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Home My WebLink AboutTOC PASQUOTANK 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 Pasquotank River basin. This plan is the third five-year update to the Pasquotank 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..................................................................................................................................17 What is Basinwide Water Quality Planning?.....................................................................17 Goals of Basinwide Water Quality Planning.....................................................................17 Benefits of Basinwide Water Quality Planning.................................................................18 How You Can Get Involved ..............................................................................................18 Division of Water Quality Functions and Locations.........................................................18 Reference Materials...........................................................................................................20 How to Read the Basinwide Plan.......................................................................................20 Chapter 1 Pasquotank River Subbasin 03-01-50......................................................................23 Including: Pasquotank River and Tributaries.........................................................................23 1.1 Subbasin Overview...................................................................................................23 1.2 Use Support Assessment Summary..........................................................................27 1.3 Status of Previously and Newly Impaired Waters....................................................28 1.4 Status and Recommendations for Waters with Noted Impacts.................................28 1.4.1 Newland Drainage Canal [AU# 30-3-1.5]....................................................28 1.4.2 Sawyers Creek [AU# 30-3-6].......................................................................29 1.4.3 Areneuse Creek [AU# 30-3-13-(1)]..............................................................29 1.4.4 Pasquotank River [AU# 30-3-(3) and AU# 30-3-(12)].................................30 1.5 Additional Water Quality Issues within Subbasin 03-01-50....................................31 Chapter 2 Pasquotank River Subbasin 03-01-51......................................................................33 Including: Alligator River and portions of the Albemarle, Croatan and Roanoke Sounds 33 2.1 Subbasin Overview...................................................................................................33 2.2 Use Support Assessment Summary..........................................................................40 2.3 Status and Recommendations of Previously and Newly Impaired Waters...............41 2.3.1 West Shore Roanoke Sound Growing Area H-1..........................................42 Broad Creek [AU# 30-21-7a]...................................................................................43 Johns Creek [AU# 30-21-5]......................................................................................43 Pond Island [AU# 30-21-4a].....................................................................................43 Roanoke Sound [AU# 30-21b, 30-21c and 30-21d].................................................43 Rockhall Creek [AU# 30-21-6] ................................................................................43 Sand Beach Creek [AU# 30-21-5-1].........................................................................43 2.3.2 Croatan Sound Growing Area H-2 ...............................................................44 Baum Creek [AU# 30-20-5].....................................................................................44 Callaghan Creek [AU# 30-20-4]...............................................................................44 iv Table of Contents Croatan Sound [AU# 30-20-(2)b, 30-20-(2)c, 30-20-(2)d, 30-20-(2)e and 30-20- (2)f]...............................................................................................................45 Cut Through [AU# 30-20-8b]...................................................................................45 Oyster Creek [AU# 30-20-6]....................................................................................45 Spencer Creek [AU# 30-20-3]..................................................................................45 2.4 Status and Recommendations for Waters with Noted Impacts.................................46 2.4.1 Shallowbag Bay [AU#30-21-3]....................................................................46 2.5 Additional Water Quality Issues within Subbasin 03-01-51....................................46 Chapter 3 Pasquotank River Subbasin 03-01-52......................................................................49 Including: Perquimans River, Burnt Mill Creek, Little River and Tributaries...................49 3.1 Subbasin Overview...................................................................................................49 3.2 Use Support Assessment Summary..........................................................................53 3.3 Status and Recommendations of Previously and Newly Impaired Waters...............54 3.3.1 Little River [AU# 30-5-(1)a, 30-5-(1)b and 30-5-(2)]..................................54 3.3.2 Perquimans River [AU# 30-6-(3)]................................................................55 3.4 Status and Recommendations for Waters with Noted Impacts.................................56 3.4.1 Perquimans River [AU# 30-6-(1)a and AU# 30-6-(1)b]..............................56 3.4.2 Burnt Mill Creek [AU# 30-8-1]....................................................................57 3.4.3 Bethel Creek [AU# 30-8-3] ..........................................................................57 3.4.4 Mill Creek [AU# 30-6-5-(2)]........................................................................57 3.5 Additional Water Quality Issues within Subbasin 03-01-52....................................57 3.5.1 Wastewater Non-Discharge Runoff..............................................................58 