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Home My WebLink AboutTOC Catawba 2004 North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources Catawba River Basinwide Water Quality Plan September 2004 Division of Water Quality Water Quality Section Catawba River Basinwide Water Quality Plan September 2004 Prepared by: Dave Toms Dave.Toms@ncmail.net NC Department of Environment & Natural Resources Division of Water Quality – Planning 1617 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1617 (919) 733-5083, ext. 577 This Document was approved by the NC Environmental Management Commission on September 9, 2004 to be used as a guide by the NC Division of Water Quality in carrying out its Water Quality Program duties and responsibilities in the Catawba River basin. This plan is the second five-year update to the Catawba River Basinwide Water Quality Plan approved by the NC Environmental Management Commission in February 1995. TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary......................................................................................................................xii Section A - General Basinwide Information..................................................................................1 Chapter 1 - Introduction to Basinwide Water Quality Planning....................................................2 1.1 What is Basinwide Water Quality Planning?...................................................2 1.2 Goals of Basinwide Water Quality Planning ...................................................2 1.3 Major Components of the Basinwide Plan.......................................................4 1.4 Benefits of Basinwide Water Quality Planning ...............................................4 1.5 How to Get Involved........................................................................................4 1.6 Other References..............................................................................................5 1.7 Division of Water Quality Functions and Locations........................................5 Chapter 2 - Catawba River Basin Overview..................................................................................7 2.1 General Overview ............................................................................................7 2.2 Surface Water Hydrology...............................................................................10 2.2.1 Watershed Descriptions......................................................................10 2.2.2 Hydrologic Features ...........................................................................10 2.2.3 Minimum Streamflow ........................................................................11 2.2.4 Water Withdrawals and Water Supply...............................................11 2.2.5 Interbasin Transfers............................................................................13 2.3 Population and Growth Trends ......................................................................15 2.3.1 County Population and Growth Trends..............................................15 2.3.2 Population, Growth Trends and Population Density..........................16 2.4 Local Governments and Planning Jurisdictions in the Basin.........................20 2.5 Land Cover.....................................................................................................21 2.5.1 CGIA Land Cover ..............................................................................21 2.5.2 NRI Land Cover Trends.....................................................................22 2.6 NPDES Permits Summary .............................................................................25 2.6.1 Permitted Wastewater Discharges......................................................25 2.6.2 Other NPDES Permits ........................................................................26 2.7 Animal Operations .........................................................................................26 2.8 Natural Resources ..........................................................................................30 2.8.1 Catawba River Chain Lakes...............................................................30 2.8.2 Ecological Significance of the Catawba River Basin.........................31 2.8.3 Significant Natural Heritage Areas in the Catawba River Basin .......33 2.8.4 Forestry in the Catawba River Basin..................................................36 Table of Contents i Chapter 3 - Summary of Water Quality Information for the Catawba River Basin ....................39 3.1 General Sources of Pollution..........................................................................39 3.2 Description of Surface Water Classifications and Standards.........................40 3.3 DWQ Water Quality Monitoring Programs in the Catawba River Basin......45 3.3.1 Benthic Macroinvertebrate Monitoring ..............................................45 3.3.2 Fish Assessments................................................................................47 3.3.3 Aquatic Toxicity Monitoring..............................................................48 3.3.4 Lakes Assessment Program................................................................49 3.3.5 Ambient Monitoring System..............................................................49 3.3.6 Notable Patterns in Ambient Data......................................................51 3.4 Other Water Quality Research .......................................................................52 3.5 Use Support Summary ...................................................................................53 3.5.1 Introduction to Use Support Assessment ...........................................53 3.5.2 Comparison of Use Support Rating to Streams on the List of Impaired Waters .................................................................................54 3.5.3 Use Support Assessment in the Catawba River Basin .......................54 Chapter 4 - Water Quality Issues Related to Multiple Watersheds in the Catawba River Basin .........................................................................................................................59 