20111013 Ver 2_Public Comments_20130312 (103)

Billie -Jean E Mallison
POB 2845
Washington, NC 27889
252 - 946 -2646
billiejean a mallison @gmail com
March 12, 2013
Attn Amy Adams
Regional Supervisor
Division of Water Quality
943 Washington Square Mall
Washington, NC 27889
Ms Adams
See my enclosed comments —these comprise my written statement. I am requesting my written
concerns be included in the body of information which will be part of the public hearing, and included in
my written comments are three documents: the enclosed WDN article, and the enclosed Pamlico River
estuary system study of its ecology and the hydrogeologic study Thank you for your work
With Regard,
VB'" �_
Billie -Jean E Mallison

7.00 PM MARCH 14, 2013 PUBLIC HEARING,
BEAUFORT COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE BUILDING 8
My name is Billie -Jean E. Mallison, of 805 W 2nd Street, Washington, NC 27889 1 am submitting
this statement expressing my concerns based on previous scientific studies and on my own 30
years' living here and fishing and boating in Blounts Creek and nearby Core Point. I am also
expressing the concerns of Mrs. Georgia Little, a 50 -year resident of that area, whom I
interviewed.
I would like to submit an article by Fred Bonner, which appeared on page 9 in the March 2,
2013 Washington Daily News, and the following two studies by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
and the NC Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources, Division of Water Resources:
(1) Copeland, B J, R.G. Hodson, and S.R Riggs. 1984. The Ecology of the Pamlico River,
North Carolina: An Estuarine Profile. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. FWS /OBS- 82/06.83
pages
(2) Lauber, Jeff C. August 2009. Hydrogeologic Framework and Ground Water Conditions in
the North Carolina East Central Coastal Plain. NC Dept. of Environment and Natural
Resources, Div. of Water Resources. 45 pages.
www.ncwater.org /Reports and Publications /GWMS Reports /ECCP Framework
eccpframe map report.php
Mr. Bonner is a well respected outdoorsman whose columns appear regularly in the
Washington Daily News. He titled his article, "Don't Mess with a Tar Heel's Fishing Hole" using
plain speech deliberately. Mr. Bonner describes the fish and wildlife found in the Blounts Creek
area and points out that it is noted not only for its freshwater fishes such as largemouth bass
and bluegills, but also anadromous fishes such as herring, shad, striped bass, and speckled
trout. He pinpoints many people's concerns with the Martin Marietta marl rock quarry. I quote
him: "The problem that seems to be bothering a lot of people is that no one seems to know dust
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exactly what the effect this waste water will have on the environment of Blounts Creek..." He
further questions if the state might be attempting to push it through without in -depth study.
I assert it cannot be proved that the proposed mine will not be harmful to the wetlands and
estuary nursery system of which Blounts Creek is a part. I am referring to the Martin Marietta
Materials, Inc. quarry proposing to be built near Vanceboro in Beaufort County.
assert it is also difficult to do an in -depth scientific study to predict the result of this mine
venture, i.e. to marshall the resources necessary to do such a study. If a sufficiently in- depth,
focused scientific study on the areas affected cannot be done by the state agencies involved,
then it becomes even more important that we should expand the concept of expert testimony
to include field observations by knowledgeable local residents. At this time, I seriously doubt
that the state agencies and their representatives —much less experts hired by Martin
Marietta —can predict yes or no with any accuracy what will be the consequences of the
planned discharge of waste water from the mine into Blounts Creek. I petition that DENR
accept as evidence the observations and assessments of fishermen, hunters, local hunting and
fishing guides, and residents of the area and other people whose business it is to observe
conditions and water life in and around Blounts Creek and Blounts Bay and the Pamlico River,
such as the Pamlico -Tar Riverkeeper Heather Deck I also assert that the common sense opinion
of most who care is that the proposed discharge of waste water, its rate and volume and
content, will have an impact and that impact will adversely affect water life because it will
impact the balance within the estuary, that the point areas of proposed discharge are not
divorced from the rest of the system. These people's observations and assertion should be
respected who have witnessed the life that exist, there, in the complex interplay Mother
Nature provides there from the interplay of pH, salinity, temperature, bottom conditions,
winds, aeration and lack of it, the seasons, sunlight, plant life, depth of water. For example,
people have seen what happens with sediment - loading after hurricanes (and sediment loading
is also a concern if the mine goes forward); these people have seen what happens to the life of
the estuary when different conditions are present, and have observed the rich variety of
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transitory and migratory marine water life now existing in the areas now under discussion,
especially the water life who are dependent on brackish water for part of their lives. How can
even the subject of mitigation restitution and monetary value be broached if it is not known the
long term harm that may be caused?
Are there relevant, recent studies that include the status of the Pamlico River estuary system? I
found only the Copeland study, which was completed in 1984 and covers the period between
1965 and the early 1980s. It examines the bottom organisms, migrating ocean fish, other
important seafood, and the generally complicated, seasonal and shifting nature of this estuary
system. The study involved systematic trawling of fish and net catch counts by commercial
fishermen. While out of date, this study has the kind of depth and rigor that we need today to
determine a baseline.
Another serious concern is how this proposed mine would waste valuable drinking water from
our Castle Hayne Aquifer. We in Beaufort County already have a cone of depression in the area
created by the Potash Corp. mine, and some scientists have expressed the need to monitor the
region to prevent the Aquifer from turning salty in the future. Ruined and scarce drinking water
would be a severe economic loss and blow to people's wellbeing. Other nearby areas already
treat and recycle their water or have to process salt water, while we still have a supply of cheap
drinking water. Again, it is not possible to project the effect this proposed mine would have on
the hydrology of our area without a reliable, recent baseline. I would like to point out that
although Potash Corp. uses a huge amount of water from Castle Hayne, they reuse most of that
water. Martin Marietta has said it is too expensive for them to treat or find a way for the water
to be reused. I request you read the Lautier study on this subject.
The Lauber study points out sites where the state is monitoring, but says there are problems
because several of these testing sites are in poor repair and therefore can't produce accurate
readings. Mr. Lautier concludes , "...this report identifies numerous places in the region where
improvements are needed in the existing Division of Water Resources ground water monitoring

network either due to improperly constructed wells, incomplete stations, or areas where
additional stations are needed (p 42)." He states "Population growth in the NC Coastal Plain
has led to increased reliance on ground water supply needs. This has fueled the need to
understand in more detail, the system of aquifers and containing beds that underlie the region,
and in particular how the aquifers are being affected by current pumping conditions. A better
and more detailed understanding of the hydrogeologic framework will allow for development
of strategies for dealing with water level declines in the confined aquifers of the Coastal Plain "
(p 41).
DENR and other agencies should accept common sense input from local residents as to whether
this mine would prove to be, overall, a good or bad thing for the region. Without a reliable
baseline the risks to marine life and our drinking water are inexcusable. My common sense
tells me the Pamlico is already showing signs of distress, fishing has been declining for many
years, but that Blounts Creek, Blounts Bay, and nearby portions of the Pamlico River are still
relatively healthy and support a variety of marine and freshwater life, but this mine will
adversely change and harm the delicate balance now existing. We are coming to a tipping
point, and we might be looking at a dead river in a generation. We need to protect our assets
The major asset of Beaufort County besides its people is the Pamlico River including Blounts
Creek. The few lobs this mine would produce are not worth the long term destruction of all the
other fobs that depend on the environment. Just considering the extra cost to taxpayers from
all the heavy trucks this mine would put on our roads, whatever tax revenue the mine would
produce seems like a wash. To quote John Hood from the John Locke Foundation on the March
3, 2013 NC SPIN, "Heavy trucks on our roads cost more than the taxes they pay." Common
sense tells me this mine is a risky, bad deal.
Submitted by _
' 1
Billie -Jean E. Mallison
Phone- 252- 946 -2646 ]� �� 1
r March 14, 2013 /
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Microsoft Word - TABLE OF CONTENTS doc - I ECCPFramebody pdf http / /www ncwater org/Reports_and—Publications/GWMS—Reports/
Hydrogeologic Frame« ork and Gromid 'Water Conditions in the North
Carolina East Central Coastal Plain
BN Jeff C Lautiei
Noith Carohna DepartmeIlt of Em-noli 11ent and Natural Resources
Divisim of Rater Resource;
August, 2009
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August 2009
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NC Dimon of water Resources, DENR -1611 Meg Service Center - Raleigh, NC 27699 -1611
Phone. [phone] - Fax [phone]
Comments, questions, or problems? Please cordactthe
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Microsoft Word- TABLE OF CONTENTS doc - 1 ECCPFramebody pdf http / /www ncwater org/ Reports _and_Publications /GWMS_Reports/
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page Number
Executive Summary
I ntroducti on
1
Previ ous Studi es
1
Acknowledgements
3
Hydrogeol ogi c Setting
3
General Description of the Ground Water System
6
Methods Used for I nvesti gate on of the Subsurface
10
Hydrogeologic Framework of the Study Area
12
Surficial Aquifer
12
Yorktown Confining Unit
14
Yorktown A qui fer
14
Castle Hayne Confining Unit
16
Castle HayneA qui fer
17
Beaufort Confining Unit
34
Beaufort Aquifer
34
Peedee Conf i ni ng U ni t
35
Peedee A qui fer
35
Black Creek Confining Unit
37
Black Creek Aquifer
37
Upper Cape Fear Confining Unit
38
U pper Cape Fear A qui f er
38
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L ower Cape Fear Conf i n ng U n t
http: / /www ncwater org/Reports and Publications/GWW Reports/
Page Number
c
L ower Cape Fear A qui fer /Lower Cretaceous A qui fer System 39
Undifferentiated
Basement 40
Status of DWR Monitoring Well Network in the East Central Coastal Plain and 40
Recommendations for Improvements
Conclusions 41
References 43
FI GURES
Figure No
i East Central Coastal R an Study Area 11
Ii Relationship of Geologic and Hydrogeologic Units in the iv
NC East Central Coastal Plan
iii Southwest to Northeast Hydrogeologic Cross Section through vi
Pamlico and Hyde Counties North Carolina showing i deal i zed
groundwater f I ow 1 i nes
East Central Coastal Rain Study A rea 2
2 Relationship of Geologic and Hydrogeologic Units in the NC
5
East Central Coastal Rain
3 Southwest to Northeast Hydrogeologic Cross Section through
7
Pamlico and Hyde Counties North Carolinashowing idealized
groundwater f I ow I i nes
Generalized Water Budget Model for the NC East Central Coastal
Rain Ground Water System
5 P of of Chlon de Concentrati on i n ppm vs TDEM den ved
18
Res stivity in ohm - meters in the Yorktown Aquifer NC East Central
Coastal Rain
6 Jacobs Distance Drawdown Analysis of the Castle Hayne Aquifer
20
using NCD WR monitoring wells at Lee Creek Arapahoe and
Bonnerton Stations in Beaufort and Pamlico Counties NC
7 Plot of Chloride Concentration in ppm vs TDEM derived resistivity
22
i n ohm - meters i n the Castle Heyne Aquifer NC East Central Coasted
Rain
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Microsoft Word - TABLE OF CONTENTS.doc - 1 ECCPFramebodypdf http: / /www ncwaterorg/Reports_and Publications/GWMS Reports/ .
