Environmental Assessment of the Lower Cape Fear River System, 2005

By

Michael A. Mallin, Matthew R. McIver and James F. Merritt September 2006

CMS Report No. 06-02 Center for Marine Science University of North Carolina Wilmington Wilmington, N.C. 28409 Executive Summary

Multiparameter water sampling for the Lower Cape Fear River Program (LCFRP) has been ongoing since June 1995. Scientists from the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) perform the sampling effort. The LCFRP currently encompasses 36 water sampling stations throughout the Cape Fear, Black, and Northeast Cape Fear River watersheds. The LCFRP sampling program includes physical, chemical, and biological water quality measurements and analyses of the benthic and epibenthic macroinvertebrate communities, and has in the past included assessment of the fish communities. Principal conclusions of the UNCW researchers conducting these analyses are presented below, with emphasis on the period January - December 2005. The opinions expressed are those of UNCW scientists and do not necessarily reflect viewpoints of individual contributors to the Lower Cape Fear River Program.

The mainstem lower Cape Fear River is characterized by reasonably turbid water containing moderate to high levels of inorganic nutrients. It is fed by two large blackwater rivers (the Black and Northeast Cape Fear Rivers) that have low levels of turbidity, but highly colored water with less inorganic nutrient content than the mainstem. While nutrients are reasonably high in the river channels, algal blooms are rare because light is attenuated by water color or turbidity, and flushing is high. Periodic algal blooms are seen in the tributary stream stations, some of which are impacted by point source discharges. Below some point sources, nutrient loading can be high and fecal coliform contamination occurs. Other stream stations drain blackwater swamps or agricultural areas, some of which periodically show elevated pollutant loads or effects.

Annual mean salinity for 2005 was higher than the nine-year average for 1996-2004 at all stations. River discharge for 2005 continued a three-year decrease from the high discharge period of 2003. This influenced salinity and also appeared to lead to a reduction in concentration of certain nutrients and other parameters (suspended solids and turbidity) in the main channel and estuary stations.

Average annual dissolved oxygen (DO) levels at the river channel stations for 2005 were slightly higher than the average for 1996-2004, possibly due to the lack of major hurricane activity in the watershed last year. Dissolved oxygen levels were lowest during the summer, often falling below the state standard of 5.0 mg/L at several river and upper estuary stations. There is a dissolved oxygen sag in the main river channel that begins at Station DP below a paper mill discharge and near the Black River input, and persists into the mesohaline portion of the estuary. Mean oxygen levels were highest at the upper river stations NC11 and AC and in the middle to lower estuary at station M23. Lowest mainstem mean 2005 DO levels occurred at the lower river and upper estuary stations NAV and HB (7.1 mg/L). As the water reaches the lower estuary higher algal productivity, mixing and ocean dilution help alleviate oxygen problems.

The Northeast Cape Fear and Black Rivers generally have lower DO levels than the mainstem Cape Fear River. These rivers are classified as blackwater systems because of their tea colored water. The Northeast Cape Fear River in general seems to be more oxygen stressed than the Black River; in 2005 Station NCF117 had DO concentrations below 4.0 mg/L 33% of the time sampled, while during that same period Station B210 had DO below 4.0 mg/L 0% of the occasions sampled. Several stream stations were severely stressed in terms of low dissolved oxygen during the year 2005. Station ANC had DO levels below 4.0 mg/L 50% of the occasions sampled, NC403 33%, GS 67%, BCRR 42% and SR 58%. Smith Creek had DO levels below the tidal water standard of 5.0 mg/L 42% of the time.

Annual mean turbidity levels for 2005 were considerably lower than the long-term average, probably a result of low rainfall. Highest mean turbidities were at the upper river sites N11, AC and DP (17-19 NTU) with turbidities gradually decreasing downstream through the estuary. Turbidity was lower in the blackwater tributaries (Northeast Cape Fear River and Black River) than in the mainstem river.

Regarding stream stations, chronic or periodic high nutrient levels were found at a number of sites, including BC117, 6RC, GS, GCO,NC403, PB and SAR. Algal blooms were rare in 2005, primarily occurring at Station PB, a nutrient-impacted stream site downstream of a point source, and Stations GS and BCRR. Several stream stations, particularly BCRR, BC117, PB, GS, and ANC showed high fecal coliform counts on a number of occasions. Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) concentrations in several Northeast Cape Fear River watershed stream stations were considerably higher than BOD concentrations previously found in the neighboring Black River watershed stream stations. Water column metals concentrations were not problematic during 2005.

This report includes an in-depth look at each subbasin, comparing the results of the North Carolina Division of Water Quality's 2005 Basinwide Management Plan use support ratings with the UNCW-Aquatic Ecology Laboratory’s (AEL) assessments of the 2005 sampling year. The UNCW-AEL utilized ratings that consider a water body to be of poor quality if the water quality standard for a given parameter is in violation > 25% of the time, of fair quality if the standard is in violation between 11 and 25% of the time, and good quality if the standard is violated no more than 10% of the time. UNCW also considerers nutrient loading in water quality assessments, based on published experimental and field scientific findings.

For the 2005 period UNCW rated all stations as good in terms of chlorophyll a, except for Station PB, rated fair. For turbidity 100% of the sites were rated good. However, 22% of the stations had either fair or poor water quality in terms of fecal coliform bacterial contamination. Using the 5.0 mg/L DO standard for the Piedmont river stations, and the 4.0 mg/L “swamp water” DO standard for the stream stations and blackwater river stations, 41% of the sites were rated poor or fair for dissolved oxygen. In addition, UNCW considered 60% of the stream stations to be negatively impacted by excessive nitrate and 10% of the stream stations negatively affected by excessive total phosphorus concentrations. Table of Contents

1.0 Introduction...... ………...... …...... 1

1.1 Site Description...... ………...... …...... 2

2.0 Physical, Chemical, and Biological Characteristics of the Lower Cape Fear River and Estuary………………………………………………..…………………….....….. ….8

Physical Parameters..…...... ………...... ……....10 Chemical Parameters…....……..………...... …..13 Biological Parameters...... ……….....……...... …..17

3.0 Water Quality by Sub-basin in the Lower Cape Fear River System………………..54 1

1.0 Introduction

Michael A. Mallin Center for Marine Science University of North Carolina Wilmington

The Lower Cape Fear River Program is a unique science and education program that has a mission to develop an understanding of processes that control and influence the ecology of the Cape Fear River, and to provide a mechanism for information exchange and public education. This Program provides a forum for dialogue among the various Cape Fear River user groups and encourages interaction among them. Overall policy is set by an Advisory Board consisting of representatives from citizen’s groups, local government, industries, academia, the business community, and regulatory agencies. This report represents the scientific conclusions of the UNCW researchers participating in this Program and does not necessarily reflect opinions of all other Program participants. This report focuses on the period January through December 2005.

The scientific basis of the Program consists of the implementation of an ongoing comprehensive physical, chemical, and biological monitoring program. Another part of the mission is to develop and maintain a data base on the Cape Fear basin and make use of this data to develop management plans. Presently the Program has amassed a ten-year (1995-2004) data base freely available to the public. Using this monitoring data as a framework the Program goals also include focused scientific projects and investigation of pollution episodes. The scientific aspects of the Program are carried out by investigators from the University of North Carolina Wilmington Center for Marine Science. The monitoring program was developed by the Lower Cape Fear River Program Technical Committee, which consists of representatives from UNCW, the North Carolina Division of Water Quality, The NC Division of Marine Fisheries, the US Army Corps of Engineers, technical representatives from streamside industries, the City of Wilmington Wastewater Treatment Plants, Cape Fear Community College, Cape Fear River Watch, the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service, the US Geological Survey, forestry and agriculture organizations, and others. This integrated and cooperative program was the first of its kind in North Carolina.

Broad-scale monthly water quality sampling at 16 stations in the estuary and lower river system began in June 1995 (directed by Dr. Michael Mallin). Sampling was increased to 34 stations in February of 1996, 35 stations in February 1998, and 36 stations in 2005. The Lower Cape Fear River Program added another component concerned with studying the benthic macrofauna of the system in 1996. This component is directed by Dr. Martin Posey of the UNCW Biology Department and includes the benefit of additional data collected by the Benthic Ecology Laboratory under Sea Grant and NSF sponsored projects in the Cape Fear Estuary. The third major biotic component (added in January 1996) was an extensive fisheries program directed by Dr. Mary Moser of the UNCW Center for Marine Science Research, with subsequent (1999) overseeing by Mr. Michael Williams and Dr. Thomas Lankford of UNCW-CMS. This program involved 2 cooperative sampling with the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. The fisheries program ended in December 1999, but was renewed with additional funds from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation from spring – winter 2000, and has been operational periodically for special projects since that period. The regular sampling that was conducted by UNCW biologists was assumed by the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries.

1.1. Site Description

The mainstem of the Cape Fear River is formed by the merging of the Haw and the Deep Rivers in Chatham County in the North Carolina Piedmont. However, its drainage basin reaches as far upstream as the Greensboro area (Fig. 1.1). The mainstem of the river has been altered by the construction of several dams and water control structures. In the coastal plain, the river is joined by two major tributaries, the Black and the Northeast Cape Fear Rivers (Fig. 1.1). These 5th order blackwater streams drain extensive riverine swamp forests and add organic color to the mainstem. The watershed (about 9,149 square miles) is the most heavily industrialized in North Carolina with 244 permitted wastewater discharges and (as of 2000) over 1.83 million people residing in the basin (NCDENR 2005). Approximately 24% of the land use in the watershed is devoted to agriculture and livestock production (NCDENR 2005), with livestock production dominated by swine and poultry operations. Thus, the watershed receives considerable point and non-point source loading of pollutants.

Water quality is monitored by boat at ten stations in the Cape Fear Estuary (from Navassa to Southport) and one station in the Northeast Cape Fear Estuary (Table 1.1; Fig. 1.1). Riverine stations sampled by boat include NC11, AC, DP, IC, and BBT (Table 1.1; Fig. 1.1). NC11 is located upstream of any major point source discharges in the lower river and estuary system, and is considered to be representative of water quality entering the lower system. BBT is located on the Black River between Thoroughfare and the mainstem Cape Fear, and is influenced by both rivers. We consider B210 and NCF117 to represent water quality entering the lower Black and Northeast Cape Fear Rivers, respectively. Data has also been collected at stream and river stations throughout the Cape Fear, Northeast Cape Fear, and Black River watersheds (Table 1.1; Fig. 1.1). Data collection at a station in the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway was initiated in February 1998 to obtain water quality information near the Southport Wastewater Treatment Plant discharge.

The LCFRP has a website that contains maps and an extensive amount of past water quality, benthos, and fisheries data gathered by the Program available at: www.uncwil.edu/cmsr/aquaticecology/lcfrp/

This report contains three sections assessing LCFRP data. Section 2 presents an overview of physical, chemical, and biological water quality data from the 36 individual stations, and provides tables of raw data as well as figures showing spatial or temporal trends. In Section 3 we analyze our data by sub-basin, compare our results with DWQ's 2005 Basinwide Plan, and make water quality ratings for dissolved oxygen, turbidity, 3 chlorophyll a, metals, and fecal coliform bacterial abundance. We also utilize other relevant parameters such as nutrient concentrations to aid in these assessments. This section is designed so that residents of a particular sub-basin can see what the water quality is like in his or her area based on LCFRP data collections.

1.2. References Cited

NCDENR. 2005. Cape Fear River Basinwide Water Quality Plan. North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Division of Water Quality/Planning, Raleigh, NC, 27699-1617. 4

Table 1.1. Description of sampling locations in the Cape Fear Watershed, 2005, including UNCW designation and NCDWQ station designation number. ______

UNCW St. DWQ No. Location ______

High order river and estuary stations

NC11 B8360000 At NC 11 bridge on Cape Fear River (CFR) GPS N 34.39663 W 78.26785

LVC2 B8441000 on Livingston Creek near Acme GPS N 34.33530 W 78.2011

AC B8450000 5 km downstream from International Paper on CFR GPS N 34.35547 W 78.17942

DP B8460000 At Dupont Intake above Black River GPS N 34.33595 W 78.05337

IC B9030000 Cluster of dischargers upstream of Indian Cr. on CFR GPS N 34.30207 W 78.01372

B210 B9000000 Black River at Highway 210 bridge GPS N 34.43138 W 78.14462

BBT none Black River between Thoroughfare and Cape Fear River GPS N 34.35092 W 78.04857

NCF117 B9580000 Northeast Cape Fear River at Highway 117, Castle Hayne GPS N 34.36342 W 77.89678

NCF6 B9670000 Northeast Cape Fear River near GE dock GPS N 34.31710 W 77.95383

NAV B9050000 Railroad bridge over Cape Fear River at Navassa GPS N 34.25943 W 77.98767

HB B9050100 Cape Fear River at Horseshoe Bend GPS N 34.24372 W 77.96980

BRR B9790000 Brunswick River near new boat ramp in Belville GPS N 34.22138 W 77.97868 5

M61 B9750000 Channel Marker 61, downtown at N.C. State Port GPS N 34.19377 W 77.95725

M54 B7950000 Channel Marker 54, 5 km downstream of Wilmington GPS N 34.13933 W 77.94595

M42 B9845100 Channel Marker 42 near Keg Island GPS N 34.09017 W 77.93355

M35 B9850100 Channel Marker 35 near Olde Brunswick Towne GPS N 34.03408 W 77.93943

M23 B9910000 Channel Marker 23 near CP&L intake canal GPS N 33.94560 W 77.96958

M18 B9921000 Channel Marker 18 near Southport GPS N 33.91297 W 78.01697

SPD B9980000 1000 ft W of Southport WWT plant discharge on ICW GPS N 33.91708 W 78.03717 ______

Tributary stations collected from land ______

SR B8470000 South River at US 13, below Dunn runoff GPS N 35.15600 W 78.64013

GCO B8604000 Great Coharie Creek at SR 1214 GPS N 34.91857 W 78.38873

LCO B8610001 Little Coharie Creek at SR 1207 GPS N 34.83473 W 78.37087

6RC B8740000 Six Runs Creek at SR 1003 (Lisbon Rd.) GPS N 34.79357 W 78.31192

BRN B8340050 Browns Creek at NC 87 GPS N 34.61360 W 78.58462

HAM B8340200 Hammonds Creek at SR 1704 GPS N 34.56853 W 78.55147

COL B8981000 Colly Creek at NC 53 GPS N 34.46500 W 78.26553 6

ANC B9490000 Angola Creek at NC 53 GPS N 34.65705 W 77.73485

NC403 B9090000 Northeast Cape Fear below Mt. Olive Pickle at NC403 GPS N 35.17838 W 77.98028

PB B9130000 Panther Branch below Cates Pickle GPS N 35.13445 W 78.13630

GS B9191000 Goshen Swamp at NC 11 GPS N 35.02923 W 77.85143

SAR B9191500 Northeast Cape Fear River near Sarecta GPS N 34.97970 W 77.86251

LRC B9460000 Little Rockfish Creek at NC 11 GPS N 34.72247 W 77.98145

ROC B9430000 Rockfish Creek at US 117 GPS N 34.71689 W 77.97961

BCRR B9500000 Burgaw Canal at Wright St., above WWTP GPS N 34.56334 W 77.93481

BC117 B9520000 Burgaw Canal at US 117, below WWTP GPS N 34.56391 W 77.92210

SC-CH Smith Creek at Castle Hayne Rd. GPS N 34.25897 W 77.93872 7

Figure 1.1 Map of the Lower Cape Fear River system and the LCFRP sampling stations. 8

2.0 - Physical, Chemical, and Biological Characteristics of the Lower Cape Fear River and Estuary

Matthew R. McIver and Michael A. Mallin Center for Marine Science University of North Carolina Wilmington

2.1 - Introduction

This section of the report includes a discussion of the physical, chemical, and biological water quality parameters, concentrating on the January-December 2005 Lower Cape Fear River Program monitoring period. These parameters are interdependent and define the overall condition of the river. Physical parameters measured during this study included water temperature, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, salinity, conductivity, pH and light attenuation. The chemical makeup of the Cape Fear River was investigated by measuring the magnitude and composition of nitrogen and phosphorus in the water, as well as concentrations of United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) priority pollutant metals. Three biological parameters including fecal coliform bacteria, chlorophyll a and biochemical oxygen demand were examined.

