CPF Chapter B-5

Section B: Chapter 5 – Cape Fear River Subbasin 03-06-05 138
Chapter 5 -
Cape Fear River Subbasin 03-06-05
Includes New Hope Creek, Northeast Creek and Jordan Reservoir
5.1 Water Quality Overview
This subbasin includes large sections of the City of
Durham and Research Triangle Park. New Hope Creek
and many of its tributaries are within the geological
formation of the Triassic Basin, an area that covers about
1,100 square miles. The 7Q10 values are zero for all but
the largest watersheds. A large percentage of land use
within this subbasin is urban and built-up. A map of the
subbasin, including water quality sampling locations, is
presented in Figure B-5.
Biological ratings for these sample locations are presented
in Table B-5. 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 use support data.
There are eight permitted dischargers in the subbasin.
Two facilities have permitted flows of greater than 1
MGD. These facilities discharge to Northeast Creek
(Durham County Triangle WWTP) and New Hope Creek
(South Durham Water Reclamation Facility) and have
instream waste concentrations of 100% and 99.5%,
respectively, under 7Q10 flow conditions. Elevated
nutrient concentrations and depressed dissolved oxygen
values have been recorded at both of these locations when
compared to most other Haw River tributary locations.
Median fecal coliform counts are above water quality
criteria at both of these locations.
Both point and nonpoint sources have impacted streams in this highly urbanized subbasin.
Streams in this subbasin are typical of the Triassic Basin with 7Q10 values of zero and poor
instream habitat. For these reasons, most streams in this subbasin were not sampled because of
low flow conditions or were not rated using benthic macroinvertebrate criteria.
Fish tissue samples were collected from two locations on Jordan Lake during 1998: Farrington
arm and near the dam. Only one largemouth bass from the Farrington arm location had a
mercury concentration exceeding EPA criteria.
Subbasin 03-06-05 at a Glance
Land and Water Area (sq. mi.)
Total area: 269
Land area: 251
Water area: 18
Population Statistics
1990 Est. Pop.: 102,058 people
Pop. Density: 407 person/mi
2
Land Cover (%)
Forest/Wetland: 78.2
Surface Water: 8.2
Urban: 6.4
Cultivated Crop: 0.6
Pasture/
Managed Herbaceous: 6.6
Use Support Ratings
Freshwater Streams:
Fully Supporting: 52.5 mi.
Partially Supporting: 39.9 mi.
Not Supporting: 0.0 mi.
Not Rated: 122.4 mi.
Lakes:
B. Everett Jordon Reservoir -
Fully Supporting

Section B: Chapter 5 – Cape Fear River Subbasin 03-06-05 140
Table B-5 Biological Assessment Sites in Cape Fear River Subbasin 03-06-05
BENTHOS Bioclassification
Site # Stream County Location 1993 1998
B-4 New Hope Creek Durham SR 1107 Not sampled Fair (s)
B-6 Northeast Creek Durham SR 1102 Not Rated (w) Not rated (w)
B-11 Beartree Creek Chatham SR 1716 Not Rated (w) Not rated (w)
B-12 White Oak Creek Chatham SR 1603 Not sampled Not rated (w)
FISH Bioclassification
Site # Stream County Location 1994 1998
F-1 New Hope Creek Durham SR 2220 no sample Poor
FISH TISSUE No. Samples
Exceeding Criteria
Station Description Year
Sampled
Total
Samples
Metals Organics Comments
FT-1 Lake Jordan
near Farrington
1998 24 1 0 EPA mercury limit
exceeded in 1 bass sample
FT-2 Lake Jordan
near Dam
1998 22 0 0 No samples exceeded
criteria
(w) Winter collection (s) Summer collection
5.2 Impaired Waters
Portions of New Hope Creek, Northeast Creek, Third Fork Creek and White Oak Creek were
identified as impaired in the 1996 Cape Fear River Basinwide Water Quality Plan. Portions of
New Hope Creek and Northeast Creek are currently rated impaired according to recent DWQ
monitoring. Current status of each stream 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 5.3 and waters with
other issues, recommendations or projects are discussed in Part 5.4.
