Nora Deamer DWQ

919-807-6431 nora.deamer@ncdenr.gov

http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/wq/ps/bpu

What is Degrading our Urban Piedmont Streams?

DWQ Water Quality Assessment

17 Major River Basins in NC

DWQ Water Quality Assessment Every two years – determine how well our water bodies

supports their designated uses.

Designated uses are bases on stream classifications Class C – Protection and propagation of aquatic life;

Fish consumption; Secondary Recreation Class B – Recreation (Swimming) Class WS – Water Supply Others (Tr, ORW, HQW, SA)

DWQ Water Quality Assessment Use Support Ratings

Supporting – No criteria exceeded Impaired – Criteria exceeded Not Rated – Inconclusive

information/data No Data – No assessment made

Produce an Integrated Report (303(d)/305(b)) (The NC 2012 303(d) impaired waters list is currently out for

public comment. NC is required to submit the 2012 list to the US EPA by April 1st)

Impacts of Urbanization Decreased Vegetative cover Riparian buffer zones Soil infiltration Water Quality Aquatic Habitat Groundwater base flow rates Drought stream flow rates

Increased Impervious surface Runoff volume Runoff velocity Stream bank erosion Stream channelization Soil disturbance Soil compaction

http://www.connectedwater.gov.au/processes/controlling.html

Water Quality Impacts of Urbanization

Increased Stream bank erosion Sedimentation\Turbidity Water temperatures Conductivity Pollutant Concentrations

(nutrients, pesticides, oils, metals) Bacterial loading (animal and

human waste) Algal/Periphytic growth Water supply treatment

cost

Decreased Aquatic habitat Aquatic biodiversity Aquatic health &

reproduction Dissolved Oxygen pH

What Can You Do To Reduce Stormwater Pollution?

Divert roof drains to vegetated areas

Use rain barrels/cisterns Convert lawns to natural

area Vegetate bare areas Use environmentally

friendly lawn care Keep storm drains clean Inspect/maintain septic

systems

Pick-up pet waste Restore stream buffers Support land use &

stormwater planning Minimize paved areas or

use pervious pavement materials

Maintain vehicle Wash vehicle on grassy

areas

Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill

Benthic

Macro

invert

Fish C

ommunity

High Wate

r Tem

perature

Low Diss

olved O

xygen

Low pH

Turbidity

Fecal

Coliform

(rec

reatio

n)

Chlorophyll

a

NO2+NO3-N

Ammonia

Water c

olumn Merc

uryZinc

Lead

CopperPCB

Num

ber o

f Im

paire

d As

sess

men

t Uni

ts

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

2010 Urban

Piedmont Stream

Impairments

Benthic

Macro

invert

Fish C

ommunity

High Wate

r Tem

perature

Low Diss

olved O

xygen

Low pH

Turbidity

Fecal

Coliform

(rec

reatio

n)

Chlorophyll

a

NO2+NO3-N

Ammonia

Water c

olumn Merc

uryZinc

Lead

CopperPCB

Num

ber o

f Im

paire

d As

sess

men

t Uni

ts

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45100

120

2010 Urban

Piedmont Stream

Impairments

Cape F

ear

Catawba

Neuse

Roanoke

Yadkin

-Pee

Dee

0

20

40

60

80

100

120200400600800

1000

Number of Impaired Assessment UnitsNumber of Impaired Stream Miles

2010 Urban

Piedmont Stream

Impairments ~

By Basin

Standard assessed - 400 CFU/100 mL

2010 Fecal

Coliform Bacterial

Assessment

0303002

0303003

0303007 0303004

0303005

0303006

Little Creek Watershed 2010/2012 Assessment

Booker Creek Upper 3.5 mile segment – Impaired

Benthic Macroinvertebrate Low Dissolved Oxygen (30%)

Lower 2.1 mile segment – Impaired Benthic Macroinvertebrate

Bolin Creek Middle 3.1 mile segment – Impaired

Benthic Macroinvertebrate Little Creek Upper 4.9 mile segment – Impaired

Benthic Macroinvertebrate

Tools & Strategies DWQ Utilizes to Restore Urban Streams

Work with stakeholders/watershed groups to develop watershed restoration plans

Phase I and Phase II Stormwater regulations Development of Total Daily Maximum Loads (TMDL)

for a specific stream reach and pollutant of interest. (A percent load reduction is determined)

Development of specific management strategies and rules (Jordan Lake, Falls Lake, Randleman Lake)

Jordan Lake Nutrient Management Strategy & Rules

Jordan Lake Strategy is divided into three management segment requiring different amount of reductions in order to meet standards.

Jordan Lake Nutrient Management Strategy & Rules

15A NCAC 02B .0262-.0273 & .0311 (q) Agricultural Stormwater Management for New Development Stormwater Management for Existing Development Protection of Existing Riparian Buffers Mitigation for Riparian Buffers Riparian Buffer Mitigation Fees for NC EEP Wastewater Discharge Requirements Stormwater Requirements for State and Federal Entities Fertilizer Management Options for Offsetting Nutrient Loads Cape Fear Basin – Jordan Lake Watershed WS-V reclassification

For more information see DWQ website - http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/jordanlake

Questions

Nora Deamer Division of Water Quality 919-807-6431 nora.deamer@ncdenr.gov

Basinwide Planning Website http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/wq/ps/bpu

AU# Stream Name Location Classification Miles Impairment Status Use Support Rating/Information

Booker Creek Watershed

16-41-1-15-2-(1) Booker Creek (East-wood

Lake)

From source to dam at Eastwood Lake WS-V,B;NSW 3.5 m Impaired Fair Bug (BB198 - Piney Mtn Rd.);

