Chapter 11

Chapter 11
Water Quality Initiatives

11.1 The Importance of Local Initiatives

As the Basinwide Planning Program completes its third cycle of plan development, there are
many efforts being undertaken at the local level to improve water quality. Information about
local efforts particular to a watershed or subbasin is included in Chapters 1-2. DWQ encourages
local agencies and organizations to learn about and become active in their watersheds.

In an effort to provide water quality information and gain public input, DWQ partnered with
local watershed associations, the National Resource Conservation Service, and Soil and Water
Conservation Districts to host the Western North Carolina Basinwide Water Quality Conference
in 2005. The purpose of the conference was to educate people about water quality concerns
specific to the mountain region and show how participation in the Basinwide Planning process
can benefit local initiatives.

An important benefit of local initiatives is that local people make decisions that affect change in
their own communities. There are a variety of limitations local initiatives can overcome
including: state government budgets, staff resources, lack of regulations for nonpoint sources,
the rulemaking process, and many others.

These local organizations and agencies are able to combine professional expertise in a watershed.
This allows groups to holistically understand the challenges and opportunities of different water
quality efforts. Involving a wide array of people in water quality projects also brings together a
range of knowledge and interests, and encourages others to become involved and invested in
these projects. By working in coordination across jurisdictions and agency lines, more funding
opportunities are available, and it is easier to generate necessary matching or leveraging funds.
This will potentially allow local entities to do more work and be involved in more activities
because their funding sources are diversified. The most important aspect of these local
endeavors is that the more localized the project, the better the chances for success.

The collaboration of these local efforts are key to water quality improvements. There are good
examples of local agencies and groups using these cooperative strategies throughout the state.
Specific projects are described in the subbasin chapters (Chapters 1 – 2). Nonpoint source
program descriptions and contact, Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), NC
Cooperative Extension Service and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
contact information can be found in Appendix VII.

DWQ applauds the foresight and proactive response to potential water quality problems in the
watersheds listed above. Federal and State government agencies are interested in assisting local
governments and citizen groups in developing their water quality management programs. The
distribution of several grantors is discussed below.

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11.2 Federal Initiatives

11.2.1 Clean Water Act – Section 319 Program

Section 319 of the Clean Water Act provides grant money for nonpoint source demonstration and
restoration projects. Through annual base funding, there is approximately $1 million available
for demonstration and education projects across the state. An additional $2 million is available
annually through incremental funds for restoration projects. All projects must provide
nonfederal matching funds of at least 40% of the project’s total costs. Project proposals are
reviewed and selected by the North Carolina Nonpoint Source Workgroup made up of state and
federal agencies involved in regulation or research associated with nonpoint source pollution
(NPS). Information on the North Carolina Section 319 Grant Program application process is
available online at http://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/nps/application_process.htm. Descriptions of
projects and general Section 319 Program information are available at
http://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/nps/Section_319_Grant_Program.htm.

11.3 State Initiatives

11.3.1 North Carolina Ecosystem Enhancement Program (NCEEP)

The North Carolina Ecosystem Enhancement Program (NCEEP) is responsible for providing
ecologically effective compensatory mitigation in advance of permitted impacts associated with
road projects and other development activities. The fundamental mission of the program is to
restore, enhance and protect key watershed functions in the 17 river basins across the state. This
is accomplished through the implementation of wetlands, streams and riparian buffer projects
within selected local watersheds. The vital watershed functions that NCEEP seeks to restore and
protect include water quality, floodwater conveyance and storage, fisheries and wildlife habitat.

The NCEEP is not a grant program, but can implement its restoration projects cooperatively with
other state or federal programs such as the Section 319 Program. Combining NCEEP-funded
restoration or preservation projects with 319 or other local watershed initiatives (e.g., those
funded through the Clean Water Management Trust Fund or local/regional Land Trusts)
increases the potential to improve the water quality, hydrologic and habitat functions within
selected watersheds.

Watershed Planning by NCEEP
The selection of optimal sites for NCEEP mitigation projects is founded on a basinwide and local
watershed planning approach which results, respectively, in the development of River Basin
Restoration Priorities and Local Watershed Plans.

River Basin Restoration Planning
In developing River Basin Restoration Priorities (RBRP) (formerly called Watershed Restoration
Plans), the NCEEP identifies local watersheds (14-digit Hydrologic Units) with the greatest need
and opportunity for restoration, enhancement or preservation projects. These high-priority
watersheds are called “targeted local watersheds” (TLWs). Targeted local watersheds are
identified, in part, using information compiled by DWQ's programmatic activities (e.g.,
Basinwide Assessment Reports). Local factors considered in the selection of TLWs include:
water quality impairment, habitat degradation, the presence of critical habitat or significant
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natural heritage areas, the presence of water supply watersheds or other high-quality waters, the
status of riparian buffers, estimates of impervious cover, existing or planned transportation
projects, and the opportunity for local partnerships. Recommendations from local resource
agency professionals and the presence of existing or planned watershed projects are given
significant weight in the selection of TLWs.

