 7 7
Odonata 8 8 7 4 2 1
Megaloptera 1 1 0 0 0 0
Diptera: Chironomidae 17 17 5 8 10 10
Misc. Diptera 2 2 2 1 1 1
Oligochaeta 2 2 2 2 2 3
Crustacea 4 7 1 7 5 5
Mollusca 2 6 0 4 4 2
Other 0 1 0 1 1 0
Total Taxa Richness 61 63 24 47 42 40
EPT Richness 13 9 0 10 6 9
EPT Abundance 63 32 0 23 33 29
Biotic Index 6.35 7.16 8.27 7.19 6.53 6.92
Bioclassification Good/Fair Fair Poor NR* NR NR
Dominants in Common - 21%
Level of Impact Moderate Impact
Common Taxa Index - 62%
Level of Impact Slight Impact
*Not Rated
SUMMARY
Slight to moderate levels of impact were noted on Grove Creek below the Kenansville
WWTP. The benthic fauna at this location appeared to be responding to low dissolved
oxygen values and mild enrichment. Many more tolerant taxa were collected below the
discharge point and EPT numbers were reduced. Effects of the Kenansville effluent may
be more pronounced during summer low flow, high temperature periods.
Samples were collected from Little Rockfish Creek below the Stevecoknit Fabrics
effluent. These data clearly indicate that this facility is stressing the benthic fauna of this
catchment and is a possible contributor to lower water quality of Rockfish Creek below
Wallace. The benthic fauna at this location was dominated by tolerant taxa and evidence
of deformities were noted in some Chironomidae.

Bioclassifications were not assigned to collection locations on the Northeast Cape
Fear River due to the presence of two freshwater tolerant Crustacea. Bioclassification
criteria have not been determined from these type of habitats. These data were collected
to document pre -discharge biological integrity of the river.
All work was conducted in the Cape Fear River subbasins 03-06-21 and 03-06-23.
cc: Jason Doll, Instream Assessment Unit
Stephanie Petter, Wilmington Regional Office
Central Files

Appendix 1. Benthic Macroinvertebrates collected from Grove Creek, Little Rockfish Creek, and the Northeast
Cape Fear River. Duplin and Pender Counties, North Carolina. May, 1994.
Stream Name Grove Creek Little Rockfish Cr Northeast Cape Fear R
Station Number 1 2 1 1 2 3
Station Location SR 1301 NC 11 NC 11 NC 53 NC 53 Wildlife Ramp
Taxon
EPHEMEROPTERA
ACERPENNA PYGMAEUS A C
BAETIS PROPINQUUS C C
EURYLOPHELLA TEMPORALIS C
HEXAGENIA SPP A
PARALEPTOPHLEBIA SPP R
STENONEMA INTEGRUM A A A
STENONEMA MODESTUM A C R R
STENACRON INTERPUNCTATUM C C C A R
PLECOPTERA
NEOPERLA SPP R R
PERLESTA PLACIDA A C C R C
TRICHOPTERA
AGARODES SPP C
CERACLEA MACULATA R R
CHEUMATOPSYCHE SPP A C
CYRNELLUS FRATERNUS R
MYSTACIDES SEPULCHRALUS R
NECTOPSYCHE EXQUISITA R
OECETIS PERSIMILLIS R
PHYLOCENTROPUS SPP C R R A
POLYCENTROPUS SPP R
PYCNOPSYCHE SPP C C R A R
TRIAENODES INJUSTA R
TRIAENODES TARDUS C
COLEOPTERA
ANCYRONYX VARIEGATUS C C A A C
COPELATUS SPP R
COPTOTOMUS SPP R
DINEUTES SPP A R
DUBIRAPHIA SPP R R C R R
ENOCHRUS SPP R
GYRINUS SPP C
HELICHUS SP R
HYDROCANTHUS SPP R R R R
HYDROPORUS SPP A C A C R R
HYDROPORUS MELLITUS R
ILYBIUS SPP R
LACCOBIUS SP R R
LACCORNIS SP R
MACRONYCHUS GLABRATUS A A C A A
PELTODYTES SPP R R
SPERCHOPSIS TESSELLATUS R
STENELMIS SPP R R C
ODONATA
ARGIA SPP C A A C C R
BOYERIA VINOSA C C C
CALOPTERYX SPP A C A
CORDULEGASTER SPP R
ENALLAGMA SPP R R R