8
H ea ometri c (potenti ometn c) surface of the Castle Hayne Aquifer
24
September 1966
9
Map showing pi ezi ometri c (potenti ometri c) surface of the Castle
25
HayneAquifer September 1966
10
Potenti ometri c Surface of the Castle Hayne Aquifer in feet relative
26
to mean sea level February 2009
11
Hydrograph of the NC Division of Water Resources Chocowinity
27
Monitoring Station in Beaufort County NC
12
Hydrograph of NC Division of Water ResourcesAurora 11
28
Monitoring Station in Beaufort County NC
13
Hydrograph of the NC Division of Water Resources Lee Creels
29
Monitoring Station in Beaufort County NC
14
Hydrograph of NC Division of Water Resources Wi Imar Monitor
30
Stati on i n Beaufort County N C
15
Hydrograph of the NC Division of Water Resources Cox Crossroads
31
Monitoring Station in Beaufort County NC
16
Hydrograph of the NC Division of Water Resources Godley Farms
32
Monitoring Station in Beaufort County NC
17
R of of chl on de concentrate on i n parts per mi I I i on from the
33
Castle Hayne Aquifer well P171 -7 at the DWR Lee Creek
monitoring stati on in Beaufort County
TABLES
Average of Total Annual Precipitation from 1933 to 2007 9
for the N C East Central Coastal PI ai n
APPENDI X
Index of wells used for identification and correlation of hydrogeologic
uni is
ILLUSTRATIONS
1 M ap show i ng I ocati ons of hydrogeologi c cross sects ons
2 Hydrogeologic Cross SectionA -A
3 Hydrogeologic Cross Section B -B
4 Hydrogeologic Cross Section C-C
5 Hydrogeologec Cross Section D -D
6 Hydrogeologic Cross Section E -E
7 Hydrogeologic Cross Section F -F
8 Hydrogeologic Cross Section G-G
A -1
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lU H\ dloaeolozic C loss Section 1 -1
11 H� dloReoloRie C lo,s Section J -J
12 H\ dloaeoloRic C loss Section K -K
1 H\ dloaeolo2ic C loss Section L -L
14 H� dloaeoloale Closs Section %l - \1
15 flap silo« inn 1 L)h-\l Sul\ e,, Location, aIld I IaIlsect Lines
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15 1 DEM l iansect c -c
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24 1 hicknes, of the 1 oiktovn Aqultei
25 Regional hleN ation Map 1 op of the C astle Ha\ Ile C oI1fi1 ing L Ilit
26 1 hlckness of the C astle Ha\ Ile C oI1tiI ina L nit
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2S 1 hlckness of the Castle I-HaN Ile Aquitel
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3U I liicknes, of the Beautolt C oI1tininR L nit
31 Regional Lie\ ation flap 1 op of the Beautolt Aquitel
1 hiekne,s of the Beautoit Aquitel
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34 1 hickne„ of the Peedee C oIltii ing L nit
35 Regional Lle\ ation flap 1 op of the Peedee Aquitei
36 1111ckne,s of the Peedee Aquitel
3- Remnal hie\ ation flap I op of the Black C leek C oI1tining
L nit
35 I hickIle„ of the Black C'leek C onfiniIla L nit
39 Regional hie-\ anon flap 1 op of the Black C leek Aquitei
40 1 pickle„ of the Black Cleek Aquitel
41 Regional hleN ation flap 1 op of the L ppei C ape I-eal C ontlnlnR
L nit
4, I hickIle,s of the L ppei C ape I eai C oilf iniIlg' L nit
43 Regional hleN ation flap I op of the L ppei Cape real Aqultei
44 1 111ckIle,s of the L ppel C ape ) eai Aquitel
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48 Regional hle\ atioll flap 1 op of C 1N,talline Basement
49 Maich 2009 PotelltioIlletllc Suitace flap 1 oikto«n Aquitel
5U �ebluaiN. 2009 Poteiltlometlle Sultace flap Castle Ha %ne Aquitel
51 I ebivai-\ 2009 Potentionletilc Sultace flap Beautolt Aquitel
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Executive Summary
http / /www ncwater org/Reports—and—Publications/GWMS—Reports/
This report is part of a series published by the North Carolina D i v i si on of Water
Resources as part of an ongoing effort to provide current interpretations of the
hydrogeologi c framework and ground water resources of the North Carol i na Coastal
Plain Previous investigations have covered the North Albemarle area the Central and
Southern Coastal R a ns (L auti er 1998 2001 2006)
The East - Central Coastal Plai n of North Carol i na as covered i n this study i s
made up of the ti dewater regi on between the A Ibemarle Sound and Onslow Bay I t i s
referred to as a ti devater regi on because many of the rivers and streams are affected by
ocearn c ti dal f I uctuati ons The study area i ncl udes Beaufort Washi ngton Tyrrel I Dare
Hyde Pamlico Craven and Carteret Counties (figure i)
This region has expert enced ever -i ncreasi ng reliance on ground water as a source
of water supply resulting from population growth and tourism In addition open pit
mi ni ng operati ons that requi re dewaten ng have also placed i ncreased stress on the ground
water system For this reason it is important to understand in more detail the three
dimensional framework of aquifers and confining units their hydraulic properties and
how they are being affected by pumping stresses Moreover i t i s essenti al to understand
the distribution of saltwater in the system and how it is bang affected by pumping
The area covered in this study is situated within the tidewater region of the North
Carol i na Coastal PI a n T he regi on has been descri bed by Stephenson and others (1912)
and Nelson (1964) as a broad eastward di ppi ng plai n that encompasses one of a sen es of
en echelon marine terraces which formed during the R a stocene era and were deposited
in parallel orientation with the Atlantic Coastline Stephenson and others (1912) named it
the Pamlico terrace as it is transected by the Pamlico River and Sound As indicated on
the geologic map of North Carolina (Brown and others 1985) the western boundary of
the terrace is an escarpment (Suffolk scarp) that runs north to south across the study area
from the town of Plymouth i n Washington County to the town of Newport in Carteret
County The western -most section of the study area extends a fav miles to the west of
the Suffolk Scarp on an older marine terrace Land surface elevations across the region
vary from sea level to 55 feet with the hi ghest elevations found in the western -most part
although the dunes on the Outer Banks can exceed 50 feet above sea level The region i s
generally of low relief and swampy A number of large natural lakes are present
i ncl udi ng Phel ps M attamuskeet Pungo and N e%v L ekes T he Paml i co N euse Pungo
and A I I i gator Ri vers di ssect the land surface al ong thei r courses to the A I bemarl e and
Pamli co Sounds
The geology of the East Central Coastal Rain maybe characterized as a gently
southeastward di ppi ng and southeastward thi ckeni ng wedge of sedi ments and
sedimentary rock ranging in age from Recent through Cretaceous (possibly Triassic)
which rests on an underlying basement complex of Paleozoic age rocks The basement
Hydrogeologic Frameavork and Ground aA ater Conditions in the East Central
North CarolinaCoastal Plain April 2009
North Carolina Department o; Environment and Natural Resources
Di v 19 on of ' Vater Resou rtes
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Lee C leek Monitoun2 SLatlon iIl 13eau1olt Count, \C
Stinicial _ qulter
Yorkto« n Aqurter
Castle H a-. ne Aqur?er
Beau:ort Agtuaer
B I ack Cie ek A qurt er
H -,dlozeolozic Fr atne�t oil, and Ground Water Conditions in the East Cential
North Caiolrna Coastal Phin Au_tict 2009
North Caiolrlia Department of Em uonn-ent and Natural Resource
DI% Islon o; Rater Re4zource�
010
19
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9
a0
30
20
10
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-10
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-30
0
-50
1/1,
1 line
hgule 14 HN dlonaph of NC lln n�lon of 11 atel Resources
`Unial MoI ito11I12 Station in Beaufort CouIlv� NC
llrncla Aquifer
Castle Ha, ne Aquifer
Castle Ha�neAquiter
BeaUT011 Aqullei
Black CreekAgliitel
Black Creek A ulcer
H�c1loaeolocic Frainev olk and Ground Watel Conclitloiii in the East Cential
forth Calolnla Coastal Plain Ausu�t. 200,9
forth Carolina Depatiment OT Elli LIOIlI112I1t mid Natural R2;oulc2;
Di, ision oI `1 ate/ Fe�zouice4�
010
'(I
42 of 57 3/9/2013 2 18 PM
i
I I
11960 1/1/1970
1/1/1980
1/1/1990
11112000
1/1/2
1 line
hgule 14 HN dlonaph of NC lln n�lon of 11 atel Resources
`Unial MoI ito11I12 Station in Beaufort CouIlv� NC
llrncla Aquifer
Castle Ha, ne Aquifer
Castle Ha�neAquiter
BeaUT011 Aqullei
Black CreekAgliitel
Black Creek A ulcer
H�c1loaeolocic Frainev olk and Ground Watel Conclitloiii in the East Cential
forth Calolnla Coastal Plain Ausu�t. 200,9
forth Carolina Depatiment OT Elli LIOIlI112I1t mid Natural R2;oulc2;
Di, ision oI `1 ate/ Fe�zouice4�
010
'(I
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Microsoft Word - TABLE OF CONTENTS doc - I ECCPFramebody pdf http / /www ncwater org/Reports—and—Publications/GWMS—Reports/
J0
25
20
15
10
5
F
0
-J
-10
1/1
HL,ule 15 H ,,dlomaph of NC DixiSion of N\ate1 Resouices
C ox C Io- -,toads ZLoIlltoIIn , Station in Beautoit C ount-\ NC
oI -tovn Aquifer
Caste Ha\ tie Aquler
Castle Hall ne Aquli eI
Peedee A qu er
Black Creek A qua eI
H -,dio :eoloc:lc FIaniev olk and Ground Watei Conditions in the Eaczt Central
North Cuolu2a Coastal Plain _-\u -.ust _idly
North Catollna Departn.ent of Ent uonn,ent and Natural Resources
Di%lslon o-, Watei Resources
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1
/1960 1 /1 /1970
1 /1 /1980
1/1/
990 1 /1 /2000
1 /1 /
HL,ule 15 H ,,dlomaph of NC DixiSion of N\ate1 Resouices
C ox C Io- -,toads ZLoIlltoIIn , Station in Beautoit C ount-\ NC
oI -tovn Aquifer
Caste Ha\ tie Aquler
Castle Hall ne Aquli eI
Peedee A qu er
Black Creek A qua eI
H -,dio :eoloc:lc FIaniev olk and Ground Watei Conditions in the Eaczt Central
North Cuolu2a Coastal Plain _-\u -.ust _idly
North Catollna Departn.ent of Ent uonn,ent and Natural Resources
Di%lslon o-, Watei Resources
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2U
10
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r_.
-20
1;
-3G
-4C
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' -5C
-6C
-7C
-8C
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F1Qule 16 Hxdlopapll of NC Dix ision of «atei Resouices
Godley- Farms Monitoring Station lIl Beautoli CouIlt\ \C
Suit ial Aquifel
1 oiktown Aqulf.l
Ca5rle Ha,�neAqulter
Casile Ha�n,-Aqultei
Castle Ha -,n,- Aqulfel
?L. cl'e � Ulf L-1
H,, dio�-eolornc Fian-ev or1, al d GIound Water Conclition,� In the East Central
forth Cwohna Coastal Plain Au�:ust 2009
\olth Calolina DepaitmeIIt of Ent uotiment and Natural Re;olllce,
Dix lslon o-i «atei Resouice4z
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I
I
rf
�rr
.4
it
4
l
/1980 '1/;/1985
1 /1 /1990
1/1/1995
1 /1 /2000 1/1/2005
11112
Time
F1Qule 16 Hxdlopapll of NC Dix ision of «atei Resouices
Godley- Farms Monitoring Station lIl Beautoli CouIlt\ \C
Suit ial Aquifel
1 oiktown Aqulf.l
Ca5rle Ha,�neAqulter
Casile Ha�n,-Aqultei
Castle Ha -,n,- Aqulfel
?L. cl'e � Ulf L-1