Targeted local watersheds represent those areas within a river basin where NCEEP resources can
be focused for maximum benefit to local watershed functions. TLWs are therefore given priority
by NCEEP for the implementation of new stream and wetland restoration/enhancement or
preservation projects.

The 2001 Watershed Restoration Plan for the Savannah River basin can be found on the NCEEP
website at http://www.nceep.net/services/restplans/watershedplans.html. The NCEEP is
currently updating their selections of Targeted Local Watersheds within the Savannah River
basin. Table 19 provides a summary of proposed TLWs for the Savannah basin as of September
2006. The NCEEP is seeking comments from local resource professionals regarding these
selections.

Table 19 Proposed Targeted Local Watersheds (TLWs) for the Savannah River Basin

Name of Watershed
[major streams]
Total
Area
14-digit HU
Code
Rationale for Selection as TLW
for NCEEP Projects
Horsepasture River,
including Logan Creek
[33.1 mi2] 03060101
010020
Highest % developed area of all HUs in the basin;
highest % degraded buffers in the basin; highest # of
natural heritage element occurrences in the basin; high
% Significant Natural Heritage Areas (SNHA);
designated Trout (Tr) waters; decline in bioclassification
rating from 1999-2004; increases in fecal coliform; non-
point source stresses; photographic evidence of instream
habitat degradation in tributary streams (e.g., Hog Back
Creek near the community of Sapphire); increased land
clearing and road-building activities in the watershed;
NCEEP stream mitigation project on Logan Creek.
Chatooga River, including
Fowler Creek and Norton
Mill Creek
[33.8 mi2] 03060102
010010
Second highest % development in basin; second highest
road density; second highest # natural heritage element
occurrences; high % SNHA; designated Tr and ORW
streams; habitat degradation and sediment & nutrient
inputs associated with land clearing, road construction
and increases in impervious cover; non-point source
runoff & stormwater stresses from Cashiers; decline in
bioclassification for Norton Mill Creek from 1999-2004
(perhaps associated with land clearing, buffer zone
degradation and new residential development in the
Highlands area).

To provide comments on these proposed TLWs, please contact the NCEEP Watershed Planner
for the Savannah basin, Hal Bryson, at [phone] or via email at
mailto:[e-mail]. The updated River Basin Restoration Priorities for the Savannah
is scheduled to be posted to the NCEEP website by early 2007.

Chapter 11 – Water Quality Initiatives 97

Local Watershed Planning
In addition to river basin restoration planning, The NCEEP also develops Local Watershed Plans
(LWPs), usually within targeted local watersheds identified in the RBRPs. Through the local
watershed planning process, NCEEP conducts watershed characterization and field assessment
tasks to identify critical stressors in local watersheds. The NCEEP planners and their consultants
coordinate with local resource professionals and local governments to identify optimal watershed
projects and management strategies to address the major functional stressors identified. The
LWPs prioritize restoration/enhancement projects, preservation sites, and best management
practices (BMP) projects that will provide water quality improvement, habitat protection and
other environmental benefits to the local watershed.

Although there is presently no NCEEP Local Watershed Planning initiative in the Savannah
River basin, it is possible that such an effort will be undertaken in the future. Decisions
regarding the possible need for new LWP initiatives within a given basin are made annually by
NCEEP planners. These decisions are based primarily on the quantity and type of compensatory
mitigation projects the Program is required to implement, as well as the opportunity for local
partnerships within selected 14-digit hydrologic units within the basin.

NCEEP Projects in the Savannah River Basin
In the Savannah River basin, NCEEP has initiated one stream mitigation project to date. This is
the Logan Creek project, which comprises approximately 3,300 feet of stream restoration, 1,600
feet of stream enhancement, and 3,100 feet of stream preservation. This creek is a tributary to
the Horesepasture River, near the town of Cashiers in Jackson County. The project is currently
in the early design phase; construction is expected to begin in 2007. Additional NCEEP project
opportunities in this basin are likely to be realized in the coming months and years.

For additional information about NCEEP’s Project Implementation efforts, go to:
http://www.nceep.net/services/implementation/project_implementation.htm. For additional
information about NCEEP in general, including its various program activities and products, visit
http://www.nceep.net/.

11.3.2 Clean Water Management Trust Fund

The CWMTF offers approximately $40 million annually in grants for projects within the broadly
focused areas of restoring and protecting state surface waters and establishing a network of
riparian buffers and greenways. In the Savannah River basin, -- projects have been funded for a
total of $875,00 (Table 20). For more information on the CWMTF or these grants, call (252)
830-3222 or visit the website at www.cwmtf.net.

Table 20 Projects in the Savannah River Basin Funded by the Clean Water Management
Trust Fund

Project Number Application Name Proposed Project Description Amount Funded
2004B-037
NC Div Parks & Recreation -
Acq/ Gorges State Park,
Toxaway River
Protect through fee simple purchase 184 acres
along the Toxaway River and place under the
Gorges State Parks system and management. $875,000
Total Funded $875,000
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