2.2 - Materials and Methods

All samples and field parameters collected for the estuarine stations of the Cape Fear River (NAV down through M18) were gathered on an ebb tide. This was done so that the data better represented the river water flowing downstream through the system rather than the tidal influx of coastal ocean water. Sample collection and analyses were conducted according to the procedures in the Lower Cape Fear River Program Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) manual, which has been approved by the NC Division of Water Quality. We note that our previous Livingston Creek station (LVC) has been discontinued and a new station sampled from the dock of the Wright Chemical Company near Acme (LVC2) was put into operation in 2005.

Physical Parameters

Water Temperature, pH, Dissolved Oxygen, Turbidity, Salinity, Conductivity

Field parameters were measured at each site using a YSI 6920 (or 6820) multi-parameter water quality sonde displayed on a YSI 650 MDS. Each parameter is measured with individual probes on the sonde. At stations sampled by boat (see Table 1.1) physical parameters were measured at 0.1 m, the middle of the water column, and at the bottom (up to 12 m). Occasionally, high flow prohibited the sonde from reaching the actual bottom and measurements were taken as deep as possible. At the terrestrially sampled stations the physical parameters were measured at a depth of 0.1 m. Our laboratory at the UNCW CMS is State-certified by the N.C. Division of Water Quality to perform field parameter measurements. 9

Chemical Parameters

Nutrients

All nutrient analyses were performed at the UNCW Center for Marine Science (CMS) for samples collected prior to January 1996. A local State-certified analytical laboratory was contracted to conduct all subsequent analyses except for orthophosphate, which is performed at CMS. The following methods detail the techniques used by CMS personnel for orthophosphate analysis.

-3 Orthophosphate (PO4 )

Water samples were collected ca. 0.2 m below the surface in triplicate in amber 125 mL Nalgene plastic bottles and placed on ice. In the laboratory 50 mL of each triplicate was filtered through separate1.0 micron pre-combusted glass fiber filters, which were frozen and later analyzed for chlorophyll a. The triplicate filtrates were pooled in a glass flask, mixed thoroughly, and approximately 100 mL was poured into a 125 mL plastic bottle to be analyzed for orthophosphate. Samples were frozen until analysis.

Orthophosphate analyses were performed in duplicate using an approved US EPA method for the Bran-Lubbe AutoAnalyzer (Method 365.5). In this technique the orthophosphate in each sample reacts with ammonium molybdate and anitmony potassium tartrate in an acidic medium (sulfuric acid) to form an anitmony-phospho-molybdate complex. The complex is then reacted with ascorbic acid and forms a deep blue color. The intensity of the color is measured at a wavelength of 880 nm by a colorimeter and displayed on a chart recorder. Standards and spiked samples were analyzed for quality assurance.

Biological Parameters

Fecal Coliform Bacteria

Fecal coliform bacteria were analyzed at a State-certified laboratory contracted by the LCFRP. Samples were collected approximately 0.2 m below the surface in sterile plastic bottles provided by the contract laboratory and placed on ice for no more than six hours before analysis.

Chlorophyll a

The analytical method used to measure chlorophyll a is described in Welschmeyer (1994) and US EPA (1997) and was performed by CMS personnel. Chlorophyll a concentrations were determined directly from the 1.0 micron filters used for filtering samples for orthophosphate analysis. All filters were wrapped individually in foil, placed in airtight containers and stored in the freezer. During analysis each filter is immersed in 10 mL of 10

90% acetone for 24 hours, which extracts the chlorophyll a into solution. Additionally, filters from samples taken at M61, M18, BC117 and BCRR are ground during the extraction process. Chlorophyll a concentration of each solution is measured on a Turner 10-AU fluorometer. The fluorometer uses an optimal combination of excitation and emission bandwidth filters which reduces the errors inherent in the acidification technique. Our laboratory at the CMS is State-certified by the N.C. Division of Water Quality for the analysis of chlorophyll a.

Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)

Five sites were originally chosen for BOD analysis. One site was located at NC11, upstream of International Paper, and a second site was at AC, about 3 miles downstream of International Paper (Fig.1.1). Two sites were located in blackwater rivers (NCF117 and B210) and one site (BBT) was situated in an area influenced by both the mainstem Cape Fear River and the Black River. For the sampling period May 2000-April 2004 additional BOD data were collected at stream stations 6RC, LCO, GCO, BRN, HAM and COL in the Cape Fear and Black River watersheds. In May 2004 those stations were dropped and sampling commenced at ANC, SAR, GS, N403, ROC and BC117 in the Northeast Cape Fear River watershed. The procedure used for BOD analysis was Method 5210 in Standard Methods (APHA 1995). Samples were analyzed for both 5-day and 20-day BOD. During the analytical period, samples were kept in airtight bottles and placed in an incubator at 20o C. All experiments were initiated within 6 hours of sample collection. Samples were analyzed in duplicate. Dissolved oxygen measurements were made using a YSI Model 57 meter that was air-calibrated. No adjustments were made for pH since most samples exhibited pH values within or very close to the desired 6.5-7.5 range. Several sites have naturally low pH and there was no adjustment for these samples because it would alter the natural water chemistry and affect true BOD.

2.3 - Results and Discussion

This section includes results from monitoring of the physical, biological, and chemical parameters at all stations for the time period January-December 2005. Discussion of the data focuses mainly on the river channel stations, but poor water quality conditions at stream stations will also be discussed. The contributions of the two large blackwater tributaries, the Northeast Cape Fear River and the Black River, are represented by conditions at NCF117 and B210, respectively. The Cape Fear Region did not experience any significant hurricane activity during this monitoring period (after major hurricanes in 1996, 1998, and 1999). Therefore this report reflects low flow conditions for the Cape Fear River and Estuary.

Physical Parameters

Water temperature

Water temperatures at all stations ranged from 3.7 to 31.1 oC and individual station annual averages ranged from 15.1 to 20.0oC (Table 2.1). Highest temperatures occurred during 11

July and August and lowest temperatures during February. Stream stations were generally cooler than river stations, most likely because of shading and lower nighttime air temperatures affecting the shallower waters.

Salinity

Salinity at the estuarine stations ranged from 0.1 to 34.7 practical salinity units (psu) and station annual means ranged from 2.5 to 28.2 psu (Table 2.2). Lowest salinities occurred in April and highest salinities occurred in September. Two stream stations, NC403 and PB, had occasional oligohaline conditions due to discharges from pickle production facilities. Annual mean salinity for 2005 was higher than the nine-year average for 1996- 2004 at all stations (Figure 2.1). River discharge for 2005 continued a three-year decrease from the high discharge period of 2003 (see USGS data at http://nc.water.usgs.gov). This influenced salinity, and also appeared to lead to a reduction in concentration of certain nutrients and other parameters (TSS and turbidity) in the main channel and estuary stations (see below).

Conductivity

Conductivity at estuarine stations ranged from 0.10 to 52.68 mS/cm and from 0.1 to 4.0 mS/cm at the freshwater stations (Table 2.3). Temporal conductivity patterns followed those of salinity. Dissolved ionic compounds increase the conductance of water, therefore, conductance increases and decreases with salinity, often reflecting river flow conditions due to rainfall. Conductivity may also reveal point source pollution sources, as is seen at BC117, which is below a municipal wastewater discharge. Stations PB and NC403 are below an industrial discharge, and often has elevated conductivity. pH pH values ranged from 3.2 to 8.2 and station annual medians ranged from 3.8 to 8.0 (Table 2.4). pH was typically lowest upstream due to acidic swamp water inputs and highest downstream as alkaline seawater mixes with the river water. Low pH values at COL predominate because of naturally acidic blackwater inputs.

Dissolved Oxygen

Dissolved oxygen (DO) problems are a major water quality concern in the lower Cape Fear River and its estuary, and several of the tributary streams (Mallin et al. 1999; 2000; 2001a; 2001b; 2002a; 2002b; 2003; 2004; 2005). Concentrations in 2005 ranged from 0.2 to 17.2 mg/L and station annual means ranged from 4.0 to 9.5 mg/L (Table 2.5). Average annual DO levels at the river channel stations for 2005 were slightly higher than the average for 1996-2004 (Figure 2.2), possibly due to the lack of major hurricane activity and subsequent pollutant input in the watershed last year. Dissolved oxygen levels were lowest during the summer (Table 2.5), often falling below the state standard of 5.0 mg/L at several river and upper estuary stations. Working synergistically to lower oxygen levels are two factors: lower oxygen carrying capacity in warmer water and increased bacterial 12 respiration (or biochemical oxygen demand, BOD), due to higher temperatures in summer. These hypoxic conditions could have negative impacts on the biota in the Cape Fear River.

There is a dissolved oxygen sag in the main river channel that begins at DP below a paper mill discharge and persists into the mesohaline portion of the estuary (Fig. 2.2). Mean oxygen levels were highest at the upper river stations NC11 and AC and in the middle to lower estuary at station M23. Lowest mainstem mean 2005 DO levels occurred at the lower river and upper estuary stations NAV and HB (7.1 mg/L). Discharge of high BOD waste from the paper/pulp mill just above the AC station (Mallin et al. 2003), as well as inflow of blackwater from the Northeast Cape Fear and Black Rivers, help to diminish oxygen in the upper estuary. As the water reaches the lower estuary higher algal productivity, mixing and ocean dilution help alleviate oxygen problems.

The Northeast Cape Fear and Black Rivers generally have lower DO levels than the mainstem Cape Fear River (NCF117 2005 mean = 6.6, NCF6 = 6.9, B210 2005 mean = 7.1). These rivers are classified as blackwater systems because of their tea colored water. As the water passes through swamps en route to the river channel, tannins from decaying vegetation leach into the water, resulting in the observed color. Decaying vegetation on the swamp floor has an elevated biochemical oxygen demand and usurps oxygen from the water, leading to naturally low dissolved oxygen levels. Runoff from concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) may also contribute to chronic low dissolved oxygen levels in these blackwater rivers (Mallin et al. 1998; 1999; 2006; Mallin 2000). The Northeast Cape Fear River in general seems to be more oxygen stressed than the Black River; in 2005 NCF117 had DO concentrations below 4.0 mg/L 33% of the time sampled, while during that same period B210 had DO below 4.0 mg/L 0% of the occasions sampled (Table 2.5)

Several stream stations were severely stressed in terms of low dissolved oxygen during the year 2005. ANC had DO levels below 4.0 mg/L 50% of the occasions sampled, NC403 33%, GS 67%, BCRR 42% and SR 58% (Table 2.5). Some of this can be attributed to low water conditions and some potentially to CAFO runoff; however point-source discharges also likely contribute to low dissolved oxygen levels at NC403 and possibly SR, especially via nutrient loading (Mallin et al. 2001a; 2002a; 2004). Smith Creek had DO levels below the tidal water standard of 5.0 mg/L 42% of the time.

Field Turbidity

Turbidity levels ranged from 0 to 55 nephelometric turbidity units (NTU) and station annual means ranged from 1 to 23 NTU (Table 2.6). Annual mean turbidity levels for 2005 were considerably lower than the long-term average (Fig. 2.3) probably a result of low rainfall. Highest mean turbidities were at the upper river sites N11, AC and DP (17-19 NTU) with turbidities gradually decreases downstream through the estuary, except for at the upper estuarine station NAV (23 NTU – Figure 2.3). This probably reflected the peak of 55 NTU seen in November (Table 2.6). Turbidity was lower in the blackwater tributaries (Northeast Cape Fear River and Black River) than in the mainstem river. 13

Note: In addition to the laboratory-analyzed turbidity, the LCFRP uses nephelometers designed for field use, which allows us to acquire in situ turbidity from a natural situation. North Carolina regulatory agencies are required to use turbidity values from water samples removed from the natural system, put on ice until arrival at a State-certified laboratory, and analyzed using laboratory nephelometers. Standard Methods notes that transport of samples and temperature change alters true turbidity readings. Our analysis of samples using both methods shows that lab turbidity is nearly always lower than field turbidity.

Total Suspended Solids

Total suspended solid (TSS) values system wide ranged from 1 to 85 mg/L with station annual means from 1.6 to 26.5 mg/L (Table 2.7). For the river channel stations TSS was highest in the upper estuary at NAV, next in the upper river and decreasing through the estuary. Although total suspended solids (TSS) and turbidity both quantify suspended material in the water column, they do not always go hand in hand. High TSS does not mean high turbidity and vice versa. This anomaly may be explained by the fact that fine clay particles are effective at dispersing light and causing high turbidity readings, while not resulting in high TSS. On the other hand, large organic or inorganic particles may be less effective at dispersing light, yet their greater mass results in high TSS levels.

Light Attenuation

The attenuation of solar irradiance through the water column is measured by a logarithmic function (k) per meter. The higher this light attenuation coefficient is the more strongly light is attenuated (through absorbance or reflection) in the water column. River and estuary light attenuation coefficients ranged from 0.88 to 10.09/m and station annual means ranged from 1.75 at M18 to 4.48 /m at NCF6 (Table 2.8). Annual light attenuation means for this monitoring period were similar to those of the nine-year period 1996-2004 (Figure 2.4).

High light attenuation did not always coincide with high turbidity. Blackwater, though low in turbidity, will attenuate light through absorption of solar irradiance. At NCF6 and BBT, blackwater stations with moderate turbidity levels, light attenuation was high. Compared to other North Carolina estuaries the Cape Fear has high average light attenuation. The high average light attenuation is a major reason why phytoplankton production in the major rivers and the estuary of the LCFR is generally low. Whether caused by turbidity or water color this attenuation tends to limit light availability to the phytoplankton (Mallin et al. 1997; 1999; 2004).

Chemical Parameters – Nutrients

Total Nitrogen

Total nitrogen (TN) ranged from 150 to 11,260 g/L and station annual means ranged from 587 to 3,945 g/L (Table 2.9). Mean total nitrogen in 2005 was similar to the nine-year mean at all main channel stations (Figure 2.5). Previous research (Mallin et al. 1999) has 14 shown a positive correlation between river flow and TN in the Cape Fear system. Total nitrogen concentrations remained fairly constant down the river and declined from mid- estuary into the lower estuary, most likely reflecting uptake of nitrogen into the food chain through algal productivity and subsequent grazing by planktivores as well as through dilution and marsh denitrfication. The blackwater rivers maintained TN concentrations somewhat lower than those found in the mainstem Cape Fear River. One stream station, BC117, had a very high mean of 3,945 g/L, likely from the upstream Town of Burgaw wastewater discharge. ANC, PB, and SAR also had comparatively high TN values among the stream stations. Temporal patterns for TN were not evident.

