Introduction

Introduction 17
Introduction

What is Basinwide Water Quality Planning?

Basinwide water quality planning is a nonregulatory watershed-based approach to restoring and
protecting the quality of North Carolina's surface waters. The NC Division of Water Quality (DWQ) prepares Basinwide water quality plans for each of the seventeen major river basins in the state (Figure 1 and Table 1). Preparation of a basinwide water quality plan is a five-year
process, which is broken down into three phases (Table 2). 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 throughout the state. The first cycle of plans was completed in 1998. Each plan is updated at five-year intervals.
Figure 1 Basinwide Planning Schedule (2005 to 2009)

Goals of Basinwide Water Quality Planning

The goals of basinwide planning are to:
• Identify water quality problems and restore full use to Impaired waters.
• Identify and protect high value resource waters.
• Protect unimpaired waters yet allow for reasonable economic growth.
DWQ accomplishes these goals through the following objectives:

• Collaborate with other agencies to develop appropriate management strategies. This
includes providing agencies information related to financial and funding opportunities.
• Assure equitable distribution of waste assimilative capacity for discharges.
• Evaluate cumulative effects of pollution.
18 Introduction
• Improve public awareness and involvement.
• Regulate point and nonpoint sources of pollution where other approaches are not
successful.

Benefits of Basinwide Water Quality Planning

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

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 and local
communities can also be involved during the planning process by contacting their county
extension service or local SWCD.

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 and suggestions when appropriate.

Division of Water Quality Functions and Locations

For more information on the basinwide planning process, 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. You can also contact the appropriate Regional Office
(Figure 2) for additional information. For general questions about the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources, contact the Customer Service Center at 1-877-623-6748.

Introduction 19
Table 1 Basinwide Planning Schedule (2004 to 2011)

Basin DWQ Biological
Data Collection
Draft Out For
Public Review
Final Plan
Receives EMC
Approval
Begin NPDES
Permit Issuance
Chowan Summer 2005 7/2007 9/2007 11/2007
Pasquotank Summer 2005 7/2007 9/2007 12/2007
Neuse Summer 2005 5/2007 7/2007 1/2008
Broad Summer 2005 10/2007 1/2008 7/2008
Yadkin-Pee Dee Summer 2006 3/2008 5/2008 9/2008
Lumber Summer 2006 3/2008 5/2008 7/2009
Tar-Pamlico Summer 2007 3/2009 5/2009 9/2009
Catawba Summer 2007 3/2009 5/2009 12/2009
French Broad Summer 2007 3/2009 5/2009 7/2010
New Summer 2008 6/2010 5/2010 1/2011
Cape Fear Summer 2008 6/2010 9/2010 2/2011
Roanoke Summer 2004 7/2006 9/2006 1/2007
White Oak Summer 2004 3/2007 5/2007 6/2007
Savannah Summer 2004 1/2007 3/2007 8/2007
Watauga Summer 2004 11/2006 1/2007 9/2007
Hiwassee Summer 2004 1/2007 3/2007 8/2007
Little Tennessee Summer 2004 1/2007 3/2007 10/2007
Note: A basinwide plan was completed for all 17 basins during the second cycle (1998 to 2003).

Table 2 Five-Year Planning Process for Development of an Individual Basinwide Plan

Years 1 – 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 – 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 state/local agencies
Years 3 – 5
Preparation of
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 for public review
• Revise plan (when appropriate) to reflect public comments
• 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

20 Introduction
Some Other Reference Materials
There are several reference documents and websites that provide additional information about
basinwide planning and the basin’s water quality. These include:

• Supplemental Guide to North Carolina’s Watershed Planning: Support Document for
Basinwide Water Quality Plans (January 2007) 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 this document.
• White Oak Basinwide Assessment Report (April 2005). This technical report presents
physical, chemical, and biological data collected in the White Oak River basin. This report can be found on the DWQ Environmental Sciences Section (ESS) website at
http://www.esb.enr.state.nc.us/.
• White Oak River Basinwide Water Quality Plan (February 1997; September 2001).
These first basinwide plans for the White Oak River basin present water quality data,
information, and recommended management strategies for the first two five-year cycles.
• North Carolina's Basinwide Approach to Water Quality Management: Program
Description (Creager and Baker, 1991). NC DWQ Water Quality Section. Raleigh, NC.

How to Read the Basinwide Plan

Chapters 1 - 5: 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 water with notable impacts.
• Goals and recommendations for the next five years by subbasin.