H,, dio�-eolornc Fian-ev or1, al d GIound Water Conclition,� In the East Central
forth Cwohna Coastal Plain Au�:ust 2009
\olth Calolina DepaitmeIIt of Ent uotiment and Natural Re;olllce,
Dix lslon o-i «atei Resouice4z
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5U U
450
m
350
300
250
5
200
150
0 full
50
0
1 /1/
http / /www ncwater org /Reports_and_Publlcations /GWMS Reports/
month da< < eal
Heine 1^ Mot of C hlo11C1e C ollcelltlatloll in palts pee ill ill ion Ilom the C a�:tle
Ha\ ne Aquitel a ell 1'111 - f at the ll1\ h Lee C leek CTlound 14 atel \loilitol1112
Station In Beautolt Count-, (Jla\ 1966 to Uetobel 1999,
H� dloseolom Ftan:ev oily and Ground Watel Conditions in the East Central
'<otth Cuohna Coastal Plain Auau,�t 3 +;,C,9
�otth Catohna De1JinnLent o? En, noI meIlt aIld Natulal R'ezzoutce;;
Dii 1�ion of «atet Resource
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C leek «atel le\ els appeal to lla,, e lla-, e equlllbiated «Ith those of the C a�,tle Hai Ile bayed
on a lelatiN eh Sholt period of lecold L ndel this condition the «atel le-\ el Ili the Black
C leek has ceased to decline aIid up« aid I111R1atioI1 of salt ct atel has eftectiN el" stopped
Ho« e-\ el at the Aulola 11 nio111tomic, station the Black C leek v atel lei el is still 42 feet
aboN e the C.at�tle Hai Ile due to die clo�el pioxiI iax of the Station to the pumping ceIltei
Pumping tioI11 the pie�,eIlt da\ Site of the mine has cawed a v est« aid shift IIl die
position of the tlez�ll vatel salt «atei intelf ace in the Castle Ha \lie Aquitei as e -, ldeIlced
b\ all inclease Iii chlolide le \els Ili the LM (iodle\ I11oIlitoliI g statioIl (plate 5) A ZoIle
in the to «e1 part of the aquitel tioni 406 to 500 feet bolo« land sultace has seen an
inclease tiotu 137, ppnl to 564 ppIll clllollde bet« eeIl Septenibel 2004 and Oetobel
Beaufort Confining Unit
I lie Beautoit coI1fining unit is Illade up of RlaucoIlitic cla-\ aIid Silt beds Ihat occul
IIi the upper part of the Beautolt 1 oimatlon aIid -,ometiIlies IIl the lo« el part of file C a�,tle
HaN Ile I-olnlatioll 1 he top of the unit eonesponds to the base of the C astle Ha\ Ile
Aqultel and the base of the unit to the top of file Beautoit Aquitel 1 he thickness of the
uIlit N alley bet« eeIi Zelo NN here It is abseIlt IIl a te�i �N ells aclos,-, the etude ilea to 140
feet In eaStein Dale C ountN (plate : U) 1lie ele\ aeon of the top N alien between sllghth
aboN e yea le\ el IIl «e�-teinillost Beautolt C ouIlt-\ to Lieatei thaI1 1 660 feet bolo« Sea
IeN el Iii ea!�teiii Dale Comm (plate 29) Iii aleaS, «here the Beautolt confining unit IS
I111sSing the saIlds of the Beautolt I olIllation ale part of the Castle Havlle Aqultel
Beaufort Aquifer
I lie Beautolt Aquitei n� present o\ el Inot-t of the alga of stud\ except Ili alea,�
«liele its confining unit is I111s�lIln It Is pilnclpall% coI pilsed of hialik alaucoIlitic saIld
aIid -,aIld-\ linie�-toIie beds pleseIlt v Ithin [lie Beautoit Follnation of PaleoceIle age l lie
dlttelence IIl li \dlaullc head betveeIl the Beautolt aIid Castle Havne Aquitels 1�, 2eIielalh
onl\ a te« feet aIid it appear that the ettectli of cont IIleIlleIlt bet« een the mo
aqultel� is onlN �Jiallt
1 lie top of the aqultel as displa\ ed b\ a contoul Illap of ib eleN atlon dopes
wend -% to«ald the ea✓t- �outllea�t at a late of 19 feet per Illile III the «e,-,teiiiinost collntle�
aIid inciea;es to appioxinlately .0 feet Pei Mille In the east Ilse top Iallae, IIi ele\ atioI1
tioIll sea le -, el to I11oie Ihan 1 10 feet bolo« Sea le -\ el iI] eastein Dale County l lie
Ihlckne�,s of the aqultei N alien bem een esseIltlalh Zeio «llele IG confining bed is
Ill1�>sing. to a IilaximuI11 ob�elNed thickness of 42 feet IIi C alteiet CountN
H�dioreolo ^_lc Ftaniev oik aIid Giotilid Watel Condition; iii the East Celitlal j4
�olth Calo ma Coastal Plain _�u_u;t
Noith Catolma DepartmeIlt o? Ew uonllieIlt atld Nattlial E'eSoiilce,;
Dv, lslonof «aterResowce�z
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I lie Beautolt Aqultel containS ,alt v atei iIl coIlceIltlatioIl� aleatei than 2 -0 ppnl
ON ei mole than r , pen ceIlt of the stud aiea I he «extern boulldal\ of the intelt ace
Whele the 1Sochlol iiitel-,,ects the base of the aquitel) occur aloIlg a sllluoui� line 111I1I11I1n
tioill Ilolth to south heal the \1a�111I1voI1- -\la1t1I1 CouIltN line thlougll «estein Beautoit
C ouIlt, IIlto Iloitll« esteiIl C laved C oust-\ tieI1dingR a te« miles to the «eat of the C its of
Ne« Belli I lie iIltelsectloIl of the inteltace vidi the top of the aclultel IS iIl apploxiIllate
paiallel o11eI1tatioIl aIld occur ReIleiall� about -5, nlile�, to file east (plate `;1) t lie
nailo« aiea occupied bN die tlansitlon ZoIle attests to die sluggish cliculation of pound
«atei thiough tlli�, aquitel and its log; tlansIllissl-, ltN
1 lie Beautolt Aqultei lies dllectlN uIldemeath the C astle Ha %ire Aquitel and is
thus affected bN de«ateling opelatioI s. at the PC S Phosphate mine I his is indicated bN a
potentlonietllc Suit ace neap �ho«n on plate 51 dlsplaving a «atel le -, el at the closest «ell
to the excaN atlon of {iii 96 t eet belo« sea le,, el Ho« e\ el it In a-, be a�sunled that the
«atei leN el dneeth uIldeineath the excaN atioI1 1�5 clo -,e to 1 -5U feet below sea leN el
Peedee Confining Unit
I lie Peedee confining unit 1S Inade up of claN and slit beds that ale pie,�eIlt iIl the
uppel pact Of the Peedee 1-olination of L ppei Cletaceoui. age aIld sometimes pos-sibl\ in
the lo«el pant of the Beautoit I ollllatioIl I his unit is defined pinna11IN b\ geopll\ slcal
and dlillels log corielatlons aclosS file stud\ alga due to limited intoiniauon tlonl
I11oI11tol1Ila statloIl� «llele scleent, ale aN allable to obseiN e lone term head ditteleIlce�
bet« eeIl the Beautolt aIld Peedee Aquitels IIl addition die lame -\ olume «ididia« al
tioIn the PC S mine aiea has caused the «atel le,, els in the Peedee and Beautoit Aqulteis
to equillblate N[ nth the C a5tle Ha -, Ile ON el Iilost of Beautolt and �mlouiid1Iln' coulltle�
(finules 13 14. 16. and l,) Long teiiii «atel le \el dltteleIlces ale obsel -, ed llo «e \ei at
the LMR C loatan aIld C laiks statiom! in C iaN ell C ouIlti
I lie eleN ation of the top of thi-s uIlit is e\ elN v here bolo« Sea IeN el in the Stud \'
alea and laIlges bemeeil 60 feet in «e�,teiIl Beautolt to 1 l86 feet bolo« sea level In
C aitelet C ouIltN A,, ailable «ell data lndlcate� that the unit thickeIls east« aid to a
n1ax1I11um of 116 feet 1 lie unit is abseIlt In the noltheln pant of the StudN alga to the
Ilolth of a Mlle apploxiiiiating the limit of the Peedee Aquitel (plate 34)
Peedee Aquifer
1 lie Peedee Aqultel «it111I1 the �tudi aiea contains altelnatmg* beds of sand and
clax. that pllnlalilN I11ake up the L ppel C letaceous Peedee �oliliation although the
aqultel inaN contain some sediments tlonl the tmdell %ing, Black Cleek 1- olnlatlon of
ONe11 ,, 1I1a Beautolt �olIliauoIi in �,oIlle areas OIl �oIlle bolellole geopll ,,�,lcal logs sand,
«Rhin the Peedee Aquitei appeal to be thick and nla!�i\ e as illustiated In the D\%R Bath
H \choseolomc Frame= oik and Ground Watet Conditions m the East Central
Notth Carolina Coastal Plain August -2009
N'oith Catolitia Departmetit of Ew tlotimetlt atld Natural Rez;outcezz
Do iSlon of «atel Resoutce�
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and N \IIli-tead\ille Station «ells oil cioss z�ecuon C -C (plate 4) In odlel «ells a� shown
on ieglonal cio5s 5ecuoIl�, beds of sand of 10 to 0 loot thickness alternate with �,ectloll'z
of cla-\ SaIids ale tine to coaise pained �JiLA -% Rlauconlue and tos,�llltelous C la,. s ale
2ellelall,, dark bio «Ii iIl colol aIid contain I1linol aIliouiit�! of sand I lie aqultel is kIlovii
to contain oIll\ saliIle mound «atel iIl this alga and could oIllN be cO1151deled N sable as a
Souice of vatel tol agllacultule falms 0l tol tleatIlleIlt b\ le -\ else osmo�'ls Because of
the tact that It 1�, a saltN aqultel in this area little intOiniation 1�, available about 1t5
livdiaullc piopeltles C lllollde co11ceI1tiatioI s iIl the aqultel N aiN beweeIi 1 204 and
19 -6() ppin In D\\R obsel\ atlon «ells and aellelallx lnciea5e coast«ald I he fresh
«atel salt «atel tiansitioIl zoIle iIl die Peedee tiaN elves the study alga aloii2 the «estelIl
filllge in Beatltoit aIid Ilolthein C iaN en Counties (,plate -35)
I lie top of the aquitel laI ges iIl eleN atioIl tioI11 1220 feet below ;`ea IeN el in
«estein l3eautolt Countt to 1 84 feet bolo« sea le \el iIl ea�tein vithin the hinits of
aN allable NN ell 1nfolniatloll Ali eleN atlon neap lndie ate S that It dips to the southeast at a
late of 16 feet per II11Ie iIl Beautolt aIid Ilol die in C la', en C OuIltles but s tee pem� to
apploalmatek „ feet pel mile III easteill Caltelet County Ilie tlllckile�!�, of the agtlltel
laI 2es bemeeIl zelo «liele its Ilolthein lint occul5 to a Inaxinium of 39f, teet in
Pallilico C omit\ In Rv o oil coIlipam v ells in C aitelet C oullt-\ pelIlleable �,ediIneIlts ale
absent and the thleklles� of die aquitel 1.� zelo on an 15opach neap dltplaN ed oil plate 36
A Iloitll«aid pinchout of the aqultel it 5ho«Il a!� a da-,lied line oIi plates 3-5 and 30 and
occurs «llele the Peedee l oiniatlon 1s either absent or pait of the L ppel Cape 1-eat
confining unit in \\ aAilligtoIl I hell and I1olthein Dale C ounties and a SIliall sectioIl of
I101thelll Beaut olt C oust,,
A iegional poteIltlometllc sultace Iilap of die Peedee Aqultel 1z� Aho�tIi oIl plate
1=-, ldent on die neap ale die effects of the de« atellngy opelatlon on to« ellnR «atel
leN elt. in the C astle Ha\ Ile Aqultel 1 hip lnitlall-, Incleat-ed the Iresatn e head dlttelentlal
bew een the Peedee aIid C astle Ha\ Ile and all0« ed up« aid flo« aIid a code of deplessioI1
to tolm In the Peedee U-\ ei tine ei atel le,, el, In the Peedee equilibrated v Ith die Castle
Ha\ ne and haN e dropped lo« el than the C ride Hat Ire at the D \\ R CTodle\ Station (ti-gtue
1 ^) 1 lie centel of the cone of deples,,ion Aho «I1 on the map 1s at the CTodle,\ Stauoll
«loch exhlbltz� a Peedee %t ater le-, el of --3 43' feet «lth a cone-spondlnR leN el of —h_ 8
teet In the Castle Hai ne l lie actual ceIltel of the coIle of deples=loI1 in the Peedee 15
cloSel to the tov ii of Aulola co here the «atel le,, el iii the C a, tde Ha\ ne has been dl a« r1
do« n to 1 �,0 teet beloNx yea IeN el to de« ate the cwient PC S I ilie exca,, atioI1 Ho« e" el
the D \ \R Auiola Station does not include a tell Screen 11i the Peedee Aqultel and the
neap does not sllo« NN hat should be the deepest Peedee «atel let el
H %dio^_eoloenc Frame\ olk and Ground Watei Condluon� rII the East Central
Notth Carolina Coastal Plain AugusL -20119
,\oith Carolina Depami,eIIt oI En, uoIimeIlt and Natural Re�cwces
Dl` 1zz1on 0' Water Resouice�
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Black Creek Confining Unit
http• / /www.ncwater org/Reports,_and—Publications/GVAM_F-eports/...
