First Broad River Headwaters

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Ge n e r a l Wat e r s h e d de s c r i p t i o n
The First Broad River and its tributaries originate in Rutherford County and flow into
the Broad River in Cleveland County just above the North Carolina-South Carolina state
line. Tributaries to the First Broad River headwaters include the North Fork First Broad
River, Brier Creek, Wards Creek, Hinton Creek and Duncans Creek (Figure 4-2). Portions
of northeastern Rutherford County and northwestern Cleveland County contain large
forested areas associated with the South Mountains and the South Mountains State
Park. In addition, some agricultural (i.e., row crops, pastureland) and residential
areas are located throughout the watershed. Land cover for this watershed is mostly
forest and agriculture (Figure 4-1).
Wa t e r Qu a l i t y ov e r v i e W
Of the 186 stream miles in the First Broad River headwaters watershed, 62.6 miles
were monitored by DWQ. This watershed is mostly (76 percent) rated as Supporting
for aquatic life. The First Broad River is the only Impaired waterbody which accounts
for 24 percent of monitored waters. It is Impaired due to a standards violation for low
pH (Table 4-1).
Biological monitoring was conducted at eight basinwide sites, four of which were
sampled for the first time in 2005. One ambient station is also located in this watershed.
No significant water quality changes were identified in the First Broad
River headwaters and some biological monitoring sites even improved.
Biologists note that the improvements to biological communities could
possibly be the result of higher flows in 2005 versus those measured in
2000 (97 cubic feet per second (cfs) compared to 49 cfs). In protected
catchments, such as the First Broad River and Hinton Creek, increased
stream flow can result in better physical conditions instream (i.e.,
increased availability of wetted habitat, increased levels of dissolved
oxygen). This can result in more favorable conditions for benthic
colonization.
Three minor NPDES Discharge Permits are found in this watershed.
Only one of these permits has significant non-compliance issues. For
more information on the Cleveland County Wastewater Treatment
Plant’s compliance violations, see page 4.4. There are also four
Animal Operations Permits within this watershed. These are mostly
cattle operations.
Wat e r s h e d a t a Gl a n c e
co u n t i e s
Rutherford, Cleveland
Municipalities
Casar, Polkville
pe r Mi t t e d Facilities
NPDES WWTP: 2
NPDES Nondischarge: 2
NPDES Stormwater: 1
Animal Operations: 4
Mo n i t o r e d st r e a M Mi l e s (al)
Total Streams: 62.6 mi
Total Supporting: 47.6 mi
Total Impaired: 15.0 mi
Total Not Rated: 0 mi
Fi r s t Br o a d ri v e r he a d W at e r s
Wat e r s h e d
HUC 0305010506
Includes Brier Creek, Wards Creek, North Fork First Broad River & Hinton Creek
Fi g u r e 4-1: Fi r s t Br o a d ri v e r He a d wat e r s wat e r s H e d La n d Co v e r
First Broad River Headwaters Land Use
4%
76%
0%
20%
0%
Developed
Forest
W et land
Agriculture
Other
NRI: National Land Cover Data, 2001
4.2
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Fi g u r e 4-2: Fi r s t Br o a d ri v e r He a d wat e r s wat e r s H e d , HuC 0305010506
XY
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Hinton Creek
DuncansCreek
BrierCreek
Ward s C re ek
RobersonCreek
FirstBroad
River
CF24
CF24
CF69
AF13
AF17
AF16
AF12
AF22
AF21
AB25
AB56
AB79
AB21
AB86
AB57
AB37
CB191CB190CB203
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®0 1 2 3 40.5
Miles
Planning SectionBasinwidePlanning UnitApril,2008
County Boundaries
Municipality
Watershed Boundary
Non-Discharger Permits
%2 Major
#0 Minor
NPDES Discharger Permit
XY Major
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Legend
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ta B L e 4-1: Mo n i t o r e d st r e a M se g M e n t s in tH e Fi r s t Br o a d ri v e r He a d wat e r s wat e r s H e d
au
nu M B e r
st r e a M na M e Le n g t H
(M i L e s )CL a s s .*2008 ir
Cat e g o r i e s
iM p a i r e d iM p a C t e d
po t e n t i a L st r e s s o r s
(po t e n t i a L so u r C e s )
dwQ
su B B a s i n
9-50-(1)First Broad River 15.0 WS-V;Tr 5 X -Low pH 03-08-04
9-50-12 Wards Creek 10.2 C 2 --03-08-04
9-50-13 Duncans Creek 10.1 C 2 --03-08-04
9-50-15 Hinton Creek 13.2 C 2 --03-08-04
9-50-4 North Fork First
Broad River
7.5 C;Tr,ORW 2 --03-08-04
9-50-8 Brier Creek 6.7 C;Tr 2 --03-08-04
*The 2008 IR Categories definitions can be found on the first page of Appendix 4-A
cu r r e n t st a t u s o F iM p a i r e d & iM pa c t e d Wa t e r s
n o r t H Fo r k Fi r s t Br o a d ri v e r AU#: 9-50-4
The North Fork First Broad River is in the headwaters of the First Broad River and drains the northeastern corner of
Rutherford County and the South Mountains. Benthic (AB37) and fish (AF21) sites were sampled in the North Fork
First Broad River. Several pollution intolerant benthic species were collected at site AB37 resulting in an Excellent
bioclassification. Substrate was an unembedded mix of boulder (10 percent), rubble (40 percent), gravel (30 percent)
and sand (20 percent). The habitat score was 90.
