CPF Chapter C-1

Section C: Chapter 1 - Workshop Summaries 253
Chapter 1 -
Current Water Quality Initiatives
1.1 Workshop Summaries
There were three workshops held in the Cape Fear River basin in July and August 1999. The
workshops were held in Greensboro, Clinton and Wilmington. The DWQ, NC Cooperative
Extension Services of Guilford, Sampson and New Hanover counties, and the Cape Fear River
Assembly sponsored the workshops. A total of 198 people attended the three workshops. All
workshops represented a wide variety of interests in the river basin.
Each workshop had four presentations pertaining to important issues to the region of the basin
where the workshop was held. Workshop participants were asked to discuss a series of questions
in small groups. The questions were as follows:
1) What are the most important issues to be addressed in the next basin plan?
2) Where are the problem areas or waters in the basin?
3) What recommendations do you have for addressing these problems?
4) What local agencies or organizations should be involved in addressing these problems?
The discussion on these questions was very productive. Comments and responses were recorded
during each workshop. A general summary of the workshops, providing common ideas and
viewpoints, is presented below.
• urban sprawl
• comprehensive watershed management
• nonpoint source pollution
• buffers
• algal blooms and nutrients
• Randleman Reservoir
• land-use planning
• seventeen dams on the Deep River
• sedimentation
• agricultural BMPs
• focusing on economic considerations
• focus on nonpoint source pollution
• better education for general public
• growth planning
• state agency and local community coordination
• tighter controls on variances/SOCs for permittees with tighter time limits
• point source dischargers bearing brunt of enforcement
• more control on development and construction in wetlands
• stormwater runoff
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Workshop participants made recommendations for addressing water quality problems. These
recommendations included urban BMPs, planning, incentives for agricultural operations, local
enforcement, water recycling, education, riparian buffers, increasing regulatory staff and securing
funding for enforcement.
DWQ considered these comments while drafting the revised Cape Fear River Basinwide Water
Quality Plan and will continue to use these comments to guide water quality activities in the
Cape Fear River basin.
For a copy of the summary of the three workshops, call DWQ at [phone], ext. 360.
1.2 Federal Initiatives
1.2.1 Section 319 – Base Program
Section 319 of the Clean Water Act provides grant money for nonpoint source demonstration
projects. Approximately $1 million is available annually for demonstration and education
projects across the state. Project proposals are reviewed and selected by the North Carolina
Nonpoint Source Workgroup, made up of state and federal agencies involved in regulation or
research associated with nonpoint source pollution. Information on the North Carolina 319 grant
program, including application deadlines and requests for proposals, are available online at
http://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/nps/bigpic.htm.
Table C-1 319 Projects in the Cape Fear River Basin
Fund Source Project Contractor Grant
319 FY1998 Private Well Protection Project NC Cooperative Extension Service $34,555
Private Well Protection Project
Many private wells in eastern North Carolina are particularly susceptible to contamination
because they are shallow (typically less than 50 feet deep) and poorly constructed. Previous
studies of North Carolina private water supply wells indicate that up to 10% may contain nitrate-
nitrogen at levels exceeding the safe drinking water standard of 10 mg/l.
A minimum of 300 private water supply wells will be screened for nitrate contamination over a
two-year period in the Cape Fear River basin. Special emphasis will be placed on sampling
high-risk wells that are shallow, poorly constructed, and located near potential pollution sources.
A detailed survey of well construction and location characteristics will be completed for each
well. All project participants will be educated on basic well protection measures including water
testing, pollution prevention, water treatment and new well construction, if needed.
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1.2.2 Clean Water Act Section 319 (h) – Incremental Program
In 1998, the President’s Clean Water Action Plan Initiative required states to compile and rate
water quality conditions at the 8-digit hydrologic unit scale. This evaluation by the state resulted
in the identification of 23 HUs as 'needing restoration'. The Category I rating makes these areas
eligible for additional funding through the incremental 319 program. There are six hydrologic
units within the Cape Fear River basin (Table C-2); three of which were rated as needing
restoration in the 1998 Unified Watershed Assessment. The Haw River was identified as a high
priority restoration area, particularly due to the state designation as nutrient sensitive waters and
the significant urban impacts.
Table C-2 Hydrologic Units within the Cape Fear River Basin
HU Name HUC UWA Rating
Haw 03030002 I-HP
Deep 03030003 I
Upper Cape Fear 03030004 II
Lower Cape Fear 03030005 I
Black River 03030006 II
Northeast Cape Fear River 03030007 II
Funding for implementation of the Clean Water Action Plan Initiative is provided through the
Section 319 Incremental Grant Program. With a separate funding source, these grant resources
are to be allocated by the state for assessment and implementation in Hydrologic Units defined as
"Needing Restoration" in the 1998 North Carolina Unified Watershed Assessment. This funding
was first available for FY 1999, and continued funding of this program will be decided by
Congress. Project proposals are reviewed and selected by the North Carolina Nonpoint Source
Workgroup, made up of state and federal agencies involved in regulation or research associated
with nonpoint source pollution. Information on the North Carolina 319 grant program, including
application deadlines and requests for proposals, are available online at
http://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/nps/bigpic.htm.