1 he Black Creek eontimna unit generally consists of a yen thick section of dark
brown to blackish sandy clay that occurs in the upper part of the Black Creek I-oimation
of l ppei Cretaceous Age the unit may also include clay beds in the lower part of the
Peedee l ormation Geophysical logs in the study area indicate that the unit varies in
thickness benwen 292 feet in the southern part of the study area (plate 37) to zero w here
it pinches out to the north in �k ashington. 1 yuell. northern Beautoit. northern HN de and
northern 1) ale Counties Substantial ditteiences in hydraulic head benteen the Peedee
and Black Cieek Aquiteis have been obsei-% ed historically at Mk monitonne stations in
the area as illustrated in hydiogiaphs on regional cross sections 1plates through 14)
1 he elevation of the top of the unit varies between 193 and 1,604 feet below sea level as
show n on (plate 37) 1 he unit is absent in the northern pact of the studs- area to the north
of a line approximating the limit of the Black Creek Aquiter (plate 35 )
Black Creek Aquifer
1 he Black Creek Aquitei is made up of alternating lax eis of white tine to eoaise
grained. lianiuc sand and dark clay that van in total thickness across the study area
bear een 372 feet and zero where the unit pinches out to the north in 14 ashington. 1 ynell
northern Beautoit northern Hyde and northern Daie Counties lhis unit is almost entiiel-,
within the Black Cieek I-ormation of l pper Cretaceous Age Uyei the majority of the
aiea it contains ground w atei % ;hieh exceeds 250 ppm chloride concentiation It contains
flesh water in the DWR Clacks monitoring station «ell in Craven County in the western
pact of the study aiea and also at N %ilmai ylnteiestingly. the oveil -, ing Peedee Aquitei at
Clacks station contains salt water. a hile the Black Cieek is fresh as shflwn in eioss
section h -1r (plate 6) 1 his is peihaps due to a higher tiansmissiN its- of the Black Cieek
Aquitei in this vicinity. «hick has allowing bettei ciiculation of ground w atei than in the
Peedee 1 hus. the fresh w atei salt w ater interface has migrated tuithei eastwaid than in
the o %eilymg Peedee Chloride concentrations van• oxer the study area betieen 192 ppm
(M\R Clacks Station) and 16.435 ppm from six different measurement locations
In several deep oil and gas cells dulled in the eastern part of the stud- area. and
in particular. Carteret Count-,. sands in the Black Cieek Aquiter are completely missing
and the equivalent unit is near 100 per cent clay 1 his is also the case in a number of
wells dulled in northern Beaufort Count- as shown on an isopach map of the aquifer
thickness (plate 40) 1 he lack of permeability of Black Creek sediments in these areas
would likely impede the coasntaid moN ement of salt water through the aqurter
1 lie elevation of the top of the Black Creek Aquitei varies between 299 and 1.690
feet below- sea level across the area_ dipping southeastward at a rate of 19 feet per mile to
a maximum of 34 feet per mile on the :atlantic shoreline (plate 39)
Hvdroseolo--ic Frame« ork and Ground Water Conditions in the East Central 37
North Carolina Coastal Plain. August _2009
North Carolina Department of En- ironment and Natural Resources
Dig ision of Water Resources
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As I11eI1tioIled in die pieNious d1SC11s�1on of the etfect�, of 21ou1 d «atel
«itlldla« als at die PC S Phosphate QualY-% in Beaufoit (_ ouIlt\ the poteIltioIlletllc suitace
of the Black Cieek Aquifei (plate -53) has beeIl iIllpacted dine to a frivol dla«dovii of
Nt atel le,, el� iIl the C astle Hai Ile Aquitei and the la1Re Ilegat1\ e head giadieIlt that �x as
cleated bew eeIl the Black C leer aIld C astle HaN Ile undeineath die pumping centei 1 hl�
allo« ed Illciea-�ed up�x aid IlloN eI11eI t of RlouIld «atei o,, el «hat «ould ha-, e occui -led
natulall,, III a glound «atei dlschalLe alea 1 hus «atei leNels lla \e beeIl slo «1�
decliI ina III the Black Cleer Aquifel undeineath the mine site vmice July 196-5 1 his is
illustrated b,, h ,, dlogiapll�, tioIll D\\R ilioI itolillg statioIls (flgules 13 -1 , ) aIld a
poteIltl 011ie tlic sultace I11ap of die aquitel (plate 253) llle ettect� of pumping in the
Cential Coastal Plain ale contubutina to the decliIle as %N ell aIld the coIles of depiesslon
Illel2e iIl this aiea. It is aIlticipated that «atel leN els «Ill eN elltuall\ equillblate «lth the
C astle Ha\ ne as diet alieadv llaN e at the LM K Bonneiton I11onitolllla statioIl SaI1ds iIl
the Black Cieek gUitei pinch out a to %N Irides to die Ilolth of the mine site in IlolthelIl
Beautoit Count-\ as shovii oil all isopach I11ap (plate 40) 1lle pelIneabllltN barliel to die
Ilolth mole than likel\ allo«� dla%idovii to occur at a IIIallel late in the Black C.leek
Aqultel undeineath the mine site
Upper Cape Fear Confining Unit
I he L ppel C ape real confiniIlg unit is defiIled III this �,tudN bN head dlttelences
ob�eiNed between the Black Cleek and L ppei Cape reai . quitei�, at the ll1 \h
5cuppenio21gy and Clapis ilionitoung statioIls iIl ` \aihingtoIl and CiaveIl CouIlties It i�
pllnclpall,, defined b-� conelatlon of the clad Section that Illakes up this unlit tioI11 «ell to
«ell usinz borehole aeoph ,.sical log,-, Except for the «ells at Clalk-, and Scuppelnong
thele ale Ilo other statioIl sites Ni llele ditteleIlce� iIl h\ dlaulic head Ilia\ be obsei-, ed
I his uIlit is pliiiclpall,, «ithiIl the Cape real roiIllalloll of L ppei Cletaceous Age IIl the
IlolthelIl gait of file stud\ aiea «here die Peedee and Black C leek Aquitels pinch out
cla\ beds which piiIlcipall\ coinpuse thet-e tolnlations ale likel\ a gait of die L ppel C ape
real confiIliIln unit 1 lie eleN ation of the top N apes bet«een 344 and 19.31 feet bolo«
Sea le,, el aclO-.,s the stud\ aiea «ith the deepest penetiatlon in bale C ouIlti (plate 41)
1 he thickness of the unit N apes bet« een 1-2 and 450 feet a�, Sllo�t Il bN all isopach Illap
(plate 42) It 1� thickett ill Dale and C'aitelet C.ountle�, and Ihinnei ill the "N e�telIilllost
part of the alga and thlou2h PaIlllico C ounn
Upper Cape Fear Aquifer
I lie L ppel C ape real Aqultei vithln the Stud\ aiea coiltaln� flesh «atel onl\ ill
«esteiiiinost Beautolt C ouim iIl ita upper polnon v llele the couIlt% Is tta\ eyed b\ the
flesh «atei salt «atel Inteltace (plate 43) 1lle aquitel 1aIlLle� IIl ele \aIloIl beIveeIl 469
teet to 2 394 teet bolo« sea Ie \el vheie the deepestpenetiatloIl occuis I C. aitelet
Count\ It dips to the toutllea�t at a late of 1-8 feet per mile in [lie �Zestein counties
H\dioseolovc Framex= olk and Ground Watel Conditions in the East Centiit 35
\'olth Calohna Coastal Plain AuRust 2009
N oath Calollna Depaltn.,ent of En, n0I1II1ent aIld .\� atuial Rezzouices
Do I�zloIl of Water Re;zoiilces
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increasing to approximately 36 feet per mile along the coastline. 1 he L ppel Cape I-eai
Aquitei is made up of permeable sediments of the Cape l-eai tolmatlon of L ppet
Cretaceous Age It is comprised of interbedded sands clays. and silts that were
deposited in alternating marine to nonmanne environments of deposition 11 here
nonmarine in origin in up dip areas sands commonly are interbedded with lavers of
gravel, and are ieddish to tan colored tiom the plesence of iron oxides «lrele the unit is
marine in oriain in the eastern part of the stud, area sands alternate «ith beds of shell
limestone and dolomite
1 «o 1)" It monitoring stations have %i ells that are screened in the L ppei Crape
I-eai Aquitei. including the Scuppernong Station In 1\ ashington Count,. and the Clacks
Station in Craven Count, 1 he «ell at Scuppernong is affected by a falge cone of
depression formed due to %xithdraaals from the I-ranklin. \ ilginia area as evidenced by a
decline of 12 53 feet since March 1318 1 his well is piobabl,% near the limits of the
cone of depression. as the effects are much more pronounced in wells to the north of the
Albemarle Sound in Crates. Herttoid. Bence. C:hoNvan. Peiquimans. and Pasquotank
Counties (Laurier 1998)
Lower Cape Fear Confining Unit
1 he Lo -v,ei Crape I-ear contunng unit consists of a thick section of clay and silt
beds that are reRionall° eonelative in the middle of the Cape I-eai Pormation It occurs at
an elevation ranging tiom 667 to feet belo-%i sea level across the stud, area dipping
to the east - southeast at an average rate of 35 feet per mile It thickens prominent)
to,*; aid the coast from ,_ feet to a maximum of 3220 feet in Date Count-, 1 here is
virtually no «ate, level information to help -%`Yth the identification of this unit. It is
defined exclusively b, coiielation -%I7th wells to the west of the stud, area
Lower Cape Fear Aquifer/Lo «er Cretaceous Aquifer System Undifferentiated
1 he Loner Cape rear continlna unit is underlain b, a %,edge of sediments
tanama in age from L pper to Lover Cretaceous and possibly 1 iiassic Jurassic (Blown.
1lillei and S%xwn. 197 2) This sediment %vedae ranges in thickness from appioximatel_
800 to 5.300 feet from %N estern 13eautott Count, to Cape Hatteias. consisting of
alteinatins lavers of sand. clax. silt. limestone. dolomite and various combinations of
these lithologies No attempt has been made in this stud, to subdivide the sedimentari
section belom the Lo%xel Cape beat confining unit into component aquiteis and confining
units due to the lack of Nvatei level and stiatigiaphic information necessary to ensure the
reliable identification and correlation of units In coastal plain counties to the Nest of the
stud, area_ the Lo -vver Cape 17 eai Aquitei dnectly oxeilies the basement surface and
probably includes some sediments of Lo«ei Cretaceous age Nlithm the stud, area
sediments of Lo «er Cretaceous axe thicken diamatieall, toy ;aid the coastline. thus
Hy droaeolosic Frame; ork and Ground Cater Conditions in the East Cenual 39
North Carolina Coastal Plain. ?,uceust 2009
North Carolina Department o* Environment and Natural Resources
Di-, iaon of Water Resources
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accounting, tot then g,reat thickness underneath Cape Hatteras Resistivity measurements
lrom borehole aeophx-sical logs and tune domain electhomaenetic surreys indicate that
these sediments are hizhlz saline beneath the study area
Basement
1 he Quateuhary thioug,h 1 rrassic aee sediments of the Last Central \oath Carolina
Coastal Plain are underlain by a basement complex of pre - Mesozoic rocks which yalN in
type between volcanic and plutonic (Lawrence and Holtman. 1993 )
A structural map of the basement ele,, ation indicates that it dips steepl% to the
east- southeast at a rate of apphoximatel-, 10-5 feet per mile (plate 45) Data tiom the tew
wells that penetrate the basement suit ace indicate that it ranges in elevation between
l.S?1 Belo« sea level in Beaufort Count%• to 9.854 feet below sea level underneath Crape
Hatteras in Dare County
Status of DWR Monitoring Well Net «ork in the East Central Coastal Plain and
Recommendations for Improvement
A number of replacement wells are needed at this time in order to impio,, e the
1MR in onitonne netw-ohk in the study area. 1 he Belhaven monitoring, station.