Nitrate+Nitrite

Nitrate+nitrite (henceforth referred to as nitrate) is the main species of inorganic nitrogen in the Lower Cape Fear River. Concentrations system wide ranged from 5 (detection limit) to 9,950 g/L and station annual means ranged from 23 to 2,958 g/L (Table 2.10). Station annual nitrate means for the 2005 monitoring period were slightly lower than the nine-year means (Figure 2.6). The highest riverine nitrate levels were at NC11 (605 g/L) indicating that much of this nutrient is imported from upstream. Moving downstream from NC11, nitrate levels decrease most likely as a result of uptake by primary producers, microbial denitrification in riparian marshes and tidal dilution. The blackwater rivers carried low loads of nitrate compared to the mainstem Cape Fear stations, though the Northeast Cape Fear River (NCF117 mean = 237 g/L) had higher nitrate than the Black River (B210 = 152 g/L). No clear temporal pattern was observable for nitrate.

Several stream stations showed high levels of nitrate on occasion including SAR, NC403, PB, BC117, 6RC and BRN. NC403 and PB are downstream of industrial wastewater discharges and SAR and 6RC primarily receive non-point agricultural or animal waste drainage. BC117 frequently showed high nitrate levels. The Town of Burgaw wastewater plant, upstream of BC117, has no nitrate discharge limits. Over the past several years a considerable number of experiments have been carried out by UNCW researchers to assess the effects of nutrient additions to water collected from blackwater streams and rivers (i.e. the Black and Northeast Cape Fear Rivers, and Colly and Great Coharie Creeks). These experiments have collectively found that additions of nitrogen (as either nitrate, ammonium, or urea) significantly stimulate phytoplankton production and BOD increases. Critical levels of these nutrients were in the range of 0.2 to 0.5 mg/L as N (Mallin et al. 1998; Mallin et al. 2001a; Mallin et al. 2002a, Mallin et al. 2004). Thus, we conservatively consider nitrate concentrations exceeding 0.5 mg/L as N in Cape Fear watershed streams to be potentially problematic to the streams environmental health. Blackwater streams where we periodically see concentrations of this magnitude include 6RC, SAR, BC117, NC403, and PB.

Ammonium

Ammonium concentrations ranged from 10 (detection limit) to 640 g/L and station annual means ranged from 22 to 103 g/L (Table 2.11). The 2005 monitoring period mean ammonium levels were considerably lower than the nine-year means at the channel 15 stations (Figure 2.7). River areas with the highest mean ammonium levels this monitoring period included AC, which is below a pulp mill discharge, and DP, located downstream of AC. Ocean dilution accounts for decreasing levels in the lower estuary. At the stream stations, areas with periodic high levels of ammonium include LVC2, ANC, SAR, BRN and PB.

Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen

Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN) is a measure of the total concentration of organic nitrogen plus ammonium. TKN ranged from 100 to 3,110 g/L and station annual means ranged from 472 to 1,447 g/L (Table 2.12). Mean TKN for 2004 was similar to or slightly higher than the nine-year mean at the channel stations (Figure 2.8). TKN concentration drops down through the estuary, likely due to ocean dilution and food chain uptake of nitrogen. Measured TKN levels in the blackwater rivers are usually higher than in the mainstem Cape Fear River as a result of the high concentration of organic materials dissolved in the water (Figure 2.8). The stream stations typically have higher TKN as a result of the influence of swamp water with high organic and ammonium content. There were somewhat higher TKN levels during summer months.

Total Phosphorus

Total phosphorus (TP) concentrations ranged from 10 (detection limit) to 2,130 g/L and station annual means ranged from 21 to 928 g/L (Table 2.13). Mean TP for 2005 was lower than the nine-year mean at almost all channel stations (Figure 2.9), potentially a result of lower runoff and river discharge. In the river TP is highest at the upper riverine channel stations and declines downstream into the estuary. Some of this decline is attributable to the settling of phosphorus-bearing turbidity, yet incorporation of phosphorus into the food chain is also responsible. A temporal pattern of higher summer TP is a result of increasing orthophosphate during the summer.

The experiments discussed above in the nitrate subsection also involved additions of phosphorus, either as inorganic orthophosphate or a combination of inorganic plus organic P. The experiments showed that additions of P exceeding 0.5 mg/L led to significant increases in bacterial counts, as well as significant increases in BOD over control. Thus, we consider concentrations of phosphorus above 0.5 to be potentially problematic to blackwater streams. Streams periodically exceeding this critical concentration included GS, NC403, PB, GCO and BC117. Some of these stations (BC117, NC403) are downstream of industrial or wastewater discharges, while GS and GCO are in non-point agricultural areas. 16

Orthophosphate

Orthophosphate ranged from 0 to 1,950 g/L and station annual means ranged from 8 to 834 g/L (Table 2.14). The 2005 annual means at the channel stations were in general slightly lower than the nine-year means (Figure 2.10).

Much of the orthophosphate load is imported into the Lower Cape Fear system from upstream areas, as NC11 typically has the highest levels. The Northeast Cape Fear River had higher orthophosphate levels than the Black River. Orthophosphate can bind to suspended materials and is transported downstream via turbidity; thus high levels of turbidity at the uppermost river stations may be an important factor in the high orthophosphate levels. Turbidity declines toward the estuary because of settling, and orthophosphate concentration also declines. In the estuary, primary productivity helps reduce orthophosphate concentrations by assimilation into biomass. Orthophosphate levels typically reach maximum concentrations during summertime, when anoxic sediment releases bound phosphorus. Also, in the Cape Fear Estuary, summer algal productivity is limited by nitrogen, thereby allowing the accumulation of orthophosphate (Mallin et al. 1997; 1999). In spring, productivity in the estuary is usually limited by phosphorus (Mallin et al. 1997; 1999).

The stream station BC117 had high orthophosphate levels while ANC and GCO had moderate levels. BC117 is strongly influenced by industrial and municipal wastewater discharges, and ANC and GCO by agriculture/animal waste runoff.

Chemical Parameters - EPA Priority Pollutant Metals

Aluminum levels in the Lower Cape Fear system were generally higher in the upper river and decreased toward the lower estuary (Table 2.15). Stream stations were generally low except COL, which is considered pristine swamp water. There is no North Carolina aquatic standard for aluminum.

Arsenic, cadmium, and chromium all maintained concentrations below detection limits at all stations (except As had measurable levels at M35, M23 and M18 in the lower estuary) throughout the year (Tables 2.16, 2.17, and 2.18). The As concentrations were all below the N.C. standard.

Copper concentrations frequently exceeded the state tidal saltwater standard of 3 g/L at estuarine stations M54, M35, M23 and M18 (Table 2.19). The freshwater standard of 7 g/L was not exceeded at the stream stations sampled.

The LCFRP is an iron-rich system (Table 2.20). Stations NC11, DP, NAV, SAR, LRC and GCO maintained average iron concentrations above the state standard of 1000 g/L. Iron concentrations generally decreased down-estuary.

Water-column concentrations of lead, mercury, and nickel were below the analytical detection limit except for nickel, which remained below the N.C. state standard (Tables 17

2.21, 2.22, 2.23). The Ni standard for tidal saltwater was exceeded on several occasions at M35, M23 and M18 (Table 2.23).

Zinc concentrations remained below the state standard at all stations (Table 2.24).

Biological Parameters

Chlorophyll a

During this monitoring period chlorophyll a was generally low to moderate at the river and estuarine stations (Table 2.25). System wide, chlorophyll a ranged from 0.1 to 148.5 g/L and station annual means ranged from 0.4 –19.3 g/L. Production of chlorophyll a biomass is low to moderate in this system primarily because of light limitation by turbidity in the mainstem and high organic color and low inorganic nutrients in the blackwater rivers. Spatially, highest values are normally found in the mid-to-lower estuary stations because light becomes more available downstream of the estuarine turbidity maximum (Figure 2.11). The peak estuarine bloom of 32 g/L was seen at M42, in the mid-to-lower estuary. Chlorophyll a production is extremely limited in the large blackwater tributaries. Highest chlorophyll a concentrations were found during spring and summer. Main channel chlorophyll a concentrations in 2005 were generally higher than long-term mean concentrations (Fig. 2.11), possibly a result of lower rainfall and less turbid waters..

Substantial phytoplankton blooms occasionally occur at the stream stations (Table 2.25). These streams are generally shallow, so vertical mixing does not carry phytoplankton cells down below the critical depth where respiration exceeds photosynthesis. Thus, when flow conditions permit, elevated nutrient conditions (such as are periodically found in these stream stations) can lead to algal blooms. In areas where the forest canopy opens up large blooms can occur. When blooms occur in blackwater stream stations they can become sources of BOD upon death and decay, reducing further the low summer dissolved oxygen conditions common to these waters (Mallin et al. 2001; 2002; 2004). Stream algal blooms in 2005 occurred at GS, PB, and BCRR.

Biochemical Oxygen Demand

For the main stem river, mean annual five-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) concentrations were highest at AC, on average about 15% higher than at NC11 suggesting influence from the pulp/paper mill inputs (Table 2.26). BOD was somewhat lower during the winter.

From 2000 until April 2004 we performed a project aimed at assessing rural Black River system stream contributions to BOD. In May 2004 we changed the stream sampling to the Northeast Cape Fear River watershed. Results of BOD analyses from several stream stations can be seen in Table 2.26. The data show generally greater BOD concentrations at the Northeast Cape Fear Watershed streams than the Black River Watershed streams. SAR, GS and N403 all showed large (> 3.2 mg/L) individual BOD5 measurements during 18

2005. Station N403 is below a point source, but the other two sites are non-point runoff areas.

Fecal Coliform Bacteria

Fecal coliform (FC) bacterial counts ranged from 1 to >6,000 CFU/100 mL and station annual geometric means ranged from 4 to 319 CFU/100 mL (Table 2.27). The state human contact standard (200 CFU/100 mL) was exceeded only once at the channel stations in 2005. FC counts in 2005 were much lower at the Cape Fear River and estuary stations compared with the nine-year average (Figure 2.12), likely a result of the low rainfall. FC bacteria show a notable spatial trend of highest counts in the upper estuary- lower river area including stations NAV, HB, BRR, M61 and M54.

Most stream stations surpassed the state standard for human contact of 200 CFU/100 mL on at least one occasion and several were particularly problematic. During 2005 PB exceeded the state standard 58% of the time, BCRR 42%, BC117 and GS 33%, and ANC and SR exceeded the standard 25% of the time. BC117 and PB are located below point source discharges and the other sites are primarily influenced by non-point source pollution.

2.4 - References Cited

APHA. 1995. Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, 19th ed. American Public Health Association, Washington, D.C.

Mallin, M.A., L.B. Cahoon, M.R. McIver, D.C. Parsons and G.C. Shank. 1997. Nutrient limitation and eutrophication potential in the Cape Fear and New River Estuaries. Report No. 313. Water Resources Research Institute of the University of North Carolina, Raleigh, N.C.

Mallin, M.A., L.B. Cahoon, D.C. Parsons and S.H. Ensign. 1998. Effect of organic and inorganic nutrient loading on photosynthetic and heterotrophic plankton communities in blackwater rivers. Report No. 315. Water Resources Research Institute of the University of North Carolina, Raleigh, N.C.

Mallin, M.A., L.B. Cahoon, M.R. McIver, D.C. Parsons and G.C. Shank. 1999. Alternation of factors limiting phytoplankton production in the Cape Fear Estuary. Estuaries 22:985-996.

Mallin, M.A. 2000. Impacts of industrial-scale swine and poultry production on rivers and estuaries. American Scientist 88:26-37.

Mallin, M.A., M.H. Posey, M.R. McIver, S.H. Ensign, T.D. Alphin, M.S. Williams, M.L. Moser and J.F. Merritt. 2000. Environmental Assessment of the Lower Cape Fear River 19

System, 1999-2000. CMS Report No. 00-01, Center for Marine Science, University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Wilmington, N.C.

Mallin, M.A., L.B. Cahoon, D.C. Parsons and S.H. Ensign. 2001a. Effect of nitrogen and phosphorus loading on plankton in Coastal Plain blackwater streams. Journal of Freshwater Ecology 16:455-466.

Mallin, M.A., M.H. Posey, T.E. Lankford, M.R. McIver, S.H. Ensign, T.D. Alphin, M.S. Williams, M.L. Moser and J.F. Merritt. 2001b. Environmental Assessment of the Lower Cape Fear River System, 2000-2001. CMS Report No. 01-01, Center for Marine Science, University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Wilmington, N.C.

Mallin, M.A., L.B. Cahoon, M.R. McIver and S.H. Ensign. 2002a. Seeking science-based nutrient standards for coastal blackwater stream systems. Report No. 341. Water Resources Research Institute of the University of North Carolina, Raleigh, N.C.

Mallin, M.A., M.H. Posey, T.E. Lankford, M.R. McIver, H.A. CoVan, T.D. Alphin, M.S. Williams and J.F. Merritt. 2002b. Environmental Assessment of the Lower Cape Fear River System, 2001-2002. CMS Report No. 02-02, Center for Marine Science, University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Wilmington, N.C.

Mallin, M.A., M.R. McIver, H.A. Wells, M.S. Williams, T.E. Lankford and J.F. Merritt. 2003. Environmental Assessment of the Lower Cape Fear River System, 2002-2003. CMS Report No. 03-03, Center for Marine Science, University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Wilmington, N.C.

Mallin, M.A., M.R. McIver, S.H. Ensign and L.B. Cahoon. 2004. Photosynthetic and heterotrophic impacts of nutrient loading to blackwater streams. Ecological Applications 14:823-838. Mallin, M.A., M.R. McIver, T.D. Alphin, M.H. Posey and J.F. Merritt. 2005. Environmental Assessment of the Lower Cape Fear River System, 2003-2004. CMS Report No. 05-02, Center for Marine Science, University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Wilmington, N.C.