4.1 Introduction....................................................................................................59 4.2 Water Quality Issues Related to Drought.......................................................59 4.3 Color Reduction Strategy...............................................................................60 4.4 South Fork Catawba River Watershed Toxics Review..................................62 4.5 Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities Agreement..................................................63 4.6 Implementation of NCEEP Watershed Restoration and Local Watershed Plans...............................................................................................................64 4.7 Chain Lakes Management Challenges...........................................................64 4.7.1 Hydropower Relicensing....................................................................66 4.7.2 Lake Rhodhiss, Lake Hickory and Lookout Shoals Lake Watershed Protection..........................................................................67 4.7.3 Nutrient Management for Lake Wylie ...............................................71 4.7.4 Aquatic Weed Infestation...................................................................72 4.8 The Importance of Local Initiatives...............................................................73 4.9 Biological Criteria for Assessment of Aquatic Life.......................................74 4.10 Fish Consumption Advice..............................................................................74 4.11 Managing the Impacts of Growth and Development and Stormwater Runoff ............................................................................................................78 4.11.1 Effects of Growth and Development in the Catawba River Basin .....78 4.11.2 The Role of Local Governments ........................................................79 4.11.3 Maintain and Develop Riparian Buffers.............................................81 4.11.4 Protect Headwater Streams.................................................................81 Table of Contents ii 4.11.5 Reduce Impacts of Future Development............................................82 4.12 DWQ Stormwater Programs ..........................................................................83 4.12.1 NPDES Phase I...................................................................................83 4.12.2 NPDES Phase II .................................................................................84 4.12.3 State Stormwater Program..................................................................86 4.12.4 Water Supply Watershed Stormwater Rules......................................87 4.12.5 Trout Stream Protection .....................................................................90 4.13 Habitat Degradation .......................................................................................90 4.13.1 Sedimentation.....................................................................................91 4.13.2 Loss of Riparian Vegetation...............................................................94 4.13.3 Loss of Instream Organic Microhabitats............................................94 4.13.4 Channelization ....................................................................................95 4.13.5 Recommendations for Reducing Habitat Degradation.......................95 4.14 Fecal Coliform Bacteria .................................................................................96 4.15 Addressing Waters on the State’s Integrated 305(b) and 303(d) Report .......98 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Section B - Water Quality Data and Information by Subbasin....................................................99 Chapter 1 - Catawba River Subbasin 03-08-30 Corpening Creek, Mackey Creek, North Fork Catawba River, Muddy Creek, Linville River and Lake James ...............................................................................100 1.1 Subbasin Overview ......................................................................................100 1.2 Use Support Assessment Summary..............................................................105 1.3 Status and Recommendations of Previously and Newly Impaired Waters..106 1.3.1 Corpening Creek (Youngs Fork) Jacktown Creek ................................................................................106 1.3.2 Mackey Creek...................................................................................107 1.3.3 North Fork Catawba River ...............................................................107 1.4 Status and Recommendations for Waters with Noted Impacts....................108 1.4.1 Lake James .......................................................................................108 1.4.2 Linville River....................................................................................109 1.4.3 Left Prong Catawba River................................................................109 1.4.4 Muddy Creek ....................................................................................110 1.4.5 Canoe Creek .....................................................................................112 1.5 Additional Water Quality Issues within Subbasin 03-08-30........................112 Chapter 2 - Catawba River Subbasin 03-08-31 Lower Creek, Wilson Creek, Johns River and Lake Rhodhiss...............................113 2.1 Subbasin Overview ......................................................................................113 2.2 Use Support Assessment Summary..............................................................117 2.3 Status and Recommendations of Newly and Previously Impaired Waters..118 Table of Contents iii 2.3.1 Lower Creek Watershed Including: Lower Creek Zacks Fork Creek Spainhour Creek Greasy Creek Bristol Creek Husband Creek .................................................................................119 2.3.2 Lake Rhodhiss ..................................................................................120 2.3.3 McGalliard