Site AF21 also received an Excellent bioclassification. The percentage of pollution tolerant fish in the river has always
been low (usually 1 to 2 percent) and is the lowest of any of the streams sampled in the basin. DWQ documented
a reproducing population of rainbow trout, thus supporting the supplemental trout (Tr) classification. A reproducing
population of smallmouth bass was also identified. Both species prefer cold to cool water with low turbidity. Due to
excellent water quality and the benthic and fish habitats identified in this watershed, the North Fork First Broad River
was given the supplemental classification of Outstanding Resource Water (ORW) in January 2005.
How to Read this Document
This document was written to correspond with our new Geographic Online Document Distribution (OGDD)
tool using Google Earth™. If you are unable to use Google Earth™, this document provides maps and associated
water quality information and a discussion of water quality trends occurring in the watershed. Google Earth™
is an independent software program which can be downloaded to a personal, business, and most local and state
government computers; the program allows you to view satellite imagery of the earth’s surface along with location
identifiers. DWQ’s Basinwide Planning Unit created a “transparency” add on layer to Google Earth™ with basinwide
water quality data, which allows a user to locate their watershed, pinpoint a waterbody and use support ratings,
find a location of a permit and provides links to PDF watershed reports. For more information on how to download
Google Earth™ and DWQ’s data visit DWQ’s Basinwide Planning’s OGDD website. Please contact Melanie Williams
for more information at [e-mail] or 919-807-6447.
Impaired streams are those streams not meeting their associated water quality standards in more than 10 percent
of the samples taken within the assessment period (January 1, 2002 through December 31, 2006) and impacted
streams are those not meeting water quality standards in 7 to 10 percent of the samples. The Use Support report
provides information on how and why water quality ratings are determined and DWQ’s “Redbook” describes
in detail water quality standards for each waterbody classification. For a general discussion of water quality
parameters, potential issues, and rules please see “Supplemental Guide to North Carolina’s Basinwide Planning:
Support Document for Basinwide Water Quality Plans”.
Appendix 4-A provides descriptions of Use Support ratings for all monitored waterbodies in the subbasin.
Appendix 4-B provides a summary of each ambient data monitoring station.
Appendix 4-C provides summaries of biological and fish assessment monitoring sites.
4.4
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Fi r s t Br o a d ri v e r (He a d wat e r s ) AU#: 9-50-(1)
Sites AA5 and AB21 are the most upstream sites sampled on the First Broad River. Site AB21 has been sampled six times
since 1986 with all six samples resulting in a Good bioclassification. In 2005, the site improved to an Excellent rating, and
several pollution intolerant species were collected for the first time. The substrate was a mix of boulder (10 percent),
rubble (20 percent), gravel (40 percent) and sand (30 percent). No major habitat problems were noted along this reach
of the First Broad River (habitat score 88).
Despite the Excellent benthic bioclassification, ambient monitoring at site AA5 shows that the water quality standard for
pH (<6.0) was exceeded in 17.2 percent of the samples collected from January 2002 through December 2006. Therefore,
this section of the First Broad River is Impaired for aquatic life due to exceedences of the water quality standard for
pH.