1.2.3 Clean Water Act – Section 205 (j) Planning Grant
Section 205 (j) of the Clean Water Act allocates a small amount of money to states for water
resource planning or demonstration. Only Councils of Government are eligible to apply for this
funding. Annual funding for this program is approximately $100,000. Descriptions of these
projects are included in Part 1.5 below.
1.2.4 USDA – NRCS Environmental Quality Improvement Program (EQIP)
The EQIP program is a federal cost share program that in many states is not augmented by a state
agricultural cost share program. For this reason, EQIP funds are allocated to priority areas where
current available funding is identified as inadequate. Through applications, the NRCS districts
are able to compete for EQIP incentive funding. A team of state agencies reviews new
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applications and reevaluates the performance of existing priority areas on an annual basis.
Rankings are considered based upon performance; i.e., the value of contracts completed versus
the amount of money allocated and environmental benefit. Initial allocations are set based upon
ranking and proposal requests. The NRCS administers the local sign-up, environmental benefits
ratings and contract administration.
Three areas within the Cape Fear River basin are included in the USDA – NRCS EQIP FY2000
Priority area budget. The Deep River, Northeast Cape Fear and Black River are included. Table
C-3 includes descriptions of primary resource concerns, targeted practices and final FY 1999
contract allocations. NRCS district contacts are available in the NPS Contact Sheet, Appendix
V.
Table C-3 Cape Fear River Basin EQIP Projects
Priority Area Primary Resource
Concern
Targeted Practices Lead NRCS
District
Final
Allocation
Deep River
03030003
Soil erosion, animal
waste, nutrient runoff
and leaching
No-till, waste utilization, nutrient
management, pest management,
pasture and hay planting
Randolph
County
$119,124
Black River
03030006
Animal waste, soil
erosion, wildlife habitat,
nutrient runoff
No-till, waste utilization, riparian
buffer, nutrient management,
wildlife habitat management
Sampson
County
$105,945
Northeast
Cape Fear
03030007
Animal waste, soil
erosion, wildlife habitat,
pesticide runoff
Waste utilization, no-till, wildlife
habitat management, nutrient
management, pest management
Duplin
County
$118,214
1.3 State Initiatives
1.3.1 NC Wetlands Restoration Program
The North Carolina Wetlands Restoration Program (NCWRP) is a nonregulatory program
responsible for implementing wetland and stream restoration projects throughout the state. The
focus of the program is to improve water quality, flood prevention, fisheries, wildlife habitat and
recreational opportunities. The NCWRP is not a grant program. Instead, the NCWRP funds
wetland, stream and streamside (riparian) area projects directly through the Wetlands Restoration
Fund.
Restoration sites are targeted through the use and development of the Basinwide Wetlands and
Riparian Restoration Plans. These plans were developed, in part, using information compiled in
DWQ’s Basinwide Water Quality Plans. The Basinwide Wetlands and Riparian Restoration
Plans are updated every five years on the same schedule as DWQ’s Basinwide Water Quality
Plans. As new data and information become available about water quality degradation issues in
the Cape Fear River River basin, priority subbasins identified in the NCWRP’s plans may be
modified.
The NCWRP is also working to develop comprehensive Local Watershed Restoration Plans
within the identified Priority Subbasins. These more locally-based plans will identify wetland
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areas, contiguous reaches of stream, and contiguous strips of buffer that, once restored, will
provide significant water quality and other environmental benefits to watersheds. The NCWRP
will coordinate with local community groups, local governments and others to develop and
implement these plans.
The NCWRP can perform restoration projects cooperatively with other state or federal programs
or environmental groups. For example, the NCWRP’s efforts can complement projects funded
through the Section 319 Program. Integrating wetlands or riparian area restoration components
with 319 funded or proposed projects will often improve the overall water quality benefits of the
project.
For more information about participating in the NCWRP, please contact Crystal Braswell at
[phone] or visit the website at http://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/, then click on Wetlands Restoration
Program.
1.3.2 Clean Water Management Trust Fund
The Clean Water Management Trust Fund offers approximately $40 million annually in grants
for projects within the broadly focused areas of restoring and protecting state surface waters and
protecting state surface waters and establishing a network of riparian buffers and greenways. In
the Cape Fear River basin, twenty projects have been funded. The total amount of funds
allocated to this basin through the CWMTF is $21,431,700. Descriptions of the basinwide
projects are included in descriptions of current initiatives by major watershed in Part 1.5 below.
