CPF Chapter B-19

Section B: Chapter 19 – Cape Fear River Subbasin 03-06-19 221
Chapter 19 -
Cape Fear River Subbasin 03-06-19
Includes the Black River, Six Runs Creek and Great Coharie Creek
19.1 Water Quality Overview
This subbasin is located in the coastal plain. The Black
River and Six Runs Creek, below Quewhiffle Swamp,
were designated ORW in 1994. Land adjacent to the
Black River is primarily undisturbed forest. A map of the
subbasin, including water quality sampling locations, is
presented in Figure B-19.
Biological ratings for these sample locations are presented
in Table B-19. The current sampling resulted in impaired
ratings for a portion of one stream. Refer to Appendix III
for a complete listing of monitored waters and use support
ratings.
This subbasin has a very high concentration of hog farms.
The Town of Clinton is the largest developed area within
this subbasin. There are 7 permitted dischargers in this
subbasin, the largest of which is the Town of Clinton
WWTP.
Analysis of monitoring data has been complicated by the
de-snagging of these streams as part of the Emergency
Watershed Protection Program. This program,
administered by the USDA’s Natural Resources
Conservation Service (NRCS), provides technical and
financial assistance to preserve life and property
threatened by excessive erosion and flooding. Streams appeared to be totally de-snagged at
sampling sites. This makes it difficult to determine whether any changes that may have occurred
in the macroinvertebrate community were due to changes in water quality or lack of suitable
habitat (see Section A, Chapter 4, Part 4.11).
Both Great Coharie Creek and Six Runs Creek showed decreased water quality between 1993
and 1998. All the streams in this subbasin have many hog farms in their watersheds. The Black
River has maintained a rating of Excellent since 1985; however, some pollution intolerant
macroinvertebrate species were not collected in 1998 that were found in earlier samplings.
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 03-06-19 at a Glance
Land and Water Area (sq. mi.)
Total area: 739
Land area: 737
Water area: 2
Population Statistics
1990 Est. Pop.: 40,575 people
Pop. Density: 55 persons/mi
2
Land Cover (%)
Forest/Wetland: 53.5
Surface Water: 0.5
Urban: 1.3
Cultivated Crop: 34.0
Pasture/
Managed Herbaceous: 10.7
Use Support Ratings
Freshwater Streams:
Fully Supporting: 452.1 mi.
Partially Supporting: 15.0 mi.
Not Supporting: 0.0 mi.
Not Rated: 40.2 mi.

Section B: Chapter 19 – Cape Fear River Subbasin 03-06-19 223
Table B-19 Biological Assessment Sites in Cape Fear River Subbasin 03-06-19
BENTHOS Bioclassification
Site # Stream County Location 1993 1998
B-1 Great Coharie Creek Sampson SR 1214 Good Good-Fair
B-3 Little Coharie Creek Sampson SR 1214 Good-Fair Good-Fair
B-6 Six Runs Creek Sampson SR 1960 Excellent Good
B-12 Black River Sampson NC 411 Excellent Excellent
FISH TISSSUE No. Samples Exceeding
Criteria
Station Description
Year
Sampled
Total
Samples
Metals Organics Comments
FT-1 Black River
near Ivanhoe
1995 7 3 0 EPA mercury limit exceeded
in 3 bowfin samples
19.2 Impaired Waters
There were no impaired streams identified in the 1996 Cape Fear River Basinwide Water Quality
Plan. Stewarts 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 19.3 and waters with
other issues, recommendations or projects are discussed in Part 19.4.
Stewarts Creek
Current Status
Stewarts Creek (15.0 miles from source to Six Runs Creek) is currently partially supporting (PS)
according to DWQ monitoring in 1996 because of an impaired biological community. Nonpoint
source pollution resulting from Hurricane Fran is a possible cause of the impairment. This
sample was taken after the hurricane, but before de-snagging operations had started. Stewarts
Creek is on the state’s year 2000 303(d) list (not yet EPA approved).
The Town of Magnolia discharges into an unnamed tributary to Millers Creek, which flows into
Millers Creek before entering Stewarts Creek downstream of Warsaw. The Magnolia WWTP
has had problems with effluent toxicity, and UT Millers Creek has received a large amount of
sludge since 1998. The problems with the WWTP are related to inflow and infiltration (I&I).
The WWTP has been fined monthly since November 1999. DWQ staff are working with this
facility to quickly address the collection system problems. Magnolia WWTP is replacing several
thousand feet of sewer line that have caused the problems. Millers Creek and UT Millers Creek
are currently not rated (NR).
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2000 Recommendations
Because of the timing of the sampling and hurricane impacts, Stewarts Creek will continue to be
monitored to assess impacts and recovery from the hurricane. The 303(d) list approach will be to
resample the stream to obtain updated use support information. Monitoring of the Magnolia
WWTP discharge will continue as repairs are made to the sewer system.
19.3 303(d) Listed Waters
Stewarts Creek is the only stream (15 stream miles) in the subbasin that is impaired and on the
state’s year 2000 303(d) list (not yet EPA approved). Stewarts Creek is discussed above. For
information on 303(d) listing requirements and approaches, refer to Appendix IV.
19.4 Other Issues, Recommendations and Projects
The following surface waters are 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.
Portions of Great Coharie Creek, Little Coharie Creek, Six Runs Creek and Crane Creek were
impacted during Hurricane Fran in 1996. These streams were also subject to massive de-
snagging operations after the storm (see Section A, Chapter 4, Part 4.11). Because this region is
regularly impacted by hurricanes and tropical storms, it is recommended that further monitoring
be conducted to evaluate the post-hurricane recovery of macroinvertebrates. Monitoring is
recommended to determine the impacts of de-snagging operations that remove important habitat
in these waters.
Approximately 3% of the waters in this subbasin are impaired by nonpoint source pollution. 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 three 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.
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Mercury Advisories
DWQ sampling in 1994 and 1998 noted mercury in fish tissue at levels greater than EPA limits
and FDA/NC limits. Mercury in fish tissue is not exclusive to the Cape Fear River basin. In
recent years, elevated levels of mercury in some fish species have been noted in other coastal
areas. This issue is discussed further in Chapter 4, Part 4.8.4.
1999 Hurricanes
In September and October 1999, three hurricanes made landfall near the mouth of the Cape Fear
River. Although streams throughout the basin were impacted, the streams in the lower Cape Fear
River subbasins were severely impacted. The extent of water quality problems and recovery of
ecosystems in this subbasin will not be known for some time. Refer to Section A, Chapter 4,
Part 4.11.