Creek.............................................................................121 2.3.4 Irish Creek ........................................................................................122 2.3.5 Harper Creek ....................................................................................122 2.3.6 Hunting Creek ..................................................................................122 2.4 Status and Recommendations for Waters with Noted Impacts....................123 2.4.1 Johns River.......................................................................................123 2.4.2 Silver Creek......................................................................................123 2.4.3 Catawba River ..................................................................................124 Chapter 3 - Catawba River Subbasin 03-08-32 Lower, Middle and Upper Little Rivers, Lake Hickory, Lookout Shoals Lake and Lake Norman....................................................................................................125 3.1 Subbasin Overview ......................................................................................125 3.2 Use Support Assessment Summary..............................................................131 3.3 Status and Recommendations of Newly and Previously Impaired Waters..132 3.3.1 Horseford Creek ...............................................................................132 3.3.2 Lower Little River ............................................................................133 3.4 Status and Recommendations for Waters with Noted Impacts....................133 3.4.1 Lake Hickory ....................................................................................133 3.4.2 Muddy Fork......................................................................................134 3.4.3 Middle Little River ...........................................................................134 3.4.4 Gunpowder Creek.............................................................................134 3.4.5 Lookout Shoals Lake........................................................................135 3.4.6 Lake Norman....................................................................................135 Chapter 4 - Catawba River Subbasin 03-08-33 Dutchmans Creek, McDowell Creek and Mountain Island Lake...........................137 4.1 Subbasin Overview ......................................................................................137 4.2 Use Support Assessment Summary..............................................................140 4.3 Status and Recommendations of Previously and Newly Impaired Waters..141 4.3.1 McDowell Creek ..............................................................................141 4.3.2 Killian Creek ....................................................................................143 4.4 Status and Recommendations for Waters with Noted Impacts....................144 4.4.1 Mountain Island Lake.......................................................................144 4.5 Additional Water Quality Issues within Subbasin 03-08-33........................144 4.5.1 Water Quality Threats to Streams in Urbanizing Watersheds..........144 Table of Contents iv Chapter 5 - Catawba River Subbasin 03-08-34 Irwin Creek, Long Creek, McAlpine Creek and Sugar Creek................................146 5.1 Subbasin Overview ......................................................................................146 5.2 Use Support Assessment Summary..............................................................150 5.3 Status and Recommendations of Previously and Newly Impaired Waters..151 5.3.1 The Sugar Creek Watershed Including: Irwin Creek Little Sugar Creek McAlpine Creek Sugar Creek ......................................................................................151 5.3.2 Long Creek.......................................................................................154 5.3.3 Lake Wylie .......................................................................................154 5.4 Additional Water Quality Issues within Subbasin 03-08-34........................155 Chapter 6 - Catawba River Subbasin 03-08-35 Clark Creek, Mauney Creek, South Fork Catawba River, Henry Fork and Jacob Fork...............................................................................................................156 6.1 Subbasin Overview ......................................................................................156 6.2 Use Support Assessment Summary..............................................................160 6.3 Status and Recommendations of Previously and Newly Impaired Waters..161 6.3.1 Clark Creek.......................................................................................161 6.3.2 Maiden Creek ...................................................................................164 6.3.3 Indian Creek .....................................................................................164 6.3.4 Mauney Creek ..................................................................................164 6.3.5 Henry Fork........................................................................................165 6.4 Status and Recommendations for Waters with Noted Impacts....................165 6.4.1 South Fork Catawba River ...............................................................166 6.4.2 Howards Creek.................................................................................166 6.4.3 Hoyle Creek......................................................................................166 6.4.4 Town Creek ......................................................................................166 Chapter 7 - Catawba River Subbasin 03-08-36 Long Creek, Dallas Branch and South Fork Catawba River ..................................167 7.1 Subbasin Overview ......................................................................................167 7.2 Use Support Assessment Summary..............................................................170 7.3 Status and Recommendations of Previously and Newly Impaired Waters..171 7.3.1 Dallas Branch ...................................................................................171 