Low DO @ B3050000 = 30.4%

16-41-1-15-2-(4) Booker Creek From dam at eastwood Lake to US Hwy 15 WS-V;NSW 1.2 m Impaired Fair Bug

16-41-1-15-2-(5) Booker Creek From US Hwy 15 to Little Creek WS-IV;NSW 0.9 m Impaired Fair Bug

Bolin Creek Watershed

16-41-1-15-1-(0.5)a

Bolin Creek (Hogen Lake)

From source to Pathway Drive WS-V;NSW 5.3 m Supporting Good-Fair Bug (BB330 - SR1777)

16-41-1-15-1-(0.5)b

Bolin Creek (Hogen Lake)

From Pathway Drive to US Hwy 501 Business WS-V;NSW 3.1 m Impaired Fair Bug (BB506 - Estes Dr.

Upstream 400M)

16-41-1-15-1-(4) Bolin Creek From US Hwy 501 Business to Little Creek WS-IV;NSW 0.9 m No Data No Data or information to make

assessment

Little Creek Wateshed

16-41-1-15-(0.5) Little Creek From source to a point 0.7 mile downstream of Durham County SR 1110

WS-IV;NSW 4.9 m Impaired Poor Bug (BB197 - Pinehurst Dr.)

16-41-1-15-(3) Little Creek

From a point 0.7 mile downstream of Durham County SR 1110 to New Hope Creek

WS-IV; NSW,CA 0.8 m No Data No Data or information to make

assessment

2010 & Draft NC 2012 Assessment (Integrated Report)

2000 Population

Density

Nonpoint Sources of Pollution Pollution reaching waterways from rainfall runoff, atmospheric

deposition and groundwater flow. Impacts result from cumulative effects of many small activities.

Changing Hydrology Effects

Forces more water (energy) more quickly Physically

damages stream channel

Before Development

After Development

Zone 1: 30’ undisturbed

forest vegetation

Zone 2: 20’ managed vegetation

Stream

Buffer Zones on Streams

Top of bank

Planning Considerations Avoid Areas Near

Sensitive Waters

Maintain Buffer Areas Around Streams

Consider Land Constraints - slope/soil…

Maintain Areas of Open Space

Minimize Impervious Cover

Planning Options Low Impact

Development (LID)

Maintain Stream Buffers Consider Slope & Soil Maintain Open Space Minimize Impervious Cover

What can local governments do to reduce stormwater pollution? Limit impervious surfaces by concentrating development

in high density clusters. Encourage mass transit to reduce need for roads/parking

lots. Set zoning standards for development to reduce runoff

and protect stream corridors. Discourage development in floodplains. Protect farmland and open spaces.

Benefits of Riparian Buffers Trap/Remove sediment

from runoff Protect stream bank

from erosion Trap/Remove

nutrients, metals and other contaminants

Effective flood control Provides food and

habitat for wildlife

How Buffers Work Sediment Nitrogen Phosphorus Other Contaminants Flood Control Channel Stability Wildlife Habitat

Impacts of Increased Turbidity 4-32 NTU

– Reduced food intake – Slight reduction in growth – Reduced survival percentages – Avoidance, escape

≥ 80-90 NTU – Marked reduction in growth & survival

Sensitive Species 10-25 NTU = Mortality

Urbanization Impacts

Bolin Creek from Randy Dodd

Overview of 2010 303(d) list

Categories: Freshwater

streams Lakes Salt Waters

Turbidity High pH Chlorophyll a

Fres

h W

ater

Acr

es

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

Lake Impairment Parameters 2010 Impaired Freshwater Acres

Arse

nic

Cop

per

Zinc

Amm

onia

Chl

orid

e

NO

2+N

O3-

N

Turb

idity

Low

Dis

solv

ed O

xyge

n

Low

pH

Chl

orop

hyll

a

Rec

. Fec

al C

olifo

rm B

acte

ria

Bio

logy

-Bug

Bio

logy

-Fis

h

Fres

h W

ater

Mile

s

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90200225250275300

Stream Impairment Parameters

2010 Impaired Freshwater Miles

DO pH Spec. Cond. Turb.

Fecal C. (Geomean) TN NH3

NO2/ NO3-N TP

mg/L μmhos/cm NTU cfu/100 ml mg/L mg/L mg/L mg/L

CFR Basin Average 7.6 6.9 13.1 75 2.01 0.10 1.24 0.19

Haw – 3030002 8.4 7.3 277 16.7 108 2.90 0.09 2.15 0.24

Deep – 3030003 8.5 7.2 217 15.6 107 2.68 0.07 2.02 0.25

Middle CFR – 3030004 8.5 6.6 119 10.8 91 1.27 0.22 0.49 0.10

Lower CFR – 3030005 7.1 6.9 11.9 28 1.22 0.07 0.51 0.12

Black R – 3030006 6.4 6.1 110 4.5 70 1.07 0.04 0.25 0.11

Northeast CFR - 3030007 6.6 6.6 7.1 98 2.17 0.07 1.23 0.30

Healthy Piedmont Strm* 12-90 0.80 0.05 0.30 0.05 EPA Nutrient Criteria -

Piedmont** 0.70 0.038 EPA Nutrient Criteria -

Coastal** 0.72 0.032

* Information from ESS document. ** USGS Circular 1350 – The Quality of Our Nation’s Water – Nutrients in the Nation’s Streams and Groundwater, 1992-2004 Neil Dubrovskt et al., 2010.

Standard assessed - 400 CFU/100 mL

Fecal Coliform Bacteria

0303002

0303003

0303007 0303004

0303005

0303006