CPF Chapter B-7

Section B: Chapter 7 - Cape Fear River Subbasin 03-06-07 150
Chapter 7 -
Cape Fear River Subbasin 03-06-07
Including Cape Fear River, Parkers and Neills Creeks
7.1 Water Quality Overview
This subbasin contains approximately 25-river miles of
the Cape Fear River from near the confluence of Lick
Creek in Lee County to near Buies Creek in Harnett
County. This subbasin contains many tributary streams
that are completely contained within the Sand Hills,
although other streams within this subbasin have
piedmont or coastal plain characteristics as well. The
sandy soils and high permeability rates of Sandhill soils
allow for greater groundwater recharge than Slate Belt or
Triassic Basin streams. Many streams within this
ecoregion typically have 7Q10 flow rates greater than
zero. A map of the subbasin, including water quality
sampling locations, is presented in Figure B-7.
Biological ratings for these sample locations are presented
in Table B-7. 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.
The subbasin is primarily forested, although agriculture
(including pasture and cultivated cropland) accounts for a
significant amount of land use. The towns of Sanford,
Fuquay-Varina and Lillington are the largest urban areas
in the subbasin. Parkers Creek, Avents Creek and Hector
Creek in Raven Rock State Park are rated as HQW. There
are 16 permitted dischargers in the subbasin. Six of these
facilities have permitted flows of 0.5 MGD or greater.
Bioclassifications based on benthic macroinvertebrate data for the Cape Fear River at Lillington
have been Good, with only one exception, since the first survey in 1983. This includes
basinwide surveys in 1993 and 1998. Fish tissue samples also were collected from the Cape Fear
River at Lillington during 1998. Twenty-six specimens were analyzed for metal contaminants.
Only one bowfin had mercury exceeding the EPA screening value. The Cape Fear River near
Erwin had an Excellent benthos bioclassification in 1998 and in 1993.
Subbasin 03-06-07 at a Glance
Land and Water Area (sq. mi.)
Total area: 415
Land area: 403
Water area: 12
Population Statistics
1990 Est. Pop.: 39,713 people
Pop. Density: 99 persons/mi
2
Land Cover (%)
Forest/Wetland: 69.6
Surface Water: 2.9
Urban: 1.6
Cultivated Crop: 21.4
Pasture/
Managed Herbaceous: 4.6
Use Support Ratings
Freshwater Streams:
Fully Supporting: 239.4 mi.
Partially Supporting: 2.9 mi.
Not Supporting: 10.2 mi.
Not Rated: 44.8 mi.
Lakes:
Harris Lake - Fully Supporting

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Table B-7 Biological Assessment Sites in Cape Fear River Subbasin 03-06-07
BENTHOS Bioclassification
Site # Stream County Location 1993 1998
B-3 Parkers Creek Harnett SR 1450 Good (w) Good-Fair (w)
Good (s) Good-Fair (s)
B-7 Neills Creek Harnett SR 1441 Fair (w) Good-Fair (w)
B-11 Kenneth Creek Harnett SR 1441 Poor (w) Poor (w)
B-13* Cape Fear River Harnett US 401 Good (s) Good (s)
B-14 Cape Fear River Harnett NC 217 Excellent Excellent
FISH Bioclassification
Site # Stream County Location 1994 1998
F-5 Hector Creek Harnett SR 1412 no sample Fair
F-6 Kenneth Creek Harnett SR 1441 Poor Poor
FISH TISSUE
No. Samples
Exceeding Criteria
Station Description Year
Sampled
Total
Samples
Metals Organics Comments
FT-1 Cape Fear River
at Lillington
1998 22 1 0 EPA mercury limit exceeded
in 1 bowfin sample
(w) Winter collection (s) Summer collection
A 5-year decline in water quality was found at Parkers Creek based on basinwide benthos
surveys conducted in 1993 and 1998. This decline was evident during surveys conducted during
both winter and summer surveys at this location. Changes in land use activities and/or nonpoint
source runoff in the watershed above the collection location may have accounted for the decline
in water quality. There are no permitted point source facilities in the watershed. A 5-year
improvement in bioclassification is noted at Neills Creek, although only one additional EPT taxa
was collected during the 1998 survey to account for the change in bioclassification. The only
Poor water quality indicated by macroinvertebrates and the fish community in this subbasin was
for Kenneth Creek at a location below the Fuquay-Varina WWTP.
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].
7.2 Impaired Waters
Portions of Kenneth Creek, Gulf Creek and Neills Creek were identified as impaired in the 1996
Cape Fear River Basinwide Water Quality Plan. Portions of Kenneth 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
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waters are summarized in Part 7.3 and waters with other issues, recommendations or projects are
discussed in Part 7.4.
Kenneth Creek
1996 Recommendations
Kenneth Creek (6.5 miles) was rated not supporting (NS) and partially supporting (PS) in the
1996 plan. The stream is a low flow stream that receives urban nonpoint source pollution and a
1.2 MGD discharge from the Fuquay-Varina WWTP. It was recommended that any new or
expanding discharges to Kenneth Creek meet limits of 5 mg/l BOD5 and 2 mg/l NH3-N.