3.5.2 Dioxin Contamination Fish Consumption Advisory....................................58 Chapter 4 Pasquotank River Subbasin 03-01-53......................................................................59 Including: Scuppernong River, Kendrick Creek and Phelps Lake .......................................59 4.1 Subbasin Overview...................................................................................................59 4.2 Use Support Assessment Summary..........................................................................63 4.3 Status and Recommendations of Previously and Newly Impaired Waters...............64 4.3.1 Kendrick Creek [AU# 30-9-(1) and 30-9-(2)]..............................................64 4.3.2 Main Canal [AU# 30-9-4].............................................................................65 4.3.3 Scuppernong River [AU# 30-14-4-(1)] ........................................................65 4.3.4 Phelps Lake [AU# 30-14-4-6-1]...................................................................67 4.4 Status and Recommendations for Waters with Noted Impacts.................................67 4.4.1 Bull Bay [AU# 30-14] ..................................................................................67 4.4.2 Riders Creek (First Creek) [AU# 30-14-4-10]..............................................68 4.5 Additional Water Quality Issues within Subbasin 03-01-53....................................68 4.5.1 Mercury Contamination – Fish Tissue Assessment......................................68 4.5.2 Dioxin Contamination- Fish Consumption Advisory...................................68 Chapter 5 Pasquotank River Subbasin 03-01-54......................................................................69 Table of Contents v Including: Currituck Sound, Coinjock Bay, Dowdys Bay, Sanders Bay and the North River..................................................................................................................................69 5.1 Subbasin Overview...................................................................................................69 5.2 Use Support Assessment Summary..........................................................................73 5.3 Status and Recommendations of Previously and Newly Impaired Waters...............74 5.3.1 Currituck Sound [AU# 30-1b and 30-1c].....................................................74 5.4 Status and Recommendations for Waters with Noted Impacts.................................74 5.4.1 Unnamed Tributary to Cowells Creek [AU# 30-1-2-2-5-1-1]......................74 5.5 Additional Water Quality Issues within Subbasin 03-01-54....................................75 Chapter 6 Pasquotank River Subbasin 03-01-55......................................................................77 Including: Northeastern Pamlico Sound ..................................................................................77 6.1 Subbasin Overview...................................................................................................77 6.2 Use Support Assessment Summary..........................................................................86 6.3 Status and Recommendations of Previously and Newly Impaired Waters...............87 6.3.1 Stumpy Point Growing Area H-3 .................................................................88 Stumpy Point Bay [AU# 30-22-8a, 30-22-8b and 30-22-8c] ...................................88 6.3.2 Hatteras Growing Area H-4..........................................................................89 Austin Creek (Clubhouse Creek) [AU# 30-22-31]...................................................89 Brooks Creek [AU# 30-22-28].................................................................................89 Duck Ponds and Isaac Pond [AU# 30-22-30-1-1]....................................................90 Joe Saur Creek [AU# 30-22-29]...............................................................................90 Portions of the Pamlico Sound [AU# 30-22b, 30-22c, 30-22d and 30-22e].............90 Sandy Bay [AU# 30-22-30a]....................................................................................90 The Slash [AU# 30-22-30-1]....................................................................................90 6.3.3 Outer Banks Growing Area H-5...................................................................90 Askins Creek [AU# 30-22-24]..................................................................................91 Beach Slue [AU# 30-22-9].......................................................................................91 Blackmar Gut [AU# 30-22-13].................................................................................91 Cape Creek [AU# 30-22-27].....................................................................................91 Eagle Nest Bay [AU# 30-22-2].................................................................................91 Mill Creek [AU# 30-22-22]......................................................................................92 Portions of the Pamlico Sound [AU# 30-22f, 30-22g and 30-22h]..........................92 Peters Ditch [AU# 30-22-23]....................................................................................92 Chapter 7 Pasquotank River Subbasin 03-01-56......................................................................93 Including: Roanoke Sound and small portion of Albemarle and Currituck Sound ............93 7.1 Subbasin Overview...................................................................................................93 7.2 Use Support Assessment Summary........................................................................100 7.3 Status and Recommendations of Previously and Newly Impaired Waters.............101 7.3.1 Eastern Shore of Roanoke Sound Growing Area H-1................................102 Pond Island [AU# 30-21-4b] ..................................................................................102 vi Table of Contents Roanoke Sound (Jockey’s Ridge Soundside) [AU# 30-21e2]................................102 Roanoke Sound [AU# 30-21g]...............................................................................102 Roanoke Sound [AU# 30-21h, 30-21i and 30-21j]................................................103 