- -• ---t• rA a Fea_�
1 2 3
Stream Name 1 2 1 NC 53 NC 53 Wildlife Ramp
Station Number
SR1301 NC11 NC11
Station Location
Taxon R
(ONDONATA CON"T)
ERYTHEMIS SPP C R
GOMPHUS SPP C R C R
PIAGENIUS BREVISTYLUS R
PACHYDIPL�
ISCHNURA SPP g R
MACROMIA SPP LONGIPENNIS R
PROGOMPHUS OBSCURUS C C C
SOMATOCHLORA SPP
MEGALOPTERA CORMS C C
NIGRONIA SERRI
STALLS SPP
DIP'TERA: CH RONOMIDAE R
ABLABESMYIA MALL0CHI ABLABESMYIA PARAJANTA/JANTA R R R R
C
CHIRONOMUS SPP R
CLADOTANY'TARSUS SP4 A C
CL1NOTANYPUS PINGUIS A C R
CONCHAPELOI' GROUP RSPP It R
CRYPTO HIR NOMUS FULVUS A
CRYP'IbCHIRO R C
DICROTENDIPES NERVOSUSR
MICROTENDIPES SPP RR
R R
NANOCLADIUS SPP C
N LOTANYPUS SPP C
NILOTHAUMA SPP C R g C
POLYPEDILUM AVICEPS R R R R
POLYPEDII-UM FALLAX R C
A R
POLYPEDI OBE R R
POLypED R
POLYPEDILUM SCALAENUM
PAGASTIA SPP S Lj JNDBECKI R A
PARAMETRIOCNEMU R
PHAENOPSECTRA SPP C A
pHAENOPSECTRA PLACES C A
pNOPSECTRA SP2 C
PROCLpDIUS SPP g
R OCRICOTOPUS ROBACKI C R R R
RHEOTANYTARSUS SPP g R
STELECHOMYIA PERPULCHRA g R
S�NOCHIRONOMUS SPP R R
SYMPOSIOCLADIUS LIGNICOLA C A
.TANYTARSUS SP2 C R A C
THIENEMANIELLA SPP R C
�jgELOS SPP C (
MISC. D�TERA C R C
PALPOMYIA (COMPLEX) R
POLYMEDA/ORMOSIA SPP g
TAB ANUS SPP R
TIPULA SPP R
HEMEETERAR
RANATRA SPP R C
SIGARA SPP

Stream Name Grove Creek Little Rockfish Cr Northeast Cape Fear R
Station Number 1 2 1 1 2 3
Station Location SR 1301 NC 11 NC 11 NC 53 NC 53 Wildlife Ramp
Taxon
OLIGOCHAETA
CAMBARINCOLA SPP R
ILYODRILUS TEMPLETONI R
LIMNODRILUS SPP C C R
LIMNODRILUS HOFFMEISTERI R R R
LUMBRICULIDAE R R - R R R
CRUSTACEA
ASELLUS SPP C C C R C
ASTACIDAE A
CASSIDINEA OVALIS C C A
CRANGONYX SPP A A C A A A
CRANGONYX SERRATUS C
CYATHURA POLITA R
GAMMARUS FASCIATUS A C A
HYALLELA AZTECA R R
LIRCEUS SPP C A C R
PALAEMONETES PALUDOSUS A A
PROCAMBARUS SPP A
PELYCEPODA
CORBICULA FLUMINEA C A A
ELLIPTIO COMPLANATA A R
PISIDIUM SPP R R
SPHAERIUM SPP R R
GASTROPODA
AMNICOLA SPP R
CAMPELOMA DECISUM R R R
LAEVAPEX FUSCUS R C R C
MENETUS DILATUS R R C
. PHYSELLA SPP C R R C C C
PLANORBELLA SPP R
PSEUDOSUCCINEA COLUMELLA R C A
OTHER
PLACOBDELLA PAPILLIFERA R R R