Friends of Bolin Creek Water Symposium Feb. 2012 An adjunct to CH2020

1. What is Degrading our Urban Piedmont Streams?
Nora Deamer
DWQ
919-807-6431
nora.deamer@ncdenr.gov
http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/wq/ps/bpu

2. DWQ Water Quality Assessment
17 Major River Basins in NC

3. 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)

4. 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)

6. Impacts of Urbanization
Increased Decreased
 Impervious surface  Vegetative cover
 Runoff volume  Riparian buffer zones
 Runoff velocity  Soil infiltration
 Water Quality
 Stream bank erosion
 Aquatic Habitat
 Stream channelization
 Groundwater base flow rates
 Soil disturbance
 Drought stream flow rates
 Soil compaction

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

10. Water Quality
Impacts of Urbanization
Increased Decreased
 Stream bank erosion  Aquatic habitat
 SedimentationTurbidity  Aquatic biodiversity
 Water temperatures  Aquatic health &
 Conductivity reproduction
 Pollutant Concentrations  Dissolved Oxygen
(nutrients, pesticides, oils, metals)  pH
 Bacterial loading (animal and
human waste)
 Algal/Periphytic growth
 Water supply treatment
cost

12. What Can You Do To Reduce
Stormwater Pollution?
 Divert roof drains to  Pick-up pet waste
vegetated areas  Restore stream buffers
 Use rain barrels/cisterns
 Support land use &
 Convert lawns to natural stormwater planning
area
 Minimize paved areas or
 Vegetate bare areas
use pervious pavement
 Use environmentally
friendly lawn care materials
 Keep storm drains clean  Maintain vehicle
 Inspect/maintain septic  Wash vehicle on grassy
systems areas

14. Chapel Hill

15. Chapel Hill

16. 2010
Urban
Stream
Piedmont
Impairments
B
en Number of Impaired Assessment Units
th
ic
H M
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
ig Fi ac
h s r
W h C oin
Lo ate om ver
w r m t
D Tem un
is
so pe ity
lv r
ed atu
Fe O re
ca xy
lC ge
ol Lo n
ifo w
rm Tu pH
(r rbid
ec it
C rea y
hl
or tion
o )
N phy
W O
2+ ll a
at N
er O
co Am 3-N
lu
m mo
n ni
M
er a
cu
ry
Zi
nc
Le
ad
C
op
pe
r
PC
B

17. 2010
Urban
Stream
Piedmont
Impairments
B
en Number of Impaired Assessment Units
t hi
c
H M
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
100
120
ig Fi ac
h s r
W h C oin
Lo ate om ver
w r m t
D Tem un
is
so pe ity
lv r
ed atu
Fe O re
ca xy
lC ge
ol Lo n
ifo w
rm Tu pH
rb
(r
ec idi
t
C rea y
hl
or tion
o )
N phy
W O
2+ ll a
at N
er O
co Am 3-N
lu
m mo
n ni
M
er a
cu
ry
Zi
nc
Le
ad
C
op
pe
r
PC
B

18. Number of Impaired Assessment Units
Number of Impaired Stream Miles
1000
800
600
400
2010 200
Urban 120
Piedmont 100
Stream 80
Impairments
60
~
By Basin 40
20
0
ee
ar
ke
ba
se
Fe
D
no
eu
aw
e
N
oa
e
at
Pe
ap
C
R
n-
C
ki
d
Ya

19. 0303002
2010
0303003
Fecal
Coliform
0303006 Bacterial
Assessment
0303004 0303007
0303005
Standard assessed - 400 CFU/100 mL

20. 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

21. 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)

22. 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.

23. 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

24. 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

25. 2010 & Draft NC 2012 Assessment (Integrated Report)
Impairment
AU# Stream Name Location Classification Miles Use Support Rating/Information
Status
Booker Creek
Watershed
Booker Creek
From source to dam at Fair Bug (BB198 - Piney Mtn Rd.);
16-41-1-15-2-(1) (East-wood WS-V,B;NSW 3.5 m Impaired
Eastwood Lake Low DO @ B3050000 = 30.4%
Lake)
From dam at eastwood
16-41-1-15-2-(4) Booker Creek WS-V;NSW 1.2 m Impaired Fair Bug
Lake to US Hwy 15
From US Hwy 15 to Little
16-41-1-15-2-(5) Booker Creek WS-IV;NSW 0.9 m Impaired Fair Bug
Creek
Bolin Creek
Watershed
16-41-1-15-1- Bolin Creek From source to Pathway
WS-V;NSW 5.3 m Supporting Good-Fair Bug (BB330 - SR1777)
(0.5)a (Hogen Lake) Drive
16-41-1-15-1- Bolin Creek From Pathway Drive to US Fair Bug (BB506 - Estes Dr.
WS-V;NSW 3.1 m Impaired
(0.5)b (Hogen Lake) Hwy 501 Business Upstream 400M)
From US Hwy 501 No Data or information to make
16-41-1-15-1-(4) Bolin Creek WS-IV;NSW 0.9 m No Data
Business to Little Creek assessment
Little Creek
Wateshed
From source to a point
16-41-1-15-(0.5) Little Creek 0.7 mile downstream of WS-IV;NSW 4.9 m Impaired Poor Bug (BB197 - Pinehurst Dr.)
Durham County SR 1110
From a point 0.7 mile
downstream of Durham WS-IV; No Data or information to make
16-41-1-15-(3) Little Creek 0.8 m No Data
County SR 1110 to New NSW,CA assessment
Hope Creek

27. 2000
Population
Density

28. Nonpoint Sources of Pollution
Pollution reaching waterways from rainfall runoff, atmospheric
deposition and groundwater flow. Impacts result from
cumulative effects of many small activities.

29. Changing Hydrology Effects
 Forces more
After water (energy)
Development
more quickly
Before
Development  Physically
damages stream
channel

30. Buffer Zones on Streams
Top of bank
Zone 2: Zone 1: 30’
20’ undisturbed Stream
managed forest
vegetation vegetation

31. 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

32. Planning Options
 Low Impact
Development
(LID)
 Maintain Stream Buffers
 Consider Slope & Soil
 Maintain Open Space
 Minimize Impervious Cover

33. 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.

34. 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

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

36. 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

37. Urbanization Impacts

38. Bolin Creek from Randy Dodd

39. Overview of 2010 303(d) list
Categories:
 Freshwater
streams
 Lakes
 Salt Waters

40. Lake Impairment Parameters
2010 Impaired Freshwater Acres
14000
12000
10000
Fresh Water Acres
8000
6000
4000
2000
0
Turbidity High pH Chlorophyll a

41. Stream
Parameters
Impairment
Fresh Water Miles
200
225
250
275
300
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Arsenic
Copper
Zinc
Ammonia
Chloride
NO2+NO3-N
Turbidity
Low Dissolved Oxygen
Low pH
Chlorophyll a
Rec. Fecal Coliform Bacteria
2010 Impaired Freshwater Miles
Biology-Bug
Biology-Fish

42. Spec. Fecal C. NO2/
DO pH Cond. Turb. (Geomean) TN NH3 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.

43. 0303002
0303003
0303006
0303004 0303007 Fecal
Coliform
Bacteria
0303005
Standard assessed - 400 CFU/100 mL