Chapter 3

Chapter 3 – Chowan River Subbasin 03-01-03 39
Chapter 3
Chowan River Subbasin 03-01-03
Including: Chowan River (Middle)

3.1 Subbasin Overview

This subbasin contains the middle section of the Chowan
River, below Bennetts Creek (Merchants Millpond) and
above Rockyhock Creek and includes the Indian Creek and
Catherine Creek tributaries. The entire subbasin is
designated as Nutrient Sensitive Waters. This subbasin
contains the Colerain/Cow Island Swamp and Slopes
Natural Heritage Area. Tidal Cypress-Gum Swamp, a
designated significant natural heritage area, is found along
much of the shoreline of the Chowan River and represents
an important wetland ecosystem within the Chowan River
basin.

Land use is mainly forested wetlands and agricultural
cropland. The largest municipality in the subbasin is
Colerain with a population of approximately 221 persons
and has experienced an overall net decline since 1990.
Additional information regarding population and land use
changes throughout the entire basin can be found in
Chapter 8.

One minor and one major NPDES permit have been issued
in this subbasin with a total permitted flow of 1.52 MGD.
Perry-Wynns Fish Company in Bertie County is permitted
to discharge 0.02 MGD. It is classified as a minor
industrial process and commercial NPDES facility and is
currently in compliance. Edenton Dyeing and Finishing
LLC in Chowan County is permitted to discharge 1.5
MGD. It is classified as a major industrial process and
commercial NPDES facility. By permit, Edenton Dyeing
and Finishing must also conduct whole effluent toxicity
(WET) testing. The facility failed seven WET tests during
the last two years of the assessment period and enforcement was taken on five separate
occasions. Edenton Dyeing and Finishing is currently in compliance with their permit limits, but
the facility has recently closed. There are no permitted non-discharge systems or stormwater
discharges in this subbasin. For the listing of NPDES permit holders, refer to Appendix III.

A map including the locations of the NPDES facilities and water quality monitoring stations is
presented in Figure 5. Table 7 contains a summary of monitored waterbodies with their
associated assessment unit numbers (AU#) and lengths, monitoring data types, locations and
results, along with use support ratings for waters in the subbasin.
Subbasin 03-01-03
at a Glance

Land and Water Area
Total area: 123 mi2
Land area: 100 mi2
Water area: 23 mi2

Land Cover (percent)
Forest/Wetland: 40%
Cultivated Crop: 40%
Surface Water: 19%
Urban: <1%
Pasture/
Managed Herbaceous: <1%

Counties
Bertie, Chowan, Hertford and
Gates

Municipalities
Colerain

Monitored Waterbody Statistics
Aquatic Life:
Total: 14.1 mi
Total Supporting: 14.1 mi

Recreation:
Total: 14.1 mi
Total Supporting: 14.1 mi
Planning Section
Basinwide Planning Section
February 23, 2007
¾r
¾r
¾r¡~
¡~
#*#*#*XY
GATES
CHOWAN
HERTFORD
BERTIE
Colerain
Chowan River
I ndian Creek
W
a
l
t
on P
o
nd Warwick Creek
Trot m a n Creek
NC-37
NC-32
NC-32
NC-45
DA9
DA10
024681
Miles
Figure 5 Chowan River Subbasin 03-01-03
Non-Dischargers
%L Major
#I Minor
NPDES Dischargers
XY Major
#*Minor
Legend
Monitoring Stations¡~Ambient Monitoring Station
!(à Benthic Community
¾r Recreation Locations
Aquatic Life Rating
Impaired
No Data
Not Rated
Supporting
County Boundary
Subbasin Boundary
Municipality
Primary Roads
AU Number
Description
Length/AreaClassification
AL Rating REC RatingStation
Year/
ParameterResult % Exc
Aquatic Life Assessment
ResultStation
Recreation Assessment
Stressors Sources
CHO 03-01-03SubbasinTable 7
CHOWAN RIVER
25b
From the Subbasin 03-01-01/03-01-03 boundary to the
Subbasin 03-01-03/03-01-04 Boundary
14.1 FW MilesB;NSW S SDA9 NCE
DA10 NCE
N59 NCE
DA9 NCE
DA10 NCE
Toxic Impacts WWTP NPDES
Ammonia WWTP NPDES
Use Categories:Monitoring data type: Use Support Ratings 2005:
AL - Aquatic Life DF - Fish Community Survey E - Excellent S - Supporting, I - Impaired
REC - Recreation DB - Benthic Community Survey G - Good NR - Not Rated
DA - Ambient Monitoring Site GF - Good-Fair NR*- Not Rated for Recreation (screening criteria exceeded)
DL- Lake Monitoring F - Fair ND-No Data Collected to make assessment
P - Poor NR+-Not Rated because draft criteria used for rating
NI - Not Impaired
Miles/Acres m- Monitored N- Natural
FW- Fresh Water e- Evaluated M- Moderate CE-Criteria Exceeded > 10% and more than 10 samples
S- Severe NCE-No Criteria Exceeded
ID- Insufficeint Data Available
Results:
Results
Aquatic Life Rating Summary
S 14.1 FW Milesm
17.1 FW Miles
Recreation Rating Summary
14.1 FW MilesSm
17.1 FW Miles
Fish Consumption Rating Summary
31.2 FW MilesIe
CHO Subbasin 03-01-03
42 Chapter 3 – Chowan River Subbasin 03-01-03
No biological (benthic or fish community) samples were collected in this subbasin; however,
DWQ conducted a reconnaissance in 2005 to identify potential sampling sites during the next
basinwide assessment period. These potential sampling sites are listed in Table 8.

