Appendix V

Appendices
Appendix V
White Oak River Basin
Workshop Summaries
A-V-1
WHITE OAK RIVER
BASIN WORKSHOPS
White Oak Workshop
Morehead City, North Carolina
October 23, 2000
Discussion Question 1: WHAT ARE THE MAIN THREATS TO WATER QUALITY IN
THE WHITE OAK RIVER BASIN?
Group 1
• Stormwater runoff
⇒ agricultural runoff (fertilizer, feces, sediment)
⇒ forestry in coastal zone
• Lack of knowledge
⇒ septic tanks in coastal zone
⇒ public official apathy
⇒ sedimentation
⇒ fuel from two-stroke motors
• Port Operations
⇒ turbidity
⇒ construction
⇒ marinas (anti-fauna plant, fuel, septic)
⇒ dredging … thawing
⇒ pesticides
⇒ ballast water (ships in port)
Group 2
• Agricultural runoff
• Lack of enforcement
• Growth-related issues
⇒ construction/development (stormwater runoff)
⇒ wetlands loss/development
• Storm debris
• Trash/debris
• Public attitude and education
• Oil/fuel from boats
• Lack of pumpout facilities
Group 3
• Sewage treatment plants
• Increased hardened surfaces and population growth
• Wetland filling
A-V-2
WHITE OAK RIVER
BASIN WORKSHOPS
White Oak Workshop
Morehead City, North Carolina
October 23, 2000
• Agricultural runoff
⇒ (i.e., pesticides)
• Increased recreational boat traffic, marinas
• Marines (Camp Lejeune)
• ? Beaver dams ?
⇒ streamflow impediments
• Sedimentation
• Atmospheric deposition
• Beach nourishment
• Flooding events
• Lack of monitoring/enforcement
• Insecticides
• Dredging
Discussion Question 2: WHAT ARE THE PROBLEM AREAS OR WATERS AND
WHAT RECOMMENDATIONS DO YOU HAVE FOR
ADDRESSING THESE PROBLEMS/WATERS?
Group 1
Waterfront property/subdivisions
SA waters
The beach
Wards Creek – Otway
⇒ gets agricultural runoff/sedimentation
⇒ recreation - proper permitting (developing near ORW)
Taylors Creek – Beaufort
⇒ NPDES permit
⇒ sewers, ponies and boats
Spooners Creek – Morehead City
⇒ stormwater runoff at marina and adjacent areas
⇒ recreation – buffers, grassy swales
Bogue Banks
⇒ impervious surfaces contributing to runoff
⇒ recreation - vegetative buffers
⇒ stormwater holding/treatment area
⇒ exposed septic fields
A-V-3
WHITE OAK RIVER
BASIN WORKSHOPS
White Oak Workshop
Morehead City, North Carolina
October 23, 2000
⇒ package plants
⇒ recreation - enforcement !
⇒ proper sizing of tank and maintenance
Group 2
All along Bogue Sound to Swansboro
⇒ requirements for post-construction buffers/control (new development)
⇒ longer time periods required for monitoring
⇒ requirements for existing construction – buffers, runoff control
⇒ reward programs for enticement programs for private homeowners (education)
Any waterfront property
⇒ see above recommendations
Any areas adjacent to recreational or commercial fishing
⇒ work with fishermen to help educate the public
⇒ make fishermen aware of adjacent recreational areas
Group 3
Calico Creek
⇒ better management of sewage waste and more on-site treatment
⇒ overflow retention ponds
Taylors Creek
⇒ better management of sewage waste and more on-site treatment
⇒ overflow retention ponds
Mouth of White Oak River
⇒ sedimentation problems
White Oak River near Maysville
⇒ control of direct discharge
Crab Point
⇒ sedimentation problems
Bogue Banks
⇒ improve septic systems
⇒ better maintenance and monitoring of package treatment plants
Morehead City Port
⇒ monitor ballast water
⇒ monitor fuel waste from refueling operations
A-V-4
WHITE OAK RIVER
BASIN WORKSHOPS
White Oak Workshop
Morehead City, North Carolina
October 23, 2000
Estuarine shoreline hardening is a problem everywhere
⇒ pass laws to have setbacks for hardened structures
⇒ incentives for vegetated buffers
Discussion Question 3: WHAT LOCAL AGENCIES OR ORGANIZATIONS SHOULD
BE INVOLVED IN ADDRESSING THE PROBLEMS?
Group 1
Federal/state/local government ($$)
Personal responsibility
Civic groups/NPOs
Big Sweep and volunteer monitoring groups
Private company/corporate responsibility
Education (inform, stay current, keep pressure on….)
Group 2
Local inspectors (municipalities)
enforcement of existing laws (>1 acre)
problem
Creation of new regulations (<1 acre)
especially stormwater issues
DOT responsible for runoff from their own projects onto neighboring areas (on-site/off-
site)
Local laboratories/schools
outreach with public
Group 3
Individuals
Riverkeeper Program
Crossroads and Coastal Federation – awareness
Local government
Federal – EPA, etc.
State
A-V-5
WHITE OAK RIVER
BASIN WORKSHOPS
White Oak Workshop
Jacksonville, North Carolina
October 24, 2000
Discussion Question 1: WHAT ARE THE MAIN THREATS TO WATER QUALITY IN
THE WHITE OAK RIVER BASIN?
