CPF Chapter B-13

Section B: Chapter 13 – Cape Fear River Subbasin 03-06-13 189
Chapter 13 -
Cape Fear River Subbasin 03-06-13
Includes Upper Little River and Barbeque Creek
13.1 Water Quality Overview
This subbasin lies within the Sand Hills and contains no
urban areas (though Sanford and Lillington are just
outside the subbasin), and most of the land is forested or
used for agriculture. A map of the subbasin, including
water quality sampling locations, is presented in Figure B-
13.
Biological ratings for these sample locations are presented
in Table B-13. There are no impaired streams in this
subbasin. Refer to Appendix III for a complete listing of
monitored waters and use support ratings.
Three sites were sampled for benthos on the Upper Little
River in the headwaters, the middle section and at the
ambient site near its mouth. The headwater and middle
sites were barely flowing, while the downstream site had
good flow. The benthos ratings indicate a progressive
improvement in water quality going downstream in this
agricultural watershed: Good-Fair to Good to Excellent.
Only the downstream site improved, compared to 1993
when it was Good. Barbeque Creek, a slow-flowing
tributary of the Upper Little River, was given a Good-Fair
bioclassification in 1998; the same rating it had in 1993.
For more detailed information on water quality in this
subbasin, refer to Basinwide Assessment Report – Cape Fear River Basin – June 1999, available
from DWQ Environmental Sciences Branch at [phone].
Subbasin 03-06-13 at a Glance
Land and Water Area (sq. mi.)
Total area: 221
Land area: 219
Water area: 2
Population Statistics
1990 Est. Pop.: 23,913 people
Pop. Density: 109 persons/mi
2
Land Cover (%)
Forest/Wetland: 65.2
Surface Water: 2.0
Urban: 1.3
Cultivated Crop: 23.4
Pasture/
Managed Herbaceous: 8.1
Use Support Ratings
Freshwater Streams:
Fully Supporting: 151.8 mi.
Partially Supporting: 0.0 mi.
Not Supporting: 0.0 mi.
Not Rated: 27.8 mi.

Section B: Chapter 13 – Cape Fear River Subbasin 03-06-13 191
Table B-13 Biological Assessment Sites in Cape Fear River Subbasin 03-06-13
BENTHOS Bioclassification
Site # Stream County Location 1993 1998
B-2 Upper Little River Harnett SR 1222 Good-Fair Good-Fair
B-3 Upper Little River Harnett NC 27 Good Good
B-4 Barbeque Creek Harnett SR 1209 Good-Fair Good-Fair
B-7 Upper Little River Harnett SR 2021 Good Excellent
13.2 Impaired Waters
All streams in this subbasin were fully supporting (FS) in the 1996 Cape Fear River Basinwide
Water Quality Plan and are currently fully supporting (FS) based on recent DWQ monitoring.
303(d) listed waters are summarized in Part 13.3 and waters with other issues, recommendations
or projects are discussed in Part 13.4.
13.3 303(d) Listed Waters
There are no streams in the subbasin that are impaired and on the state’s year 2000 303(d) list
(not yet EPA approved). For information on 303(d) listing requirements and approaches, refer to
Appendix IV.
13.4 Other Issues, Recommendations and Projects
DWQ encourages the use of voluntary measures to prevent water quality degradation.
Enforcement of sediment and erosion control laws will help to reduce impacts on area streams.
Education on local water quality issues is always a useful tool to prevent water quality problems
and to promote restoration efforts. For information on water quality education programs,
workshops and nonpoint source agency contacts, see Appendix V.
The Middle Cape Fear River Basin Association (MCFRBA)
The Middle Cape Fear River Basin Association (MCFRBA) started sampling at one station in
this subbasin (30 stations total) in July 1998. This data will be used to give a higher resolution
picture of water quality conditions in the Upper Little River. The data will also be analyzed to
support various studies and will be used with DWQ data to develop use support ratings for
waters in the Cape Fear River basin during the upcoming basinwide cycle.