For more information on the CWMTF or these grants, call [phone] or visit the website at
www.cwmtf.net.
1.4 Local Initiatives
1.4.1 Cape Fear River Basin Associations
In complement to the DWQ’s basinwide approach for planning and management of water
resources, associations of NPDES dischargers are voluntarily forming in our state’s river basins.
The concept of these coalitions is to integrate instream sampling requirements as set forth in their
NPDES permits with DWQ’s basinwide management program. Monitoring sites and parameters
are strategically located and established such that instream monitoring is more efficient,
effective, basin-oriented, and potentially yields better quality, more usable data. A Memorandum
of Agreement (MOA) specifies that one organization (usually a contract lab) conducts all the
instream sampling and performs the required analyses, instead of each discharger conducting
individual sampling. Three discharger associations are active in the Cape Fear River basin.
Each discharger association monitoring network is designed to complement the state’s ambient
sampling sites. The discharger association concept allows for a collective voice among the
dischargers located in the Cape Fear River basin and fosters better communication within the
association itself and with DWQ.
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The Lower Cape Fear River Program (LCFRP) is comprised of 19 NPDES dischargers and
began sampling in 1996. The LCFRP currently collects water quality data at 34 sites located
throughout the lower portion of the basin. This association contracts with the University of
North Carolina at Wilmington to collect the water quality samples and benefits from additional
work that UNCW conducts, such as fisheries ecology and benthic community studies.
The Middle Cape Fear River Basin Association (MCFRBA) has 16 members and began
sampling 30 stations in July 1998. Twenty-five of the stations are required in the MOA, and the
other 5 stations are sampled voluntarily by the Association. The MCFRBA contracts with a
commercial lab to collect the water quality samples and run the analyses.
The Upper Cape Fear River Basin Association started sampling 36 stations in 2000. DWQ will
continue to work with the basin associations’ water quality data in developing use support and
identifying other water quality problems and solutions.
1.4.2 Cape Fear River Assembly
The Cape Fear River Assembly is a basinwide organization committed to achieving the highest
quality of life possible for residents of the Cape Fear River basin through the proper management
of the Cape Fear River, its tributaries and adjacent land uses. The Cape Fear River Assembly
(CFRA) was founded 27 years ago and has several hundred members and a 34-member board of
directors. The Assembly membership and the board are made up of representatives from
throughout the Cape Fear River basin and with varying interests, including environmental and
conservation organizations, academia, small business and industry, government (local, state and
federal), and the general public. The Cape Fear River Assembly serves as the umbrella
organization for the three discharger associations, including the Upper Cape Fear River Basin
Association, the Middle Cape Fear River Basin Association and the Lower Cape Fear River
Program.
The Assembly provides a basinwide context for resource management and a forum for discussion
and issue resolution. In addition, it provides a basinwide commitment to facilitate the
completion of needed scientific and economic study, to educate the public regarding the
environmental and economic value of this natural resource, and to encourage the development of
policy to maintain and improve the condition of the Cape Fear River and its tributaries for
present and future uses and benefits. Programs and activities accomplished through the Cape
Fear River Assembly include: 1) extensive, ongoing water quality monitoring (109 stations); 2)
fisheries stock monitoring (lower); 3) Hurricanes Bonnie and Floyd storm event sampling; 4)
clean metals sampling (mid); 5) a primary productivity study (mid); 6) a hydrologic modeling
project; 7) numerous conferences; 8) a GIS/land use project; 9) Cape Fear River Basin highway
signs; 10) Triangle area drinking water supply monitoring (upper); and 11) a Haw River/Jordan
Lake watershed partnership (upper). For additional information, please see the Cape Fear River
Assembly website www.cfra-nc.org or contact Executive Director, Don Freeman at [phone]
or by e-mail at [e-mail].
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1.4.3 Cape Fear River Headwaters Group
The Cape Fear River Headwaters Group was formed in the fall of 1999 with the goal of
determining the major water quality issues in this region and what projects the group can conduct
to address these issues. The group has focused on the 303(d) impaired streams for the
headwaters area of the Deep and Haw River and are currently prioritizing which 303(d) impaired
streams the group can restore and develop a methodology in conjunction with DWQ to identify
and correct the problems found in these streams. The group consists of the representatives from
local governments, area universities, the Cape Fear River Assembly, DWQ, the Triangle J
Council of Governments, and Piedmont Triad Council of Governments. The contact for this
group is Carol Patrick of the Piedmont Triad Council of Governments at [phone] or
[e-mail].