constructed between 1966 and 1973. was abandoned sometime after 1984
replacement station in the general vicinity is needed not only to monitor w ater levels but
to tiaek the potential -vvesnvaid migration of the fresh w ater salt w ater tiansition zone in
the Castle Hahne Aquhter (plate 9. cross section H -H ) 1 he N %insteadville monitoring,
station in Beaufort Countv includes a «ell screened in the Castle Hahne Aquiter from
250 to 430 feet below- land surface (plate 4 cross section C -C ) 1 he screen apparently
crosses the fresh water salt water transition zone as indicated by an elevated chloride
le-, el of _46 ppm 1 he screen is so wide how ex er. that it is impossible to delineate w here
the transition zone occurs within the 180 toot screen 1 he %yell should be replaced by
two «ells with nar7owei screens one upper. and one lower to better track changes that
may occur in the transition zone due to pumping, in Beaufort County lhls will also
provide head information in upper and lower Caste Ha -,ne zones to help understand its
hydraulic properties between the lower sandy section. and upper limestone section A
lower Caste Hahne Aquiter well is needed at the Bath monitoung station in Beaufort
County in order to help track the potential «vest« aid movement of the transition zone
(plate -l. cross section C -C ) At the Southshde monitoring, station rn Beautort Count'. the
lower Castle Hahne w ell. vyhich w as constructed w ith an open hole between 280 and 3 -0
feet below- land surface. was let unarouted betty een land surface and 200 tees 1 he
chloride concenaation in this well is 140 ppm. while the level in the upper Castle Hahne
w ell is 56 ppm 1 he close pioximit-% of the station to the Pamlico River as a source of
H -, droReolosrc Framev ork; and Ground Rater Conditions to the East Central 40
North Carolina Coastal Plain AucusL _0"9
North Carolina Department of En-, ironment and Natural Resources
Di, tqon of Rater Resources
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salt «atel and the tact that the to «el Casde Ha,�Ile «ell «as left utlglouled IeaNe� open
the question of «lledlel the high chlollde le-, el in the v ell is due to salt «atei iiitiu�lon
tioIi1 die ll\ el of �i eStm aid Ini2iatioI1 of the C az:,tle HaN Ile tiallsition ZoIle III oldel to be
x aluable a� a I11oI11toinia Site tol tracking all,, poS�ible «estvaid Aiitt in the C a,�tle Ha�lie
Sall «atei tial sitioI1 ZoIle due to IniniI1a actiN IIIes a Ilev I11oIlitoliIlg Station Ahould be
coI t,tiucted tuithei south of the li \el the 1 olktomi Aquitel «ell (14^ -15,6 ) at
H \deland StatloIl heeds to be replaced tol t«o leasom, Ille dell «a� giouted tioni U to
_0 feet aIld left opeIl tioIll 20 feet to the Iop of [lie ScieeIl I lie �Lulticial aquitel «ell at
H \deland has a clllolide coIlceIltiatioIl of 1 000 pplll due to =alt NN atel int111,-,1oI1 tionl a
Ilealb� �oulce I lius salt «atei tlonl the sulticial aquitel «as able to mo-, e do« Il alound
the casing to pollute the 1 olktov ii ScieeIl ZoIle tlonl 147, to 156 feet «hick shop; ed a
chlollde leN el of 401 ppin I his ploblenl «as discoN eled b\ nlealls of a IlealbN I DhM
Soundina «hick Sllo« ed a le�istl, it-, < Glue indicatiN e of tie 11 «atel at rile le-, el of die
i olktown t�cleeIl zone A I DEM SouIldillg v as conducted Ilext to the DN\ R Slades,, ille
Station in H\ de C ouIlt< «hick rho« ed a ieslstiN lt\ of 54 to ^J olini- IIletels adjacent to
the t-cleeI1 zone of the C a�,tle Ha %Ile monitoliIlg «ell Ke�isw ltd of dais maaIlltude
tNpicalh indicates the ple�,ence of flesh «atel I lie last nleaslued chloilde -, clue flonl
Oct 1999 �t as 5400 ppnl .fin eailiel t-alnple tlonl 197 indicated a 480 ppIll clllolide
concentration It is appaleIlt that the v ell has a constiuction piobleill that it� allov iilg salt
«atel tloill a nealb-, �,oluce
to IlloN e iIlto the _�cleeIl ZoIle
Conclusions
PopulatioIl powth in die -North C aloliIla Coastal Plain has led to increased
leliallce oil giound «atel toi NN atel supplN IleedS 1 1115 leas tlieled the heed to uiiden�tand
iIl Illole detail the s� steIll of aquiiels and confining beds that undeilie the legioIl and iIl
palticulal llo�l the aqultels ale beiIlg affected b� current pumpiIlg coIldltioll� A beItei
aIld Illole detailed undeistand1I1_Q of the ll \diogeologlc tlanle«olk «ill allo« tol
deNelopIllent of Strategies toi dealiIlg «itll «atel IeNel declines in the confined aqultel� of
the C oastal Plain
1 Illy stud< «as accomplished b\ collelatioIr aIld intelpietatioIl of bolellole
geopluaical and lltlloloalc logs, «atel IeNel and clllolide measuleilieIlt�, taken tlonl a
new olk of obseiN ation and othel n peg of %N ells aqultel test data. aIld tulle domain
electiomagIletic soundiIlgs Mirth additional Intoiniatioll lla�, beeIl Inade aN ailable tioI11
Ilea giouIld «atel I11oI11loling Station that llaN e beeIl added to the North C aiollIla
alound v atel inoIlitomig Ilew olk bC the Di-, isioI1 of \\ atel hesoulces -\Ioleo\ el Ile«
liltoiniatioIl lla� been made ax ailable thlouall public and pit-\ ate v atel s,, stem «eIL that
haN e been chilled in the past te« t ears
1 he IiN dlogeologic sN �tetll in the t-tudN legion tioIll baseIlleIlt to land Sllltaee-
coIlslsts of eight lemnalh significant acluitel,� and the intelNeniIlg confiniIlg units that
H %dloreolo ^nc FIame�S oil and Ground Watei Conditions in the East Cential 41
.\olth Calolina Coastal Plain Ausu,;t ,CIC,9
Noith Carolina Departn.ent of En, tionmeIlt and Natulil Re:ource�z
DiN icon o; R-atei Resouiee�
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�,epalate tlietn lncluded ale the �.urticial 1 oikto« n C'a�Ae Hai Ile Beautolt Peedee
Black Cieek l pper and Lo «ei Cape 1-eal aquitel�, Each aquitel NN as mapped and
desciibed in as much detail as a -, ailable data «ould allo« in ordei to define them in teinls
of ieaioIlal ele-, atioI1 thickne�,� and latelal distribution hN diaullc plopelties ielatlonship
to Stiatialaphlc uIllt�. mound NN atel nioN e111eI1t aIld clllollde dlstllbutloIl 1 lie
appioxinlate position of 250 pait�, per million chlollde inteitace,� «as plotted «llele
applicable on eloss seciloIi�, and eleN atioI1 Inap�, piepaied fol die study 11 atel leN el data
tiom a ieaioIlal Ilem olk of IIloI11toling, %l ells %N as used to coIistluct lip -to -date
poteIitloIlletllc suitace Iiiaps tol each of the confiIled agllltels iIl the stud% legioIl
1 lie results of tlwl studN iIldicate that ample tlesh glound NN atel �lipplies exist in
the 4zulticial Z oiktown and Castle Hai Ile Aquiten� in the Stud-, 1egioI1 1 lie 1 olkto «Tl
and C aAe Hai Ile Aquiter. ale mole plolltle and high Ieldttlg in the hart Centlal C oastal
PlaiIl couIltles than any othei place «hele the-\ ale pieSeIlt in the C oastal PlaiIl
Laize kale mine de« ateling, opelatloIls and iesultant �Nitlldla« als tioIn the C asile
Ha\ Ile Aqultel iIl Beautolt C ouIm haN e produced a large cone of depleaslon that liar
been discussed iIl IluIllelous ealliet repolts Wiat has not been discussed 1s die Impact oil
deeper salt «atel bealing aqultels that undellle the C a�tle Ha" ne Aclultel and the
appaieIlt «atei le,, el decliiie� that ale occuirlIlg* iIl the Beautolt Peedee. aIld Black C leek
Aquitels 1 lir5 report hay discussed these lssue� In detail
I his stud\ leas alto Identified nuIilelout� places iIl the legion «llele inipioN eIlleIlt�
ale needed iIl the existing DiN lslon of 1\ atel Resoulces nouIld v atel nionitoli1lg new oik
elthei due to iIllpiopeil\ coIl�tiucted Ni ells incoIllplete statloll,� of aleas «hole additional
stauoIls ale heeded
H\ dio�-eolo ^IC FIamev oil. and Ground Water Condition.; iIl the East Celllial
Noith Carolina Coastal Plain August _009
Noith Czuohni Depitin.ent of En, uoIlnlent aIld Natuial Resowce4�
DiN Dion of Watei Re�ouices
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REFERENCES
Blo« Il P M aIld otliei� C;eoloLylc flap of \ oldi C aloliIla \olth C alollna Dep utment of
\atulal Kesoulces and C oIliIllllllltN De\ elopnlent lli,, Mon of Land Kesoulce�
(jeolomcal Sul -, eN Section 1985
Bloc�n P M illel J A and S«aiii 1 \1 1972 Stiucttual and S[I atiglaphic
haniev oik and Spatial lllstllbution of f?elIlleabilit, of die Atlantic Coastal PlaiIn. Mith
Carolina to \e« 1 olk L S Creological Stu -, ex Piotest�ioiial Paper -96 ^9 p
Del\ nest K J M Savie A \ and Jacob C L 1967 LN aluation of Potential impact of
Phosphate Mining oil C71ouiid- \ \atel Kesoulces of ha -stein \olth C aloliIla \olth
(_ aloliiia DepaltIileIlt of \\ atel Kesoulces 16-, p
Halslibalael J \\ Anah pis of 6iouIld \\ atei S� steIm1 iii the Beacham Sa\ aI na . lea
Beaufolt C ouim \oltli C aloliIia (,coIlfldeIltial Iepolt to Beal C leek �1iI11Ilq C olnpaIn\
\l ashington \oltli C alolina) (196 ")
Heath KC 1994 CTiouiid -N\ atel Kechalne in \olds C atoliIla L npubliS lied Iepolt
plepalecl tol the \oidi Caloliila DiNisloii of N1ate1 Qtlalit\ Aquitei PlotectloIl SectloIl
4-1 p
Heath K C 1950 Basic 1✓1eI11eIlts of Criotiiid -`k atel H� dlologt \\ lth KeteleIlce to
Conditions III \olth C aloliIla L 5 (jeolomcal Sul-\ eN \1 atel Ke,-,ouices lnt estiL-ations
Open 1-ile Kepolt 80 -44 86 p
Heath K C 1994 (71ound -\i atel KechaiLe iIl \oitll C alolilla L Iipubll�lled Iepolt
plepaled toi the \L -D\\Q Aquitel Plotectlon Section 44 p
Ingialll K L 1987 feat llepot�lts of \ olth C alolina \pith C aiolina C7eoloRical Stu\ e%
Section Bulletin 88 84 p
lnteilln Kepolt on Cnound« atel C onditiom in C apacit\ L se .-ilea No 1 C.ential C oa�,tal
Plain \oidi (.aiolina. 19 -6 \oltll CaloliIia DiNlsioil of 1=mnoI illeIltal MaInaaeIlleIlt
(Jloluid« atel Section -55 p
Keye• 11 S 1990 Borehole CTeopll\ sics .-applied to (jloulid -\\ aten Inn estigatlons in
1 ecliniques of \\ atel Kesoulces In-, estigatnons L S CTeological Stut e\ Book 2 C haptel
1=2 149 p
Klinle,, J 0 1965 DetcliptioIl of the Plingo KiN el �olniatloln III Beautolt C ount�, \olth
C aiohna L S CTeoloaleal Sui-\ e\ Bulletin No -'9 1 -31 p
H-, dlo�eoloRic Fiawe�t orli and Ground Watel Conditlon� in the East Central 4'
North Cuolina Coastal Plain Apul 'C-CI9
North Catolina Deputinent of EI x lroI lent aIld Natural Resource
DiN i�zion of Watel Resouices
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Launei J C 1998 H %clioaeoloalc 1- laIllevolk aIld (31ouIld \\ atel Re�oulces of die \oath
Albemalle RealoIl \olth C aloliIla \ oidl C aloliiia Depaltnieilt of Lnv 11onnieIlt and
\atulal Resoulees lll ,, isioI1 of \% atel Ret-oulces 61 p
La�NieIlce 1) P aIld HoffI11a11 C N\ (jeolo2,, of BasemeIlt Rocky BeIleath the \olth
Carolina Coastal Plain \olth Calollna Deputment of L)LH \R DiNislon of Land
Resources CTeological SulN eN Section Bulletin 95 59 p
ille1 J A 1152 Stlatigiapli� Stiuctule and Phosphate Deposits of the Putlgo KiN el
1-olInatioI1 of \oitll C alohIla \oitll Calohna DepaltineIlt of \atulal Resources aIld
C oI11I1111I11tN lleN elopment Di,, 1sioi1 of Land Resotuces Creological Sul-, e-\ Secuon
Bulletin S p
\C bioundv atel SectioIl 1974. Status Repolt on Crloulld« atel C oI1ditionsi iIl C apacltN
L �,e : lea \o 1 Central Coastal Plalll \oltll Calollna \oltll (- alollna t)eputnlent of
\atulal aIld EcoIloIllic Resoulce� 146 p
\eLon P l 1964 CTeolog-, aIld Cirouiid-\\ atei Re�ouice�- of die S« anquaitel .- lea
\olth C'alolina \C DepaitllleIlt of \S atel Resources lll,, 1S1on of Ground \\ atel 6iound
\\ atel Bulletin No 4. _9 p
North Calollna CTiound \\ atel llINI�IOn �\illlain i Cru -\ ton and A soclate� and others
19+ 1 Repoit oil HNdloaeolog\ aIld Effects of PuI11pina floI11 C a�,tle Hax lie Aqultel
S -\stein 13eautolt Couim \oldl Calollna Z,-' p
Peek HM alld .Nelson P l- 1975 Potential Ettects of 111thdia«aL Hom die Castle
HaN,iie Aquitel fol expaIlded Phosphate Minina in 13eautolt C.ouIlt \, North C alolina
\olth C alolina Dept of \ atulal aIld LcolloIllle Resoulce� lll\ isioI1 of Re�,ouice Planning
aIld LN altlatioIl 6iounci« atel SectloIl p
StepheI1soI1 L �\ aIld Johnson 13 L 1912 1 he 11 atel Resources of the C oastal Plain of
\olth C alohna In C lack \1 13 Miller 13 L Step11el1.on L \\ Johnson B L and Palkei
H \ 111e Coastal Plain of \oldl C alohna North Calollna C7eoloaical and EconoIrlic
Stu-\ e< < _ pt - p -1-3-3-509
�\ lldel H B Robinson 1 M aIld LliidskoN K L 19, 5 1ti atel Re�,oulces of \oltllea�t
\oath C alolina L S CTeolo2ical Sul,, eN �\ atel - Resources In-\ esti2auon - -81 11; p
\\ IlsoIl \ athaIllel C Roanoke lAaIld 1993 Cnound \\ atel MoI11to11Ila Rzpoit Di-\ IsloI1
of �\ atel Resouices \ C DepaltnleIlt of Lm 11oI nieIlt Health and Natural Resources
Nla� 1994 ,✓ p
innel M ll J1 aIld Simmons C h 19 HN dlolo2,, of the CleepinR S« anip
11 atelslled North C alolina «lth leteieIlce to potelltlal effects tioI11 stieaI11
clicui lelization L S Cleolozlcal Sul, e\ �\ atel Re�,ourees In-, estigatlon f - -26 54 p
H\ dioReolo ^_lc FIaniev oik and Giound `j atel Condltlon,� in the Eaczt CeIltlal 44
Mitll Carolina Coastal Plain Apul 21"09
North CaloliIla Depwinient of Ew uonlIlent and Natural Resources
DiN l�lon of Watel Recollicez�
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�N mnei. .\1 ll . and Coble. K « . 1996. Hvdiovolove l-iame«oik of the North C:aiolina
Coastal Plam. L S Geological Suivey pp 1404 -1. 150 p
HN drogeologtc Frame%t oik and Ground Water Conditions in the East Central 45
forth Carolina Coastal Plain. April 2009
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Division of Water Resources
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THE ECOLOGY OF THE PAMLICO RIVER,
NORTH CAROL -INA: AN ESTUARINE PROFILE.
