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Home My WebLink AboutTable of Contents CHOWAN RIVER BASINWIDE WATER QUALITY PLAN 2007 Prepared by: NC Department of Environment & Natural Resources Division of Water Quality Planning Section 1617 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1617 (919) 733-5083 This document was approved and endorsed by the NC Environmental Management Commission on September 13, 2007 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 Chowan River basin. This plan is the third five-year update to the Chowan River Basinwide Water Quality Plan approved by the NC Environmental Management Commission in September 1997. Table of Contents iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary.......................................................................................................................1 Introduction..................................................................................................................................13 What is Basinwide Water Quality Planning?.....................................................................13 Goals of Basinwide Water Quality Planning.....................................................................13 Benefits of Basinwide Water Quality Planning.................................................................14 How You Can Get Involved ..............................................................................................14 Division of Water Quality Functions and Locations.........................................................14 Reference Materials...........................................................................................................16 How to Read the Basinwide Plan.......................................................................................16 Chapter 1 Chowan River Subbasin 03-01-01............................................................................19 Including: Chowan River (Upper), Wiccacon River, Ahoskie Creek and Bennetts Creek (Merchants Millpond)......................................................................................................19 1.1 Subbasin Overview...................................................................................................19 1.2 Use Support Assessment Summary..........................................................................24 1.3 Status and Recommendations of Previously and Newly Impaired Waters...............25 1.3.1 Chowan River [AU# 25a1, a2a, a2b, a2c]....................................................25 1.3.2 Wiccacon River (Hoggard Swamp) [AU# 25-14]........................................26 1.4 Status and Recommendations for Waters with Noted Impacts.................................27 1.4.1 Cole Creek (Lilley’s Millpond) [AU# 25-12-7]...........................................27 1.4.2 Ahoskie Creek [AU# 25-14-1]......................................................................28 1.4.3 Stony Creek [AU# 25-14-1-6]......................................................................29 1.4.4 Bennetts Creek (Merchants Millpond) [AU# 25-17]....................................29 Chapter 2 Chowan River Subbasin 03-01-02............................................................................31 Including: Meherrin River, Cutawhiskie Swamp and Potecasi Creek..................................31 2.1 Subbasin Overview...................................................................................................31 2.2 Use Support Assessment Summary..........................................................................35 2.3 Status and Recommendations of Previously and Newly Impaired Waters...............36 2.3.1 Potecasi Creek [AU# 25-4-8a and AU# 25-4-8b].........................................36 2.3.2 Bells Branch [AU# 25-4-8-10] and Painter Swamp [AU# 25-4-8-5]...........37 2.4 Status and Recommendations for Waters with Noted Impacts.................................37 2.4.1 Meherrin River [AU# 25-4-(5)]....................................................................37 2.4.2 Urahaw Swamp [AU# 25-4-8-4] ..................................................................38 2.4.3 Cutawhiskie Swamp [AU# 25-4-8-8]...........................................................38 Chapter 3 Chowan River Subbasin 03-01-03............................................................................39 iv Table of Contents Including: Chowan River (Middle)...........................................................................................39 3.1 Subbasin Overview...................................................................................................39 3.2 Use Support Assessment Summary..........................................................................42 3.3 Status and Recommendations of Previously and Newly Impaired Waters...............43 3.3.1 Chowan River [AU# 25b].............................................................................43 Chapter 4 Chowan River Subbasin 03-01-04............................................................................45 Including: Chowan River (Lower), Eastmost Swamp and Albemarle Sound ......................45 4.1 Subbasin Overview...................................................................................................45 4.2 Use Support Assessment Summary..........................................................................49 4.3 Status and Recommendations of Previously and Newly Impaired Waters...............50 4.3.1 Albemarle Sound [AU# 26]..........................................................................50 4.3.2 Chowan River [AU# 25c].............................................................................50 4.4 Status and Recommendations for Waters with Noted Impacts.................................51 4.4.1 Eastmost Swamp [AU# 25-24-1]..................................................................51 4.4.2 Pollock Swamp [AU# 26-1-1-1] and Rockyhock Creek [AU# 25-22].........52 Chapter 5 North Carolina Water Quality Classifications and Standards..............................53 5.1 Description of Surface Water Classifications and Standards ...................................53 5.1.1 Statewide Classifications..............................................................................53 5.1.2 Statewide