1.4.4 City of Greensboro Storm Water Services
The City of Greensboro is developing a watershed-based stormwater management program
designed to be "proactive". The federal NPDES stormwater regulations mandate that
municipalities take a comprehensive approach towards stormwater management issues within
their jurisdiction and develop new programs that will prevent or minimize impacts to water
quality from nonpoint pollution sources, such as urbanized areas. Regulatory mandates, along
with local interest in developing an optimum stormwater management program, have served as
initiatives for Greensboro to begin developing improved programs for both stormwater and
watershed management.
The city’s developing Stormwater Management Program includes the following key
components:
• Implementation of a Stormwater Utility to serve as the dedicated funding mechanism for the
new and improved stormwater management programs, including administration of the
NPDES municipal stormwater permit.
• Development and implementation of a comprehensive GIS database of stormwater
infrastructure and proactive stormwater infrastructure maintenance program.
• Development of a "Dynamic Stormwater and Watershed Management System", which
includes interactive linkages between the GIS database and major hydrologic, hydraulic,
water quality and stream restoration models.
• Implementation of an extensive public education and awareness program. The city has also
developed partnerships with many area businesses to promote environmental and water
quality protection goals through a program called the "Environmental Business Partners".
• Implementation of a watershed-based water quality monitoring program, including wet
weather land use-based monitoring, ambient and wet weather stream monitoring, structural
Best Management Practice (BMP) assessment monitoring, and biological/habitat assessment
and monitoring. The city is also working with the United States Geological Survey to
establish a citywide network of continuous monitoring rainfall and streamflow gaging
stations to provide data for the watershed modeling and management program.
• Innovative restoration projects for local degraded streams including enhancement or creation
of adjacent riparian wetland areas.
• Development of a comprehensive stormwater management ordinance.
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For more information on the City of Greensboro Storm Water Services, contact Scott Bryant,
City of Greensboro Storm Water Services, [phone].
1.4.5 UNC-Wilmington – Center for Marine Science Research
The Center conducts research involving nutrients, plankton, aquatic microorganisms, and general
water quality and pollution management issues in marine, estuarine and freshwater systems.
Information about the program is available at: http://www.uncwil.edu/cmsr/aquaticecology.laboratory/.
Descriptions of the ongoing research projects within the Lower Cape Fear River Hydrologic Unit
are included below.
Lower Cape Fear River Program
Since 1995, the Center for Marine Science Research has regularly collected data on numerous
physical, chemical and biological parameters at 35 locations throughout the Cape Fear River
watershed. This data is entered into the EPA STORET system, and comprehensive reports are
issued to interested parties on an annual basis. Research projects in this watershed include
analysis of animal waste lagoon spills, effect of hurricanes and storms on the watershed, factors
controlling phytoplankton production in the estuary and tributary rivers, effects of water
chemistry on fungal breakdown of detritus, and the effects of nutrient loading on the biota and
metabolism of blackwater streams. Related cooperative research projects are also conducted
with the UNCW Biology Department and the UNCW Benthic Ecology Lab.
The New Hanover County Tidal Creeks Project
Since 1993, the Center has been conducting research on bacterial pollution, algal blooms, effect
of tides on water quality parameters, nutrient limitation of phytoplankton productivity, and
nutrient loading in five tidal creeks in New Hanover County, with published annual reports. A
major accomplishment of this project has been publication of a set of management
recommendations for environmentally sound coastal development practices. The project is
funded by and works cooperatively with a citizen’s group (the Northeast New Hanover
Conservancy) and the New Hanover County Planning Department.
City of Wilmington Watersheds Project
In 1997, the Center began an ongoing project analyzing environmental quality of the City of
Wilmington’s drainage basins. This includes collecting baseline data on pollutants such as
nutrients, fecal coliform bacteria, turbidity and other parameters; analyzing effectiveness of large
stormwater detention ponds, runoff from golf courses, and effect of loadings on adjacent
waterways. This project is funded by and designed in cooperation with the City of Wilmington
Engineering Department and its stormwater runoff program.
1.4.6 Haw River Assembly
The Haw River Assembly is a nonprofit citizen organization working to restore the Haw River
and protect Jordan Lake using education, citizen water monitoring and research as our tools. We
share water monitoring information collected by our Haw River Watch volunteers with state
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biologists, and are working with state and federal agencies in the areas of land conservation,
nonpoint source pollution education and dam removal. We have been instrumental in drawing
attention to the impaired streams in our river basin.
1.5 Current Initiatives by Major Watershed
1.5.1 Haw River (Subbasins 03-06-01 to 03-06-06)
Table C-4 highlights projects within the Haw River watershed. A description of each project
follows.