U.S. EPA 1997. Methods for the Determination of Chemical Substances in Marine and Estuarine Environmental Matrices, 2nd Ed. EPA/600/R-97/072. National Exposure Research Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Welschmeyer, N.A. 1994. Fluorometric analysis of chlorophyll a in the presence of chlorophyll b and phaeopigments. Limnology and Oceanography 39:1985-1993. 20

Table 2.1 Water Temperature (oC) at the LCFRP stations for 2005.

month NAV HB BRR M61 M54 M42 M35 M23 M18 SPD month NC11 AC DP BBT IC NCF6 JAN 12.0 12.5 12.3 12.4 12.5 13.0 13.7 13.2 12.7 13.1 JAN 12.0 12.3 12.7 12.7 12.4 12.6 FEB 10.8 11.1 11.9 11.8 11.9 12.2 12.0 11.8 11.3 11.9 FEB 7.2 7.2 7.4 8.1 8.0 8.6 MAR 10.9 11.3 11.2 11.4 11.3 11.3 11.4 11.6 11.5 11.7 MAR 9.3 9.4 9.5 10.2 10.2 10.5 APR 16.7 16.5 16.7 17.1 17.2 17.0 17.1 16.6 16.5 16.6 APR 15.9 16.2 16.5 17.0 17.1 18.3 MAY 19.1 19.5 19.6 20.6 19.7 19.7 19.8 19.1 18.8 18.8 MAY 19.6 20.4 20.4 20.2 20.3 19.8 JUN 25.2 27.6 27.7 27.5 25.9 26.9 26.6 25.9 25.8 25.7 JUN 25.4 25.3 26.2 25.6 25.9 25.7 JUL 29.5 30.5 31.1 31.1 29.7 30.5 29.8 29.2 29.5 29.7 JUL 29.8 29.6 29.5 28.9 29.3 29.5 AUG 28.9 29.2 29.4 29.8 29.7 29.2 29.1 29.2 28.8 28.9 AUG 27.6 27.9 27.7 27.0 30.2 30.3 SEP 27.3 27.6 27.9 27.5 26.8 26.5 26.3 26.4 27.1 26.4 SEP 28.4 28.4 27.9 27.8 28.1 27.9 OCT 25.9 25.9 25.7 25.8 25.5 25.5 25.4 25.1 25.8 25.1 OCT 25.9 25.8 25.5 25.4 25.7 25.7 NOV 16.7 17.4 17.3 18.0 18.5 18.1 18.0 18.4 18.5 17.2 NOV 17.2 17.3 17.3 16.5 16.6 16.9 DEC 8.9 8.8 9.1 10.3 10.2 10.6 10.8 10.8 11.3 10.8 DEC 7.7 7.9 8.0 7.8 8.0 10.0 mean 19.3 19.8 20.0 20.3 19.9 20.0 20.0 19.8 19.8 19.7 mean 18.8 19.0 19.1 18.9 19.3 19.7 std dev 7.4 7.6 7.7 7.5 7.1 7.1 6.9 6.8 6.9 6.8 std dev 8.1 8.1 7.9 7.6 8.1 7.7 max 29.5 30.5 31.1 31.1 29.7 30.5 29.8 29.2 29.5 29.7 max 29.8 29.6 29.5 28.9 30.2 30.3 min 8.9 8.8 9.1 10.3 10.2 10.6 10.8 10.8 11.3 10.8 min 7.2 7.2 7.4 7.8 8.0 8.6

month ANC SAR GS NC403 PB LRC ROC BC117 BCRR month 6RC LCO GCO SR BRN HAM month NCF117 B210 COL LVC2 SC-CH JAN 13.1 13.9 13.8 13.5 15.3 15.8 13.8 17.5 13.6 JAN 12.6 12.6 12.0 11.5 13.6 13.0 JAN 12.1 13.7 13.1 13.9 7.5 FEB 11.9 12.2 12.3 11.1 13.0 12.6 12.5 13.7 12.5 FEB 7.4 6.7 7.4 7.1 8.9 7.9 FEB 8.6 9.5 10.1 9.5 8.5 MAR 7.9 7.7 7.2 8.3 9.2 11.6 9.8 12.8 10.3 MAR 9.4 9.1 9.6 9.5 11.7 10.7 MAR 10.5 10.0 9.2 10.2 13.2 APR 19.2 19.7 20.3 18.5 19.0 18.8 18.8 16.8 16.3 APR 14.8 15.0 14.5 15.2 16.0 15.5 APR 18.3 17.8 17.4 17.3 18.1 MAY 17.7 17.5 16.9 18.0 18.3 16.0 17.1 18.0 17.4 MAY 18.1 18.3 17.9 18.1 18.7 17.7 MAY 20.4 20.1 16.4 19.3 22.6 JUN 25.1 26.4 24.9 28.1 26.9 26.1 26.7 26.1 JUN 23.9 24.2 24.0 24.2 24.4 23.4 JUN 25.4 27.7 24.3 24.6 30.0 JUL 26.3 26.9 26.1 27.2 25.1 25.3 25.1 24.6 JUL 26.9 26.9 26.9 25.5 25.0 23.9 JUL 29.1 28.6 25.9 27.6 29.9 AUG 25.2 25.7 25.8 30.3 27.5 27.4 29.0 26.2 AUG 24.6 25.4 25.0 24.7 25.5 24.7 AUG 29.9 25.3 24.4 26.0 29.9 SEP 25.2 24.8 24.3 24.7 26.3 25.8 25.4 26.7 24.9 SEP 25.0 25.4 24.7 24.9 25.1 23.7 SEP 27.7 25.3 23.0 25.3 26.8 OCT 21.7 19.8 19.8 20.6 22.0 21.4 21.3 21.5 21.2 OCT 21.5 21.7 21.2 22.1 22.3 20.7 OCT 25.3 23.9 22.5 23.0 25.9 NOV 17.4 17.2 16.9 16.5 18.1 16.1 15.5 18.7 15.1 NOV 11.4 11.7 11.5 11.0 12.7 11.7 NOV 14.1 14.0 13.8 12.7 16.8 DEC 5.4 3.8 3.7 4.8 4.2 7.0 5.7 11.0 6.0 DEC 6.9 6.2 5.8 5.7 7.6 6.9 DEC 8.6 5.9 4.9 7.0 9.4 mean 18.0 18.0 17.7 15.1 19.3 18.7 18.2 19.8 17.9 mean 16.9 16.9 16.7 16.6 17.6 16.7 mean 19.2 18.5 17.1 18.0 19.9 std dev 6.8 7.2 7.0 5.9 7.7 6.4 6.7 5.7 6.4 std dev 7.0 7.4 7.2 7.2 6.4 6.3 std dev 7.8 7.5 6.7 6.9 8.4 max 26.3 26.9 26.1 24.7 30.3 27.5 27.4 29.0 26.2 max 26.9 26.9 26.9 25.5 25.5 24.7 max 29.9 28.6 25.9 27.6 30.0 min 5.4 3.8 3.7 4.8 4.2 7.0 5.7 11.0 6.0 min 6.9 6.2 5.8 5.7 7.6 6.9 min 8.6 5.9 4.9 7.0 7.5 21

Table 2.2 Salinity (psu) at the LCFRP estuarine stations for 2005.

month NAV HB BRR M61 M54 M42 M35 M23 M18 SPD NCF6 JAN 4.6 4.8 5.0 7.9 11.4 16.1 22.8 28.6 34.7 28.7 3.1 FEB 0.1 2.5 3.5 9.0 10.0 11.8 14.0 23.1 27.4 27.4 2.6 MAR 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.6 1.8 4.1 12.0 24.8 31.4 23.4 0.1 APR 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.4 1.2 2.5 9.8 12.4 19.4 0.1 MAY 0.1 1.8 3.2 7.8 9.5 12.6 15.1 26.2 29.6 26.9 0.7 JUN 0.1 0.3 0.6 3.0 6.6 10.1 16.8 26.6 31.0 26.5 0.1 JUL 0.2 5.3 5.2 9.0 12.9 13.6 20.2 29.3 31.9 27.3 0.5 AUG 0.1 0.1 0.2 4.1 4.8 7.3 25.2 20.3 24.3 26.6 0.8 SEP 13.4 17.5 10.8 17.5 21.9 26.1 27.1 32.5 34.5 32.2 10.9 OCT 9.1 9.5 10.4 13.9 17.2 21.0 24.7 30.2 34.2 28.6 10.0 NOV 1.4 4.4 4.9 9.7 11.3 12.4 17.0 23.4 26.1 25.2 0.5 DEC 0.1 0.1 0.1 2.1 2.8 5.2 7.8 15.8 20.6 24.2 0.1 mean 2.5 3.9 3.7 7.1 9.2 11.8 17.1 24.2 28.2 26.4 2.5 std dev 4.2 5.0 3.7 5.1 6.1 6.8 7.1 6.2 6.3 3.0 3.7 max 13.4 17.5 10.8 17.5 21.9 26.1 27.1 32.5 34.7 32.2 10.9 min 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.4 1.2 2.5 9.8 12.4 19.4 0.1 22

Table 2.3 Specific Conductivity (mS/cm) at the LCFRP stations for 2005.

month NAV HB BRR M61 M54 M42 M35 M23 M18 SPD month NC11 AC DP BBT IC NCF6 JAN 8.17 8.40 8.97 13.62 19.04 26.25 36.00 44.00 52.68 44.48 JAN 0.12 0.12 0.14 0.14 0.16 6.41 FEB 0.27 4.65 6.35 15.35 17.00 19.71 22.85 36.50 42.77 42.62 FEB 0.12 0.15 0.14 0.13 0.14 4.95 MAR 0.15 0.17 0.16 1.13 3.34 7.41 20.02 39.04 48.30 37.06 MAR 0.13 0.18 0.16 0.13 0.14 0.15 APR 0.11 0.11 0.12 0.13 0.76 2.25 4.66 16.60 20.72 31.17 APR 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.09 0.10 0.11 MAY 0.21 3.39 5.86 13.47 16.40 21.02 24.75 40.93 46.62 41.77 MAY 0.11 0.32 0.17 0.14 0.17 1.30 JUN 0.21 0.68 1.11 5.57 11.62 17.10 27.36 41.50 47.67 41.38 JUN 0.13 0.12 0.16 0.15 0.16 0.26 JUL 0.51 9.57 9.44 15.48 21.64 22.74 32.55 45.30 48.99 42.63 JUL 0.14 0.15 0.24 0.14 0.18 0.91 AUG 0.14 0.24 0.33 7.53 8.60 12.74 39.80 32.59 38.45 41.60 AUG 0.11 0.15 0.12 0.07 0.10 1.66 SEP 22.25 28.26 18.22 28.51 34.88 40.86 42.31 49.47 52.48 49.27 SEP 0.14 0.30 0.22 0.21 0.26 18.51 OCT 15.36 16.29 17.75 23.01 27.96 33.52 38.80 46.46 51.95 44.27 OCT 0.17 0.34 0.25 0.24 0.35 17.20 NOV 2.68 7.67 8.67 16.47 18.96 20.71 27.75 36.87 40.65 39.51 NOV 0.14 0.16 0.31 0.14 0.22 1.01 DEC 0.15 0.14 0.23 3.94 5.19 9.19 13.45 25.83 32.95 38.25 DEC 0.10 0.15 0.13 0.12 0.13 0.18 mean 4.18 6.63 6.43 12.02 15.45 19.46 27.52 37.92 43.69 41.17 mean 0.13 0.19 0.18 0.14 0.18 4.39 std dev 7.04 8.12 6.27 8.30 9.70 10.46 10.80 8.91 9.04 4.27 std dev 0.02 0.08 0.06 0.04 0.07 6.32 max 22.25 28.26 18.22 28.51 34.88 40.86 42.31 49.47 52.68 49.27 max 0.17 0.34 0.31 0.24 0.35 18.51 min 0.11 0.11 0.12 0.13 0.76 2.25 4.66 16.60 20.72 31.17 min 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.07 0.10 0.11

month ANC SAR GS NC403 PB LRC ROC BC117 BCRR month 6RC LCO GCO SR BRN HAM month NCF117 B210 COL LVC2 SC-CH JAN 0.10 0.20 0.19 0.44 1.30 0.14 0.14 0.72 0.26 JAN 0.13 0.09 0.15 0.09 0.13 0.15 JAN 0.16 0.09 0.07 0.13 0.20 FEB 0.11 0.17 0.16 0.48 1.91 0.16 0.13 0.41 0.22 FEB 0.12 0.09 0.14 0.08 0.12 0.13 FEB 0.14 0.09 0.07 0.12 3.90 MAR 0.10 0.18 0.18 0.48 0.92 0.13 0.13 0.45 0.20 MAR 0.12 0.08 0.13 0.07 0.14 0.12 MAR 0.12 0.08 0.07 0.12 3.12 APR 0.08 0.16 0.15 0.39 1.12 0.12 0.11 0.24 0.11 APR 0.11 0.08 0.11 0.07 0.11 0.12 APR 0.11 0.10 0.07 0.08 0.16 MAY 0.09 0.18 0.17 0.41 3.64 0.12 0.13 0.90 0.25 MAY 0.12 0.08 0.16 0.08 0.11 0.15 MAY 0.15 0.08 0.07 0.15 3.94 JUN 0.09 0.19 0.20 4.03 0.11 0.12 0.78 0.21 JUN 0.11 0.08 0.19 0.09 0.08 0.12 JUN 0.12 0.09 0.06 0.06 0.80 JUL 0.12 0.21 0.22 1.23 0.14 0.14 0.60 0.30 JUL 0.12 0.08 0.16 0.14 0.11 0.14 JUL 0.14 0.09 0.07 0.14 5.30 AUG 0.10 0.24 0.21 2.78 0.12 0.10 0.58 0.23 AUG 0.11 0.07 0.11 0.10 0.09 0.11 AUG 0.14 0.06 0.06 0.10 1.78 SEP 0.17 0.29 0.22 0.51 2.43 0.15 0.14 0.56 0.09 SEP 0.14 0.08 0.22 0.14 0.12 0.16 SEP 0.19 0.08 0.07 0.11 8.24 OCT 0.09 0.18 0.19 0.39 2.18 0.12 0.14 0.13 0.08 OCT 0.12 0.08 0.27 0.15 0.12 0.17 OCT 0.15 0.10 0.07 0.10 17.42 NOV 0.07 0.23 0.22 0.45 3.93 0.14 0.16 0.86 0.19 NOV 0.13 0.09 0.17 0.15 0.13 0.15 NOV 0.13 0.10 0.07 0.09 1.36 DEC 0.09 0.19 0.18 0.35 0.94 0.13 0.14 0.61 0.15 DEC 0.13 0.09 0.13 0.13 0.14 0.14 DEC 0.14 0.10 0.07 0.10 0.34 mean 0.10 0.20 0.19 0.43 2.20 0.13 0.13 0.57 0.19 mean 0.12 0.08 0.16 0.11 0.12 0.14 mean 0.14 0.09 0.07 0.11 3.88 std dev 0.02 0.03 0.02 0.05 1.12 0.01 0.02 0.23 0.07 std dev 0.01 0.01 0.05 0.03 0.02 0.02 std dev 0.02 0.01 0.00 0.02 4.70 max 0.17 0.29 0.22 0.51 4.03 0.16 0.16 0.90 0.30 max 0.14 0.09 0.27 0.15 0.14 0.17 max 0.19 0.10 0.07 0.15 17.42 min 0.07 0.16 0.15 0.35 0.92 0.11 0.10 0.13 0.08 min 0.11 0.07 0.11 0.07 0.08 0.11 min 0.11 0.06 0.06 0.06 0.16 23

Table 2.4 pH at the LCFRP stations for 2005.