Water Quality Standards..............................................................53 5.1.3 Nutrient Sensitive Waters Management .......................................................55 Chapter 6 Water Quality Stressors and Sources of Impairment in the Chowan River Basin57 6.1 Stressor and Source Identification............................................................................57 6.1.1 Stressors........................................................................................................57 6.1.2 Sources..........................................................................................................58 Chapter 7 Stormwater and Wastewater Management for Improved Water Quality...........59 7.1 Introduction to Stormwater Runoff...........................................................................59 7.2 Stormwater Programs................................................................................................59 7.3 Wastewater Management Programs .........................................................................60 7.3.1 NPDES Wastewater Discharge Permit Summary.........................................60 7.3.2 Permitted Non-Discharge Waste Management Strategies............................61 7.3.3 On-Site Waste Management.........................................................................63 Chapter 8 Population and Natural Resources in the Chowan River Basin............................65 8.1 Population Growth and Development.......................................................................65 8.2 River Basin Hydrologic Units...................................................................................66 8.3 Water Resources and Water Supply Planning..........................................................67 8.4 Water Quality Issues Related to Drought.................................................................67 Table of Contents v 8.5 Source Water Assessment of Public Water Supplies................................................68 8.5.1 Introduction...................................................................................................68 8.5.2 Delineation of Source Water Assessment Areas ..........................................68 8.5.3 Susceptibility Determination – North Carolina’s Overall Approach............69 8.5.4 Source Water Protection...............................................................................70 8.5.5 Public Water Supply Susceptibility Determinations in the Chowan River Basin .............................................................................................................70 8.6 Changes in Land Cover.............................................................................................71 8.7 Forest Management...................................................................................................72 8.7.1 Forest Practices Guidelines Related to Water Quality (FPGs).....................73 8.7.2 Forestry Best Management Practices............................................................73 8.7.3 Bridgemats....................................................................................................74 8.7.4 Forest Products Industry...............................................................................74 8.8 Public Lands..............................................................................................................74 8.9 Ecological Significance of the Chowan River Basin................................................74 8.9.1 Significant Natural Heritage Areas in the Chowan River Basin...................75 8.9.2 Rare Aquatic and Wetland-Dwelling Animal Species..................................76 8.10 Fisheries....................................................................................................................78 8.10.1 River Herring Fisheries Management Plan...................................................78 8.10.2 Fish Kill Summary........................................................................................78 Chapter 9 Agriculture and Water Quality................................................................................79 9.1 Animal Operations....................................................................................................79 9.2 Agricultural Best Management Practices and Funding Opportunities .....................81 9.2.1 NC Agriculture Cost Share Program............................................................81 9.2.2 USDA – NRCS Environmental Quality Improvement Program (EQIP)......83 9.2.3 Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP)................................83 9.3 SWCD Water Quality Strategy Plan.........................................................................84 Chapter 10 Water Quality Management Strategies.................................................................85 10.1 The Role of State Government .................................................................................85 10.2 Coastal Habitat Protection Plan................................................................................86 10.3 NC Coastal Nonpoint Source Program.....................................................................89 10.4 Community Conservation Assistance Program........................................................93 10.5 The Role of Local Government in Land Use Planning.............................................94 10.5.1 Land Use Plans .............................................................................................94 10.5.2 Land Use Plans for Communities in the Chowan River Basin.....................95 10.6 Management Recommendations for Local Governments.........................................97 10.7 Planning for Sea Level Changes...............................................................................99 10.8 Using Land Use Planning as a Tool to Reduce Impacts of Future Development.....99 10.9 The Importance of Local Initiatives........................................................................100 10.9.1 Federal Clean Water Act – Section 319 Program.......................................101 vi Table of Contents 10.9.2 NC Construction Grants and Loans Programs............................................101 10.9.3 North Carolina Ecosystem Enhancement