Table C-4 Haw River Watershed Projects
Project Subbasin Contractor
Funding
Source Grant
Upper Cape Fear Riparian Buffer Protection
Planning Grant
03-06-01 –
03-06-06
Triangle J COG CWMTF $70,0001
Upper Cape Fear Planning Initiative 03-06-01 –
03-06-06
Piedmont Triad and Triangle
J COGs
205(j) $31,119
New Hope Creek Corridor Riparian Buffer
Acquisition
03-06-05 –
03-06-06
County of Durham CWMTF $750,000
New Hope Creek Corridor Riparian Buffer
Acquisition
03-06-05 –
03-06-06
Triangle Land Conservancy CWMTF $2,250,000
2
New Hope Creek Corridor Riparian Buffer
Acquisition
03-06-05 –
03-06-06
Town of Chapel Hill CWMTF $200,000
3 Sandy Creek Stormwater Control Project 03-06-05 Duke University and
NCWRP
CWMTF $582,500
4 South Buffalo Creek Regional Stormwater
Wetland
03-06-02 Town of Greensboro CWMTF $800,000
5 Haw River Source Land Acquisition 03-06-01 Haw River Assembly CWMTF $24,500
6 Sedimentation Basin Design Improvements 03-06-06 North Carolina State
University
319 $61,050
7 Cane Creek Reservoir Watershed Buffer
Acquisition
03-06-04 Orange Water and Sewer
Authority
CWMTF $1,042,500
8 Robeson Creek Steward Education Campaign 03-06-04 Haw River Assembly CWMTF $6,000
Upper Cape Fear Riparian Buffer Protection Planning Grant
The Triangle J Council of Governments was awarded $70,000 to initiate a stakeholder program
to quantify the extent and status of riparian buffers within the Jordan Reservoir watershed. The
project will establish a priority listing of riparian buffer and stream restoration needs within the
Haw River watershed. This initiative was augmented in 1998 with a planning grant through the
Clean Water Act 205 (j) program. The three project components include: development and
adoption of proposed comprehensive land use plans for portions of the upper Cape Fear River
basin; development and distribution of informational materials for government officials and
planners on the relationship between regional water quality and land use activities; and
development of a water quality improvement strategy on one priority surface water area.
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New Hope Creek Corridor Open Space Master Plan
Completed in 1991, the New Hope Creek Corridor Open Space Master Plan is a large regional
effort between the counties of Durham and Orange, and cities of Durham and Chapel Hill to
protect a riparian corridor and trail network between the two rapidly growing areas. The Master
Plan was jointly funded and adopted by the four local governments and has received additional
support through the Triangle Land Conservancy, Duke University and the New Hope Audubon
Society. The City and County of Durham established a bond referendum to fund the acquisition
of 170 acres. In 1997, the County of Durham obtained a land acquisition grant from the
CWMTF for the acquisition of an additional 330 acres identified as priorities within the county.
Because Orange County and Chapel Hill do not have bond funds, the Triangle Land
Conservancy recovered funds to acquire three high priority tracts of land totaling 392 acres. In
1998, the Town of Chapel Hill also received funds from the CWMTF to acquire an additional 84
acres. The CWMTF has invested $3.2 million to acquire conservation easements on more than
800 acres, contributing to the completion of the New Hope Creek Riparian buffer and greenway
trail system. Commitment of these groups to protect the New Hope Creek Corridor will help
buffer the impacts of commercial and residential development along the I-40 and 15-501
corridors.
Sandy Creek Stormwater Control Project
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.
City of Greensboro – South Buffalo Creek Regional Stormwater Wetland
The Clean Water Management Trust Fund’s (CWMTF) grant funds of up to $800,000,
supplemented by the City of Greensboro’s matching funds of up to $160,000, will be used to
acquire approximately 40 acres of property located south of I-40 and east of Rehobeth Church
Road in Greensboro and to construct a 20-acre riparian wetland on the property. Vegetated
riparian buffers will also be provided along the banks of the South Buffalo Creek in the project
reach.
The objectives of the project are to improve the water quality in the 12-square mile urbanized
watershed by reducing the pollutant loads and removal of sediment. Additional objectives are to
achieve improvement in aquatic and terrestrial habitats through the development of the riparian
wetland and vegetative stream buffers, which will provide shade and cooling of the water in the
stream.
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Haw River Source Land Acquisition
The project acquired a 3.7-acre parcel containing the source spring of the Haw River. The Haw
River Assembly will establish a management trust to protect the source and riparian buffer along
the first 800 feet of the stream. This project is expected to spawn additional protection of
riparian areas in the headwaters portion of the Haw River.
Sedimentation Basin Design Improvements
One major source of sediment is soil erosion from construction sites. Sediment basins are
constructed to remove sediment from stormwater before it leaves the construction site. The project
funded through the 319 program is part of a larger scale demonstration and analysis of innovative
construction site sediment control basin techniques for environmentally sensitive Piedmont area
streams.