Fish and Wildlife Service
U.S. :Department 'of the- Interior

The Ecology of the Pamlico River, North Carolina An Estuarine Profile
FRON' COVER PhOTOS.
http / /www nwrc usgs gov /techrpt/82 -06 pdf
Shrimpino {photo courtesy North Carolina Division of Marige F-sheries},
81 ackbeard the pirate tiartist unvnown, courtesy of 'forth Carolina D is1Gn of
Archives and History), ductcs photo by Ker, Taylor, Ncrth C3rolina wilol fe
Resources Conimi ssion), sailing (,photo by Steve Mtrray).
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The Ecology of the Pamlico River, North Carolina An Estuarine Profile.. httpJ/ www.nwrc.usgs.gDv /techrptt82 -06 pdf
� itS /OBS -82 /05
Aar i1 1984
THE ECOLOGY OF THE PAMLICO RIVER,
FORTH CAROLINA: AN ESTUARINE PROFILE
by
B. J. Copeland
RonaTd G. Hodson
Department of Zoology
N.C. State University
Raleigh, NC 27650
and
Stanley R. Riggs
Deoartment ot Geology
East Carolina University
Greenville, NC 27334
Project Officer
cdward C. rendleton
National Coastal Ecosystems Tea,
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
1010 Gause Boulevard
Slioell. LA 70458
Performed for
National Coasta. Ecosystems Team
Division of Biological Services
Research and Develooment
C isn and Wildlife Service
'.,.S. Department of the Interior
'washingtor, , CC 2024 -G
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The Ecology of the Pamlico River, North Carolina- An Estuarine Profile http:// www.nwrc.usgs.gov /techrpt(82 -06 pdf
The findings in this report are not
to be construed as an official U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service position unless so
designated by other authorized documents.
Statements or conclusions, as well as sug-
gested courses of study or action, are
exclusively those of the authors.
0
Library of Congress Card lumber: 83- 60(;609
This report should be cited as:
Copeland, BA., R.G. Hodson, and S.R. R199S. 1984. The ecology of the
PawTtca Lover, North Carolina: an este3rine profile. U.S. Fish Wilda,
5erv. FOS /M- 32/06. 83 pp.
4 of 99 3/9/2013 11.43 AN

The Ecology of the Pamlico River, North Carolina: An Estuarine Profile. .
PREFACE
This estuarine profile is one of a
series at publications concerning current
issues facing the Nation's estuaries_ its
purpose is to synthesize existing informa-
tion to describe the structure and func-
tion of the Pamlico River Estuary, North
Carol ina. The Pamlico River Estuary and
its associated tributaries constitute the
mos t important tributary to Pamlico Sound,
which is the heart of North Carolina's
vast coastal system. Pamlico Sound yields
the majority of the commercial and recrea-
tional fisheries catch taken in the State
and serves as a base for a large and impor-
tant recreation and tourism industry. It
is also one of the most valuable coastal
resources on the east coast of the United
States.
The profile is a state -of- the -art
synthesis, bringing together available
information on the Pamlico River Estuary,
especially that critical to managing the
estuary. In many instances, critical gaps
exist in information needed to effect
management. Where this occurs we have
iden titied the gaps, suggested comparisons
with similar estuarine systems in other
sections of the country or world, and
described ways that the missing informa-
tion may be accommodated.
Because the estuary is an intact in-
tegrated unit, we are approaching the pro-
file from a systems viewpoint. No one
function or any particular component oper-
ates in isolation from one another. Like -
wise, the integrated estuary does not func-
tion in isolation from the streams enter-
ing it, the land around it, the estuaries
and sounds connected to it, or the ocean
adjacent to it. We have attempted in this
iii
http• / /www.nwrc.usgs gov /techrpt/82- 06.pd1
profile to describe the geological, bio-
logical, chemical, and physical character-
istics of the Pamlico River Estuary and
then to spatially and temporally relate
the components to illustrate the inte-
grated estuarine system. Finally, in
Chapter 6, we suggest a multi - faceted
management strategy tempered by socio-
economic realities and institutional
constraints.
The Pamlico River Estuary has re-
ceived considerable attention during re-
cent years. During the past decade, the
overall fisheries catch has fluctuated,
shrimp catch has declined, and nuisance
algal blooms have caused fish kills and
have reduced aesthetic values. Changing
land uses, increasing industrial and resi-
dential development, and freshwater diver-
sions have been implicated. In response
to some of these conflicts, the Governor
appointed a multi - faceted Task Force in
1981 to examine water management problems
in the area and to make recommendations
for improvement. These recommendations
were presented to the Governor in December
1982 and implementation has begun. Thts
profile should be useful in assisting
these important State efforts as well as
assisting in the national perspective.
Any questions or comments about and/
or requests for this publication should be
directed to:
Information Transfer Specialist
National Coastal Ecosystems Team
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
NASA - Slidell Computer Complex
1010 Gause Boulevard
Slidell, Louisiana 70438
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The Ecology of the Pamhco River, North Carolina- An Estuarine Profile...
Multi 1
millimeters On)
centimeters (cm)
:deters (1n)
Ki 1 oneters (kin)
square meters (11 ) 7
square kilometers (km )
hectares (ha)
liter, (1)
cubic meters (c3)
cubic meters (ri }
riill igrams (mg)
grains ( y)
kilograms (kg)
metric tons (t)
metric tons
kilocalories (kcal)
celsius degrees
CONVERSION FACTORS
Mletric to -U.S. CUStO'nary
Ry
0.03 ?37
0.397
3.281
0.6214
10.7E
0.3201
2.071
0.2642
35.3:
0.00031111
7.00003527
0.01527
Z. ?0
170'1.0
1.102
3.960
1.81C ") t 32
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"o Obtain
inches
inches
feet
miles
square feet
square riles
acres
gallons
cubic feet
acre -feet
ounces
ounces
110Jnd-,
pounds
Short tons
British thernal ur i is
=ahrenhett degrees
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U.C. Custuiaary to Metric
inches
25.40
dill irleters
inches
2.54
centimeters
feet (ft)
0.334?
meters
fathoms
1.829
deters
;Riles (Mi)
1.609
k-lometers
nautical miles (nmi)
1.851
kfloneters
feet (ft`}
0.0929
sgaarP meters
square
0.4'14,
hectares
acres
:axles (mi 1)
2.590
square k 11 oneters
square
gallons (gal} 3
3.781
liters
ruble feet (ft )
002831
.
cubic rieters
acre -feet
1.. -33.0
cuic meters
b
dances (oz)
s( l b)
2103.3
0.4536
grads
k 1 l ag ra;ls
po-urio
short tons (ton)
0.907?
metric tons
British thermal units
(t3tu) 0.25 ?r
kilocalories
Faj±f'oPhPi? ClPgrE+aS
0.5556(`° - 32)
Celsius degrees
1V
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The Ecology of the Pamlico River, North Carolina An Estuarine Profile
CONTENTS
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Page
nREFACE ... .. .... ... . .. ...... .. ... .. iii
CONVERSIDN TABLE IV
FIGURES ..... .... viz
TABLES . ....... xi
ACKNOWILEDGMENTS xt 1 i
CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION- -THE SETTING ......... ................... I
1.1. Pamlico River Estuary as a Natural Unit .................. 1
1.2. Geological Origin and Evolution .... 1
1.3. Settlement History ........ ............................... 5
1.4. Biological Zo,ies .......... ............................... 6
1.5. Potrritlal Conflicts and Impacts .......• 6
CHAPTER 2. UESCRIPTION OF THE FNVN ONM`iT ........................ 8
2.1.
Estuarine
Geolocly ........................................
8
2.2.
Shoreline
Characteristics ........ .......................
9
2.3.
Watershed
Characteristics ........................... ....
12
[,4.
Climate ........
..................... ...................
13
2.5.
Hydrology
... ............................... .............
15
2.6.
Aquatic Environment ......................................
18
CHAPTER 3. idlOt_OGICAL (HARACTERISTILS ............................ 22
3.1. Primary Producers ........................................ 22
3.2. Detritus and Organic Carbon .................. ........... %5
3.3. 'dutrient Dynamics ......... ............................... 30
3.4. Microbial Component 36
3.5. Secondary Producers .......................... 38
3.6. Life History Strategies ... ............................... 47
CHAPTER
4. ECO-OGICAL INTERRELATIONSHIPS ..................... ...
51
4.1.
Trophic Structure ......... ...............................
of
4.2.
Nursery Areas ............................................
53
4.3.
Spatial- Temporal Relationships ..........................
54
CHAPTER
S. FISHERIES .............. ...............................
57
5.1.
Conwerrial Fisheries .....................................
57
5.7.
Recreational Fisheries .... ...............................
59
5.3.
Fisheries Trends .........................................
62
CHAPTER
6. MANAGEMENT IMPLICTIONS . ...............................
63
6.1.
Management Issaes ......... ...............................
63
6.2.
Multi- species Management .. ...............................
6a
6.3.
Economic Parameters ......................................
65
6.4.
Sociological Implications ............ ...................
56
6.5.
Examples of Management Complexity ........................
57
6.6.
Research Needs . ............................ ............
69
kTA
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"rage
WIAPIcP ?, 0.14PARIiON 10 OTU EST,kPILS ..... .... ...... ....... ?r
CHAPTER S. SUNVARY AND CONCLUSIONS ........ ... .. . 7;
L1laRATURE C?fFD .... ...... ............... ...................... 7'
V1
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FIGURES
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Umber
Paoe
iTne
Pamlico River Es'�uary ..............................
2
Cross- section of the stratigraphy of northeastern
North Carolina .... ............. ... ...................
3
3
Fluctuations in sea level during recent tines ..........
4
4
Biological Zones of the Pamlico River Estuary,
based on macrobenttwic assemblages ......................
6
5
1}istribution of bottom types to the Pamlico
River Estuary ........... ...............................
8
6
Marsh shoreline ........................................
9
7
Low -bank shoreline ...... ...............................
10
8
High -bank shoreline ....................................
10
Bluff shoreline ......... ...............................
11
lv
Swamp- forest shoreline .. ...............................
11
11
Cultivated land on the Albemarle - Pamlico
Peninsula, 1956 ........................................
13
12
Cleared land on the Albegnarle- Pamlico Peninsula,
1973 ............................... ...................
12
13
Generalized soils map for the Albemarle- Pamlico
Peninsula 1973 ......................................... .
15
14
Cross section of sediments and aquifers underlying
the North Carolina coastal plain .......................
16
15
Estimated average amounts of recharge to and storage
in tie three major aquifers underlying the Pamlico
River Estuary ..........................................
17
16
Annual precipitation at New Rolland, N.C., 1915 -73 .....
17
17
Mean monthly precipitation and evapotranspi-ation
at New Holland, N.0 . ........ .......... ...............
13
18
Response of grater levels in the Pamlico River
Estuary to the effective component of wind speea,
23 Febraary to 2 March 1966 ............................
18
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Number
Page
19
Surface salinity in the Pamlico River Estuary
during spring ........... ...............................
20
20
Surface salinity in the Pamlico River Estuary during
fall.................... ...............................
21
21
Average monthly te.-noerature of the ' amlico River
Estuary at dashington, N.0 . ............................
21
22
Algal biomass in South Creek, February -May 1968 ........
22
23
Biomass of phytoplankton in the Pamlico River
Estuary at surface (5) and bottom (B) stations,
August 1966 ............. ...............................
22
24
Average algal blorrass and numbers in the Pamlico
River Estuary, 1966 -67 ................. I...............
Z3
25
Chlorophyll a distribution in surface waters of
thePaniico River Estuary ..............................
23
26
Seasonal patterns of primary productivity in the
surface waters of the Pamlico River Estuary ............
2.4
27
Plant density as a function of :eater depth for
transects perpendicular to the shoreline along the
Pamlico Ritter Estuary ... ...............................
26
P8
Seasonal trends in biomass for the three dominant
rooted macrophytes, August 1973 -74 .....................
27
29
Organic carbon in the Pamlico River Estuary,
1975 -76 ................. ...............................
30
30
Phytopiankton biomass as a function of particulate
organic carbon in the Pamlico River Estuary,
1975 -77 ................. ...............................
31
31
Suggested model for open water carbon flow in the
Pamlico River Estuary ... ...............................
32
32
Cain,, salty water leads to stratification ..............
33
33
Distribution of nitrogen ir, the Pamlico River
Estuary, 1972 -73 ........ ...............................
35
34
Distribution of phosphorus in the Pamlico River
Estuary, 1972 -73 ........ ...............................
36
35
;7escriptive model of phosphorus cycling ................
37
36 SedSOndl changes in abundance of calanoid copepods
and total hcloplankton in the Pamlico River
Estuary, 1966 -67 ....................................... 41
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Number
Page
37
Seasonal changes in abundance of selected
51
Juvenile spot
zooplankters in the Pamlico River Estuary, 1966 -67 .....
41
38
Transects for macrobenthoc sampling in the Pamlico
55
52
River Estuary ........... ...............................
42
39
Distribution and density of dominant macrobenthos
over the N.C.
continental shelf, with age
in shallow sediments during fall .......................
42
40
Distribution and density of dominant macrobenthos
in shallow sediments during winter .....................
43
41
Distribution and density of dominant macrobenthos
Oystering near
Washington. N.C., 1884 ..................
in shallow sediments during spring .....................
