Introduction

Introduction

What is Basinwide Water Quality Planning?

Basinwide water quality planning is a watershed-based approach to restoring and protecting the
quality of North Carolina's surface waters. Basinwide water quality plans are prepared by the
NC Division of Water Quality (DWQ) for each of the 17 major river basins in the state (Figure 3
and Table 2). Preparation of a basinwide water quality plan is a five-year process, which is
broken down into three phases (Table 3). While these plans are prepared by DWQ, their
implementation and the protection of water quality entail the coordinated efforts of many
agencies, local governments and stakeholder groups across the state. The first cycle of plans was
completed in 1998, but each plan is updated at five-year intervals.
Figure 3 Basinwide Planning Schedule (2002 to 2007)

Goals of Basinwide Water Quality Planning

The goals of basinwide planning are to:
ƒ Identify water quality problems and restore full use to Impaired waters.
ƒ Identify and protect high value resource waters.
ƒ Protect unimpaired waters yet allow for reasonable economic growth.

DWQ accomplishes these goals through the following objectives:
ƒ Collaborate with other agencies to develop appropriate management strategies.
ƒ Assure equitable distribution of waste assimilative capacity.
ƒ Evaluate cumulative effects of pollution.
ƒ Improve public awareness and involvement.
ƒ Regulate point and nonpoint sources of pollution where other approaches are not successful.

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Table 2 Basinwide Planning Schedule (2000 to 2007)

Basin DWQ Biological
Data Collection
Draft for Public
Review
Plan Receives
EMC Approval
Begin NPDES
Permit Issuance
Chowan Summer 2000 5/2002 7/2002 11/2002
Pasquotank Summer 2000 5/2002 7/2002 12/2002
Neuse Summer 2000 5/2002 7/2002 1/2003
Broad Summer 2000 11/2002 2/2003 7/2003
Yadkin-Pee Dee Summer 2001 1/2003 3/2003 9/2003
Lumber Summer 2001 9/2003 12/2003 7/2004
Tar-Pamlico Summer 2002 12/2003 3/2004 9/2004
Catawba Summer 2002 7/2004 9/2004 12/2004
French Broad Summer 2002 2/2005 4/2005 9/2005
New Summer 2003 8/2005 10/2005 3/2006
Cape Fear Summer 2003 4/2005 8/2005 4/2006
Roanoke Summer 2004 4/2006 8/2006 1/2007
White Oak Summer 2004 9/2006 12/2006 6/2007
Savannah Summer 2004 11/2006 2/2007 8/2007
Watauga Summer 2004 12/2006 3/2007 9/2007
Hiwassee Summer 2004 11/2006 2/2007 8/2007
Little Tennessee Summer 2004 1/2007 4/2007 10/2007
Note: A basinwide plan was completed for all 17 basins during the first cycle (1993 to 1998). This schedule
represents the second and third cycle for each.

Table 3 Five-Year Process for Development of an Individual Basinwide Plan

Years 1 through 2

Water Quality Data Collection and
Identification of Goals and Issues
• Identify sampling needs
• Conduct biological monitoring activities
• Conduct special studies and other water quality sampling activities
• Coordinate with local stakeholders and other agencies to continue to
implement goals within current basinwide plan
Years 2 through 3

Data Analysis and Collect
Information from State and Local
Agencies
• Gather and analyze data from sampling activities
• Develop use support ratings
• Conduct special studies and other water quality sampling activities
• Work with state and local agencies to establish goals and objectives
• Identify and prioritize issues for the next basin cycle
• Develop preliminary pollution control strategies
• Coordinate with local stakeholders and other agencies
Years 3 through 5

Preparation of the Draft
Basinwide Plan, Public Review,
Approval of Plan,
Issue NPDES Permits
and
Begin Implementation of Plan
• Develop draft basinwide plan based on water quality data, use support
ratings, and recommended pollution control strategies
• Circulate draft basinwide plan for review and present draft plan at
public review
• Revise plan after public review period
• Submit plan to Environmental Management Commission for approval
• Issue NPDES permits
• Coordinate with other agencies and local interest groups to prioritize
implementation actions
• Conduct special studies and other water quality sampling activities