Several other approaches have been tested in Orange County to increase effective sediment
trapping. An improvement to sediment basin function is to use gypsum to flocculate suspended
materials prior to discharge. This approach is currently being tested in Orange County under a
special grant from the Sediment Control Commission. Tests conducted so far have shown that
gypsum significantly reduces suspended sediment and can clarify discharge water to the state
turbidity standard of 50 NTU. The use of gypsum will be demonstrated under various
combinations of skimmer and level spreader configurations.
Cane Creek Reservoir Watershed Buffer Acquisition
The Orange Water and Sewer Authority (OWASA) received CWMTF funding to assist and
augment the OWASA capital improvement funds for the acquisition of easements on ‘preferred
properties’ within the Cane Creek watershed. The purpose of the project is to protect the long-
term quality of the Cane Creek Reservoir through the protection of three hundred-foot buffers on
perennial and intermittent streams, and the reservoir itself. Protection of these buffers will be
accomplished through fee simple purchases and conservation agreements.
Robeson Creek Stream Steward Education Campaign
The Haw River Assembly was awarded funds to initiate a watershed awareness campaign in the
Robeson Creek watershed including Pittsboro. The stream is listed on the 2000 303(d) list and
many of the pollution sources are nonpoint source in nature. The Haw River Assembly will seek
cooperation from city and county agencies, the Triangle J Council of Governments, Cooperative
Extension Service, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service to coordinate development
of a broader restoration initiative. This funding will provide for landowner outreach and
education and initiate broader opportunities for conservation and restoration.
1.5.2 Deep River Watershed (Subbasins 03-06-08 to 03-06-12)
Table C-5 highlights projects within the Deep River watershed. A description of each project
follows.
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Table C-5 Deep River Watershed Projects
Project Subbasin Contractor
Funding
Source Grant
1 Deep River Campaign 03-06-11 Triangle Land Conservancy CWMTF $1,189,000
2 McLendons Creek Watershed Project 03-06-10 North Carolina State
University
319 $198,000
3 Riparian Buffer Acquisition in Richland and
Muddy Creek
03-06-08 Piedmont Triad Regional
Water Authority
CWMTF $615,000
4 Buffalo Creek Riparian Protection and
Greenway Project
03-06-11 Town of Sanford CWMTF $765,000
5 Sandy Creek Riparian Buffer Acquisition 03-06-09 Town of Ramseur CWMTF $134,000
6 Ramseur Sewer Rehabilitation Project 03-06-09 Town of Ramseur CWMTF $344,000
Deep River Campaign
The Clean Water Management Trust Fund provided monies for the acquisition and protection of
permanent riparian buffers on 4.1 miles of the Deep River and its tributaries. Three tracts will be
used as keystone properties to continue riparian protection efforts along the Deep River.
Coordinated efforts between the Triangle Land Conservancy and other agencies will lead to
establishment and continuity of a protected riparian corridor.
McLendons Creek Watershed Project
The McLendons Creek Watershed Project was a three-year effort (ended in 1999) to install and
evaluate agricultural and urban BMPs targeted at reduction of phosphorus, nitrogen and sediment
inputs to McLendons Creek. BMPs are land use practices such as vegetated stream buffers,
fertilizer management, stormwater detention basins and others. Water quality monitoring before
and after BMP implementation is used to evaluate overall effectiveness.
The education and outreach goals of the project were accomplished. As monitoring results are
developed, the final report will be available online at
http://www5.bae.ncsu.edu/programs/extension/wqg/ncwsheds/mlcw/.
Riparian Buffer Protection on Richland and Muddy Creek
The Piedmont Triad Water Authority secured a grant from the CWMTF for acquisition of 100
acres of riparian buffer along Richland and Muddy Creeks. These streams are located within the
Randleman Reservoir watershed, and protection of existing riparian buffers is important for the
region’s proposed drinking water supply reservoir.
Buffalo Creek Riparian Protection and Greenway Project
The Town of Sanford will acquire and protect 7 miles and 250 acres of riparian buffers along the
Deep River’s Buffalo Creek. The CWMTF funds will acquire up to a 300-foot riparian buffer.
Typical matches include acquisition of the nonriparian buffer portions of the land.
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Sandy Creek Riparian Buffer Acquisition and Ramseur Sewer Rehabilitation Project
Ramseur has been active in establishing a local watershed protection program centered around
the water supply reservoir on Sandy Creek. Sandy Creek drains into a section of the Deep River
designated as High Quality Waters, just downstream of Ramseur. The town secured two grants
from the Clean Water Management Trust Fund to purchase conservation easements on riparian
corridors entering the Sandy Creek Reservoir. Up to 28,000 feet of easements could be
purchased through this program. In 1998, the town received a grant to rehabilitate an existing
sewer outfall, upgrading 7,500 feet of 8" to 12" line. The objective is to reduce infiltration and
leakage from the existing system.