7.3.2 Eastern Shore of Roanoke Sound Growing Area I-2..................................103 Roanoke Sound (Buzzard Bay) [AU# 30-21f]........................................................104 7.3.3 Previously or Currently Impaired Freshwater and Non-Shellfish Harvesting Waters.........................................................................................................104 Albemarle Sound [AU# 30f2].................................................................................104 Atlantic Ocean [AU# 99-(7)b]................................................................................104 Colington Creek [AU# 30-19-1b]...........................................................................104 7.4 Status and Recommendations for Waters with Noted Impacts...............................104 7.4.1 Atlantic Ocean [AU# 99-(7)c]....................................................................104 7.5 Additional Water Quality Issues within Subbasin 03-01-56..................................105 Chapter 8 North Carolina Water Quality Classifications and Standards............................107 8.1 Description of Surface Water Classifications and Standards .................................107 8.1.1 Statewide Classifications............................................................................107 8.1.2 Statewide Water Quality Standards............................................................107 Chapter 9 Water Quality Stressors and Sources of Impairment in the Pasquotank River Basin................................................................................................................................111 9.1 Stressor Identification.............................................................................................111 9.1.1 Overview of Stressors Identified in the Pasquotank River Basin...............111 9.1.2 Dioxin- Stressor..........................................................................................112 9.1.3 Copper- Stressor..........................................................................................112 9.2 Source Identification...............................................................................................112 Chapter 10 Stormwater and Wastewater Management for Improved Water Quality.......115 10.1 Introduction to Stormwater Runoff.........................................................................115 10.2 Stormwater Programs..............................................................................................115 10.3 Wastewater Management Programs .......................................................................116 10.3.1 NPDES Wastewater Discharge Permit Summary.......................................116 10.3.2 NPDES Wastewater Non-Discharge Permit Summary ..............................117 10.4 On-Site Waste Management...................................................................................121 Chapter 11 Changes in Our Coastal Communities ................................................................123 11.1 Our Changing Waterfronts and Loss of Public Access ..........................................123 11.2 Population Growth and Development.....................................................................124 11.3 Changes in Land Cover...........................................................................................125 11.4 Managing Growth, Development and Stormwater Runoff.....................................126 11.4.1 Assessment of Current Conditions.............................................................126 11.4.2 Assessment of Future Conditions...............................................................128 Table of Contents vii Chapter 12 Water Quality Management Strategies...............................................................129 12.1 The Role of State Government ...............................................................................129 12.2 Coastal Habitat Protection Plan..............................................................................130 12.3 Oyster Action Plan..................................................................................................133 12.4 NC Coastal Nonpoint Source Program...................................................................134 12.5 Community Conservation Assistance Program......................................................138 12.6 The Role of Local Government in Land Use Planning...........................................139 12.6.1 Land Use Plans ...........................................................................................139 12.6.2 Land Use Plans for Communities in the Pasquotank River Basin..............140 12.7 Management Recommendations for Local Governments.......................................143 12.8 Planning for Sea Level Changes.............................................................................145 12.9 Using Land Use Planning as a Tool to Reduce Impacts of Future Development...145 12.10 The Importance of Local Initiatives............................................................146 12.10.1 Federal Clean Water Act – Section 319 Program...................................147 12.10.2 Pasquotank River Watershed Project......................................................148 12.10.3 Clean Water Management Trust Fund....................................................148 12.10.4 North Carolina Ecosystem Enhancement Program (NCEEP)................151 12.10.5 Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program ...............................151 12.10.6 Oyster Shell Recycling ..........................................................................152 12.10.7 Clean Marina Program............................................................................152 12.10.8 Currituck Sound Restoration Feasibility Study......................................153 12.10.9 Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Program (APNEP)......................154 12.10.10 Albemarle-Pamlico Regional Water Quality Study................................155 Chapter 13 Agriculture and Water Quality............................................................................157 13.1 Animal