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Benefits of Basinwide Water Quality Planning

Basinwide planning and management benefits water quality by:

ƒ Focusing resources on one river basin at a time.
ƒ Using sound ecological planning and fostering comprehensive NPDES permitting by
working on a watershed scale.
ƒ Ensuring better consistency and equitability by clearly defining the program's long-
term goals and approaches regarding permits and water quality improvement
strategies.
ƒ Fostering public participation to increase involvement and awareness about water
quality.
ƒ Integrating and coordinating programs and agencies to improve implementation of
point and nonpoint source pollution reduction strategies.

Division of Water Quality Functions and Locations

For more information on the above documents, DWQ activities or contacts, visit
http://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/basinwide/ or call [phone] and ask for the basin planner responsible
for your basin of interest. Feel free to contact the appropriate Regional Office for additional
information (Figure 4). For general questions about the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources, contact the Customer Service Center at 1-877-623-6748.

How You Can Get Involved

To assure that basinwide plans are accurately written and effectively implemented, it is important
for citizens and local stakeholders to participate in all phases of the planning process. You may
contact the basinwide planner responsible for your basin anytime during the plan’s development.
Upon request, the basin planner can also present water quality information and basin concerns to
local stakeholder groups.

To make the plan more inclusive, DWQ is coordinating with the local Soil and Water
Conservation Districts (SWCD), council of governments, NC Cooperative Extension Service, the
county Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and stakeholder groups to develop
language and identify water quality concerns throughout the basin. Citizens can be involved
during this phase of the plan by contacting the local soil and water conservation district or
cooperative extension service.

During the public comment period, the draft plan is available online and by request for a period
of at least 30 days. DWQ welcomes written comments and questions during this phase of the
planning process and will incorporate comments when appropriate.

Some Other Reference Materials

There are several reference documents and websites that provide additional information about
basinwide planning and the basin’s water quality:

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ƒ A Citizen’s Guide to Water Quality Management in North Carolina (August 2000). This
document includes general information about water quality issues and programs to address
these issues. It is intended to be an informational document on water quality. Visit the
website at http://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/basinwide/ to download the document.
ƒ French Broad River Basinwide Assessment Report (June 2003). This technical report
presents physical, chemical and biological data collected in the French Broad River basin.
The report is prepared by the NC Division of Water Quality (DWQ) Environmental Sciences
Branch and is available on-line at http://www.esb.enr.state.nc.us/.
ƒ French Broad River Basinwide Water Quality Management Plan (May 1995) and the
French Broad River Basinwide Water Quality Plan (May 2000). These first basinwide
plans for the French Broad River basin present historic water quality data, information and
recommended management strategies for the first two five-year basin planning cycles.
ƒ North Carolina's Basinwide Approach to Water Quality Management: Program
Description. (Creager, C.S. and J.P. Baker, 1991). NCDENR DWQ, Raleigh, NC.

How to Read the Basinwide Plan

Chapters 1 - 7: Subbasin and Watershed Information

• Summarizes information and data by subbasin, including:
• Recommendations from the previous basin plan.
• Achievements, current priority issues and concerns.
• Impaired waters and waters with notable impacts.
• Goals and recommendations for the next five years by subbasin.

Chapter 8 - 16

• Presents information on various topics of interest for the protection and
restoration of water quality in the basin, including:
• Stream classifications, population and land cover changes.
• Stressors to water quality.
• Agricultural, forestry and permitting activities in the basin.
• Water and natural resources.
• Water quality initiatives.

Appendices
• Population and land use changes over time, local governments in the basin.
• Describes water quality data collected by DWQ, use support methodology and
303(d) listing methodology.
• Lists NPDES dischargers and individual stormwater permits.
• Provides workshop summaries, points of contact, and a glossary of terms and
acronyms.

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