Table 8 Potential Biological Sampling Locations in Subbasin 03-01-03

Waterbody Location County
Chowan River Holiday Island Chowan
Chowan River Below Arrowhead Beach Chowan
Indian Creek NC 32 (Welch Road) Chowan
UT Warwick Creek NC 32 (Welch Road Chowan
Warwick Creek SR 1232 (Cannon Ferry/Catherine’s Creek Road) Gates/Chowan
Trotman Creek SR 1100 (Carters Road) Gates

Data were collected from two ambient monitoring stations (DA9 and DA10). No criteria were
exceeded at either site. Some salinity occurs in this stretch of the Chowan River, with readings
as high as 3.0 parts per trillion (ppt). Refer to the 2006 Chowan River Basinwide Assessment
Report (http://www.ncwaterquality.org/esb/Basinwide/ChowanBASINWIDEFinal.pdf) and
Appendix I for more information on monitoring.

All waters in this subbasin have the supplemental classification of Nutrient Sensitive Waters
(NSW) in addition to the primary classification of Class C or Class B. See Chapter 5 for more
information on surface water classifications.

Waters in the following sections and in Table 7 are identified by an assessment unit number
(AU#). This number is used to track defined segments in the water quality assessment database,
list 303(d) Impaired waters, and to identify waters throughout the basin plan. The AU# is a
subset of the DWQ index number (classification identification number). A letter attached to the
end of the AU# indicates that the assessment is smaller than the DWQ index segment. No letter
indicates that the AU# and the DWQ index segment are the same.

3.2 Use Support Assessment Summary

All surface waters in the state are assigned a
classification appropriate to the best-intended
use of that water. Waters are regularly
assessed by DWQ to determine how well they
are meeting their best-intended use. Refer to
Table 9 for a summary of use support for
waters in subbasin 03-01-03.

In subbasin 03-01-03, use support was
assigned for aquatic life, recreation and fish
consumption categories. Waters are
Supporting, Impaired, Not Rated, and No Data
in the aquatic life and recreation categories on
a monitored or evaluated basis. Waters are
Impaired in the fish consumption category on an evaluated basis based on fish consumption
advice issued by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).
Table 9 Summary of Use Support Ratings by
Category in Subbasin 03-01-03
Use Support
Rating Aquatic Life Recreation
Monitored Waters
Supporting 14.1 mi 14.1 mi
Total 14.1 mi 14.1 mi
Unmonitored Waters
No Data 17.1 mi 17.1 mi
Total 17.1mi 17.1mi
All Waters** 31.2 mi 31.2 mi
* The noted percent Impaired is the percent of monitored
mile/acres only.
**Total Monitored + Total Unmonitored = Total All Waters.

Chapter 3 – Chowan River Subbasin 03-01-03 43
For more information about use support determinations, refer to Appendix II or the Supplemental
Guide to North Carolina’s Basinwide Planning: Support Document for Basinwide Water Quality
Plans found at DWQ’s website:
http://www.ncwaterquality.org/basinwide/SupplementalGuide.htm. Appendix V provides
definitions of the terms used throughout this basin plan.

3.3 Status and Recommendations of Previously and Newly Impaired
Waters

The following waters were either identified as Impaired in the previous basin plan (2002) or are
newly Impaired based on recent data. If previously identified as Impaired, the water will either
remain on the state’s 303(d) list or will be delisted based on recent data showing water quality
improvements. If the water is newly Impaired, it will likely be placed on the 2008 303(d) list.
The current status and recommendations for addressing these waters are presented below, and
each is identified by an AU#. Information regarding 303(d) listing and reporting methodology is
presented in Chapter 11.

3.3.1 Chowan River [AU# 25b]

2002 Status
The Chowan River was listed on the 2002 and 2004 303(d) list of impaired waters. It was listed
based on 1998 historical listing for nutrients, with industrial and municipal facilities identified as
potential sources. Previous basinwide water quality plans had identified historic algal blooms
and dioxin as water quality concerns. Algal blooms were the result of excess nutrients and low
pH levels; however, the implementation of best management practices (BMPs) and NPDES
permitting strategies throughout the watershed resulted in a decrease in nutrients and therefore a
reduction in the frequency and intensity of algal blooms.

DWQ recommended that wastewater and land application requirements and permits be evaluated
to reduce the impact from point sources and that an analysis of nutrient reduction efforts be
conducted throughout the entire river basin.

Current Status
The Chowan River, from the subbasin 03-01-01 and 03-01-03 boundary to the subbasin 03-01-03
and 03-01-04 boundary (14.1 miles), is Supporting in the aquatic life category due to ambient
water quality data collected at sites DA9 and DA10. No water quality standards were exceeded
at either of the two ambient monitoring stations.

2007 Recommendations
DWQ will recommend removal of this segment of the Chowan River from the 303(d) list of
impaired waters based on current noted water quality improvements. However, Edenton Dyeing
and Finishing has a history of effluent limit violations; yet, even with recent monitoring and
aquatic toxicity violations, the facility is not considered to be causing substantial harm to water
quality. The DWQ regional office reports the facility has recently closed.

44 Chapter 3 – Chowan River Subbasin 03-01-03