Group 1
• Stormwater
⇒ small development
⇒ existing stormwater collection systems
⇒ existing development with no stormwater collection system
• Sanitary sewer overflows
⇒ deteriorated/aging collection systems or pump stations
• Failing septic systems
• Wastewater treatment plants with direct discharge
• Build-up of sediment
⇒ prevents flushing
⇒ may require rechannelization of river
• Hog lagoons and agricultural practices
• Limited education and understanding of basin
Group 2
• TBT Boat Paint
• Increased impervious surfaces
⇒ parking lots and highways
• Stormwater runoff
⇒ erosion
⇒ pet waste
⇒ wild animal waste
• Wetland loss
• Sewage
• Hydrological changes
• Garbage/littering
• Lack of policy organization
⇒ state involvement
⇒ money $$
• Deforestation
A-V-6
WHITE OAK RIVER
BASIN WORKSHOPS
White Oak Workshop
Jacksonville, North Carolina
October 24, 2000
Group 3
• Stormwater runoff from development
• Failing (older and lower) septic systems
• Domestic animals
• Marinas
• Ten slip dock facilities
Discussion Question 2: WHAT ARE THE PROBLEM AREAS OR WATERS AND
WHAT RECOMMENDATIONS DO YOU HAVE FOR
ADDRESSING THESE PROBLEMS/WATERS?
Group 1
• Queens Creek
⇒ closed to shellfish/development issues
⇒ want project similar to Bear Creek
⇒ need detailed assessment of water quality
⇒ source tracking of fecals
⇒ develop strategies based on data
• Upper portion of Northeast Creek (north of 24)
⇒ need fecal source assessment
⇒ cooperation between state and county health department to address septic issues
⇒ package plants
• White Oak River
⇒ shellfish closures from fecals
⇒ sediment at mouth of river
⇒ study of flow issues
⇒ determine what you want to manage for
• Debris removal
⇒ concerns about the workers
⇒ Is there equipment that can be used, but is currently not allowed?
⇒ Local people should be allowed to manage this rather than just federal
government and use necessary equipment.
⇒ Funding may need to come from federal (Corps, NRCS) or state government, but
more local control on managing problem.
• Beavers
A-V-7
WHITE OAK RIVER
BASIN WORKSHOPS
White Oak Workshop
Jacksonville, North Carolina
October 24, 2000
• Stormwater
⇒ must begin at local level
⇒ issue = Who ?
⇒ planning agencies and staff at local level
⇒ assistance for smaller units of government from state
⇒ guidance and communication from state to local governments
⇒ developers need to be very involved in designing solutions and innovations
Group 2
• Upper White Oak River
⇒ storm debris
⇒ flooding
⇒ closing off flow
clean up/need funding
• The sound itself
⇒ King Mackerel consumption advisory
⇒ mercury
⇒ bioaccumulation
closing of fishery when levels get too high
regular monitoring
public education
• Calico Creek
⇒ where Morehead discharges
⇒ f/w blow-out ((~176 lbs/day (NH3) assuming 20 mg/l of discharge)
stringent permit/financial input
• Open Grounds Farm
⇒ nitrogen
⇒ loading
keep them on track/honest
encourage planning of buffer zones
Group 3
• Newport River
⇒ sedimentation/good or bad?
⇒ beavers
⇒ trawl areas
A-V-8
WHITE OAK RIVER
BASIN WORKSHOPS
White Oak Workshop
Jacksonville, North Carolina
October 24, 2000
• Freeman Creek
⇒ work with Camp Lejeune
⇒ CH2M Hill Study
⇒ dredging
• White Oak and tributary blockage
⇒ clean out from hurricanes
⇒ problem with no organized maintenance
• Consistency in:
⇒ enforcement
⇒ buffers
⇒ across the board for NP source pollution
Discussion Question 3: WHAT LOCAL AGENCIES OR ORGANIZATIONS SHOULD
BE INVOLVED IN ADDRESSING THE PROBLEMS?
Group 1
• Developers
• Local engineers
• Commercial fisheries
• Farmers
• Silviculture
• Everybody
• Government agencies that control land
• Marine Fisheries
• CAMA
• NOAA
• Soil and Water Conservation District
• Cooperative Extension Service
• Local government officials/elected and staff
• Corps of Engineers
• Water and sewer agencies
• DOT
• Military
• Direct conflict between interests and proposed solutions
A-V-9
WHITE OAK RIVER
BASIN WORKSHOPS
White Oak Workshop
Jacksonville, North Carolina
October 24, 2000
Group 2
• State has obligation to inform the media
⇒ accuracy through education
• Homeowner participation
• Every citizen involved
• Responsibility of construction agency
⇒ accuracy through education
⇒ more enforcement
• Nonprofit organizations
⇒ role in education of public
• Adequate funding from federal government
• Integrated management between federal, state, local governments
• Industry responsibility
⇒ polluters pay
• Environmental education in school
⇒ state program
Group 3
• Partnership with state and local governments and stakeholders
⇒ may need statute changes
⇒ liaison with environmental education
• Reduction of unfunded state mandates (environmental)
• More involvement from area universities and labs