New Hope Creek
1996 Recommendations
New Hope Creek (20.7 miles from I-40 to SR 1107) was not supporting (NS) in the 1996 Cape
Fear River Basinwide Water Quality Plan. The stream receives a large discharge from South
Durham Water Reclamation Facility. The instream waste concentration was 99% during summer
low flow conditions. The stream was subject to low dissolved oxygen (DO). The upstream
segments receive wastewater from smaller discharges that reduce the instream DO prior to the
WWTP. It was recommended that upon expansion from 10 to 20 MGD, the WWTP should meet
advanced tertiary treatment of 5 mg/l BOD5 and 1 mg/l NH3-N. It was also recommended that
smaller discharges into zero flow streams above the WWTP connect to regional treatment
facilities.
Section B: Chapter 5 – Cape Fear River Subbasin 03-06-05 141
Current Status
The South Durham Water Reclamation Facility has expanded to 20 MGD with permitted limits
of 5 mg/l BOD5 and 2 mg/l NH3-N and 2 mg/l TP. The instream waste concentration is 100%
during summer low flow conditions. Some of the small discharges in the area have connected to
regional facilities. However, because of insufficient DWQ staffing, more regionalization of
wastewater treatment has not been pursued. New Hope Creek (25 miles from Sandy Creek to SR
1107) is currently partially supporting (PS) according to recent DWQ monitoring because of an
impaired biological community. Instream habitat degradation associated with urban nonpoint
sources and the South Durham Water Reclamation Facility discharge is a possible cause of
impairment. Manganese and fecal coliform bacteria are also noted as problem parameters in the
lower segment. New Hope Creek is on the state’s year 2000 303(d) list (not yet EPA approved).
2000 Recommendations
New Hope Creek is in heavily urbanized areas of Durham and should benefit from the existing
city stormwater program (see Section A, Chapter 4, Part 4.7.1 and Section C, Chapter 1, Part
1.5.1). DWQ will work with the stormwater program, where possible, to improve water quality
in these streams. DWQ is currently studying New Hope Creek to determine the extent and
possible sources of fecal coliform bacteria contamination. DWQ also encourages further efforts
to connect small discharges in this watershed to a regional facility. The South Durham Water
Reclamation Facility is in compliance with current permitted limits. Permit limits may be
reevaluated after modeling efforts are completed to address the NSW strategy for Jordan
Reservoir/Haw River (see Section A, Chapter 4, Part 4.4).
The 800-acre New Hope Creek Riparian buffer and greenway trail system is protecting this
stream from rapid commercial and residential development in this watershed. For more
information on this project, refer to Section C, Chapter 1, Part 1.5.1.
The North Carolina Wetlands Restoration Program and Duke University received a grant of
$582,500 to collaborate on the restoration of degraded streambanks and riparian areas of Sandy
Creek, within the New Hope Creek watershed. The project will treat stormwater runoff within
the 25-acre project watershed adjacent to the University Campus. Treatment methods will
include the installation of twelve biofiltration areas to receive and attenuate runoff from parking
and trail areas, and a structure to create an instream stormwater wetland and support the
restoration of degraded streambanks. The Wetland Program at Duke University will monitor
water quality at 15 sites in the project area to determine the success of the project design.
Northeast Creek
1996 Recommendations
Northeast Creek (13 miles from source to Jordan Reservoir) was partially supporting (PS) in the
1996 plan. The stream receives a large discharge from the Durham County-Triangle WWTP.
The instream waste concentration was 99% during summer low flow conditions, and the stream
was subject to low dissolved oxygen (DO). Because of low summer flows, it was recommended
that no new discharges be allowed.
