CPF Chapter B-15

Section B: Chapter 15 – Cape Fear River Subbasin 03-06-15 196
Chapter 15 -
Cape Fear River Subbasin 03-06-15
Includes Cape Fear River, Cross Creek and Rockfish Creek
15.1 Water Quality Overview
This subbasin contains the City of Fayetteville as well as
the majority of the Fort Bragg Military Reservation. The
Cape Fear River flows through Fayetteville in this
subbasin, but most of the subbasin is made up of the
Rockfish Creek and Little Rockfish Creek watersheds. A
map of the subbasin, including water quality sampling
locations, is presented in Figure B-15.
Biological ratings for these sample locations are presented
in Table B-15. The current sampling resulted in impaired
ratings for two streams in this subbasin. Refer to
Appendix III for a complete listing of monitored waters
and use support ratings. See Section A, Chapter 3, Table
A-31 for a summary of lakes and reservoirs use support
data.
The upper Rockfish Creek site is below the Raeford
WWTP, and benthos bioclassifications improved from
Good-Fair in 1990 to Good in 1993 to Excellent in 1998.
Upgrades in treatment at the WWTP are believed to be
responsible for this improved water quality. The
downstream Rockfish Creek site has been Excellent,
based on benthos data since 1983, except for a slight
decrease to Good in 1993. Little Rockfish Creek was also
sampled above the confluence with Rockfish Creek. Even
though the watershed is urban and agricultural, benthos
ratings in both 1993 and 1998 were Good.
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 03-06-15 at a Glance
Land and Water Area (sq. mi.)
Total area: 600
Land area: 595
Water area: 5
Population Statistics
1990 Est. Pop.: 247,765 people
Pop. Density: 416 persons/mi
2
Land Cover (%)
Forest/Wetland: 64.2
Surface Water: 1.6
Urban: 9.9
Cultivated Crop: 14.2
Pasture/
Managed Herbaceous: 10.0
Use Support Ratings
Freshwater Streams:
Fully Supporting: 283.8 mi.
Partially Supporting: 7.8 mi.
Not Supporting: 13 mi.
Not Rated: 84.0 mi.
Lakes:
Bonnie Doone Lake - Fully
Supporting
Glenville Lake - Fully Supporting
Hope Mills Lake - Fully Supporting
Kornbow Lake - Fully Supporting
Mintz Pond - Fully Supporting

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Table B-15 Biological Assessment Sites in Cape Fear River Subbasin 03-06-15
BENTHOS Bioclassification
Site # Stream County Location 1993 1998
B-3 Cape Fear River Cumberland Person Street Good-Fair Not Rated
B-17 Rockfish Creek Hoke SR 1432 Good Excellent
B-21 Rockfish Creek Cumberland NC 87 Good Excellent
B-25 Little Rockfish Creek Cumberland NC 59 Good Good
FISH Bioclassification
Site # Stream County Location 1994 1998
F-2 Big Cross Creek Cumberland NC 87/210/24 no sample Poor
F-3 Puppy Creek Hoke SR 1406 no sample Good-Fair
15.2 Impaired Waters
Portions of Cross Creek, Little Cross Creek, Pedler Branch and an unnamed tributary to Bones
Creek were identified as impaired in the 1996 Cape Fear River Basinwide Water Quality Plan.
Portions of Cross Creek and Little Cross Creek are currently rated as impaired according to
recent DWQ monitoring. Current status of each of these streams is discussed below. Prior
recommendations, future recommendations and projects aimed at improving water quality for
these waters are also discussed when applicable. 303(d) listed waters are summarized in Part
15.3 and waters with other issues, recommendations or projects are discussed in Part 15.4.
Cross Creek
Current Status
Cross Creek was partially supporting (PS) in the 1996 plan. Cross Creek (13 miles from source
to Cape Fear River) is not supporting according to recent DWQ monitoring because of an
impaired biological community. Instream habitat degradation associated with urban nonpoint
sources is a possible cause of impairment to this stream.
2000 Recommendations
The City of Fayetteville is implementing a state permitted stormwater program. Cross Creek is
in heavily urbanized areas and should benefit from the city stormwater program (see Section A,
Chapter 4, Part 4.7.1). DWQ will work with the stormwater program, where possible, to
improve water quality in this creek. The 303(d) list approach for this stream will be to resample
for biological and chemical data to attempt to determine potential problem parameters.