month NAV HB BRR M61 M54 M42 M35 M23 M18 SPD month NC11 AC DP BBT IC NCF6 JAN 7.2 7.3 7.2 7.4 7.7 8.0 8.1 8.1 8.1 8.0 JAN 6.9 7.0 6.8 6.8 6.9 7.2 FEB 7.8 7.8 7.6 7.8 7.8 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.2 8.1 FEB 7.0 7.1 7.1 6.9 7.0 7.0 MAR 7.5 7.6 7.8 7.7 8.0 8.1 8.1 8.1 8.0 8.0 MAR 7.0 7.2 7.1 7.0 7.0 6.8 APR 7.0 6.7 6.9 6.7 7.0 7.1 7.4 7.8 7.9 7.6 APR 6.6 6.8 6.9 6.6 6.7 6.6 MAY 7.1 7.1 7.2 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 7.7 7.9 7.7 MAY 6.5 6.9 6.8 6.6 6.7 6.6 JUN 7.3 7.5 7.3 7.2 7.3 7.5 7.7 7.8 7.8 7.5 JUN 6.4 6.6 4.7 6.6 6.7 6.5 JUL 6.7 7.3 7.7 7.4 7.6 7.8 7.8 7.8 7.8 7.3 JUL 6.5 6.6 6.8 6.7 6.8 6.5 AUG 6.7 6.7 7.0 7.1 7.3 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.2 AUG 6.3 6.4 6.4 5.9 6.3 6.4 SEP 7.4 7.5 7.5 7.6 7.8 7.8 7.8 7.9 7.8 7.7 SEP 7.1 7.2 6.8 6.8 6.8 7.1 OCT 7.1 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.5 7.7 7.8 7.9 8.0 7.8 OCT 6.9 7.1 6.8 6.8 6.8 6.9 NOV 6.8 6.8 6.8 7.0 7.2 7.3 7.6 7.9 8.0 7.7 NOV 6.8 6.9 7.1 6.5 6.8 6.4 DEC 7.0 6.9 7.0 7.2 7.3 7.5 7.7 8.0 8.1 8.0 DEC 6.9 7.0 7.0 6.8 6.9 6.6 median 7.1 7.2 7.2 7.3 7.2 7.7 7.8 7.9 8.0 7.7 median 6.9 7.0 6.8 6.8 6.8 6.6 std dev 0.3 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 std dev 0.3 0.2 0.6 0.3 0.2 0.3 max 7.8 7.8 7.8 7.8 8.0 8.1 8.1 8.2 8.2 8.1 max 7.1 7.2 7.1 7.0 7.0 7.2 min 6.7 6.7 6.8 6.7 7.0 7.1 7.4 7.5 7.5 7.2 min 6.3 6.4 4.7 5.9 6.3 6.4

month ANC SAR GS NC403 PB LRC ROC BC117 BCRR month 6RC LCO GCO SR BRN HAM month NCF117 B210 COL LVC2 SC-CH JAN 6.0 6.7 6.5 6.5 6.6 7.3 7.1 7.9 7.1 JAN 7.0 6.6 6.6 6.2 6.8 6.9 JAN 6.4 6.4 4.0 6.5 7.1 FEB 5.3 6.1 6.3 6.3 6.3 6.9 6.9 7.4 7.2 FEB 6.0 6.1 6.3 6.1 6.5 6.7 FEB 5.4 5.5 3.2 5.6 5.7 MAR 6.0 6.5 6.6 6.7 6.6 7.0 7.0 8.1 7.9 MAR 6.4 6.4 6.5 6.4 6.7 6.7 MAR 5.5 5.7 3.6 6.0 6.9 APR 5.6 6.6 6.6 6.5 6.0 7.0 6.7 6.7 6.0 APR 6.4 6.4 6.4 6.4 6.7 6.7 APR 6.3 6.1 3.9 6.5 6.9 MAY 5.6 6.7 6.3 6.3 6.5 7.2 6.9 7.6 7.1 MAY 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.3 6.8 6.8 MAY 6.4 6.0 3.2 6.5 6.8 JUN 5.7 6.6 6.4 6.6 7.5 7.1 7.6 7.2 JUN 6.7 6.6 6.6 6.3 6.5 6.6 JUN 6.1 6.3 3.9 6.0 7.1 JUL 6.3 7.0 6.4 6.5 7.5 7.2 7.6 7.2 JUL 7.1 6.7 6.8 6.4 6.9 6.9 JUL 6.1 6.0 3.9 6.3 6.4 AUG 5.6 6.1 6.0 6.5 7.3 6.9 7.5 7.4 AUG 6.0 6.3 6.1 6.0 6.1 6.3 AUG 6.1 5.2 3.8 5.9 6.8 SEP 6.5 6.7 6.3 6.2 6.7 7.5 7.0 7.8 7.3 SEP 6.3 6.3 6.3 6.1 6.6 6.6 SEP 6.4 6.2 3.7 6.4 6.4 OCT 5.1 5.6 5.8 5.9 6.2 6.7 6.1 6.3 5.9 OCT 6.8 6.8 6.9 6.1 7.1 7.0 OCT 5.9 5.7 3.6 5.7 6.5 NOV 5.3 6.9 6.5 6.4 6.8 7.1 7.0 7.5 6.6 NOV 6.7 6.7 6.6 6.1 6.9 7.0 NOV 6.2 6.3 4.0 6.5 6.8 DEC 5.9 6.6 6.6 6.4 6.5 7.3 7.0 7.8 7.3 DEC 6.8 5.8 6.3 5.9 6.8 6.9 DEC 6.1 6.2 3.8 6.0 6.7 median 5.7 6.6 6.4 6.4 6.5 7.3 7.0 7.6 7.2 median 6.6 6.5 6.5 6.2 6.8 6.8 median 6.1 6.1 3.8 6.2 6.8 std dev 0.4 0.4 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.5 0.6 std dev 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 std dev 0.3 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.4 max 6.5 7.0 6.6 6.7 6.8 7.5 7.2 8.1 7.9 max 7.1 6.8 6.9 6.4 7.1 7.0 max 6.4 6.4 4.0 6.5 7.1 min 5.1 5.6 5.8 5.9 6.0 6.7 6.1 6.3 5.9 min 6.0 5.8 6.1 5.9 6.1 6.3 min 5.4 5.2 3.2 5.6 5.7 24

Table 2.5 Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L) concentrations at the LCFRP stations for 2005. The NC State standards are 5.0 and 4.0 mg/L for surface water and swampwater, respectively.

month NAV HB BRR M61 M54 M42 M35 M23 M18 SPD month NC11 AC DP BBT IC NCF6 JAN 9.6 9.8 9.8 9.5 9.5 9.9 9.6 9.2 8.8 9.2 JAN 12.1 11.8 10.6 10.6 10.8 10.8 FEB 10.4 10.2 10.4 10.0 10.3 10.7 11.1 11.2 11.0 10.4 FEB 12.4 12.2 12.1 11.5 11.6 11.1 MAR 10.4 10.2 10.2 10.3 9.8 11.4 11.3 11.1 10.2 11.2 MAR 11.9 11.7 11.4 11.1 11.0 10.3 APR 7.7 8.0 7.7 7.4 7.6 7.6 7.7 8.4 8.4 7.8 APR 9.6 9.4 9.2 8.0 8.3 6.8 MAY 6.7 6.8 6.8 7.3 7.6 7.8 8.2 8.2 8.1 7.5 MAY 8.4 7.7 7.1 6.1 6.1 7.0 JUN 5.3 5.6 5.9 5.8 5.7 6.8 7.1 6.9 7.0 6.6 JUN 7.2 6.4 5.7 5.2 5.3 4.8 JUL 3.9 4.0 5.1 5.7 5.9 6.8 6.4 6.2 6.4 6.5 JUL 6.8 5.7 5.0 4.1 4.3 4.1 AUG 5.2 5.1 5.2 4.4 4.5 4.9 4.5 5.4 5.6 4.6 AUG 6.6 6.7 5.9 4.3 5.3 4.2 SEP 5.1 5.0 5.7 5.4 6.6 6.8 6.6 6.7 6.5 6.8 SEP 7.2 6.5 4.3 4.5 4.1 4.9 OCT 4.1 4.3 5.1 4.9 5.8 6.5 6.6 6.7 6.6 6.4 OCT 6.3 5.8 3.8 3.9 3.9 4.3 NOV 6.2 5.9 5.9 5.8 6.2 6.4 6.8 7.2 7.3 6.7 NOV 8.2 8.5 7.3 6.9 6.9 6.3 DEC 10.5 10.5 10.1 9.6 9.9 9.8 9.9 10.0 9.6 9.0 DEC 11.9 11.5 11.3 10.8 10.7 8.7 mean 7.1 7.1 7.3 7.2 7.5 8.0 8.0 8.1 8.0 7.7 mean 9.1 8.7 7.8 7.3 7.4 6.9 std dev 2.4 2.4 2.1 2.1 1.9 1.9 2.0 1.8 1.6 1.8 std dev 2.3 2.4 2.9 2.9 2.8 2.6 max 10.5 10.5 10.4 10.3 10.3 11.4 11.3 11.2 11.0 11.2 max 12.4 12.2 12.1 11.5 11.6 11.1 min 3.9 4.0 5.1 4.4 4.5 4.9 4.5 5.4 5.6 4.6 min 6.3 5.7 3.8 3.9 3.9 4.1

month ANC SAR GS NC403 PB LRC ROC BC117 BCRR month 6RC LCO GCO SR BRN HAM month NCF117 B210 COL LVC2 SC-CH JAN 5.1 8.1 3.1 4.7 7.5 10.6 9.5 12.7 5.7 JAN 10.2 10.2 7.9 7.7 9.9 9.1 JAN 11.1 8.8 7.6 6.3 10.2 FEB 7.5 8.4 5.9 5.9 8.6 10.8 10 12.3 9.8 FEB 11.4 11.6 10.1 11.4 11.4 11.5 FEB 10.7 10.6 9.1 10.1 11.0 MAR 11.2 10.7 10.3 10.4 10.9 11.9 11.6 17.2 12.2 MAR 10.7 10.9 9.4 10.0 10.6 10.5 MAR 10.2 9.8 9.2 8.5 9.0 APR 8.4 6.0 7.1 4.2 4.1 9.2 8.1 8.2 8.0 APR 8.7 8.6 6.7 7.1 9.2 8.7 APR 6.1 6.3 6.2 6.5 6.5 MAY 3.6 7.7 1.9 4.6 7.3 10.1 7.6 9.5 5.2 MAY 8.0 8.0 6.7 3.7 8.7 6.1 MAY 6.0 6.0 7.3 3.6 5.3 JUN 1.4 4.5 2.3 6.0 8.2 5.9 8.1 3.5 JUN 6.7 7.0 4.4 3.2 7.2 6.4 JUN 3.6 5.0 5.2 5.1 4.7 JUL 0.7 5.9 0.4 2.1 7.3 5.2 4.6 2.2 JUL 6.9 6.7 5.1 0.2 6.9 4.7 JUL 3.1 4.6 4.7 2.3 3.9 AUG 1.9 4.3 0.8 7.5 8.7 6.3 9.1 3.5 AUG 7.0 6.7 3.7 0.3 6.5 6.2 AUG 3.5 4.6 3.6 3.3 4.5 SEP 1.8 4.5 0.4 0.4 5.3 8.8 5.2 7.7 3.2 SEP 6.1 6.5 5.1 0.4 7.2 3.4 SEP 4.9 5.3 5.6 3.3 3.1 OCT 1.3 4.3 1.9 1.0 4.0 7.8 4.7 6.9 6.1 OCT 7.1 7.5 6.2 0.8 8.1 3.7 OCT 3.5 5.2 5.4 4.8 4.5 NOV 4.3 7.8 2.2 3.8 6.7 9.0 8.0 5.5 3.5 NOV 10.0 10.1 8.7 1.0 10.1 9.0 NOV 7.3 8.8 8.0 9.1 6.5 DEC 10.1 11.9 11.3 9.3 10.8 12.1 12.1 11.4 11.5 DEC 11.4 10.5 10.2 9.8 11.9 11.2 DEC 8.9 10.4 10.0 9.6 8.3 mean 4.8 7.0 4.0 4.9 6.7 9.5 7.9 9.4 6.2 mean 8.7 8.7 7.0 4.6 9.0 7.5 mean 6.6 7.1 6.8 6.0 6.5 std dev 3.5 2.4 3.6 3.1 2.5 1.5 2.4 3.4 3.3 std dev 1.9 1.8 2.1 4.1 1.8 2.7 std dev 2.9 2.3 1.9 2.6 2.5 max 11.2 11.9 11.3 10.4 10.9 12.1 12.1 17.2 12.2 max 11.4 11.6 10.2 11.4 11.9 11.5 max 11.1 10.6 10.0 10.1 11.0 min 0.7 4.3 0.4 0.4 2.1 7.3 4.7 4.6 2.2 min 6.1 6.5 3.7 0.2 6.5 3.4 min 3.1 4.6 3.6 2.3 3.1 25

Table 2.6 Field Turbidity (NTU) at the LCFRP stations for 2005. The NC State standards are 50 and 25 NTU for freshwater and tidal saltwater, respectively.

month NAV HB BRR M61 M54 M42 M35 M23 M18 SPD month NC11 AC DP BBT IC NCF6 JAN 19 14 11 7 14 7 7 7 17 14 JAN 11 8 5 9 11 6 FEB 19 12 11 8 8 7 7 8 6 5 FEB 18 19 15 12 13 7 MAR 20 15 17 20 25 17 10 13 17 11 MAR 35 26 26 17 20 13 APR 28 27 26 16 35 23 20 12 11 11 APR 49 43 36 18 28 5 MAY 27 21 25 13 11 12 12 7 11 14 MAY 12 13 15 11 13 26 JUN 11 10 8 7 7 5 4 3 1 5 JUN 13 12 8 8 7 5 JUL 22 9 10 6 8 11 6 4 2 3 JUL 15 15 22 10 13 43 AUG 22 17 17 7 7 6 12 6 7 6 AUG 19 12 15 5 10 10 SEP 10 12 7 6 7 5 5 7 7 6 SEP 10 12 10 12 18 22 OCT 22 15 11 11 12 7 7 6 7 13 OCT 15 18 13 10 18 20 NOV 55 10 8 7 4 4 7 5 5 7 NOV 7 6 10 3 9 9 DEC 17 20 17 11 10 8 7 6 15 10 DEC 27 26 28 18 27 10 mean 23 15 14 10 12 9 9 7 9 9 mean 19 18 17 11 16 15 std dev 11 5 6 4 9 5 4 3 5 4 std dev 12 10 9 5 6 11 max 55 27 26 20 35 23 20 13 17 14 max 49 43 36 18 28 43 min 10 9 7 6 4 4 4 3 1 3 min 7 6 5 3 7 5

month ANC SAR GS NC403 PB LRC ROC BC117 BCRR month 6RC LCO GCO SR BRN HAM month NCF117 B210 COL LVC2 SC-CH JAN 3 4 1 1 9 1 3 11 4 JAN 4 4 2 1 3 6 JAN 4 3 1 3 8 FEB 7 4 2 2 4 5 4 8 11 FEB 9 3 0 2 4 5 FEB 6 4 3 4 23 MAR 4 3 2 0 3 2 2 5 9 MAR 3 2 0 0 3 5 MAR 7 5 3 3 16 APR 5 5 2 2 5 6 9 9 9 APR 8 4 1 1 4 6 APR 4 5 0 3 17 MAY 4 11 2 1 8 2 4 8 6 MAY 3 3 1 2 5 5 MAY 4 6 2 7 13 JUN 4 9 8 11 3 4 7 16 JUN 10 5 9 1 5 5 JUN 3 4 1 2 7 JUL 8 5 20 36 3 17 12 33 JUL 4 2 5 5 6 6 JUL 2 3 1 5 16 AUG 4 6 4 16 2 7 11 25 AUG 7 10 11 8 13 9 AUG 1 4 1 3 25 SEP 2 6 11 12 8 2 5 11 19 SEP 3 2 7 11 3 3 SEP 2 2 0 4 8 OCT 0 1 1 4 16 8 3 9 7 OCT 3 2 3 21 3 4 OCT 2 3 0 4 5 NOV 3 2 2 1 11 2 2 7 10 NOV 4 2 2 12 4 3 NOV 5 5 3 6 18 DEC 3 1 0 0 4 3 1 5 7 DEC 2 1 1 1 2 7 DEC 4 3 1 3 13 mean 4 5 5 3 11 3 5 9 13 mean 5 3 4 5 5 5 mean 4 4 1 4 14 std dev 2 3 6 4 9 2 4 2 8 std dev 3 2 4 6 3 2 std dev 2 1 1 1 6 max 8 11 20 12 36 8 17 12 33 max 10 10 11 21 13 9 max 7 6 3 7 25 min 0 1 0 0 3 1 1 5 4 min 2 1 0 0 2 3 min 1 2 0 2 5 26