43
42
Distribution and density of dominant macrobenthos
in shallow sediments during summer .....................
43
43
Trellis diagram of index of similarity of strata
Crab - potting
in the Pamlico River Estuary ..............
during fall sampling of macrobenthos in the Pamlico
River Estuary ........... ...............................
43
44
Biomass of the major meiobenthos in the shallow
sediments of the Pamlico River Estuary, 1968 -69 ........
45
45
Pattern of entry of juvenile spot and croaker into
a Pamlico River Estuary nursery area ...................
48
46
Generalized food web for the Pamlico R '1ver
Estuary................................................
51
47
Simplified trophic diagram showing a phytoplankton
to menhaden pathway ... ...............................
52
48
A nearshore estuarine nursery area .....................
53
49 Map of Pamlico Sound, showing primary nursery areas .... 54
50 Annual cycle of phytoplankton productivity in the
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Pamlico River
Estuary, 1976 -77 .........................
55
51
Juvenile spot
and croaker consumption rates and
benthic biomass in Rose Say, N.C., 1979 ................
55
52
Seasonal wind
and onshore /offshore flow patterns
over the N.C.
continental shelf, with age
aistribution
of larval spot and croaker moving
towardinlets
........... ...............................
56
53
Oystering near
Washington. N.C., 1884 ..................
c7
54
Commercial fisheries
catch reported for the
Pamlico River
Estuary, 1970 -80 .........................
59
55
Crab - potting
in the Pamlico River Estuary ..............
59
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Number
Page
56
Areas of western Pamlico Sound flounder trawl
fishery................. ...............................
59
57
Areas of western Pamlico Sound blue crab fishery .......
60
58
Flounder- gigging in the Pamlico River Estuary ..........
60
59
Map of Pamlico Sound, showing the area of intense
recreational activity ..................................
61
60
Recreational catch per unit effort (CPUE) in
the Pamlico River Estuary, 1981 -82 .....................
61
61
The N.C. annual commercial fisheries catch,
1970 -51 ................. ...............................
62
62
Gill -net fishing activities ............................
66
63
A Pamlico Sound shrimp trawler ......................
67
64
Generalized management considerations for control
of deoxygenation in the Pamlico River Estuary ..........
fi8
65
Dissolved oxygen, salinity, and water temperature
during a time of stratification ........................
69
66
Stylized diagram of the deoxygenation process in
the Pamlico River Estuary ............................
70
67
A ditch draining agricultural fields ...................
71
58
Weekly salinities and catch per trawl of juvenile
brown shrimp at two altered and two unaltered
drainages into Rose Bay . ...............................
71
69
A scene from the Pamlico River Estuary .................
72
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TABLES
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4umber
3
Sedimentary deposits in the North Carolina
CoastalPlain ........... ...............................
4
2
Composition and distribution of shoreline types of
the Pamlico River Estuary ..............................
9
3
Land use allocation around the Pamlico River
Estuary................. ...............................
12
4
Normal annual discharge of the Tar River at Tarboro,
N.C., 1897 -1978 ......... ...............................
18
5
Monthly mean discharge of the Tar River at
Tarboro, N.0 . ........... ...............................
19
6
Approximate acres of wetlands by county in the
vicinity of the Pamlico River Estuary ..................
20
7
Estimated total biomass of rooted aquatic
macrophytes in the Pamlico River Estuary ...............
27
8
Comparative annual estimate of net primary produc-
tivity and accumulation of nitrogen and phosphorus
in aquatic macrophytes, filamentous algae, and
phvtoplankton ........... ...............................
28
9
Distribution of organic carbon in .he Pamlico River
Estuary ................. ...............................
29
10
Annual organic carbon budget for the Pamlico River
Estuary................. ...............................
31
11
Total annual nitrogen inputs to the Pamlico River
Estuary ................. ...............................
33
12
Total annual phosphorus inputs to the Pamlico River
estuary ................. ...............................
34
13
Biological uptake of nitrogen, 1976 -77 .................
36
14
Major phosphorus compartments in Pamlico River
Estuary water exclusive of larger zooplankton
andnekton .............. ...............................
38
15
Pathways between compartments and rates of
phosphorus flux in Pamlico River Estuary water .........
38
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Number Page
16 Comparison cf annual depth- integrated primary
productivity rates with uptake of nitrate, ammonia,
total dissolved inorganic nitrogen and reactive
phosphate ............... ............................... 39
17 Total annual flux of ammonia and reactive phosphorus
in relation to phytoplanktop uptake an the Pamlico
RiverEstuary ........... ............................... 43
18
Zooplankton prominent in the Pamlico River Estuary,
1965 -67 .... ............................... .... .....
40
19
mean numbers of meiobenthos /100 ml in the sand
bottom areas of the Pamlico River Estuary, 1968 ........
44
20
Fishes collected from the Pamlico River Estuary
during various years from 1965 to 1980 .................
46
21
Relative abundance of dominant species collected
in bottom trawl surveys of the Pamlico River
Estuary during various years from 1965 to 1973 .........
48
22
Migratory waterfowl species present in the Pamlico
River Estuary ..........................................
48
?3
Major users of the Pamlico River Estuary
primary nursery grounds . ...............................
54
24
Distribution of 1980 commercial fisheries catch
and value of Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds, N.C. ........
57
25
Total commercial fisheries landings for Pamlico
Sound complex, 1970 -1981 ...............................
58
26
dean percent frequency of catch and targeted
species by recreational fishermen in the Pamlico
River Estuary, 1981 -82 .. ...............................
61
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We are inaebtec to many colleagues'
and former students who have provided much
of the information reported here. Much of
the research described in this profile was
made possible by the extensive programs of
the University of North Carolina's Sea
Grant Col t ege Program and Water Resources
Research Institute. Extensive contribu-
tions were made to the overall knowledge
of the Pamlico River Estuary by the Worth
Carolina Division of Environmental Manage-
ment and Division of Marine Fisheries in
the N.C. Department of Natural Resources
and C =unity Development.
vie appreciate all those who reviewed
and helped improve the manuscript, espe-
cially Edward Pendleton and the NCET
staff, Mike Gantt and the FWS field office
at Raleigh, and Terry Sholar whose special
http.// www. nwrc.usgs.gov /techrpt/82- 06.pdf
knowledge of the estuary was particularly
helpful.
Photographs were selected and pre-
pared by Neil Caudle, who was also helpful
with suggestions for improving the manu-
script. Photographs were provided by
Steve Murray ( cover, Figure 63), Scott
Taylor (Figures 58 and 62), Steve Wilson
(Figure 55), ken Taylor, N. C. Wildlife
Resources (cover, Figure 53), Stanley
Riggs (Figures 6, 7, 8, g and 10), N. C.
Division of Marine Fisheries (cover) and
Neil Caudle (Figure 32).
Gail Allen and, especially, Joan
;lessina labored tirelessly in making a
readable script from our dictaphone tapes,
typed the final manuscript, and manipu-
lated the word processing machine to incor-
porate changes.
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CHAPTER 1
iidTRODIlCTION --THE SETTING
1.I. PAMLICO RIVER ESTUARY AS A NATURAL
UNIT
ilne of the Mst important estuarine
systems in Worth Carolina, the Pamlico
River Estuary, is a continuation of the
Tar River and extends from Washington,
Borth Carolina, for about 65 km to its con-
fluence with Pasmlito Sound (figure 1).
The estuary is oriented approximately WNW -
ESE ane gradually tapers from less than
0.5 km wide at its western limits eastward
to over 8 kia wide at its mouth, where it
grades into the very broad and shallow Pam-
lico Souna (Luk ir. and Mauger 1983). The
es teary extends to where the shoreline
turqs northward out in the sound.
The Tar River begins in the Piediiont
and meanders across the Borth Carolina
Coastal plain. The coastal plain is gen-
er a l l y a broad surf ace that slopes gently
seaward and is woJeratety dissected by the
drainage oatterns of river systems (Brown
et al. 97 ?). The incised streams with
their associated floodplains and swamp
forests, in combination with the upland
interstream divides, produce the major top -
ograpbiti relief; the relief decreases sea -
ward as the coastal plain approaches sea
level. The Tar River flows into and
becomes the p&miico Rivpr Estuary jdst
west of wasnington, N.C. 2The oblong basin
drains about 14,000 Km , falls aPproxi-
riately len0 m from its origin to sea level,
and delivers relatively large volumes of
fresh crater. Large loads of suspended
clay sediments are carried to the coastal
system via the Tar River. The upper half
of the Tar River basin lies in the hilly
Piedmont with a narrow floodplain, w1iile
the lower nalf has develooed a broad
floodplain as it flows across the low,
flat coastal plain. The Persil ico itiver
Estuary, which is generally perpendicular
to the ocean shorPlIne, is the flaoied
portion of the far River basin ai:r: its
extensive floodplain.
Numerous lateral tributaries drain
off the low, flat, swampy coastal area
http• / /www.awrc usgs.gov /tccbrpt/82- 06.pdf
into the main Pamlico River Estuary.
These streams have considerably smaller
drainage basins with low relief and small
discharges of fairly acid blackwater. Con-
sequently, the sediment load is low and
dominated by organic matter derived from.
the broad floodplain swamp forests and
upland pocosins. Lateral streams flaring
directly into the westerrmiost portion of
the estuary include Blount$, Tranters,
and Broad Creeks. farther downstream in
the central and eastern portions of the
Pamlico River Estuary, trig lateral streams
have been flooded to form small lateral
sub - estuaries such as Pungo River, North
Creek, Durham Creek, Goose Creek, South
Creek, and Bath CreeK.
The Pamlico River Estuary ar_tl the
Neuse River Estuary to the south are the
major freshwater tributaries to Pamico
Sound, which dominates the North Carolina
coastal area (Figure 1). Thus, the estu-
ary is bounded on the crest by the Tar
River, on the north by the AlbemarTe-
PamilTco peninsula, on the east by PMlico
Sound, and on the South by the
Pamlico -Meuse peninsula.
The Pamlico River Estuary is not
direct iy connected to the ocean, but is a
tributary to the expansive Pamlico Sound
(Giese et al. IY /9;. Consequently, there
is no direct exchange with the ocean and
lunar tidal amplitude is very low. There
is a large freshwater inflow relative to
tidal volume, and biological communities
are subject to drastic hydrographic flue-
tuations during weather extremes.
1.2. GEOLOGICAL ORIGIN AND EVOLUTIOtt
Sediments and sedimentary rocks of
marine origin underlie the entire Pam ico
River Estuary region (Brown et al. 1972).
These sediments were deposited on top of
the same type of crystalline rocks that
occur In the Piedmont and were deposited
when the ocean covered portions -of the
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Figure 49. Map of Pamlico Sound, showing
primary nursery areas (Copeland et al.
1983).
primary nursery areas (Weinstein 1979;
Hodson et al. 1981). Unlike the croaker,
young spot are found in great densities in
shallow marsh areas irrespective of tidal
effects throughout their range (Chao and
Musick 1977; Weinstein_1979; Miller and
Dunn 1980).
4.3. SPATIAL - TEMPORAL RELATIONSHIPS
A combination of tributary inflows
and water - temperature changes character -
i_ze.- the-seasons in the Pamlico River Estu-
ary- (1Cuenzler et al. 1979). Highest tribu-
tary faf,lows occur during January through
April_ (see: Section 2.5). Consequently,
during_ the, -late winter and early spring,
wihen- freshwater runoff peaks, the estuary
receives -nutrients, detritus, and other
materials from upland drainage. These are
important­to -the system. As the water be-
gins -to -warm ifi- the spring and solar radia-
tion, inCreases, phytoplankton productiv-
ity increises_(Figure_50). This increase
in primary - productivity-is _quickly fol-
lowed by an increase ip - zooplankton produc-
tion. High springtime - productivity_ coin-
cides with the recruitment of postlarval
fishes and shellfish -and support`s the
postlarvae populations that enter the
estuary during that time to use the nur-
sery grounds (Section 4.2)-
One of the characteristic adapata-
tions of organisms to the seasonality
existing in temperate estuarine systems is
that of seasonal migrations (Copeland et
al. 1974a). This adaptation permits the
rapid proliferation and growth of animal
populations during the optimal season of
food production and energy availability.
At Rose Bay, a tributary nursery area off
the Pamlico River Estuary, Miller and
Currin (1982) found that the consumption
rate of juvenile spot and croaker in-
creased dramatically during late March and
April (Figure 51), when the biomass of
benthos in that area peaked. Migrating
stocks of animals become part of the estu-
arine energy cycle, became integrated into
the functioning ecosystem, and then emi-
grate to another system. In this way
estuaries like the Pamlico River Estuary
along the coast are interconnected through
the migrating energy and biomass cou-
plings. This pattern of resource utiliza-
tion among functional groups of fishes
maximizes the ecological efficiency of the
estuary.
The timing of the combination of
physical and biological activities of the
Table 23. Major users of the Pamlico River
Estuary_ primary nursery grounds (Spits-
bergen and Wolff 1974; Purvis 1976).