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The Cape Fear River Botanical Garden is stabilizing the streambanks of Cross Creek where it
meets the Cape Fear River main channel. For more information on this project, refer to Section
C, Chapter 1, Part 1.5.3.
Little Cross Creek
Current Status
Little Cross Creek was not supporting (NS) in the 1996 plan. Little Cross Creek (7.8 miles from
source to Cross Creek) is currently partially supporting (PS) according to recent DWQ
monitoring because of an impaired biological community. Instream habitat degradation
associated with urban nonpoint sources is a possible cause of impairment to this stream.
2000 Recommendations
The City of Fayetteville is implementing a state permitted stormwater program. Little Cross
Creek is in heavily urbanized areas and should benefit from the city stormwater program (see
Section A, Chapter 4, Part 4.7.1). DWQ will work with the stormwater program, where possible,
to improve water quality in this creek. The 303(d) list approach for this stream will be to
resample for biological and chemical data to attempt to determine potential problem parameters.
The Fayetteville PWC has established buffers on 101 acres of easements around two of its water
supply reservoirs. The city is also applying for funds to assess pollution hazards in the Little
Cross Creek watershed. Refer to Section C, Chapter 1, Part 1.5.3 for more information on these
projects.
Pedler Branch
Current Status
Pedler Branch (2.6 miles) was not supporting (NS) in the 1996 plan. This stream is currently not
rated (NR), although it may be severely impacted by urban nonpoint source pollution including
stormwater surges associated with impervious surfaces in the Town of Raeford. Using new
biological information, DWQ has determined that the previous rating was inappropriate because
of the small size of the stream. This stream is no longer on the 303(d) list.
Unnamed Tributary to Bones Creek
Current Status
UT to Bones Creek was not supporting (NS) in the 1996 plan. This stream is currently not rated
(NR). New biological information has determined that the previous rating was inappropriate
because of the small size of the stream. This stream is no longer on the 303(d) list.
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15.3 303(d) Listed Waters
There are two streams (20.8 stream miles) in the subbasin that are impaired and on the state’s
year 2000 303(d) list (not yet EPA approved). Cross Creek and Little Cross Creek are discussed
above. For information on 303(d) listing requirements and approaches, refer to Appendix IV.
15.4 Other Issues, Recommendations and Projects
The following surface water segments are rated as fully supporting using recent DWQ
monitoring data. However, these data revealed some impacts to water quality. Although no
action is required for these surface waters, continued monitoring is recommended. Enforcement
of sediment and erosion control laws will help to reduce impacts on these streams and lakes.
DWQ encourages the use of voluntary measures to prevent water quality degradation. 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 Cape Fear River in this subbasin is downstream of many discharges and is affected by
tributaries draining urban areas of the City of Fayetteville.
Puppy Creek is downstream of Fort Bragg and is potentially affected by land-disturbing activities
on the military reservation. Continued monitoring of this stream is recommended to assess the
extent of impacts from land-disturbing activities.
Bonnie Doone Lake is the first in a series of four lakes formed as impoundments of Little Cross
Creek. Fort Bragg Military Base is located in close proximity to Bonnie Doone Lake.
Firebreaks located on the base and the general soil type of the area contribute large amounts of
sediment into the lake through stormwater runoff. To preserve water quality, work has been
done to remove stormwater outlets which had drained into Bonnie Doone Lake.
Kornbow Lake is the second and largest in the series of four impoundments located on Little
Cross Creek. The immediate shoreline of the lake is forested with residential developments
beyond that buffer. Kornbow Lake is 90% infested with variable-leaf water milfoil. However,
because this lake and its watershed are monitored by the North Carolina Natural Heritage
Program, the city is discouraged from removing this plant. To protect Kornbow Lake, 150 acres
in the headwaters have been purchased by the City of Fayetteville with money received from the
Clean Water Management Trust Fund (see Section C, Chapter1, Part 1.5.3). Sanitary sewers and
construction activities have been a threat to the water quality of this lake.