7.4 Status and Recommendations for Waters with Noted Impacts....................172 7.4.1 South Fork Catawba River ...............................................................172 7.4.2 Long Creek.......................................................................................172 Chapter 8 - Catawba River Subbasin 03-08-37 Catawba Creek and Crowders Creek......................................................................174 Table of Contents v 8.1 Subbasin Overview ......................................................................................174 8.2 Use Support Assessment Summary..............................................................178 8.3 Status and Recommendations of Previously and Newly Impaired Waters..178 8.3.1 Catawba Creek..................................................................................179 8.3.2 Crowders Creek................................................................................179 8.3.3 Unnamed Tributary to Crowders Creek ...........................................180 8.3.4 McGill Creek ....................................................................................180 8.3.5 Abernethy Creek...............................................................................181 8.3.6 Lake Wylie .......................................................................................181 8.4 Status and Recommendations for Waters with Noted Impacts....................181 8.4.1 South Fork Crowders Creek [AU# 11-135-10]................................181 8.5 Additional Water Quality Issues within Subbasin 03-08-37........................182 Chapter 9 - Catawba River Subbasin 03-08-38 Sixmile Creek, Twelvemile Creek and Waxhaw Creek .........................................183 9.1 Subbasin Overview ......................................................................................183 9.2 Use Support Assessment Summary..............................................................186 9.3 Status and Recommendations of Previously and Newly Impaired Waters..187 9.3.1 Sixmile Creek...................................................................................187 9.4 Status and Recommendations for Waters with Noted Impacts....................187 9.4.1 Twelvemile Creek ............................................................................188 9.5 Additional Water Quality Issues within Subbasin 03-08-38........................188 9.5.1 Waxhaw Creek .................................................................................188 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Section C - Current and Future Water Quality Initiatives .........................................................189 Chapter 1 - Current Water Quality Initiatives ...........................................................................190 1.1 Workshop Summaries ..................................................................................190 1.2 Federal Initiatives.........................................................................................191 1.2.1 Clean Water Act – Section 319 Program .........................................191 1.2.2 USDA EQIP .....................................................................................192 1.3 State Initiatives.............................................................................................192 1.3.1 NC Agriculture Cost Share Program................................................192 1.3.2 Ecosystem Enhancement Program (Formerly Wetlands Restoration Program)........................................................................193 1.3.3 Clean Water Management Trust Fund .............................................200 1.3.4 NC Construction Grants and Loans Program...................................204 1.3.5 North Carolina Stream Watch ..........................................................205 1.3.6 South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control..............................................................................................206 1.3.7 Bi-State Catawba River Commission...............................................206 Table of Contents vi 1.3.8 Catawba River Corridor Project.......................................................206 1.4 Local Initiatives............................................................................................207 1.4.1 Mecklenburg County S.W.I.M. Program .........................................207 1.4.2 The Lake James Task Force .............................................................209 1.4.3 Catawba County ...............................................................................209 1.4.4 Caldwell County...............................................................................209 1.4.5 City of Newton .................................................................................210 1.4.6 Gaston County Projects....................................................................210 1.4.7 Morganton Greenway.......................................................................211 1.4.8 Burke County....................................................................................211 1.5 Regional Initiatives ......................................................................................211 1.5.1 Voices and Choices of the Central Carolinas...................................211 1.5.2 Sustainable Environment for Quality of Life...................................212 1.5.3 Catawba Lands Conservancy ...........................................................213 1.5.4 Foothills Conservancy......................................................................213 1.5.5 Catawba River Foundation...............................................................213 1.5.6 Trout Unlimited................................................................................213 1.5.7 American Rivers...............................................................................214 1.5.8 Catawba-Wateree Relicensing Coalition..........................................214 1.5.9 Catawba Bi-State Task Force...........................................................214 1.6.0 NC Wildlife