1.5.3 Upper Cape Fear River Watershed (Subbasins 03-06-07, 03-06-13 to 03-06-15)
Table C-6 highlights projects within the Upper Cape Fear River watershed. A description of
each project follows.
Table C-6 Upper Cape Fear River Watershed Projects
Project Subbasin Contractor
Funding
Source Grant
Little Cross Creek Water Supply Watershed
Land Acquisition
03-06-15 City of Fayetteville CWMTF $502,5001
Little Cross Creek Watershed Assessment 03-06-15 City of Fayetteville CWMTF $63,200
2 Cape Fear Botanical Garden Stream
Restoration Project
03-06-15 Cape Fear Botanical Garden CWMTF $77,000
Little Cross Creek Water Supply Watershed Land Acquisition
Little Cross Creek is designated as WS-IV. Four reservoirs located in the watershed are used to
supply water to the City of Fayetteville. In 1997, the city’s Public Works Commission received
a grant to purchase and secure property adjacent to its water supply reservoirs. A total of 101
acres were purchased as permanent easements with buffer areas defined.
In 1998, the city received funds to perform a complete pollutant source assessment of the Little
Cross Creek watershed. The assessment will document watershed hazard areas and map
susceptibility of pollution by nutrients, sediment and fecal coliform. Completion of this
assessment will lead to implementation of a comprehensive watershed management plan.
Cape Fear Botanical Garden
The project will be used to stabilize the lowest portion of Cross Creek before draining into the
mainstem of the Cape Fear River in Fayetteville. The Botanical Garden includes 85 acres of
open space in an otherwise urban area and provides opportunity for demonstration of appropriate
streambank protection and stabilization techniques in an urbanized setting.
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1.5.4 Lower Cape Fear River (Subbasins 03-06-16, 03-07-17, 03-06-20 and 03-06-21)
Table C-7 highlights projects within the Lower Cape Fear River watershed. A description of
each project follows.
Table C-7 Lower Cape Fear River Watershed Projects
Project Subbasin Contractor
Funding
Source Grant
Suggs Mill Pond Land Acquisition 03-06-16 Wildlife Resources
Commission
CWMTF $2,250,0001
Little Singletary Lake Land Acquisition 03-06-16 Wildlife Resources
Commission
CWMTF $1,033,000
2 Coastal Urban and Recreation BMP
Demonstration Project
03-06-17 –
03-06-24
North Carolina State
University
CWMTF $145,632
Little Singletary Lake/Suggs Mill Carolina Pond Land Acquisition
The Lake Singletary/Suggs Mill Pond Complex drains to Ellis and Turnbull Creeks. In 1997, the
Wildlife Resources Commission acquired more than 9,000 acres, including 6,400 acres of
wetland and more than four miles of riparian buffers. A 1999 grant from the CWMTF funded
the acquisition of an additional 391 acres, and one mile of riparian and wetland buffer
surrounding Little Singletary Lake that were slated for development. Additional conservation
activities in this area through The Nature Conservancy have resulted in the protection of the
Carolina Bay Ecosystem from impending development. The land is dedicated as a nature
preserve, significantly contributing to the protection of wildlife and aquatic resources in the
Bladen Lakes Management Region.
Coastal Urban and Recreation BMP Demonstration Project
The Coastal Urban and Recreation BMP Demonstration Project Team was developed through
this 319 funded project to address the issues of runoff control from developed sites. Following
the pollutant source inventory and evaluation of impaired watersheds, the project team will
evaluate and implement best management practices (BMPs) to protect coastal waters impaired by
runoff from developed areas. Surveys of existing data and interviews with local officials and
residents will be used to determine sites in four watersheds where BMPs can be installed and
evaluated for nonpoint source pollution control.
The project will demonstrate BMPs to reduce pathogen, nutrient and pesticide inputs from urban
and recreational development in coastal areas of the Cape Fear River basin. BMPs will include
vegetation and other runoff reduction measures, nutrient and pest management to reduce
pollutant sources, erosion control measures and stormwater retention.
Educational meetings, field days, demonstrations, fact sheets, displays and newsletters will be
used to promote BMP implementation throughout the coastal region. Target audiences will
include local government officials, developers, builders, lenders, professional landscapers and
the general public. A team has coordinated a Coastal Urban Workshop scheduled for the
Section C: Chapter 1 - Workshop Summaries 267
Wilmington area in March of 2000. Coastal environmental education and demonstration projects
conducted by NCSU and UNC-Wilmington have been incorporated in the education and
demonstration programs.