Chapter 6 – 16

• Presents information on various topics of interest to the protection and
restoration of water quality in the basin, including:
• Stream classifications.
• Water quality stressors.
• Population and land cover changes.
• Agricultural, forestry and permitting activities in the basin.
• Water and natural resources.
• Local, State and Federal initiatives.
• Managing Impaired waters and theTMDL process.

Appendices
• Water quality data collected by DWQ, use support methodology.
• NPDES dischargers and general stormwater permits.
• Points of contact.
• Glossary of terms and acronyms.

Asheville Mooresville
FayettevilleFayetteville
Wilmington
WashingtonRaleighWinston-Salem
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CLEVELAND
MECKLENBURG
CABARRUS
A L E X A N D E R
SWAIN
BURKE
MACON
POLK
CLAY
BUNCOMBEHAYWOOD
JACKSON
MADISON CALDWELL
CHEROKEE
RUTHERFORD
MCDOWELL
YANCEY
AVERY
GRAHAM HENDERSON
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MARTIN
CARTERET
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HANOVER
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Neuse
Cape Fear
Tar-Pamlico
Lumber
New ChowanRoanoke
Catawba
Pasquotank
Broad
French Broad
White Oak
Little Tennessee
Hiwassee
Watauga
Savannah
Planning SectionBasinwide Planning UnitJanuary 2007
®
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Division of Water Quality Regional Offices
Al Hodge, Surface Water Protection SupervisorDavid May, Aquifer Protection Supervisor943 Washington Square MallWashington, NC 27889COURIER 16-04-01Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Washington Regional Office (WaRO)
Beaufort
Bertie
Camden
Chowan
CravenCurrituckDare
Gates
Greene
Hertford
Hyde
JonesLenoirMartin
Pamlico
Pasquotank
Perquimans
Pitt
TyrrellWashingtonWayne
Ed Beck, Surface Water Protection Supervisor
Charlie Stehman, Aquifer Protection Supervisor
127 Cardinal Drive Extension
Wilmington, NC 28405-2845COURIER 04-16-33Phone: [phone]Fax: [phone]
Wilmington Regional Office (WiRO)
BrunswickCarteretColumbusDuplin
New HanoverOnslowPender
Chuck Wakild, Surface Water Protection Supervisor
Jay Zimmerman, Aquifer Protection Supervisor
3800 Barrett Drive
Raleigh, NC 27609
COURIER 52-01-00
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Raleigh Regional Office (RRO)
ChathamDurham
Edgecombe
Franklin
Granville
Halifax
JohnstonLee
Nash
Northampton
Orange
Person
VanceWake
Warren
Wilson
Belinda Henson, Surface Water Protection Supervisor
Art Barnhardt, Aquifer Protection Supervisor
225 Green Street
Systel Building Suite 714Fayetteville, NC 28301-5043COURIER 14-56-25Phone: [phone]Fax: [phone]
Fayetteville Regional Office (FRO)
AnsonBladen
Cumberland
Harnett
Hoke
Montgomery
MooreRichmond
Robeson
Sampson
Scotland
Asheville Regional Office (ARO)
Roger Edwards, Surface Water Protection Supevisor
Landon Davidson, Aquifer Protection Supervisor2090 US Highway 70Swannanoa, NC 28778COURIER 12-59-01Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
AveryBuncombeBurkeCaldwell
Cherokee
Clay
Graham
HaywoodHendersonJacksonMacon
Madison
McDowell
Mitchell
PolkRutherfordSwainTransylvania
Yancey
Winston-Salem Regional Office (WSRO)
Steve Tedder, Surface Water Protection Supervisor
Sherri Knight, Aquifer Protection Supervisor
585 Waughtown Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27107
COURIER 13-15-01
Phone: [phone]Fax: [phone]
Alamance
AlleghanyAsheCaswellDavidsonDavie
Forsyth
GuilfordRandolphRockinghamStokesSurry
Watauga
WilkesYadkin
Central Office
DENRDIVISION OF WATER QUALITY1617 MAIL SERVICE CENTER
RALEIGH NC 27699-1617
COURIER 52-01-00
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Rob Krebs, Surface Water Protection Supervisor
Andrew Pitner, Aquifer Protection Supervisor
610 East Center Avenue / Suite 301
Mooresville, NC 28115
COURIER 09-08-06Phone: [phone]Fax: [phone]
Mooresville Regional Office (MRO)
Alexander
Cabarrus
CatawbaClevelandGastonIredell
Lincoln
Mecklenburg
RowanStanlyUnion
22 Introduction