Federation....................................................................215 1.6.1 Volunteer Water Information Network Program (VWIN) and Lake James Environmental Association...........................................215 1.6.2 The Trust for Public Land ................................................................216 Table of Contents vii APPENDICES I NPDES Discharges and Individual Stormwater Permits in the Catawba River Basin II Biological Water Quality Data Collected by DWQ Benthic Macroinvertebrate Collections • • • Fish Community Assessments Lakes Assessments III Use Support Methodology and Use Support Ratings IV 303(d) Listing and Reporting Methodology V Catawba River Basin Workshop Summaries VI Catawba River Basin Nonpoint Source Program Description and Contacts VII Glossary of Terms and Acronyms Appendices viii LIST OF FIGURES Figure A-1 Basinwide Planning Schedule (2002 to 2007).........................................................2 Figure A-2 Division of Water Quality Regional Offices ..........................................................6 Figure A-3 General Map of the Entire Catawba River Basin....................................................8 Figure A-4 General Map of the Catawba River Basin in North Carolina .................................9 Figure A-5 Percent Projected County Population Growth (2000-2020) for Counties of the Catawba River Basin.............................................................................................17 Figure A-6 8-Digit Hydrologic Units in the Catawba River Basin and Population Density by Subbasin...........................................................................................................19 Figure A-7 Percentages within Major CGIA Land Cover Categories in the Catawba River Basin .....................................................................................................................22 Figure A-8 Land Cover Changes from 1982 to 1997 for the Catawba River Basin ...............24 Figure A-9 Animal Operations in the Catawba River Basin...................................................28 Figure A-10 Significant Natural Heritage Areas in the Catawba River Basin..........................34 Figure A-11 ORWs and HQWs in the Catawba River Basin....................................................42 Figure A-12 Water Supply Watersheds in the Catawba River Basin........................................44 Figure A-13 Summary of Compliance with Aquatic Toxicity Tests in the Catawba River Basin .....................................................................................................................49 Figure A-14 Catawba River Chain Lakes..................................................................................65 Figure B-1 Catawba River Subbasin 03-08-30 .....................................................................101 Figure B-2 Catawba River Subbasin 03-08-31 .....................................................................114 Figure B-3 Catawba River Subbasin 03-08-32 .....................................................................126 Figure B-4 Catawba River Subbasin 03-08-33 .....................................................................138 Figure B-5 Catawba River Subbasin 03-08-34 .....................................................................147 Figure B-6 Catawba River Subbasin 03-08-35 .....................................................................157 Figure B-7 Catawba River Subbasin 03-08-36 .....................................................................168 Figure B-8 Catawba River Subbasin 03-08-37 .....................................................................175 Figure B-9 Catawba River Subbasin 03-08-38 .....................................................................184 Figure C-1 Total Attendance by Various Interests at DWQ Water Quality Workshops in the Catawba River Basin (2002).........................................................................190 Figure C-2 EEP Targeted Watersheds of the Catawba River Basin .....................................199 List of Figures ix LIST OF TABLES Table 1 Lake Stressor Summary.......................................................................................xvi Table 2 Monitored Impaired Waters within the Catawba River Basin (as of 2003)........xxi Table A-1 Basinwide Planning Schedule (2000 to 2007)........................................................3 Table A-2 Five-Year Process for Development of an Individual Basinwide Plan ..................3 Table A-3 Hydrologic Subdivisions in the Catawba River Basin..........................................10 Table A-4 Minimum Streamflow Projects in the Catawba River Basin................................12 Table A-5 Estimated Interbasin Transfers in the Catawba River Basin (1997).....................14 Table A-6 Past and Projected Population (1990, 2000, 2020) and Population Change by County...................................................................................................................15 Table A-7 Population (1980, 1990, 2000) and Population Change for Municipalities Greater Than 2,000 Located Wholly or Partly in the Catawba River Basin.........18 Table A-8 Local Governments and Planning Units within the Catawba River Basin ...........20 Table A-9 Description of Major CGIA Land Cover Categories............................................21 Table A-10 Land Cover in the Catawba River Basin by Major Watersheds – 1982 vs. 1997.......................................................................................................................23 Table A-11 Description of Land Cover Types.........................................................................24 Table A-12 Summary of NPDES Dischargers and Permitted Flows for the Catawba River Basin (as of 06/16/03)...........................................................................................26 Table A-13 Registered Animal Operations in the Catawba River Basin (as of 07/03/03)......29 Table A-14 Estimated Populations of Swine, Dairy and Poultry in the Catawba River Basin (1998 and 1994)..........................................................................................30 Table