CPF Chapter B-16

Section B: Chapter 16 – Cape Fear River Subbasin 03-06-16 203
Chapter 16 -
Cape Fear River Subbasin 03-06-16
Includes Cape Fear River, Harrison Creek and Turnbull Creek
16.1 Water Quality Overview
This subbasin is located in the inner coastal plain and
contains the City of Elizabethtown. The Cape Fear River
in this subbasin is deep and slow moving, with two locks
to aid in navigation. The Bladen Lakes State Park, which
includes several natural lakes, is located in this subbasin.
The streams and many of the natural bay lakes within this
subbasin are tannin-stained or low pH blackwaters. Land
use in the subbasin is mostly forest and marsh with some
agriculture. A map of the subbasin, including water
quality sampling locations, is presented in Figure B-16.
Biological ratings for these sample locations are presented
in Table B-16. The current sampling resulted in impaired
ratings for one stream 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.
There are eight permitted dischargers in this subbasin,
mostly near Elizabethtown. Four of the largest
dischargers, Veeder-Root, Smithfield Foods Incorporated
in Tar Heel, Alamac Knit Fabrics in Elizabethtown, and
Dupont of Fayetteville, discharge into the Cape Fear
River.
Of the 68 fish tissue samples analyzed since 1994, seven
samples exceeded the EPA mercury limit. These samples
were from bass, bowfin and catfish. Only one bowfin
sample exceeded the FDA/NC mercury limit.
Of the five sites sampled in both 1993 and 1995 for benthos, three improved in bioclassification
and the others remained the same. Two of the three Cape Fear River sites, the Cape Fear River
near Duarte and the Cape Fear River near Kelly, increased from Fair to Good-Fair. The Cape
Fear River at Elizabethtown remained the same (Good-Fair), as did Ellis Creek (Good-Fair).
Harrison Creek also increased from Fair to Good-Fair between 1993 and 1995. Turnbull Creek,
with a Good bioclassification, had the best water quality in this subbasin.
Subbasin 03-06-16 at a Glance
Land and Water Area (sq. mi.)
Total area: 438
Land area: 430
Water area: 8
Population Statistics
1990 Est. Pop.: 14,811 people
Pop. Density: 34 persons/mi
2
Land Cover (%)
Forest/Wetland: 78.7
Surface Water: 2.5
Urban: 0.6
Cultivated Crop: 12.7
Pasture/
Managed Herbaceous: 5.6
Use Support Ratings
Freshwater Streams:
Fully Supporting: 240.8 mi.
Partially Supporting: 0.0 mi.
Not Supporting: 8.5 mi.
Not Rated: 11.8 mi.
Lakes:
Jones Lake - Fully Supporting
Salters Lake - Fully Supporting
White Lake - Fully Supporting

Section B: Chapter 16 – Cape Fear River Subbasin 03-06-16 205
Table B-16 Biological Assessment Sites in Cape Fear River Subbasin 03-06-16
BENTHOS Bioclassification
Site # Stream County Location 1993 1998
B-1 Cape Fear River Bladen SR 1355 nr Duarte Fair Good-Fair
B-4 Cape Fear River Bladen nr Elizabethtown Good-Fair Good-Fair
B-5 Ellis Creek Bladen NC 53 Good-Fair Good-Fair
B-6 Harrison Creek Bladen SR 1318 Fair Good-Fair
B-7 Turnbull Creek Bladen SR 1511 no sample Good
B-8 Cape Fear River Bladen SR 1730 nr Kelly Fair Good-Fair
FISH Bioclassification
Site # Stream County Location 1994 1998
F-1 Harrison Creek Bladen SR 1318 Good-Fair Good-Fair
F-2 Browns Creek Bladen NC 87 Poor Poor
F-3 Turnbull Creek Bladen NC 242 no sample Fair
F-4 Whites Creek Bladen SR 1704 no sample Good
FISH TISSSUE No. Samples
Exceeding Criteria
Station Description Year
Sampled
Total
Samples
Metals Organics Comments
1994 21 2 0 EPA mercury limit exceeded in 1
bass/1 bowfin samples
1995 8 3 0 EPA mercury limit exceeded in 3
bowfin samples; FDA/NC mercury
limit exceeded in 1 bowfin sample
FT-1 Cape Fear River
at Elizabethtown
1998 19 1 0 EPA mercury limit exceeded in 1
bass sample
FT-2 Cape Fear at
Lock and Dam 3
1998 10 0 0 No samples exceeded criteria
FT-3 Cape Fear at
Lock and Dam 2
1998 10 01 0 EPA mercury limit exceeded in 1
catfish sample
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].