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Current Status
No new discharges have been permitted into this stream. There was a 1.6 million-gallon sewage
spill from Durham County-Triangle WWTP in 1997. Northeast Creek (14.9 miles from source
to New Hope Creek arm of Jordan Reservoir, 3 segments) is currently partially supporting (PS)
according to recent DWQ monitoring data because of an impaired biological community.
Instream habitat degradation associated with urban nonpoint sources and the Durham County
Triangle WWTP is a possible cause of impairment. Manganese, fecal coliform bacteria and low
dissolved oxygen (DO) are also noted as problem parameters. Northeast Creek is on the state’s
year 2000 303(d) list (not yet EPA approved).
2000 Recommendations
Northeast Creek is in heavily urbanized areas of Durham and Research Triangle Park and should
benefit from the existing 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 these
streams. Durham County Triangle WWTP is in compliance with current permitted limits.
Permit limits may be reevaluated after modeling efforts are completed to address the NSW
strategy for Jordan Reservoir/Haw River (see Section A, Chapter 4, Part 4.4).
Third Fork Creek
Current Status
Third Fork Creek (4.5 miles from source to Jordan Reservoir) was not supporting (NS) in the
1996 plan. An impaired biological community and turbidity related to development in the
watershed were the causes of impairment. New biological information has determined that the
previous rating was inappropriate because of the small size of the stream. Third Fork is currently
not rated.
2000 Recommendations
DWQ will continue to monitor the impacts of land development on streams in this watershed.
The 303(d) list approach will be to resample this stream to obtain updated use support
information.
White Oak Creek
Current Status
White Oak Creek (0.4 miles from NC 751 to New Hope River Arm of Jordan Reservoir) was
identified as partially supporting (PS) in the 1996 basinwide plan because of an impaired
biological community. White Oak Creek is currently not rated (NR). Based on new biological
information, it was determined that the previous biological rating was inappropriate. This stream
is not on the state’s year 2000 303(d) list (not yet EPA approved).
Section B: Chapter 5 – Cape Fear River Subbasin 03-06-05 143
5.3 303(d) Listed Waters
There are three streams (49 stream miles) in the subbasin that are impaired and on the state’s year
2000 303(d) list (not yet EPA approved). New Hope Creek, Northeast Creek and Third Fork
Creek are on the list and are addressed above. For information on 303(d) listing requirements
and approaches, refer to Appendix IV.
5.4 Other Issues, Recommendations and Projects
Approximately 60% 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.
Upper Cape Fear River Basin Association
The Upper Cape Fear River Basin Association (UCFRBA) is starting to sample 45 sites in the
upper Deep and Haw River watersheds. The data will 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.
Jordan Reservoir
B. Everett Jordan Reservoir is currently supporting its designated uses. There are currently no
public health advisories for swimming, fish consumption or drinking water use. Aquatic weeds
are not currently a significant issue. The water treatment plant using the Jordan Reservoir as a
raw water source has had (1995, 1996) some experiences with taste and odor issues as a result of
noxious algal growth. However, these treatment concerns are not currently a problem according
to the water plant operators. Recent DWQ evaluations of water quality, however, continue to
show concerns for water quality standards. Water quality standards related to eutrophication are
not consistently achieved. Continued growth in the drainage basin is likely to increase runoff
and increase delivery of nutrients and sediment to the reservoir.
B. Everett Jordan Reservoir receives discharges from many large municipal facilities via the Haw
River, Morgan Creek, New Hope Creek and Northeast Creek. The cumulative effect of the
discharges increases the potential for water quality problems associated with excessive nutrients.
Because the facilities in the Jordan watershed are increasing flow capacity in response to
population growth, steps will need to be taken to prevent water quality degradation in Jordan
Reservoir from both point and nonpoint sources. Refer to Section A, Chapter 4, Part 4.4 for
updates on the Jordan Reservoir Nutrient Sensitive Waters Strategy.