Program.....................................102 10.9.4 Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program ...................................102 10.9.5 Clean Water Management Trust Fund........................................................102 10.9.6 Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Program (APNEP)..........................104 Chapter 11 North Carolina’s Impaired Waters List.............................................................107 11.1 Introduction to North Carolina’s Impaired Waters List........................................107 11.2 Introduction to TMDLs.........................................................................................107 11.3 Contents of the Integrated Report.........................................................................107 11.4 How North Carolina Proposes Delisting Waters..................................................109 11.5 Scheduling TMDLs...............................................................................................110 11.6 Revising TMDLs ..................................................................................................110 References...................................................................................................................................113 Appendices vii APPENDICES I DWQ Water Quality Monitoring Programs in the Chowan River Basin II Use Support Methodology and Use Support Ratings III NPDES Discharge, Non-Discharge and Individual Stormwater Permits IV Chowan River Basin Nonpoint Source Program Description and Contacts V Glossary of Terms and Acronyms viii List of Figures LIST OF FIGURES Figure i General Map of the Entire Chowan River Basin in NC...............................................11 Figure ii General Map of the Chowan River basin in North Carolina .......................................12 Figure 1 Basinwide Planning Schedule (2005 to 2009).............................................................13 Figure 2 Division of Water Quality Regional Offices ...............................................................17 Figure 3 Chowan River Subbasin 03-01-01...............................................................................20 Figure 4 Chowan River Subbasin 03-01-02...............................................................................32 Figure 5 Chowan River Subbasin 03-01-03...............................................................................40 Figure 6 Chowan River Subbasin 03-01-04...............................................................................46 Figure 7 Animal Operations in the Chowan River basin...........................................................80 List of Tables ix LIST OF TABLES Table i Subbasin 03-01-01 DWQ Classifications........................................................................2 Table ii Subbasin 03-01-02 DWQ Classifications........................................................................2 Table iii Subbasin 03-01-03 DWQ Classifications........................................................................3 Table iv Subbasin 03-01-04 DWQ Classifications by Miles and Acres........................................3 Table v Aquatic Life/Secondary Recreation Use Support Summary Information ......................4 Table 1 Basinwide Planning Schedule (2004 to 2011).............................................................15 Table 2 Five-Year Planning Process for Development of an Individual Basinwide Plan........15 Table 3 DWQ Assessment and Use Support Ratings Summary for Monitored Waters in Subbasin 03-01-01.......................................................................................................21 Table 4 Summary of Use Support Ratings by Category in Subbasin 03-01-01........................24 Table 5 DWQ Assessment and Use Support Ratings Summary for Monitored Waters in Subbasin 03-01-02.......................................................................................................33 Table 6 Summary of Use Support Ratings by Category in Subbasin 03-01-02........................35 Table 7 DWQ Assessment and Use Support Ratings Summary for Monitored Waters in Subbasin 03-01-03.......................................................................................................41 Table 8 Potential Biological Sampling Locations in Subbasin 03-01-03.................................42 Table 9 Summary of Use Support Ratings by Category in Subbasin 03-01-03........................42 Table 10 DWQ Assessment and Use Support Ratings Summary for Monitored Waters in Subbasin 03-01-04.......................................................................................................47 Table 11 Summary of Use Support Ratings by Category in Subbasin 03-01-04........................49 Table 12 Primary and Supplemental Surface Water Classifications ..........................................54 Table 13 NPDES Dischargers and Permitted Flows for the Chowan River Basin.....................61 Table 14 NPDES Non-Dischargers and Permitted Flows for the Chowan River Basin.............63 Table 15 County Population and Growth Estimates...................................................................65 Table 16 Population Data by Municipality in the Chowan River Basin.....................................66 Table 17 Hydrologic Subdivisions in the Chowan River Basin.................................................67 Table 18 Land Cover in the Chowan River Basin by Major Watersheds: 1982 vs. 1997..........72 Table 19 List of Rare Aquatic Species in the Chowan River Basin...........................................77 Table 20 Permitted Animal Operations. .....................................................................................79 Table 21 Summary of NCACSP projects in the Chowan River Basin (2000 to 2005)..............82 Table 22 CREP Acres.................................................................................................................84 Table 23 Local Planning Jurisdictions........................................................................................95 Table 24 Section 319 Grant Funded Projects in the Chowan River Basin...............................101 Table 25 Clean Water Management Trust Fund Projects in the Chowan River Basin.............103 x List of Figures