Table 2.7 Total Suspended Solids (mg/L) at the LCFRP stations for 2005.

month NAV HB BRR M61 M54 M42 M35 M23 M18 SPD month NC11 AC DP IC NCF6 JAN 16 11 10 6 10 6 9 6 21 25 JAN 6 5 5 7 8 FEB 32 12 10 10 9 11 10 19 15 10 FEB 13 13 10 8 7 MAR 23 15 13 18 26 16 15 20 27 21 MAR 23 15 24 17 14 APR 24 22 18 13 35 27 21 16 15 17 APR 50 50 42 27 8 MAY 37 19 30 17 19 15 14 7 14 23 MAY 12 11 17 12 66 JUN 9 15 8 11 10 8 9 7 6 11 JUN 14 10 7 5 4 JUL 15 12 9 9 11 13 9 9 8 7 JUL 14 12 17 8 23 AUG 18 13 20 10 11 9 12 9 8 10 AUG 15 11 11 7 11 SEP 19 16 14 8 11 9 8 12 16 11 SEP 7 9 9 11 24 OCT 24 11 10 19 14 9 9 9 9 16 OCT 10 13 9 14 25 NOV 85 17 14 8 7 7 8 9 8 14 NOV 7 4 6 7 16 DEC 16 13 16 13 13 12 14 9 23 26 DEC 19 20 22 18 13 mean 26.5 14.7 14.3 11.8 14.7 11.8 11.5 11.0 14.2 15.9 mean 15.8 14.4 14.9 11.8 18.3 std dev 19.1 3.2 5.9 4.1 7.8 5.4 3.7 4.5 6.5 6.2 std dev 11.3 11.5 10.1 6.1 15.9 max 85.0 22.0 30.0 19.0 35.0 27.0 21.0 20.0 27.0 26.0 max 50.0 50.0 42.0 27.0 66.0 min 9.0 11.0 8.0 6.0 7.0 6.0 8.0 6.0 6.0 7.0 min 6.0 4.0 5.0 5.0 4.0

month ANC SAR GS NC403 PB LRC ROC BC117 BCRR month 6RC LCO GCO SR BRN HAM month NCF117 B210 COL LVC2 JAN 2 2 2 2 6 2 2 5 4 JAN 2 2 2 3 2 2 JAN 3 2 2 2 FEB 3 2 1 3 4 4 3 29 6 FEB 3 3 2 2 2 3 FEB 1 1 1 2 MAR 2 2 2 2 2 5 2 3 3 MAR 4 2 2 2 6 2 MAR 4 2 2 2 APR 3 9 3 3 5 5 14 8 6 APR 12 6 1 1 6 5 APR 3 4 2 2 MAY 5 10 4 1 5 3 5 9 6 MAY 4 2 2 4 3 13 MAY 6 2 2 4 JUN 3 11 24 12 2 3 6 12 JUN 12 5 14 2 7 4 JUN 3 3 3 3 JUL 6 4 30 17 3 6 7 20 JUL 3 1 4 22 6 13 JUL 2 3 2 3 AUG 5 8 7 12 2 8 11 13 AUG 4 5 12 15 18 6 AUG 2 5 1 2 SEP 3 10 17 7 8 1 4 6 12 SEP 2 3 4 14 3 3 SEP 3 2 1 4 OCT 2 3 4 5 9 13 5 12 9 OCT 2 1 2 13 2 3 OCT 4 2 2 3 NOV 2 3 6 2 13 2 2 6 9 NOV 2 1 1 8 2 1 NOV 2 1 1 1 DEC 2 1 2 1 4 5 1 5 3 DEC 2 1 1 1 2 2 DEC 2 1 1 1 mean 3.1 5.3 8.4 2.8 8.0 3.9 4.5 8.9 8.6 mean 4.3 2.6 3.8 7.2 4.9 4.7 mean 2.9 2.2 1.6 2.3 std dev 1.4 3.8 9.4 1.9 4.4 3.1 3.5 6.5 4.8 std dev 3.5 1.7 4.3 6.8 4.4 4.0 std dev 1.3 1.3 0.6 1.1 max 6.0 11.0 30.0 7.0 17.0 13.0 14.0 29.0 20.0 max 12.0 6.0 14.0 22.0 18.0 13.0 max 6.0 5.0 3.0 4.0 min 1.5 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.5 1.0 1.0 3.0 3.0 min 1.5 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.5 1.0 min 1.0 0.5 1.0 1.0 27

Table 2.8 Light Attenuation (k) at the LCFRP boat sampled stations for 2005.

month NAV HB BRR M61 M54 M42 M35 M23 M18 SPD month NC11 AC DP IC NCF6 BBT JAN 3.05 2.79 2.74 2.24 2.46 1.90 1.68 1.49 2.00 1.72 JAN 2.18 1.99 2.63 2.59 2.83 2.77 FEB 3.78 2.95 2.41 2.50 2.33 2.03 2.07 1.79 1.38 1.29 FEB 2.72 2.67 2.62 2.56 2.77 2.52 MAR MAR 3.42 3.68 3.73 2.79 4.56 2.58 APR 4.06 4.06 3.54 3.74 4.86 3.99 3.62 2.36 2.40 2.69 APR 4.45 4.53 3.99 4.53 4.04 3.94 MAY 1.21 1.23 1.90 MAY 2.33 3.03 3.34 3.59 6.48 3.45 JUN 2.93 3.18 3.42 3.07 2.66 2.20 1.80 1.35 0.88 1.45 JUN 2.79 2.62 2.82 4.16 JUL JUL AUG AUG 2.57 2.93 3.05 3.34 4.30 3.56 SEP 3.63 2.82 2.81 2.31 2.37 1.61 1.73 1.26 SEP 2.10 3.40 3.77 4.21 4.33 4.71 OCT 3.90 3.49 3.16 3.00 2.50 2.08 1.92 1.16 1.03 OCT 2.20 4.04 3.78 4.31 4.51 3.79 NOV 10.09 4.76 4.43 4.34 3.72 3.98 3.53 2.33 2.14 2.57 NOV 2.10 2.31 3.84 3.61 5.86 3.33 DEC 3.85 4.07 4.38 4.52 3.50 3.68 2.75 2.41 2.92 2.22 DEC 3.73 3.91 4.06 3.31 5.48 3.69 mean 4.41 3.52 3.36 3.22 3.05 2.68 2.39 1.76 1.75 1.89 mean 2.78 3.19 3.48 3.42 4.48 3.43 std dev 2.18 0.67 0.69 0.84 0.84 0.95 0.75 0.50 0.68 0.52 std dev 0.74 0.75 0.51 0.67 1.08 0.64 max 10.09 4.76 4.43 4.52 4.86 3.99 3.62 2.41 2.92 2.69 max 4.45 4.53 4.06 4.53 6.48 4.71 min 2.93 2.79 2.41 2.24 2.33 1.61 1.68 1.16 0.88 1.26 min 2.10 1.99 2.62 2.56 2.77 2.52 28

Table 2.9 Total Nitrogen concentrations (mg/L) at the LCFRP stations for 2005. month NAV HB BRR M61 M54 M42 M35 M23 M18 SPD month NC11 AC DP IC NCF6 JAN 930 940 850 990 1,000 850 450 470 410 390 JAN 3,730 1,020 830 970 850 FEB 780 1,200 510 1,190 1,130 1,350 980 890 660 410 FEB 1,420 1,380 1,430 1,240 1,000 MAR 1,000 1,020 1,120 1,220 1,150 1,110 860 1,060 680 580 MAR 1,130 1,160 920 900 980 APR 960 1,040 1,040 1,010 1,280 1,170 1,190 1,060 830 620 APR 1,240 1,230 1,190 1,220 950 MAY 1,370 1,290 1,300 1,230 1,180 970 930 700 450 830 MAY 1,300 1,970 1,450 1,450 1,290 JUN 1,120 1,130 1,200 1,160 1,260 1,120 960 630 440 670 JUN 1,400 1,320 1,350 1,430 940 JUL 1,710 1,170 1,490 1,300 1,180 880 870 360 560 580 JUL 1,900 1,450 1,250 1,430 880 AUG 1,750 1,250 930 1,060 2,850 970 1,160 880 670 260 AUG 1,910 1,590 1,610 1,440 1,060 SEP 1,360 1,640 910 1,430 480 300 300 370 420 360 SEP 1,830 2,100 2,100 1,740 1,360 OCT 540 940 930 690 670 550 480 280 230 250 OCT 1,010 1,430 920 1,250 910 NOV 1,670 1,330 1,430 1,240 1,100 1,250 670 1,060 1,220 1,260 NOV 1,240 750 1,790 1,070 1,040 DEC 1,260 980 1,090 1,380 1,420 1,280 1,120 1,440 870 830 DEC 1,480 1,500 810 800 1,110 mean 1,204 1,161 1,067 1,158 1,225 983 831 767 620 587 mean 1,633 1,408 1,304 1,245 1,031 std dev 369 194 259 191 550 295 281 343 254 277 std dev 693 356 385 261 150 max 1,750 1,640 1,490 1,430 2,850 1,350 1,190 1,440 1,220 1,260 max 3,730 2,100 2,100 1,740 1,360 min 540 940 510 690 480 300 300 280 230 250 min 1,010 800 750 810 850

month ANC SAR GS NC403 PB LRC ROC BC117 BCRR month 6RC LCO GCO SR BRN HAM month NCF117 B210 COL LVC2 JAN 1,140 1,170 640 1,030 830 350 790 7,250 460 JAN 440 720 680 1,090 620 460 JAN 980 620 940 900 FEB 1,080 1,510 430 1,320 960 640 840 1,250 500 FEB 550 1,010 1,140 280 830 900 FEB 1,270 810 660 400 MAR 960 1,210 570 1,010 1,100 400 350 680 150 MAR 1,540 880 670 420 3,190 820 MAR 990 640 710 550 APR 1,490 1,140 940 950 980 830 1,130 1,230 750 APR 1,230 930 550 580 750 920 APR 1,020 850 1,110 490 MAY 1,300 1,350 1,160 940 850 710 1,070 11,150 910 MAY 1,000 900 1,410 780 720 820 MAY 1,070 940 1,160 940 JUN 1,660 1,640 1,350 2,700 680 930 11,260 1,240 JUN 1,460 1,210 1,030 1,060 530 1,020 JUN 950 870 1,370 670 JUL 1,870 2,860 1,870 2,190 1,370 1,690 2,560 2,250 JUL 1,280 1,010 1,230 1,640 1,170 990 JUL 1,190 1,330 1,530 1,480 AUG 1,760 1,690 1,260 1,490 1,000 1,550 3,150 1,910 AUG 1,780 1,350 1,260 1,590 820 1,210 AUG 920 650 930 1,550 SEP 1,520 1,770 1,800 1,480 1,630 1,290 1,430 2,420 1,350 SEP 1,380 1,050 1,220 1,670 880 870 SEP 1,240 1,420 1,630 1,380 OCT 1,730 1,080 1,070 1,570 1,460 1,250 1,360 880 930 OCT 940 840 1,240 1,350 730 610 OCT 1,210 1,500 1,450 790 NOV 1,710 1,170 1,310 890 1,170 950 1,310 5,030 1,170 NOV 2,430 900 1,240 1,120 810 750 NOV 1,380 1,010 980 870 DEC 1,760 1,320 1,200 2,190 930 1,110 1,160 480 950 DEC 850 870 800 940 1,510 890 DEC 1,350 980 1,590 1,340 mean 1,498 1,493 1,133 1,264 1,358 882 1,134 3,945 1,048 mean 1,240 973 1,039 1,043 1,047 855 mean 1,131 968 1,172 947 std dev 293 469 427 403 557 324 356 3,754 571 std dev 523 163 275 449 692 185 std dev 155 289 324 383 max 1,870 2,860 1,870 2,190 2,700 1,370 1,690 11,260 2,250 max 2,430 1,350 1,410 1,670 3,190 1,210 max 1,380 1,500 1,630 1,550 min 960 1,080 430 890 830 350 350 480 150 min 440 720 550 280 530 460 min 920 620 660 400 29

Table 2.10 Nitrate-Nitrite concentrations (mg/L) at the LCFRP stations for 2005. month NAV HB BRR M61 M54 M42 M35 M23 M18 SPD month NC11 AC DP IC NCF6 BBT JAN 430 420 480 390 430 290 190 140 20 90 JAN 620 570 450 440 380 533 FEB 130 710 30 520 320 360 440 410 110 5 FEB 1,020 950 980 810 520 714 MAR 580 580 620 600 490 560 440 110 40 100 MAR 420 560 510 300 380 597 APR 250 350 360 230 240 290 310 280 20 70 APR 450 460 440 470 100 407 MAY 610 570 560 450 440 330 320 240 50 80 MAY 800 830 790 740 270 616 JUN 410 440 440 370 380 350 240 110 30 110 JUN 720 580 470 540 150 555 JUL 590 420 320 270 220 180 30 80 50 70 JUL 800 700 40 590 180 404 AUG 770 320 40 170 610 460 460 130 60 30 AUG 650 610 680 510 270 288 SEP 290 330 350 260 200 110 70 15 15 80 SEP 760 560 470 430 290 553 OCT 70 100 90 130 110 80 60 50 15 60 OCT 260 120 130 130 70 398 NOV 360 120 310 170 70 130 60 310 430 560 NOV 310 240 160 140 60 411 DEC 140 90 110 450 530 110 280 460 170 130 DEC 450 380 110 50 40 536 mean 386 371 309 334 337 271 242 195 84 115 mean 605 547 436 429 226 501 std dev 211 189 193 145 164 146 153 138 113 138 std dev 219 221 277 228 145 115 max 770 710 620 600 610 560 460 460 430 560 max 1,020 950 980 810 520 714 min 70 90 30 130 70 80 30 15 15 5 min 260 120 40 50 40 288

month ANC SAR GS NC403 PB LRC ROC BC117 BCRR month 6RC LCO GCO SR BRN HAM month NCF117 B210 COL LVC2 JAN 40 520 5 410 130 40 220 6,320 5 JAN 30 240 210 590 130 50 JAN 390 160 5 200 FEB 150 950 5 740 280 330 420 950 180 FEB 280 740 720 30 490 330 FEB 730 500 5 90 MAR 5 600 5 520 780 400 350 130 150 MAR 1,130 570 340 20 1,470 400 MAR 490 250 5 30 APR 60 80 5 90 5 190 120 450 40 APR 490 150 5 5 70 50 APR 140 110 5 5 MAY 40 250 50 290 30 130 390 9,750 90 MAY 330 180 100 90 120 60 MAY 180 180 20 280 JUN 60 200 5 1,130 40 130 9,950 80 JUN 440 160 5 5 5 100 JUN 90 170 5 40 JUL 50 1,510 50 90 200 380 1,250 760 JUL 440 80 110 50 100 60 JUL 260 120 40 450 AUG 30 60 15 15 70 150 1,800 510 AUG 1,030 90 15 15 30 90 AUG 30 40 40 150 SEP 30 180 30 30 40 30 30 1,350 140 SEP 70 70 150 40 40 30 SEP 80 70 15 220 OCT 15 50 15 30 110 40 50 40 90 OCT 100 15 70 15 30 15 OCT 15 50 15 15 NOV 30 15 15 50 15 60 240 3,300 50 NOV 420 60 170 15 60 15 NOV 120 80 15 30 DEC 130 290 80 980 180 320 130 200 60 DEC 60 30 60 50 530 15 DEC 320 90 520 80 mean 53 392 23 349 234 154 218 2,958 180 mean 402 199 163 77 256 101 mean 237 152 58 133 std dev 42 428 23 324 339 127 132 3,509 215 std dev 343 216 192 156 403 122 std dev 205 120 140 129 max 150 1,510 80 980 1,130 400 420 9,950 760 max 1,130 740 720 590 1,470 400 max 730 500 520 450 min 5 15 5 30 5 30 30 40 5 min 30 15 5 5 5 15 min 15 40 5 5 30

