CPF Chapter B-6

Section B: Chapter 6 – Cape Fear River Subbasin 03-06-06 144
Chapter 6 -
Cape Fear River Subbasin 03-06-06
Includes Morgan Creek and Bolin Creek
6.1 Water Quality Overview
This small subbasin contains the urban and large suburban
sections of Chapel Hill in Orange County. Relative to
other subbasins in the Cape Fear River basin, it contains a
large proportion of urban and built-up areas. This type of
land use includes residential areas, institutional sites,
construction sites and golf courses. Forest and
agriculture, including pasture and cultivated cropland,
also make up portions of the subbasin.
Small streams in this subbasin typically stop flowing
during low flow periods due to the lack of groundwater
recharge. USGS has estimated that Slate Belt streams
with catchment areas of 18 square miles or less will have
zero 7Q10 flows during summer low flow periods (USGS,
1993). A map of the subbasin, including water quality
sampling locations, is presented in Figure B-6.
Biological ratings for these sample locations are presented
in Table B-6. The current sampling resulted in impaired
ratings for five 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.
There are 7 permitted dischargers in this subbasin. Most
of these are very small, with the largest being the
OWASA/Mason Farm WWTP. This facility has a
permitted flow of 8.0 MGD into Morgan Creek. The facility has an instream waste concentration
of 93% during 7Q10 flow conditions.
Data from Morgan Creek and the Bolin/Booker/Little Creeks watershed indicate a downstream
decline in water quality. Good or Excellent water quality results are recorded from upstream
sites and water quality degrades, as the streams flow through urban and suburban sections of
Chapel Hill.
Subbasin 03-06-06 at a Glance
Land and Water Area (sq. mi.)
Total area: 75
Land area: 74
Water area: 1
Population Statistics
1990 Est. Pop.: 101,430 people
Pop. Density: 573 persons/mi
2
Land Cover (%)
Forest/Wetland: 84
Surface Water: 1.4
Urban: 5.3
Cultivated Crop: 0.6
Pasture/
Managed Herbaceous: 8.6
Use Support Ratings
Freshwater Streams:
Fully Supporting: 46.7 mi.
Partially Supporting: 12.4 mi.
Not Supporting: 6.8 mi.
Not Rated: 9.0 mi.
Lakes:
University Lake - Fully Supporting

Section B: Chapter 6 – Cape Fear River Subbasin 03-06-06 146
Table B-6 Biological Assessment Sites in Cape Fear River Subbasin 03-06-06
BENTHOS Bioclassification
Site # Stream County Location 1993 1998
B-6 Morgan Creek Orange NC 54 Excellent (w) Excellent (w)
Good (s) -
B-10 Morgan Creek Orange SR 1726 Fair (s) Fair (s)
FISH Bioclassification
Site # Stream County Location 1994 1998
F-1 Bolin Creek Orange off SR 1750 no sample Poor
F-3 Morgan Creek Orange SR 1900 no sample Poor
(w) Winter collection, (s) Summer collection
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].
6.2 Impaired Waters
Portions of Meeting of the Waters, Morgan and Bolin Creeks were identified as impaired in the
1996 Cape Fear River Basinwide Water Quality Plan. Portions of Meeting of the Waters,
Morgan, Bolin, Booker and Little Creeks 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 6.3
and waters with other issues, recommendations or projects are discussed in Part 6.4.
Meeting of the Waters
Current Status
Meeting of the Waters was identified as not supporting (NS) in the 1996 basinwide plan because
of an impaired biological community. Meeting of the Waters (1.4 miles from source to Morgan
Creek) was resampled and is currently not supporting (NS) 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. This stream drains heavily urbanized
areas of UNC-Chapel Hill. Meeting of the Waters is on the state’s year 2000 303(d) list (not yet
EPA approved).
2000 Recommendations
Meeting of the Waters is impaired from urban nonpoint sources in Chapel Hill. The City of
Chapel Hill will be required to address stormwater issues as part of Phase II of the NPDES
Section B: Chapter 6 – Cape Fear River Subbasin 03-06-06 147
stormwater program. NPDES stormwater permit applications must be received by DWQ by
March 1, 2003. The 303(d) list approach will be to resample for biological and chemical data to
attempt to determine potential problem parameters.
Morgan Creek
1996 Plan Recommendations
The 1996 Cape Fear River Basinwide Plan identified two segments of the Morgan Creek (8.6
miles from SR 1919 to Jordan Reservoir) as partially supporting (PS) because of an impaired
biological community. Sedimentation and fecal coliform bacteria were listed as possible causes
of impairment. The 1996 plan recommended that no new discharges should be permitted in this
stream.
