NC0024937_staff comments_19831129

DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGMEENT
November 29, 1983
MEMORANDUM
TO: Steve Tedder
THROUGH: Bob `Hoffman
FROM: Dave Penrose
SUBJECT: Sugar Creek Biological Survey
On November 8th and 9th, Ferne and I conducted a qualitative survey of
Sugar Creek and several of its tributaries in the Charlotte area. These
surveys were part of a cooperative survey between biologists in South
Carolina and our group. Surveys were conducted at all ambient locations
in the Sugar Creek watershed, with the exceptions of Sugar Creek at Pine-
ville and Little Sugar Creek at 521 at Pineville. These two locations
were done by the South Carolina team as part of a continuing program there.
Both teams conducted a survey at the Fort Mill site on Sugar Creek to serve
as a quality control site.
Results of these surveys and a subjective biological classification are
listed in Table 1.
Table 1. Results of Benthic Macroinvertebrate Collections from Several
Stations in the Sugar Creek Watershed near Charlotte, N.C.
November 8 and 9, 1983.
Station Location
ST* SEPT**
Classification
Sugar Creek @ Fort Mill, S.C. 30 3 poor
Twelve Mile Creek *** 51(51) 7(8) good -fair?
Waxhaw Creek 38 6 fair
McAlpine Creek @ N.C. 521 24 3 poor
Irwin Creek 24 2 poor
Little Sugar Creek 15 1 very poor
McAlpine Creek @ Sardis Rd. 61 12 good/fair
Total taxa richness
** Taxa richness of Ephemeroptera + Plecoptera + Trichoptera
* Overlap site
Results of these surveys suggest that the water quality of Sugar Creek at
Fort Mill, S.C. remains poor. This observation is in regards to data
collected there as part of 1982 BWMP monitoring. Twelve Mile and Waxhaw
Creeks, which were chosen as reference areas, had lower classifications
than expected. This observation may be in respect to seasonality, in that
there were very heavy accumalations of leaf matter which could affect dis-
solved oxygen concentrations. These latter two watersheds are essentially
rural or agricultural as compared to all oher sites which are urban. The
McAlpine Creek site at N.C. 521 is located below the STP which did affect

the classification at this site. Results suggest both organic loading
and toxic effects could be a problem. The good/fair classification of
McAlpine Creek at Sardis Road as compared to the poor classification at
N.C. 521 indicates a significant deterioration of water quality. The
station on Irwin Creek is located upstream of a STP (?) and yet the re-
sults still suggest a poor classification, probably because of urban
runoff. Results of the survey conducted at Little Sugar Creek suggest
very poor conditions, probably because of both enrichment and toxics.
A complete report will be submitted when chemical results have been
tabulated.
DP:ps
cc: Ferne Winborne
--r