Mintz Pond is a small auxiliary water supply reservoir for the City of Fayetteville located in
Cumberland County. The lake is the third in a series of four impoundments located on Little
Cross Creek and is not open to the public. The immediate shoreline is forested and surrounded
by residential and urban development. Algal blooms have occurred in the past, along with public
complaints regarding odor due to these blooms. Nutrients have entered the lake from a tributary
which drains a small irrigation pond. To correct this problem, the City of Fayetteville has
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purchased the pond and is modifying it to prevent future algal blooms. In addition to nutrients
and algal blooms, pesticides and herbicides from the watershed also threaten this lake.
Glenville Lake is a small, backup water supply reservoir for the City of Fayetteville. The lake is
the last in a series of four impoundments of Little Cross Creek. The immediate shoreline is
forested with residential development located along the western side of the lake just beyond the
forest buffer. Sedimentation has been a problem in this lake, and the lake is gradually filling in.
There has also been a problem with unsupervised public access to the lake and removal of
riparian buffers in a city park located in the upstream region of the lake. A stormwater
management program is operated by the City of Fayetteville; however, stormwater continues to
present a water quality problem for this lake.
Hope Mills Lake is a small, shallow, recreational reservoir located on Little Rockfish Creek in
the Town of Hope Mills. The lake drainage area is mostly forested with some urban and
agricultural uses. There have been numerous public complaints regarding odor at the dam and at
the swimming beach, although there have been no reports of human health problems due to
swimming in the lake. Fecal coliform bacteria may be a problem at the swimming beach and
boat dock area due to waterfowl in these areas.
Approximately 7% of the waters in this subbasin are impaired by nonpoint source pollution
(mostly urban). All the waters of the subbasin are affected by nonpoint sources. DENR, other
state agencies and environmental groups have programs and initiatives underway to address
water quality problems associated with nonpoint sources. DWQ will notify local agencies of
water quality concerns in this subbasin and work with these various agencies to conduct further
monitoring, as well as assist agency personnel with locating sources of funding for water quality
protection.
The Middle Cape Fear River Basin Association (MCFRBA)
The Middle Cape Fear River Basin Association (MCFRBA) started sampling at seven stations 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 Cape Fear River mainstem and Rockfish Creek. 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.
Cape Fear River from Erwin to Lock and Dam #3
1996 Recommendations
A field-calibrated QUAL2E model developed during the first basinwide planning cycle indicated
that assimilative capacity for oxygen-consuming wastes had been reached in the segment of the
Cape Fear River from Erwin to Lock and Dam #3. It was recommended that new and expanding
discharges conduct engineering alternatives and economic analyses. If no alternatives were
feasible, then limits would be required as follows:
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New and expanding municipal/domestic discharges <1 MGD: BOD5 = 12 mg/l, NH3-N = 2 mg/l
New and expanding municipal/domestic discharges 1 MGD: BOD5 = 5 mg/l, NH3-N = 2 mg/l
New industrial discharges: BOD5 = 5 mg/l, NH3-N = 2 mg/l
Expanding industrial discharges: best available technology or BOD5 = 5 mg/l, NH3-N = 2 mg/l
2000 Recommendations
Limits recommended in the 1996 plan were made to protect dissolved oxygen (DO) levels in the
river. These limits will continue to be recommended with the exception that new and expanding
municipal/domestic discharges 1 MGD will be given limits of BOD5 = 5 mg/l and NH3-N = 1
mg/l. This is now considered BAT for this discharger category. Recommended limits for other
facilities are as follows:
New and expanding municipal/domestic discharges <1 MGD: BOD5 = 12 mg/l, NH3-N = 2 mg/l
New and expanding municipal/domestic discharges 1 MGD: BOD5 = 5 mg/l, NH3-N = 1 mg/l
New industrial discharges 1 MGD: BOD5 = 5 mg/l, NH3-N = 1 mg/l
New industrial discharges <1 MGD: BOD5 = 5 mg/l, NH3-N = 2 mg/l
Expanding industrial discharges: site specific best available technology or
BOD5 = 5 mg/l, NH3-N = 2 mg/l
The Middle Cape Fear River Basin Association (MCFRBA) and DWQ continue to collect data in
this segment of the Cape Fear River. There are indications that algal productivity influences
dissolved oxygen (DO) dynamics in this segment of the Cape Fear River.
DWQ will be reviewing the exisiting QUAL2E model for the Cape Fear River mainstem (from
Buckhorn Dam to Lock and Dam #1) to determine if improvements in the calibration can be
made.