% of total
Species
1974 1976
Spot
42.0%
47.0%
Atlantic croaker
27.0%
19.0%
Atlantic menhaden
20.0%
13.0%
Penaeid shrmip-
4.9%
12.0%
Slue crabs
1.9%
3.6%
Blueback "herring
2.1%
0.1%
Weakfish
0.6%
3.8%
Flounder
0.2%
1.1%

Pamlico River Estuary
Reayon
Gaek
Broad
Bath
�,
N
Creek
neu
Washm� ton t
r t
(�
North r
Creek
Bteant s
so
Creek
%
40
OmhM Tesasgatt
a�'✓a1s
Creak
yo
South
5 Pamkca
Creek
Goose Pornt
Creek
(A)
25
E 1 }�
O T
I5
C
v If
CL j 11
c 5 1
CD TTTT
O
Z
20 40 60 80 100120140 16
- v
/ n
N
E�
O
c
0
CL
20 40 60 80 100 120 140
Vollisneria ------- o-o
Potamogeton - - - -H
Naas--- - - - ---
R u p p i a- - - -___ - ---- Ar-A

Table 12. Total annual phosphorus inputs to the Pamlico River Estuary
(tonnes P /yr) (Kuenzler et al. 1979).
Source
Reactive
phosphorus
Unreactive
phosphorus
Particulate
phosphorus
Total
Watershed
84
57
190
331
Pamlico Sound
184
103
190
477
Precipitation
13
4
-
17
Texasgulf, Inc.
843
-
843
of the Pamlico River Estuary (Figure 35;
Kuenzler et al. 1979). The model compart-
ments (Q's) and the primary phosphorus
concentrations (averaged over all sampling
times and stations) are given in Table 14.
Twenty different pathways of phosphorus
movement (J's) among compartments were
distinguished and are tabulated in Table
� 5. Measurements were not made of the
zooplankton, nekton, and benthos
processes, and they are excluded from the
model. Two forcing functions, light
intensity (1) and temperature (T), impact
the rates ( X ) of uptake and the level of
biological functions, and are shown at the
appropriate junctions in the model. The
exact rates and impacts on rates are not
known: therefore_ these oathways are
The efflux of phosphorus from the
phytoplankton (Q ) and bacterial (Q )
compartments baci to inorganic reactiG
phosphorus (Pathways JS and J ,
respectively) is also 14rl3i ( Table.
Phosphomonoesterase activity (J ) is
thought to be negligible. All othP ath-
ways are small and difficult to measure
(Kuenzler et al. 1979). Thus, the major
aspects of phosphorus cycling in the estu-
ary are the uptake and release of reac-
tive phosphorus by phytoplankton and bac-
teria. This substantiates the observa-
tion that the major source of phosphorus
for primary productivity is through recy-
cling in the estuary rather than inputs
from the watershed. No such model has
been constructed for the more complex

TwLV4,10' r,46 U&ckl � 'k -U Otvlly U T" J rly j VLIYA p t cs jPSkY,� Truln 1 "I,(4 �5-
Table ZO. Fishes col Iectea trom the ram ICO K7Ve! r Will uuTmy VaI 1vua yc"Ia II vui LJVJ
to 1980 (Miller and Peters 1983).
Scientific name
$Sphyyrna tiburo
Rhinoptera bonasus
Acipenser oxyrhynchus
Le isosteus osseus
An—guilla rostra
Conger oceanicus
Alosa aestiva is
T-
me -ocris
Alosa pseudoharengus
Alosa saps issima
Brevoortia tyrannus
orosoma cepedianum
Dorosoma
S ar ine dineI etep sense
- laauri a
Collection method
Trawl raw commercial Surface
1965 -66 1971 -73 fishery trawl Other
Common name 1966 -80
Anchoa mitchilli
nc oa sp.
Esox -niger
S nodus foetens
Lrin�us caPptO
Notemigonus crysoleucas
Ictalurus catus
Ictalurus nebulosus
sanus tau
tron lusa marina
Mem ras martinica'
Meno,a b ina
Meni is menidia
Synanathus.fuscus
Morone americana
Morone ,c
hr so s
Morone saxati T is
Enneacanthus aloriosus
Lepom's us
Lepomis macrochirus
Lepmois sp.
Micr_o�ter�us salmoides
Perca flavescens
omatanus s�trix
Caranx hippos
Lutjanus rQ seus
,Orthopristis chrysoptera
Archosargus probatocephalus -
Bonnethead
Cownose ray
Atlantic sturgeon
x
Longnose gar
X
x
American eel
x
x
Conger eel
x
Blueback herring
x
x x
Hickory shad
x
Alewife
x
x x
American shad
X x
Atlantic menhaden
X
x
x x
Gizzard shad
X
x
Threadfin shad
x
Spanish sardine
X
Striped anchovy
x
Bay anchovy
x
X
Anchovy
x
Chain pickerel
X
Inshore lizardfish
X
Common carp
X
X
x
Golden shiner
White catfish
X
x
X x
Brown bullhead
x
x
Oyster toadfish
x
x
Atlantic needlefish
x
Rough silverside
x
Inland silverside
x
x
Atlantic silverside
x
Northern pipefish
X
White perch
X
X X
White bass
x
Striped bass
X
x
Bluespotted sunfish
x
Pumpkinseed
x
x
Bluegill
x
Sunfish
x
Largemouth bass
x
Yellow perch
X
X
X X
Bluefish
X
X
X X
Crevalle Jack
x
Gray snapper
x
Pigfish
X
x
Sheepshead
x
46
X
X

Table 20. (Concluded).
Collection method
Trawl Traw Commercial Surface
1965 -66 1971 -73 fishery trawl Other
Scientific name Common name 1966 -80
V odon rhomboides
r iel a c rsou�ra
Cynoscion ne ub locus
C noyTscion regales
Lejostomus xanthurus
Menticirrhus sp
Micr2po
Aonias undulatus
Pogonias cromis
Sc;aeno�s ocel'latus
Chaeto�Uptter�uS faber
Mugil ceephalus
Gobiosoma bosci
P_erepriiuss +a epidotus
Pe— rilus triacanthus
rionotus evoians
Cthar cht -hys arctifrons
Para) ichth_ys_ dentatus
Paralichth s etihostigma
Paralichthys sp.
Trinectes maculatus
yy� h��urus p a�iusa
Monac anthhus hispidus
Pinfish x
Silver perch x
Spotted seatrout x
Weakfish X
Spot X
Kingfish
Atlantic croaker x
Black drum
Red drum
Atlantic spadefish
Striped mullet x
Naked goby x
Harvestfish x
Butterfish x
Striped searobin
Gulf Stream flounder
Sumner flounder
Southern flounder
Flounder x
Hogchoker x
Blackcheek tonguefish
Planehead filefish
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x x
x x
x x
X
x
x
x x
x
x
x
x
x

Figure 38. Transects for macrobenthic
sampling in the Pamlico River Estuary
(Tenore 1970).
The diversity and density of macro -
benthos was relatively low (Tenore 1970).
This was attributed to shifting sediments
in large portions of the estuary, absence
of tidal flats due to the low tidal flux,
changing salinity regimes; and the annual
occurrence of conditions leading to anoxic
sediment conditions. The seasonal ranges
of distribution and density of the domi-
nant macrobenthic species to the shallow
estuary, due to the anoxic conditions
there during the summer. Thus, the bulk
of the benthic productivity in the Pamlico
River Estuary is in sediments under water
less than 1.5 m deep. Unfortunately,
data on actual production rates are still
lacking for this estuary.
An analysis of the macrobenthic
samples indicated that the estuary could
be divided into three community types
( Tenore 1970) . This analysis was accom-
plished with the aid of a trellis diagram
(McFayden 1963) , whereby an index of af-
fin7ty (Sanders 1960) was calculated for
the fauna from each depth section of each
strata during each season (Tenore 1970).
This index of affinity was defined as the
percentage of fauna common to a pair of
samples. The analysis was completed by
comparing the index of affinity for all
possible combinations of sample pairs. An
index value was determined for each pair
by summing the smaller of two percentages
of species present in any two samples
(e.g., when sample 1M, which has 40% spe-
cies a, 20% species b and 40% species
r_ is romoarPd to Sample B. which has

I
WWW,; AM1LVNEWS£At4 - _ SAT
Saw
Wad*AgftN round fas sDbcMed
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Said % -ifuW years that; UMMOILI,
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infhe buikwss of oubfioar- ; - bi de= Aw-
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try -lug its pbmbeM as -Wits of vur natifinw fin-It
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COMWof Beeii�fl set quitie familiar Wirth Oflad•=
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Of 112 nf_ a layer of road �h- mfm= _ `Cieejr_fm ti
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One 4f _ = agca�ed : - { >� envJEaoe�noe al ;11D = ?ifs " 1E 4jf. t Af $mss 3S #D lll� anQtl
IDs s!� or the studies) mndncted on. � vr. must be- awd its asirf tihii _case of tb,e state and -f
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saclins
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and s -' b := ai$o Bk t eeh• = � bek.1ei�ose y= � ''Y _ -- p - °
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baste 1i aeie baud o int Slounfs Cit ek that ac lot of this = _ 1? b = our ieerivironi�ieel
ii -10 �- th+e.:. er_ is= hdbili g; "maid & ^

fNEWS:COM SATURDAY, MARCH 2, 2013 • 9
Bess with a Tar Heel's fishi*ng,hole
unts Creek if would be
the proposed site for the.
"brim" and the year-
Vanceboro Quarry and
mid favorite, speckled
ku , s
found that the land has
ut.
>':
already been cleared in
:ayakers find the pic-
preparation for the dig -
esque creek wonderful
ging to begin. With that in
exploring and watch -
mind it looks as if Martin
the large variety of
Marietta feels that they
)-tropical birdlife in-
have an open door to go
ding -numerous sight-
ahead with their plans
s of our national bird,
>=
to mine marl rock there.
bald eagle that are
What many citizens of
iwn to nest in the area.
the area have to say about
nds of old growth pine
these plans seems to have
as along the creek's
little effect on the mine's
,e are ideal nesting
x
ply
its for the .endangered
r
The North Carolina
cockaded woodpecker
,:
Coastal Conservation
1 numerous waterfowl
Association, Ducks and
-act hunters who visit`
Quail Unlimited organza-
area.
tions as well as the Pam -
,ongtime residents of .
lico Tar River Foundation
Blounts Creek area are
should play a vital role in
.te familiar with other
what industries such as
ms of aquatic life in the
this proposed mine could
ters of the creek. Sight-
play in our coastal zone.
;s of the
Concerned citizens will
,endangered
natees, Atlantic stur-
� .,°"
have a chance to voice
ins are common.
their plans at a public
and let's not forget that
�r.
hearing slated to be held
"highly endangered"
at the Beaufort County
wolves are now resi-
REDMWRJD4YWM
Community College in
its of the woodlands of
David MassertM of Smffdd holds a couple of nice Wkied trout that he recently cart t while fishing in the upper
Building #8 auditorium.
mfort County.
reaches of Blounts Creek Ies been a banner year for fishing on this creek and barring a hard sudden freeze or some
The formal hearing will
;o what have a lot of the
other envirorrnental disaster the fishkg in 2013 should be absdu* for anglers. ,
'C
begin at 7:00 pm on March
The doors be
is of the Blounts Creek
-
14. will open
a so upset about these
contained in the ground headed for the huge Pot- Residents of the
to the public at &00 to give
i million gallons of
Blounts
covering a layer of marl ash Corporation mine at Blounts Creek area that
folks a chance to voice
ste water that Martin
rock that lies over a hun- Aurora. I've talked with state
their concerns and hear
rietta wants to dump
dred feet beneath the The problem that seems i "they have no problem
what our government of-
o two ditches that feed
surface. The marl rock is to be bothering a lot of with the mine itself. Its
ficials and Martin Mari -
headwaters of the
noted as a necessary item people isthatno oneseems, just that we don't have
etta have to say about
ek? It's probably the
fdr rip rapping shorelines to know just exactly what any idea what effect the
the proposed Vanceboro
t that there have been
or is used to make mud - the effect this wastewater , waste water will have on
Quarry. The College is lo-
r preliminary studies
dy roads solid enough will have on the environ- the creek and that It looks
cated about 5 miles east of
lied "environmental
to drive heavy trucks ment of Blouhts Creek like this is to be another
Washington on the north
pact studies) conducted
on. The water must be and it looks as if the both ''I case of the state and fed-
side Highway 264,
determine what could
removed from the open federal and state govern- ; eral governments push-
Outdoorsmen from
:e place to the frag-
pit mine in order for the ments have already given ing through the neces-
many areas who have en-
natural resources of
equipment to harvest the Martin Marietta the nec - sary paperwork without
joyed fishing and hunting
hunts Creek.
rock. The close proximity essary paperwork to go giving much thought to
in the Blounts Creek area
lie water that Martin
of this quarry to a rail - ahead with their Vance - what the consequences
for many years should
rietta proposes to dis-
road leaves one to think boro Quarry without do-I of their actions will do to
have a chance to speak
rrge into Blounts Creek
that a lot of this terrain ing their proper home -, our home environments ".
their piece at this official
to be the water that is
stabilizing marl rock is work. Last week --we visited
hearing.