1.5.5 Black River Watershed (Subbasins 03-06-18 and 03-06-19)
Table C-8 highlights projects within the Black River watershed. A description of each project
follows.
Table C-8 Black River Watershed Projects
Project Subbasin Contractor
Funding
Source Grant
1 Little Coharie Watershed Protection Project 03-06-19 North Carolina Cooperative
Extension Service
319 $27,990
2 Black and South River Riparian Protection 03-06-18 The Nature Conservancy CWMTF $2,000,000
Black River Land Acquisition 03-06-19 The Nature Conservancy 319 $100,350
Little Coharie Watershed Protection Project
The Little Coharie Watershed Project was initiated in 1995. The intent was to accelerate the
adoption and use of vegetated buffers by providing educational and technical assistance in
conjunction with a cost share assistance program. Findings from surface and groundwater
monitoring of vegetative buffers in Duplin County showed that these management practices are
effective at reducing nutrient and sediment delivery to water resources. The project set a basis
for the utilization of state cost share money for implementation of riparian buffers to protect
surface waters threatened based upon BOD, nutrient and sediment inputs from nonpoint sources.
Due to the demonstrations and public attention derived from the project, many of the practices
first implemented in the Little Coharie Watershed are now being implemented countywide. For
instance more than 40,000 feet of field edge buffers have been planned or installed in Sampson
County (Rice, 1998).
The Nature Conservancy – Black and South River Land Acquisition and Riparian Protection
The Nature Conservancy has been very active in the Black and South River watersheds
concerning land acquisition for riparian protection. The well-established organization has met
acquisition needs with both private donations and public grants. In 1995, the Nature
Conservancy acquired funding through the 319 program to demonstrate the water quality benefits
of a 295-acre land acquisition within the Black River watershed. The project demonstrated how
preservation of a riparian buffer along an ORW river protects a river from NPS pollution. Field
sampling and nutrient export models were used to predict export coefficients and potential
nutrient loading based upon conversion to more intensive land uses. Without purchase, the land
was subject to conversion from forest to agriculture and clearing for development. The 1998
CWMTF funded project makes available up to two million dollars for land acquisition of riparian
forested areas along Outstanding Resource Waters segments of the Black and South Rivers.
Three hundred-foot buffers will be established to connect presently isolated lands with
Section C: Chapter 1 - Workshop Summaries 268
continuous riparian corridors. The project will preserve at least 15 miles and 3,000 acres of
riparian buffers in the project area.
1.5.6 Northeast Cape Fear River Watershed (Subbasins 03-06-22 to 03-06-24)
Table C-9 highlights projects within the Northeast Cape Fear River watershed. A description of
each project follows.
Table C-9 Northeast Cape Fear Watershed Projects
Project Subbasin Contractor
Funding
Source Grant
1 Northeast Cape Fear Riparian Buffer Protection 03-06-22 NC Wildlife Resources
Commission
CWMTF $1,070,000
2 New Hanover County – Constructed Wetlands
for Landfill Leachate Treatment
03-06-24 New Hanover County –
DEM
CWMTF $785,000
3 New Hanover County Tidal Creeks Water
Quality Enhancement Project
03-06-24 New Hanover County CWMTF $6,000,000
Northeast Cape Fear Riparian Buffer Protection
The Wildlife Resources Commission was awarded funding for acquisition of riparian buffers on
1,076 acres totaling 46,000 linear feet of buffers on the Northeast Cape Fear River. These
purchases tie in with existing state and private protected areas within the river basin.
New Hanover County – Constructed Wetlands for Landfill Leachate Treatment
The county landfill was permitted to discharge 50,000 GPD of leachate to the Northeast Cape
Fear River. The project funded a non-discharge solution including constructed wetland and
spray field for leachate from the New Hanover County municipal solid waste landfill. The
system will drastically reduce current loading of 14,000 lbs/yr of TN, 3,500 lbs/yr of BOD, and
1,800 lbs/yr of TSS. A requirement of funding is for the county to rescind its NPDES discharge
permit and replace it with a non-discharge, land application permit.
New Hanover County Tidal Creeks Water Quality Enhancement Project
This extensive project is coordinated through New Hanover County Planning Department. This
enhancement program will tie in with an ongoing monitoring program, the Tidal Creeks Project,
managed by the UNC–Wilmington Center for Marine Science. The program concentration areas
include acquisition of riparian buffers and easements and implementation of best management
practices. The centerpiece of the program was the acquisition and development of the Airlie
Garden property. This site will act as the focal point for education, research, implementation and
demonstration of estuarine water quality protection and restoration programs. The program plans
to acquire and preserve riparian buffers on five tidal creeks and to implement BMPs controlling
stormwater runoff from these areas.