Current Status
There have been no new or expanding discharges to Kenneth Creek. Kenneth Creek (7.3 miles
from source to Neills Creek) is currently not supporting (NS) according to recent DWQ
monitoring because of an impaired biological community. Urban nonpoint source pollution from
Fuquay-Varina and a discharge from the Fuquay-Varina WWTP are possible sources of
impairment. There are also indications of nutrient enrichment in this stream. Kenneth Creek 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 Kenneth Creek. DWQ encourages
development of a land use plan and stormwater program that protects water quality in this
stream. The 303(d) list approach will be to resample for biological and chemical data to attempt
to determine potential problem parameters.
Gulf Creek
Current Status
Gulf Creek (5.1 miles) was not supporting (NS) in the 1996 plan. The stream is currently
partially supporting (PS) and not supporting (NS) according to 1993 DWQ monitoring data
because of instream habitat degradation, possibly associated with nonpoint source runoff from a
clay pit mine. The clay pit mine has BMPs in place as required in the general permit; however,
there are indications that the BMPs are not protecting water quality. Gulf Creek is on the state’s
year 2000 303(d) list (not yet EPA approved).
2000 Recommendations
DWQ will continue to monitor implementation of BMPs to assess their ability to protect water
quality. The 303(d) list approach will be to resample for biological and chemical data to attempt
to determine potential problem parameters.
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Neills Creek
Current Status
Neills Creek (2.4 miles) was partially supporting (PS) in the 1996 plan. This stream was
sampled during recent DWQ monitoring, but was not rated below the confluence with Kenneth
Creek. The upper segments are currently fully supporting (FS). Neills Creek has improved in
water quality, but monitoring should be continued to assess sources of instream habitat
degradation.
7.3 303(d) Listed Waters
There are two streams (13.1 stream miles) in the subbasin that are impaired and on the state’s
year 2000 303(d) list (not yet EPA approved). Kenneth Creek and Gulf Creek are discussed
above. For information on 303(d) listing requirements and approaches, refer to Appendix IV.
7.4 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 3% 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.
Parkers Creek is in an agricultural area, and streams in this watershed are subject to erosion and
habitat degradation. DWQ encourages implementation of agricultural best management practices
(BMPs), including fencing cattle out of streams that reduce potential impacts to surface waters.
Development in Harris Lake Watershed
Harris Lake watershed is in an area that is experiencing rapid growth. Harris Lake will be
increasingly impacted by nonpoint sources. As land in the watershed is converted from forest
and agricultural land uses to residential and commercial land uses, the streams feeding Harris
Lake will be subjected to higher flows during rain events and increased delivery of pollutants and
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nutrients. This may result in streambank erosion, habitat degradation and increased potential for
algal blooms in slow-flowing sections of the streams and in Harris Lake.
Communities in western Wake County are pursuing a discharge into the Cape Fear River in this
subbasin. A model approach is needed that takes into account algal activity upstream of
Buckhorn dam to determine wasteload allocation in this segment of the Haw/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.
The Middle Cape Fear River Basin Association (MCFRBA)
The Middle Cape Fear River Basin Association (MCFRBA) started sampling at eight 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 as well as in Lick,
Buckhorn, Avents and Buies Creeks. 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.
Utley Creek
1996 Recommendations
Utley Creek had recommendations that were not specifically linked to an impaired stream.
Because of the high instream waste concentration of Holly Springs WWTP, it was recommended
that a survey be conducted below the discharge to determine water quality impacts.
Current Status
Utley Creek is a low flow stream (7Q10 = 0.11cfs) that currently receives a 0.5 MGD discharge
from the Town of Holly Springs. Water quality data has been collected from a site just below
Thomas Mill Pond (approximately 1 mile below discharge point) as well as other areas of the
watershed. Calculated dissolved oxygen (DO) saturation values exceeded the state standard of
110% in 91 of 218 samples (42%) evaluated from January 1994 to May 1997. In July 1996,
DWQ staff documented an algal bloom in Thomas Mill Pond and a fish kill further downstream.
Dissolved oxygen (DO) levels at the fish kill site ranged from 0.2 to 0.5 mg/l. In summer 1997,
DWQ staff noted a large algal bloom in a waterfowl impoundment downstream of Thomas Mill
Pond. Total phosphorus (TP) and total nitrogen (TN) levels are higher below the Holly Springs
WWTP discharge than in the stream above the discharge. Because of the mostly forested nature
of the Utley Creek watershed and the observations noted above, it is believed that the Holly
Springs WWTP is the major contributor of nutrients to this stream. In summer months, this
discharge can greatly increase the potential for algal blooms and subsequent fish kills.
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2000 Recommendations
Utley Creek is currently not rated. Water quality in Utley Creek is marginal with the current
discharge and low impact land uses. Increased flow from the WWTP, as well as the expected
stormwater flow, has the potential to not only increase nutrient loading but also increase
sedimentation and streambank erosion. Land use planning in the watershed that considers water
quality concerns is needed prior to large-scale development projects to minimize runoff effects.
Because of water quality concerns in Utley Creek and the expected urbanization of the Harris
Lake watershed, DWQ recommends that Holly Springs explore other means of sewage disposal
including connection to existing facilities in the area.