Table 2.11 Ammonium concentrations (mg/L) at the LCFRP stations for 2005. month NAV HB BRR M61 M54 M42 M35 M23 M18 SPD month NC11 AC DP IC NCF6 BBT JAN 90 80 100 100 180 90 50 10 10 10 JAN 10 10 10 10 70 53 FEB 130 10 10 10 30 10 40 40 10 210 FEB 130 10 20 20 40 52 MAR 10 10 10 40 10 10 10 10 10 10 MAR 10 30 10 10 10 APR 20 10 20 30 190 50 50 40 10 10 APR 10 20 10 30 10 53 MAY 20 20 10 20 10 30 30 50 50 40 MAY 10 10 10 20 30 130 JUN 50 70 10 10 20 50 10 60 80 60 JUN 40 40 110 10 60 110 JUL 80 90 50 60 40 20 20 10 20 40 JUL 60 90 140 120 20 83 AUG 110 80 80 50 40 30 30 20 20 50 AUG 90 140 120 70 20 24 SEP 40 20 20 30 10 10 10 10 10 10 SEP 30 240 120 100 30 113 OCT 30 40 30 20 20 20 10 10 10 20 OCT 50 210 100 70 20 134 NOV 90 100 100 110 160 140 100 50 40 20 NOV 60 40 240 120 40 52 DEC 70 70 70 100 110 120 120 60 40 30 DEC 50 70 90 70 30 74 mean 62 50 43 48 68 48 40 31 26 43 mean 46 76 82 54 32 80 std dev 37 33 34 35 68 43 35 20 21 53 std dev 35 76 69 41 18 35 max 130 100 100 110 190 140 120 60 80 210 max 130 240 240 120 70 134 min 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 min 10 10 10 10 10 24

month ANC SAR GS NC403 PB LRC ROC BC117 BCRR month 6RC LCO GCO SR BRN HAM month NCF117 B210 COL LVC2 JAN 10 30 10 10 10 10 10 40 10 JAN 50 70 40 40 30 10 JAN 10 10 10 150 FEB 10 40 20 20 20 160 10 110 120 FEB 10 100 120 150 10 130 FEB 20 20 30 10 MAR 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 MAR 30 10 10 10 640 10 MAR 10 10 10 100 APR 10 10 10 10 140 10 10 30 70 APR 10 10 10 10 10 10 APR 10 10 10 10 MAY 30 20 30 20 30 30 30 10 10 MAY 30 20 20 30 40 10 MAY 10 30 20 10 JUN 50 30 10 20 10 60 70 130 JUN 10 90 10 60 120 60 JUN 100 10 60 60 JUL 260 260 210 340 80 160 140 80 JUL 60 40 130 280 50 80 JUL 50 50 90 340 AUG 100 50 20 30 40 50 90 80 AUG 40 20 60 110 40 60 AUG 40 20 120 90 SEP 90 80 80 90 220 50 80 70 30 SEP 20 30 40 140 30 30 SEP 30 40 120 30 OCT 220 40 40 280 320 150 130 100 90 OCT 40 20 40 90 30 40 OCT 30 30 40 130 NOV 40 40 20 60 20 40 40 60 20 NOV 50 20 30 20 40 30 NOV 30 10 20 100 DEC 40 20 20 30 80 60 30 50 30 DEC 60 20 20 10 140 30 DEC 30 20 20 110 mean 73 53 40 59 103 54 52 65 57 mean 34 38 44 79 98 42 mean 31 22 46 95 std dev 81 65 55 82 118 50 47 38 42 std dev 18 30 39 78 168 35 std dev 24 13 40 87 max 260 260 210 280 340 160 160 140 130 max 60 100 130 280 640 130 max 100 50 120 340 min 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 min 10 10 10 10 10 10 min 10 10 10 10 31

Table 2.12 Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen concentrations (mg/L) at the LCFRP stations for 2005. month NAV HB BRR M61 M54 M42 M35 M23 M18 SPD month NC11 AC DP IC NCF6 JAN 500 520 370 600 570 560 260 330 390 300 JAN 3,110 450 380 530 470 FEB 650 490 480 670 810 990 540 480 550 410 FEB 400 430 450 430 480 MAR 420 440 500 620 660 550 420 950 640 480 MAR 710 600 410 600 600 APR 710 690 680 780 1,040 880 880 780 810 550 APR 790 770 750 750 850 MAY 760 720 740 780 740 640 610 460 400 750 MAY 500 1,140 660 710 1,020 JUN 710 690 760 790 880 770 720 520 410 560 JUN 680 740 880 890 790 JUL 1,120 750 1,170 1,030 960 700 840 280 510 510 JUL 1,100 750 1,210 840 700 AUG 980 930 890 890 2,240 510 700 750 610 230 AUG 1,260 980 930 930 790 SEP 1,070 1,310 560 1,170 280 190 230 370 420 280 SEP 1,070 1,540 1,630 1,310 1,070 OCT 470 840 840 560 560 470 420 230 230 190 OCT 750 1,310 790 1,120 840 NOV 1,310 1,210 1,120 1,070 1,030 1,120 610 750 790 700 NOV 930 510 1,630 930 980 DEC 1,120 890 980 930 890 1,170 840 980 700 700 DEC 1,030 1,120 700 750 1,070 mean 818 790 758 824 888 713 589 573 538 472 mean 1,028 862 868 816 805 std dev 281 257 244 189 460 276 212 249 170 184 std dev 673 342 408 236 202 max 1,310 1,310 1,170 1,170 2,240 1,170 880 980 810 750 max 3,110 1,540 1,630 1,310 1,070 min 420 440 370 560 280 190 230 230 230 190 min 400 430 380 430 470

month ANC SAR GS NC403 PB LRC ROC BC117 BCRR month 6RC LCO GCO SR BRN HAM month NCF117 B210 COL LVC2 JAN 1,100 650 640 620 700 310 570 930 460 JAN 410 480 470 500 490 410 JAN 590 460 940 700 FEB 930 560 430 580 680 310 420 300 320 FEB 270 270 420 250 340 570 FEB 540 310 660 310 MAR 960 610 570 490 320 100 100 550 100 MAR 410 310 330 400 1,720 420 MAR 500 390 710 520 APR 1,430 1,060 940 860 980 640 1,010 780 710 APR 740 780 550 580 680 870 APR 880 740 1,110 490 MAY 1,260 1,100 1,110 650 820 580 680 1,400 820 MAY 670 720 1,310 690 600 760 MAY 890 760 1,140 660 JUN 1,600 1,440 1,350 1,570 640 800 1,310 1,160 JUN 1,020 1,050 1,030 1,060 530 920 JUN 860 700 1,370 630 JUL 1,820 1,350 1,820 2,100 1,170 1,310 1,310 1,490 JUL 840 930 1,120 1,590 1,070 930 JUL 930 1,210 1,490 1,030 AUG 1,730 1,630 1,260 1,490 930 1,400 1,350 1,400 AUG 750 1,260 1,260 1,590 790 1,120 AUG 890 610 890 1,400 SEP 1,490 1,590 1,770 1,450 1,590 1,260 1,400 1,070 1,210 SEP 1,310 980 1,070 1,630 840 840 SEP 1,160 1,350 1,630 1,160 OCT 1,730 1,030 1,070 1,540 1,350 1,210 1,310 840 840 OCT 840 840 1,170 1,350 700 610 OCT 1,210 1,450 1,450 790 NOV 1,680 1,170 1,310 840 1,170 890 1,070 1,730 1,120 NOV 2,010 840 1,070 1,120 750 750 NOV 1,260 930 980 840 DEC 1,630 1,030 1,120 1,210 750 790 1,030 280 890 DEC 790 840 740 890 980 890 DEC 1,030 890 1,070 1,260 mean 1,447 1,102 1,116 916 1,127 736 925 988 877 mean 838 775 878 971 791 758 mean 895 817 1,120 816 std dev 299 348 415 369 486 361 400 438 410 std dev 444 281 339 473 342 207 std dev 241 352 297 320 max 1,820 1,630 1,820 1,540 2,100 1,260 1,400 1,730 1,490 max 2,010 1,260 1,310 1,630 1,720 1,120 max 1,260 1,450 1,630 1,400 min 930 560 430 490 320 100 100 280 100 min 270 270 330 250 340 410 min 500 310 660 310 32

Table 2.14 Orthophosphate concentrations (mg/L) at the LCFRP stations for 2005. month NAV HB BRR M61 M54 M42 M35 M23 M18 SPD month NC11 AC DP IC NCF6 BBT JAN 30 30 30 30 30 20 10 5 5 10 JAN 70 70 30 30 30 37 FEB 40 50 40 30 30 30 10 0 0 0 FEB 50 50 50 40 30 45 MAR 30 30 30 30 40 40 10 0 0 0 MAR 30 50 50 30 20 31 APR 40 40 40 40 60 10 40 5 5 5 APR 40 40 40 40 30 39 MAY 50 50 30 40 40 30 20 10 10 10 MAY 50 80 40 40 40 57 JUN 70 70 70 60 50 40 20 10 20 10 JUN 80 60 60 70 40 58 JUL 100 70 50 50 30 30 10 20 10 10 JUL 90 80 100 90 70 62 AUG 80 100 100 80 70 60 50 30 30 20 AUG 70 70 90 70 70 51 SEP 50 30 50 50 30 20 20 10 10 10 SEP 90 110 70 80 40 78 OCT 50 40 50 30 40 30 30 20 10 20 OCT 110 120 90 90 40 80 NOV 60 50 50 40 50 40 20 20 20 10 NOV 140 110 110 70 10 30 DEC 40 50 40 40 40 40 40 30 30 10 DEC 100 100 90 60 30 49 mean 53 51 48 43 43 33 23 13 13 10 mean 77 78 68 59 38 51 std dev 20 20 19 14 12 12 13 10 10 6 std dev 30 25 26 21 17 16 max 100 100 100 80 70 60 50 30 30 20 max 140 120 110 90 70 80 min 30 30 30 30 30 10 10 0 0 0 min 30 40 30 30 10 30

month ANC SAR GS NC403 PB LRC ROC BC117 BCRR month 6RC LCO GCO SR BRN HAM month NCF117 B210 COL LVC2 JAN 70 30 20 100 40 5 50 1,950 20 JAN 20 30 190 10 20 30 JAN 20 20 5 10 FEB 50 10 10 60 30 10 20 620 10 FEB 10 10 120 0 10 10 FEB 20 10 0 0 MAR 50 20 10 30 20 0 40 620 10 MAR 10 10 90 10 20 20 MAR 20 10 0 10 APR 100 50 30 140 50 10 40 160 20 APR 20 10 140 10 20 40 APR 40 20 10 0 MAY 20 70 40 20 20 10 30 530 10 MAY 20 20 70 10 20 40 MAY 30 20 10 10 JUN 180 110 40 20 10 70 1,420 30 JUN 40 20 220 10 40 50 JUN 40 30 10 0 JUL 100 60 40 100 30 110 1,390 30 JUL 50 40 120 10 50 80 JUL 70 40 10 20 AUG 170 60 60 70 10 100 1,100 50 AUG 40 30 120 30 30 70 AUG 60 50 20 10 SEP 10 10 10 10 40 10 10 170 10 SEP 10 10 10 10 10 10 SEP 30 40 40 10 OCT 110 70 70 50 90 20 100 110 20 OCT 60 30 150 20 50 100 OCT 50 30 20 10 NOV 110 40 40 80 30 10 20 920 60 NOV 20 20 160 20 20 50 NOV 40 20 10 0 DEC 40 10 20 30 10 10 20 1,020 10 DEC 10 10 70 10 20 20 DEC 20 10 0 20 mean 84 45 33 58 43 11 51 834 23 mean 26 20 122 13 26 43 mean 37 25 11 8 std dev 52 30 19 40 28 7 34 549 16 std dev 17 10 55 7 13 27 std dev 16 13 11 7 max 180 110 70 140 100 30 110 1,950 60 max 60 40 220 30 50 100 max 70 50 40 20 min 10 10 10 10 10 0 10 110 10 min 10 10 10 0 10 10 min 20 10 0 0 33

Table 2.13 Total Phosphorous concentrations (mg/L) at the LCFRP stations for 2005. month NAV HB BRR M61 M54 M42 M35 M23 M18 SPD month NC11 AC DP IC NCF6 JAN 80 70 70 60 70 20 10 5 5 20 JAN 100 80 60 70 50 FEB 140 130 150 70 70 80 50 5 5 130 FEB 140 100 100 90 80 MAR 90 80 80 100 140 100 60 30 30 30 MAR 100 100 110 80 70 APR 70 110 120 100 150 10 110 5 5 5 APR 110 140 80 90 60 MAY 160 110 100 100 80 50 60 5 10 5 MAY 130 170 140 150 160 JUN 120 120 110 100 60 70 50 20 20 30 JUN 130 110 100 110 70 JUL 120 120 130 110 80 90 70 40 40 60 JUL 160 180 180 160 110 AUG 120 130 140 110 120 90 90 70 50 90 AUG 610 130 120 90 100 SEP 100 100 100 240 80 60 50 30 40 40 SEP 160 190 160 150 150 OCT 120 70 70 50 60 40 30 10 10 30 OCT 160 150 120 130 80 NOV 200 70 70 40 50 50 20 10 10 10 NOV 220 210 170 100 10 DEC 110 60 80 60 60 50 50 30 30 10 DEC 170 180 160 100 80 mean 119 98 102 95 85 59 54 22 21 38 mean 183 145 125 110 85 std dev 34 25 27 50 32 27 27 19 15 36 std dev 133 40 36 29 39 max 200 130 150 240 150 100 110 70 50 130 max 610 210 180 160 160 min 70 60 70 40 50 10 10 5 5 5 min 100 80 60 70 10

month ANC SAR GS NC403 PB LRC ROC BC117 BCRR month 6RC LCO GCO SR BRN HAM month NCF117 B210 COL LVC2 JAN 100 80 50 160 160 5 90 1,950 80 JAN 20 30 190 50 60 90 JAN 40 30 5 20 FEB 100 60 50 120 100 20 50 780 50 FEB 40 30 150 20 40 50 FEB 40 30 100 20 MAR 70 60 40 90 110 30 50 690 40 MAR 40 20 170 20 60 60 MAR 60 30 20 20 APR 120 120 120 220 130 20 100 220 130 APR 140 40 170 30 80 120 APR 60 50 10 10 MAY 20 170 140 110 100 40 150 530 70 MAY 80 60 230 80 150 170 MAY 80 80 400 50 JUN 240 180 480 160 30 160 2,130 160 JUN 140 70 850 70 80 140 JUN 80 90 30 10 JUL 230 180 790 680 60 230 1,390 190 JUL 160 110 460 290 140 250 JUL 150 170 70 120 AUG 220 160 180 530 80 140 1,100 120 AUG 100 60 270 140 90 130 AUG 120 90 40 140 SEP 10 10 10 10 40 10 10 170 10 SEP 10 10 10 10 10 20 SEP 90 100 60 70 OCT 110 160 180 750 380 120 200 210 110 OCT 120 60 240 130 100 230 OCT 70 90 30 40 NOV 200 120 110 180 160 10 50 950 150 NOV 70 10 170 120 20 70 NOV 40 40 10 10 DEC 40 20 10 370 40 10 30 1,020 40 DEC 100 30 90 10 30 40 DEC 30 10 100 10 mean 122 110 180 223 216 36 105 928 96 mean 85 44 250 81 72 114 mean 72 68 73 43 std dev 79 60 220 209 195 33 68 617 54 std dev 48 28 208 78 42 71 std dev 34 43 104 43 max 240 180 790 750 680 120 230 2,130 190 max 160 110 850 290 150 250 max 150 170 400 140 min 10 10 10 10 40 5 10 170 10 min 10 10 10 10 10 20 min 30 10 5 10 34