Current Status
No new discharges have been permitted into this stream. The sample segments of Morgan Creek
have been redefined. Approximately three miles of Morgan Creek between SR 1919 and
Meeting of the Waters has improved since the last sampling period and is no longer impaired.
Two segments of Morgan Creek (5.1 miles from Meeting of the Waters to Jordan Reservoir) are
partially supporting (PS) and not supporting (NS) according to recent DWQ monitoring because
of an impaired biological community. These two segments are on the state’s year 2000 303(d)
list (not yet EPA approved). Instream habitat degradation associated with urban nonpoint
sources is a possible cause of impairment. Manganese is also listed as a problem parameter for
both stream segments. For more information on unimpaired segments of Morgan Creek, refer to
Part 6.4 below.
2000 Recommendations
The City of Chapel Hill will be required to address stormwater issues as part of Phase II of the
NPDES stormwater program. NPDES stormwater permit applications must be received by
DWQ by March 1, 2003. The 303(d) list approach will be to resample for biological and
chemical data to attempt to determine potential problem parameters.
Bolin Creek
Current Status
Bolin Creek (1 mile from NC 501 to Little Creek) was identified as partially supporting (PS) in
the 1996 basinwide plan because of an impaired biological community. This same segment of
Bolin Creek is partially supporting (PS) according to recent monitoring because of an impaired
biological community. Instream habitat degradation associated with urban nonpoint sources is a
possible cause of impairment. Bolin Creek is on the state’s year 2000 303(d) list (not yet EPA
approved).
Section B: Chapter 6 – Cape Fear River Subbasin 03-06-06 148
2000 Recommendations
Bolin Creek is impaired from urban nonpoint sources in Chapel Hill. The City of Chapel Hill
will be required to address stormwater issues as part of Phase II of the NPDES stormwater
program. NPDES stormwater permit applications must be received by DWQ by March 1, 2003.
The 303(d) list approach will be to resample for biological and chemical data to attempt to
determine potential problem parameters.
Booker Creek
Current Status
Booker Creek (5.6 miles from source to Little Creek) is 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. Booker
Creek is on the state’s year 2000 303(d) list (not yet EPA approved).
2000 Recommendations
Booker Creek is impaired from urban nonpoint sources in Chapel Hill. The City of Chapel Hill
will be required to address stormwater issues as part of Phase II of the NPDES stormwater
program. NPDES stormwater permit applications must be received by DWQ by March 1, 2003.
The 303(d) list approach will be to resample for biological and chemical data to attempt to
determine potential problem parameters.
Little Creek
Current Status
Little Creek (6.1 miles from source to New Hope Creek) is not supporting (NS) according to
recent DWQ monitoring because of an impaired biological community. Instream habitat
degradation associated with urban nonpoint sources is a possible source of impairment. The 0.7-
mile segment upstream of New Hope River Arm of Jordan Reservoir is partially supporting (PS)
for the same reasons. Little Creek is on the state’s year 2000 303(d) list (not yet EPA approved).
2000 Recommendations
Little Creek is impaired from urban nonpoint sources in Chapel Hill. The City of Chapel Hill
will be required to address stormwater issues as part of Phase II of the NPDES stormwater
program. NPDES stormwater permit applications must be received by DWQ by March 1, 2003.
The 303(d) list approach will be to resample for biological and chemical data to attempt to
determine potential problem parameters.
Section B: Chapter 6 – Cape Fear River Subbasin 03-06-06 149
6.3 303(d) Listed Waters
There are 5 streams (19.2 stream miles) in the subbasin that are impaired and on the state’s year
2000 303(d) list (not yet EPA approved). Segments of Meeting of the Waters, Morgan, Bolin,
Booker and Little Creeks are discussed above. For information on 303(d) listing requirements
and approaches, refer to Appendix IV.
6.4 Other Issues, Recommendations and Projects
Morgan Creek upstream of Meeting of the Waters is rated as fully supporting (FS) using recent
DWQ monitoring data. However, this stream may still be affected by urban runoff that has the
potential to degrade water quality and instream habitat. Addressing stormwater runoff in Chapel
Hill should reduce future impacts to water quality in Morgan Creek. Although no action is
required for these surface waters, continued monitoring is recommended. 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 40% 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.
Chapel Hill Stream Monitoring
The Town of Chapel Hill currently monitors 14 sites monthly in area streams. The town will
also be performing watershed and stream assessments as part of the stormwater management
program.