A-15 Statistics on Major Lakes in the Catawba River Basin.........................................31 Table A-16 Rare Aquatic and Wetland-Dwelling Species in the Catawba River Basin (as of August 2003)....................................................................................................32 Table A-17 Primary and Supplemental Surface Water Classifications ...................................40 Table A-18 Summary of Bioclassifications for All Freshwater Benthic Macroinvertebrate Sites (using the most recent rating for each site) in the Catawba River Basin .....46 Table A-19 Summary of NCIBI Categories for All Freshwater Fish Community Sites (using the most recent rating for each site) in the Catawba River Basin..............47 Table A-20 Locations of Ambient Monitoring Stations in the Catawba River Basin by Subbasin................................................................................................................50 Table A-21 Summary of Ambient Sites with Elevated Fecal Coliform Bacteria Concentrations in the Catawba River Basin, September 1997 – August 2002.....52 Table A-22 Aquatic Life Use Support Ratings Summary for All Waters in the Catawba River Basin (1997-2002).......................................................................................55 Table A-23 Recreation Use Support Ratings Summary for Waters in the Catawba River Basin (1997-2002)................................................................................................56 Table A-24 Impaired Monitored Waters within the Catawba River Basin (1997 to 2002).....57 Table A-25 NPDES Color Permitting Imposed During 2002 and 2003 for Catawba River Basin Dischargers in the South Fork Catawba River Watershed .........................62 Table A-26 Lake Stressor Summary........................................................................................66 Table A-27 Communities in the Catawba River with Stormwater Requirements...................88 Table B-1 DWQ Assessment and Use Support Ratings Summary for Monitored Waters in Subbasin 03-08-30..........................................................................................102 List of Tables x Table B-2 Summary of Use Support Ratings by Use Support Category in Subbasin 03-08-30..............................................................................................................105 Table B-3 DWQ Assessment and Use Support Ratings Summary for Monitored Waters in Subbasin 03-08-31..........................................................................................115 Table B-4 Summary of Use Support Ratings by Use Support Category in Subbasin 03-08-31..............................................................................................................118 Table B-5 DWQ Assessment and Use Support Ratings Summary for Monitored Waters in Subbasin 03-08-32..........................................................................................127 Table B-6 Summary of Use Support Ratings by Use Support Category in Subbasin 03-08-32..............................................................................................................132 Table B-7 DWQ Assessment and Use Support Ratings Summary for Monitored Waters in Subbasin 03-08-33..........................................................................................139 Table B-8 Summary of Use Support Ratings by Use Support Category in Subbasin 03-08-33..............................................................................................................141 Table B-9 DWQ Assessment and Use Support Ratings Summary for Monitored Waters in Subbasin 03-08-34..........................................................................................148 Table B-10 Summary of Use Support Ratings by Use Support Category in Subbasin 03-08-34..............................................................................................................151 Table B-11 Summary of Sugar Creek Watershed Fecal Coliform TMDL............................153 Table B-12 DWQ Assessment and Use Support Ratings Summary for Monitored Waters in Subbasin 03-08-35..........................................................................................158 Table B-13 Summary of Use Support Ratings by Use Support Category in Subbasin 03-08-35..............................................................................................................160 Table B-14 DWQ Assessment and Use Support Ratings Summary for Monitored Waters in Subbasin 03-08-36..........................................................................................169 Table B-15 Summary of Use Support Ratings by Use Support Category in Subbasin 03-08-36..............................................................................................................171 Table B-16 DWQ Assessment and Use Support Ratings Summary for Monitored Waters in Subbasin 03-08-37..........................................................................................176 Table B-17 Summary of Use Support Ratings by Use Support Category in Subbasin 03-08-37..............................................................................................................178 Table B-18 DWQ Assessment and Use Support Ratings Summary for Monitored Waters in Subbasin 03-08-38..........................................................................................185 Table B-19 Summary of Use Support Ratings by Use Support Category in Subbasin 03-08-38..............................................................................................................186 Table C-1 Projects Funded Through Clean Water Act Section 319 ....................................191 Table C-2 Ecosystem Enhancement Program Targeted Local Watersheds (2003).............196 Table C-3 Projects in the Catawba River Basin Funded by the Clean Water Management Trust Fund (as of 12/02).....................................................................................200 Table C-4 Projects in the Catawba River Basin Funded by the NC Construction Grants and Loans Section...............................................................................................205 List of Tables xi