Hi n t o n Cr e e k AU#: 9-50-15
Hinton Creek drains rural northeastern Rutherford County and a small area of northwestern Cleveland County. Benthic
(AB25) and fish (AF17) sites were sampled in 2005. Site AB25 received an Excellent bioclassification. This is a dramatic
improvement from the Good-Fair bioclassification it received in 1995 and 2000. Several pollution intolerant species were
collected for the first time. The substrate was a mix of gravel (40 percent), sand (50 percent) and silt (10 percent).
Overall, habitat quality was good (habitat score 70); however, well-developed pool habitats and boulder-rubble riffles
were absent. The improvement is likely the result of higher flows in 2005 versus those measured in 2000 (97 cubic feet
per second (cfs) compared to 49 cfs). In protected watersheds (such as in the First Broad River headwaters), increased
streamflow can improve instream physical conditions (i.e., increase availability of wet habitat and increased dissolved
oxygen levels), which often results in more favorable conditions for macroinvertebrate colonization.
Site AF17 received a Good bioclassification. Sixteen species were collected in 2005 and the dominant species was the
bluehead chub (a nutrient indicator species). Hinton Creek was sampled as a new potential regional reference site;
however, the habitat score (61) failed to qualify the site for regional reference. Physical effects from the extremely high
flows during the 2004 hurricanes were evident throughout the sampling reach.
siG niFicant no n -co M p l i a n c e is s u e s
Several limit violations are on file for both chlorine and total suspended solids (TSS) from the Cleveland County Water
Treatment Plant (WTP) (Permit NC0051918). Effluent from the WTP discharges into the First Broad River. Notes from
the most recent inspection (January 2007) recommended that the WTP should consider adding additional lagoon storage
space. The facility has historically had problems with storing the filter backwash. With more water being treated and
distributed, the current lagoon capacity is likely inadequate. It is also recommended that the permit reflect the liquid
sodium bisulfite dechlorination process that was recently installed as part of an authorization to construct permit (Permit
05198A01).
No significant non-compliance issues were identified at the Casar Elementary School WWTP (Permit NC0066397).
lo c a l initiatives
nC ag r i C u L t u r e Co a s t sH a r e pr o g r a M
The NC Agriculture Cost Share Program (NCACSP) was established in 1984 to help reduce agricultural nonpoint runoff into
waters of the state. The program helps owners and renters of established agricultural operations improve their on-farm
management by using approved agricultural BMPs. BMPs include vegetative, structural or management systems that can
improve the efficiency of farming operations while reducing the potential for surface and groundwater contamination.
The NCACSP is implemented by the Division of Soil and Water Conservation (DSWC), which divides the approved BMPs into
five main purposes or categories:
Erosion Reduction/Nutrient Loss Reduction in Fields•
Sediment/Nutrient Delivery Reduction from Fields•
Stream Protection from Animals•
Proper Animal Waste Management•
Agricultural Chemical (agrichemical) Pollution Prevention•
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ta B L e 4-2: BMps in s ta L L e d t H r o u g H nCaCsp
pu r p o s e o F BMp to t a L
iM p L e M e n t e d
Co s t
Erosion Reduction/Nutrient Loss Reduction
in Fields 151 linear feet $9,830
Sediment/Nutrient Delivery Reduction from
Fields
-- --
-- --
Stream Protection from Animals 4 units $7,435
1,200 linear feet
Proper Animal Waste Management ----
Agricultural Chemical Pollution Prevention -- --
Total Costs $17,265
Be n e F i t s 0305010506
Total Soil Saved (tons)97
Total Nitrogen (N) Saved (lb.)191
Total Phosphorus (P) Saved (lb.)225
Total Waste-N Saved (lb.) --
Total Waste-P Saved (lb.) --
The NCACSP is a voluntary program that reimburses farmers up to 75 percent of the cost of installing an approved
BMP. The cost share funds are paid to the farmer once the planned BMP is completed, inspected and certified to be in
accordance with NCACSP standards. The annual statewide budget for BMP cost sharing is approximately $6.9 million.
During this assessment period, $17,265 was allocated for BMPs in the First Broad River headwaters watershed. Table 4-2
summaries the cost and total BMPs implemented.
re F e r e n c e s & su p p o r t i n G do c u M e n t a t i o n
NCDENR Division of Water Quality. April 2006. Basinwide Assessment Report – Broad River Basin. http://h2o.enr.state.
nc.us/esb/Basinwide/Broad2006FinalAll.pdf.
NCDENR Division of Water Quality. February 2003. Broad River Basinwide Water Quality Plan. http://h2o.enr.state.
nc.us/basinwide/Broad/2002/plan.htm.