16.2 Impaired Waters
Portions of Turnbull Creek and Harrisons Creek were identified as impaired in the 1996 Cape
Fear River Basinwide Water Quality Plan. Browns Creek is 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 16.3 and waters with other issues, recommendations or projects are discussed in Part 16.4.
Section B: Chapter 16 – Cape Fear River Subbasin 03-06-16 206
Turnbull Creek
Current Status
Turnbull Creek (27.8 miles from source to Cape Fear River) was partially supporting (PS) in the
1996 plan. Turnbull Creek is a swamp water with a naturally low pH. This stream is currently
fully supporting (FS) according to recent DWQ monitoring and no longer on the state’s 303(d)
list. Streams in this watershed are subject to erosion and instream habitat degradation.
Agricultural BMPs are encouraged to reduce potential for adverse impacts.
Harrisons Creek
Current Status
Harrisons Creek (27.4 miles from source to Cape Fear River) was partially supporting (PS) in the
1996 plan. Harrisons Creek is a swamp water with a naturally low pH. This stream is currently
fully supporting (FS) according to recent DWQ monitoring and no longer on the state’s 303(d)
list. Streams in this watershed are subject to erosion and instream habitat degradation.
Agricultural BMPs are encouraged to reduce potential for adverse impacts.
Browns Creek
Current Status
Browns Creek (8.5 miles from source to Cape Fear River) is not supporting (NS) according to
recent DWQ monitoring because of an impaired biological community. Urban nonpoint sources
and sanitary sewer overflows from the City of Elizabethtown are possible sources of impairment.
This stream is on the state’s year 2000 303(d) list (not yet EPA approved).
2000 Recommendations
Local initiatives are needed to improve water quality in Browns Creek. DWQ encourages
development of a land use plan that protects water quality in this stream.
Sanitary sewer overflows have not been a continuing problem for the City of Elizabethtown.
Three overflows coincided with DWQ monitoring and may have affected the rating. Continued
monitoring is recommended to determine if Browns Creek is recovering from the sewer
overflows and to determine the nature of nonpoint sources. The 303(d) list approach for these
two streams will be to resample for biological and chemical data to attempt to determine
potential problem parameters.
16.3 303(d) Listed Waters
Browns Creek (8.5 stream miles) is the only impaired stream in this subbasin and is on the state’s
year 2000 303(d) list (not yet EPA approved). Browns Creek is discussed above. For
information on 303(d) listing requirements and approaches, refer to Appendix IV.
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16.4 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.
Approximately 1% 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 Lower Cape Fear River Program
The Lower Cape Fear River Program maintains five sampling stations in this subbasin that are
used along with DWQ ambient data to make use support determinations in this subbasin. Refer
to Section C, Part 1.4.5 for more information on the program and the UNCW Center for Marine
Sciences.
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 Lock and Dam #3 to Lock and Dam #1
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 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:
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 = 2mg/l
New industrial discharges: BOD5 = 5 mg/l, NH3-N = 2 mg/l
Section B: Chapter 16 – Cape Fear River Subbasin 03-06-16 208
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 =
1mg/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 = 1mg/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.
Suggs Mill Pond Land Acquisition
The WRC acquired 9,000 acres of land in the Bladen Lakes Management Region. Refer to
Section C, Chapter 1, Part 1.5.4 for more information on this project.