Operations..................................................................................................157 13.2 Agricultural Best Management Practices and Funding Opportunities ...................159 13.2.1 NC Agriculture Cost Share Program..........................................................159 13.2.2 USDA – NRCS Environmental Quality Improvement Program (EQIP)....161 13.3 SWCD Water Quality Strategy Plan.......................................................................161 Chapter 14 Natural Resources in the Pasquotank River Basin.............................................163 14.1 River Basin Hydrologic Units.................................................................................163 14.2 Water Resources and Water Supply Planning........................................................163 14.3 Water Quality Issues Related to Drought...............................................................163 14.4 Source Water Assessment of Public Water Supplies..............................................164 14.4.1 Introduction.................................................................................................164 14.4.2 Delineation of Source Water Assessment Areas ........................................165 14.4.3 Susceptibility Determination – North Carolina’s Overall Approach..........165 14.4.4 Source Water Protection.............................................................................166 14.4.5 Public Water Supply Susceptibility in the Pasquotank River Basin...........166 viii Table of Contents 14.5 Forestry..................................................................................................................167 14.5.1 Forest Management......................................................................................167 14.5.2 Forest Practices Guidelines Related to Water Quality (FPGs)...................168 14.5.3 Forestry Best Management Practices..........................................................168 14.5.4 Bridgemats..................................................................................................169 14.5.5 Forest Products Industry.............................................................................169 14.6 Public Lands............................................................................................................169 14.7 Ecological Significance of the Pasquotank River Basin.........................................169 14.7.1 Significant Natural Heritage Areas in the Pasquotank River Basin ...........170 14.7.2 Wetland Communities in the Pasquotank River Basin...............................173 14.7.3 Rare Aquatic and Wetland-Dwelling Species.............................................173 14.8 Fisheries..................................................................................................................175 14.8.1 River Herring Fisheries Management Plan..................................................175 14.8.2 Fish Kill Summary.......................................................................................175 14.9 Submerged Aquatic Vegetation..............................................................................175 Chapter 15 North Carolina’s Impaired Waters List.............................................................177 15.1 Introduction to North Carolina’s Impaired Waters List..........................................177 15.2 Introduction to TMDLs...........................................................................................177 15.3 Contents of the Integrated Report...........................................................................177 15.4 How North Carolina Proposes Delisting Waters....................................................179 15.5 Scheduling TMDLs.................................................................................................180 15.6 Revising TMDLs ....................................................................................................180 References...................................................................................................................................183 Appendices ix APPENDICES I DWQ Water Quality Monitoring Programs in the Pasquotank River Basin II Use Support Methodology and Use Support Ratings III NPDES Discharge, Non-Discharge and Individual Stormwater Permits IV Pasquotank River Basin Nonpoint Source Program Description and Contacts V Glossary of Terms and Acronyms x List of Figures LIST OF FIGURES Figure i General Map of the Entire Pasquotank River basin.......................................................2 Figure ii General Map of the Pasquotank River basin in North Carolina ....................................3 Figure iii Stressors Identified in Impaired Freshwater Miles for Aquatic Life...........................10 Figure iv Sources Identified in Impaired Freshwater Miles for Aquatic Life.............................11 Figure 1 Basinwide Planning Schedule (2005 to 2009).............................................................17 Figure 2 Division of Water Quality Regional Offices ...............................................................21 Figure 3 Pasquotank River Subbasin 03-01-50..........................................................................24 Figure 4 Pasquotank River Subbasin 03-01-51..........................................................................34 Figure 5 Pasquotank River Subbasin 03-01-52..........................................................................50 Figure 6 Pasquotank River Subbasin 03-01-53..........................................................................60 Figure 7 Pasquotank River Subbasin 03-01-54..........................................................................70 Figure 8 Pasquotank River Subbasin 03-01-55..........................................................................78 Figure 9 Pasquotank River Subbasin 03-01-56..........................................................................94 Figure 10 HWQs, and ORWs in the Pasquotank Basin.............................................................110 Figure 11 Freshwater Stressors..................................................................................................112 Figure 12 Stressors Sources .......................................................................................................113 Figure 13 Animal Operations.....................................................................................................158 List of Tables xi LIST OF TABLES Table i Subbasin 03-01-50 DWQ Classifications by Acres and Miles......................................4 Table ii Subbasin 03-01-51 DWQ Classifications by Acres and Miles......................................4 Table iii Subbasin 03-01-52 DWQ Classifications by Acres and Miles......................................5 Table iv Subbasin 03-01-53 DWQ Classifications by Acres and Miles......................................5 Table v Subbasin 03-01-54 DWQ Classifications by Acres and Miles......................................6 Table vi Subbasin 03-01-55 DWQ Classifications by Acres and Miles......................................6 Table vii Subbasin 03-01-56 DWQ Classifications by Acres and Miles......................................6 Table viii Aquatic Life Use Support Summary..............................................................................8 Table ix Recreation Use Support Summary.................................................................................8 Table x Shellfish Harvest Use Support Summary ......................................................................9 Table xi Comparison of Shellfish Harvesting Acres Impaired in the Pasquotank River Basin between the 2002 and 2007 Basin Plan...............................................................9 Table 1 Basinwide Planning Schedule (2004 to 2011).............................................................19 Table 2 Five-Year Planning Process for Development of an Individual Basinwide Plan........19 Table 3 DWQ Assessment and Use Support Ratings Summary for Monitored Waters in Subbasin 03-01-50.......................................................................................................25 Table 4 Summary of Use Support Ratings by Category in Subbasin 03-01-50 .......................27 Table 5 DWQ Assessment and Use Support Ratings Summary for Monitored Waters in Subbasin 03-01-51.......................................................................................................35 Table 6 Summary of Use Support Ratings by Category in Subbasin 03-01-51 .......................41 Table 7 Summary of DEH Growing Areas H-1, H-2 and I-2 Classifications in Subbasin 03-01-51.......................................................................................................................41 Table 8 DWQ Assessment and Use Support Ratings Summary for Monitored Waters in Subbasin 03-01-52.......................................................................................................51 Table 9 Summary of Use Support Ratings by Category in Subbasin 03-01-52 .......................54 Table 10 DWQ Assessment and Use Support Ratings Summary for Monitored Waters in Subbasin 03-01-53.......................................................................................................61 Table 11 Summary of Use Support Ratings by Category in Subbasin 03-01-53 .......................64 Table 12 Fish Tissue Results for Mercury Contamination in Subbasin 03-01-53......................68 Table 13 DWQ Assessment and Use Support Ratings Summary for Monitored Waters in Subbasin 03-01-54.......................................................................................................71 Table 14 Summary of Use Support Ratings by Category in Subbasin 03-01-54 .......................73 Table 15 DWQ Assessment and Use Support Ratings Summary for Monitored Waters in Subbasin 03-01-55.......................................................................................................79 Table 16 Summary of Use Support Ratings by Category in Subbasin 03-01-55 .......................87 Table 17 Summary of DEH Growing Areas H-3, H-4, H-5, H-6 Classifications in Subbasin 03-01-55.......................................................................................................................87 Table 18 DWQ Assessment and Use Support Ratings Summary for Monitored Waters in Subbasin 03-01-56.......................................................................................................95 Table 19 Summary of Use Support Ratings by Category in Subbasin 03-01-56 .....................101 Table 20 Summary of DEH Growing Areas H-1, I-2 Classifications in Subbasin 03-01-56...101 Table 21 Primary and Supplemental Surface Water Classifications ........................................108 Table 22 Stormwater Outfalls (2005-06)..................................................................................116 Table 23 Summary of NPDES Dischargers and Permitted Flows for the Pasquotank River Basin (August 2006)..................................................................................................117 xii Table of Contents Table 24 Summary of NPDES Non-Discharge Permits for the Pasquotank River Basin (August 2006)............................................................................................................119 Table 25 County Population and Growth Estimates.................................................................124 Table 26 Municipal Population and Growth Trends.................................................................125 Table 27 Land Cover in the Pasquotank River Basin: 1982 vs. 1997 ......................................126 Table 28 Local Planning Jurisdictions......................................................................................140 Table 29 Section 319 Grant Funded Projects in the Pasquotank River Basin..........................147 Table 30 Clean Water Management Trust Fund Projects in the Pasquotank River Basin........149 Table 31 Permitted Animal Operations. ...................................................................................157 Table 32 Summary of NCACSP Projects in the Pasquotank River Basin (2000-2005)...........160 Table 33 Hydrologic Subdivisions in the Pasquotank River Basin..........................................163 Table 34 SWAP Results for Surface Water Source in the Pasquotank River Basin ................167 Table 35 List of Rare Aquatic Species in Pasquotank River Basin..........................................174