Table 2.15 Aluminum concentrations (mg/L) at the LCFRP stations for 2005. Table 2.16 Arsenic concentrations (mg/L) at the LCFRP stations for 2005. There is no NC State standard. The NC State standard is 50 mg/L for freshwater and saltwater.

month NAV M54 M35 M23 M18 NC11 DP month NAV M54 M35 M23 M18 NC11 DP FEB 536 262 299 181 143 1,560 1,060 FEB 0 0 14 24 34 0 0 APR 1,250 1,420 1,600 1,050 739 3,320 1,540 APR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 JUN 400 447 272 222 124 629 428 JUN 0 0 15 22 22 0 0 AUG 509 251 170 187 169 360 478 AUG 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 OCT 334 245 74 683 0 84 149 OCT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 DEC 555 439 403 285 143 459 769 DEC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 mean 597 511 470 435 220 1069 737 mean 0 0 5 8 9 0 0 std dev 302 416 516 325 239 1107 458 std dev 0 0 7 11 14 0 0 max 1250 1420 1600 1050 739 3320 1540 max 0 0 15 24 34 0 0 min 334 245 74 181 0 84 149 min 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

month SAR LRC BC117 NCF 117 6RC GCO COL LVC2 month SAR LRC BC117 NCF 117 6RC GCO COL LVC2 FEB 161 302 466 363 155 58 738 107 FEB 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 APR 307 297 661 475 479 105 987 377 APR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 JUN 341 124 218 482 521 190 1,000 389 JUN 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 AUG 308 55 288 398 132 197 901 413 AUG 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 OCT 551 339 787 191 30 531 1,010 271 OCT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 DEC 129 44 76 117 68 405 566 119 DEC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 mean 300 194 416 338 231 248 867 279 mean 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 std dev 137 122 249 138 195 167 164 126 std dev 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 max 551 339 787 482 521 531 1010 413 max 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 min 129 44 76 117 30 58 566 107 min 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 35

Table 2.17 Cadmium concentrations (mg/L) at the LCFRP stations for 2005. Table 2.18 Chromium concentrations (mg/L) at the LCFRP stations for 2005. The NC State standard is 2 and 5 mg/L for freshwater and saltwater, respectively. The NC State standard is 50 and 20 mg/L for freshwater and saltwater, respectively.

month NAV M54 M35 M23 M18 NC11 DP month NAV M54 M35 M23 M18 NC11 DP FEB 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 FEB 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 APR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 APR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 JUN 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 JUN 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 AUG 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 AUG 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 OCT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 OCT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 DEC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 DEC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 mean 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 mean 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 std dev 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 std dev 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 max 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 max 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 min 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 min 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

month SAR LRC BC117 NCF 117 6RC GCO COL LVC2 month SAR LRC BC117 NCF 117 6RC GCO COL LVC2 FEB 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 FEB 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 APR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 APR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 JUN 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 JUN 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 AUG 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 AUG 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 OCT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 OCT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 DEC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 DEC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 mean 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 mean 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 std dev 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 std dev 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 max 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 max 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 min 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 min 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 36

Table 2.19 Copper concentrations (mg/L) at the LCFRP stations for 2005. Table 2.20 Iron concentrations (mg/L) at the LCFRP stations for 2005. The NC State standard is 7 and 3 mg/L for freshwater and saltwater, respectively. The NC State standard is 1,000 mg/L for freshwater with no standard for saltwater.

month NAV M54 M35 M23 M18 NC11 DP month NAV M54 M35 M23 M18 NC11 DP FEB 2 5 6 7 9 2 2 FEB 1,920 389 315 410 365 1,020 1,030 APR 3 5 8 4 5 5 4 APR 2,340 1,950 940 510 445 2,620 2,280 JUN 0 4 7 9 9 2 0 JUN 1,090 468 310 352 382 1,190 893 AUG 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 AUG 687 455 258 294 150 696 692 OCT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 OCT 817 534 1,550 329 85 416 803 DEC 0 7 0 71 0 8 0 DEC 817 636 495 388 309 810 941 mean 1 4 4 15 4 3 1 mean 1,279 739 645 381 289 1,125 1,107 std dev 1 3 4 25 4 3 2 std dev 626 547 465 69 129 711 535 max 3 7 8 71 9 8 4 max 2,340 1,950 1,550 510 445 2,620 2,280 min 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 min 687 389 258 294 85 416 692

month SAR LRC BC117 NCF 117 6RC GCO COL LVC2 month SAR LRC BC117 NCF 117 6RC GCO COL LVC2 FEB 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 FEB 466 412 755 386 368 123 420 436 APR 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 APR 1,230 942 1,160 665 1,020 348 690 712 JUN 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 JUN 1,850 1,460 763 884 1,680 3,660 1,310 933 AUG 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 AUG 1,460 1,920 627 1,060 1,600 1,750 1,680 1,390 OCT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 OCT 1,020 1,250 785 1,050 801 757 80 1,240 DEC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 DEC 237 602 593 305 171 453 366 499 mean 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 mean 1,044 1,098 781 725 940 1,182 758 868 std dev 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 std dev 554 512 184 299 567 1,224 561 356 max 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 max 1,850 1,920 1,160 1,060 1,680 3,660 1,680 1,390 min 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 min 237 412 593 305 171 123 80 436 37

Table 2.21 Lead concentrations (mg/L) at the LCFRP stations for 2005. Table 2.22 Mercury concentrations (mg/L) at the LCFRP stations for 2005. The NC State standard is 25 mg/L for freshwater and saltwater. The NC State standard is 0.012 and 0.025 mg/L for freshwater and saltwater, respectively.

month NAV M54 M35 M23 M18 NC11 DP month NAV M54 M35 M23 M18 NC11 DP FEB 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 FEB 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 APR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 APR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 JUN 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 JUN 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 AUG 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 AUG 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 OCT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 OCT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 DEC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 DEC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 mean 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 mean 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 std dev 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 std dev 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 max 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 max 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 min 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 min 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

month SAR LRC BC117 NCF 117 6RC GCO COL LVC2 month SAR LRC BC117 NCF 117 6RC GCO COL LVC2 FEB 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 FEB 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 APR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 APR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 JUN 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 JUN 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 AUG 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 AUG 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 OCT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 OCT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 DEC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 DEC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 mean 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 mean 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 std dev 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 std dev 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 max 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 max 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 min 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 min 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 38

Table 2.23 Nickel concentrations (mg/L) at the LCFRP stations for 2005. Table 2.24 Zinc concentrations (mg/L) at the LCFRP stations for 2005. The NC State standard is 88 and 8.2 mg/L for freshwater and saltwater, respectively. The NC State standard is 50 and 86 mg/L for freshwater and saltwater, respectively.

month NAV M54 M35 M23 M18 NC11 DP month NAV M54 M35 M23 M18 NC11 DP FEB 0 0 10 15 24 0 0 FEB 0 0 0 0 0 0 16 APR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 APR 11 11 17 0 0 0 0 JUN 0 0 0 13 16 0 0 JUN 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 AUG 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 AUG 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 OCT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 OCT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 DEC 0 0 0 13 0 0 0 DEC 15 56 0 13 0 0 0 mean 0 0 2 7 7 0 0 mean 4 11 3 2 0 0 3 std dev 0 0 4 7 10 0 0 std dev 6 20 6 5 0 0 6 max 0 0 10 15 24 0 0 max 15 56 17 13 0 0 16 min 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 min 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

month SAR LRC BC117 NCF 117 6RC GCO COL LVC2 month SAR LRC BC117 NCF 117 6RC GCO COL LVC2 FEB 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 FEB 0 0 17 0 0 0 0 0 APR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 APR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 JUN 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 JUN 0 0 28 0 0 0 0 0 AUG 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 AUG 0 0 33 0 0 0 0 0 OCT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 OCT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 DEC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 DEC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 mean 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 mean 0 0 13 0 0 0 0 0 std dev 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 std dev 0 0 14 0 0 0 0 0 max 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 max 0 0 33 0 0 0 0 0 min 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 min 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 39

Table 2.25 Chlorophyll a concentrations (mg/L) at the LCFRP stations for 2005. The NC State standard is 40 mg/L. month NAV HB BRR M61 M54 M42 M35 M23 M18 SPD month NC11 AC DP BBT IC NCF6 JAN 1.6 1.6 1.5 2.1 2.4 1.8 1.5 2.6 4.8 3.0 JAN 1.4 1.1 1.0 0.9 0.5 0.5 FEB 4.0 4.0 2.3 4.6 6.4 8.2 6.7 15.3 9.7 5.4 FEB 2.8 3.1 3.0 1.6 1.9 1.1 MAR 5.3 4.7 5.0 4.5 4.6 5.0 8.5 9.7 5.7 11.8 MAR 4.8 4.4 4.3 2.5 2.4 0.6 APR 1.4 1.4 1.5 1.3 1.7 1.2 1.3 2.5 2.2 2.6 APR 1.9 1.6 1.6 0.7 1.2 0.3 MAY 0.7 1.1 1.2 4.4 1.4 1.7 4.5 0.9 4.8 2.2 MAY 2.8 2.0 2.1 1.0 1.1 2.2 JUN 3.7 4.1 10.7 13.5 7.0 12.8 20.3 8.1 4.0 5.7 JUN 6.9 10.4 15.0 4.4 4.7 1.4 JUL 1.4 9.2 13.5 16.6 16.5 31.9 18.3 8.1 4.9 8.2 JUL 8.3 3.6 6.9 1.3 2.1 3.2 AUG 2.2 3.0 4.3 1.4 3.0 2.0 2.8 2.5 2.4 3.3 AUG 4.9 2.8 1.6 0.9 2.0 4.4 SEP 6.2 6.9 9.7 7.9 13.0 16.0 11.5 10.3 9.7 12.4 SEP 12.9 7.5 2.6 2.6 1.8 5.2 OCT 3.4 3.5 2.8 2.6 2.9 2.2 3.6 4.3 3.6 2.9 OCT 9.1 8.1 1.9 2.6 1.9 1.9 NOV 2.7 0.9 1.1 1.0 1.1 1.3 1.6 3.8 3.9 1.8 NOV 3.3 3.0 1.7 0.3 0.9 0.6 DEC 1.1 0.9 1.1 0.7 0.7 0.8 1.2 2.1 3.1 2.6 DEC 1.9 1.7 1.8 1.0 1.2 0.6 mean 2.8 3.4 4.6 5.1 5.1 7.1 6.8 5.9 4.9 5.2 mean 5.1 4.1 3.6 1.7 1.8 1.8 std dev 1.7 2.5 4.1 4.9 4.8 8.9 6.4 4.2 2.4 3.6 std dev 3.4 2.8 3.8 1.1 1.0 1.6 max 6.2 9.2 13.5 16.6 16.5 31.9 20.3 15.3 9.7 12.4 max 12.9 10.4 15.0 4.4 4.7 5.2 min 0.7 0.9 1.1 0.7 0.7 0.8 1.2 0.9 2.2 1.8 min 1.4 1.1 1.0 0.3 0.5 0.3

month ANC SAR GS NC403 PB LRC ROC BC117 BCRR month 6RC LCO GCO SR BRN HAM month NCF117 B210 COL LVC2 JAN 0.6 0.3 1.1 0.9 8.5 0.6 0.4 2.5 3.4 JAN 0.3 0.7 0.6 1.4 0.8 0.3 JAN 0.1 0.3 0.2 0.7 FEB 1.9 0.7 4.2 9.0 8.6 2.7 1.1 3.0 1.9 FEB 0.7 0.6 0.7 7.2 1.3 3.6 FEB 0.1 0.6 0.5 0.8 MAR 2.0 0.6 1.2 0.9 1.8 0.6 2.3 1.7 1.0 MAR 0.4 0.3 0.5 0.8 0.5 0.5 MAR 0.2 0.5 3.8 0.9 APR 0.9 1.0 1.0 0.9 4.1 0.5 0.7 0.9 0.7 APR 0.7 0.5 0.2 0.3 0.8 0.7 APR 0.2 0.3 0.7 0.7 MAY 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.4 9.3 0.3 0.4 1.1 0.9 MAY 0.2 0.1 0.3 0.7 0.5 0.6 MAY 0.2 0.4 0.6 1.2 JUN 3.8 1.2 15.8 45.3 1.6 0.7 2.0 11.4 JUN 1.1 0.7 2.4 1.9 1.3 1.0 JUN 0.6 1.3 1.2 0.8 JUL 3.5 0.4 25.9 5.5 0.3 0.9 2.0 22.6 JUL 0.4 0.7 12.7 14.2 0.8 1.2 JUL 0.2 0.5 0.7 1.7 AUG 8.6 1.0 5.6 65.0 0.8 2.1 1.4 148.5 AUG 0.3 0.3 2.7 4.3 1.9 1.1 AUG 1.8 0.8 0.8 1.6 SEP 14.7 1.3 34.3 9.2 25.4 1.3 0.9 0.9 36.3 SEP 0.5 0.3 0.7 22.2 0.5 0.7 SEP 1.1 0.7 0.8 2.5 OCT 1.1 0.7 1.5 2.0 2.2 2.9 1.0 0.6 0.7 OCT 0.5 0.3 0.6 15.7 2.7 0.5 OCT 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.9 NOV 0.9 0.4 3.5 2.9 18.6 1.1 0.7 1.0 3.5 NOV 0.4 0.2 0.4 5.7 0.3 0.2 NOV 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 DEC 1.2 0.5 1.8 7.8 3.1 1.7 0.6 1.2 0.7 DEC 0.7 0.6 1.2 2.5 0.4 0.6 DEC 0.2 0.4 0.2 0.4 mean 3.3 0.7 8.0 3.8 16.5 1.2 1.0 1.5 19.3 mean 0.5 0.4 1.9 6.4 1.0 0.9 mean 0.4 0.5 0.8 1.0 std dev 4.1 0.3 10.8 3.5 19.0 0.8 0.6 0.7 40.4 std dev 0.2 0.2 3.3 6.9 0.7 0.9 std dev 0.5 0.3 0.9 0.6 max 14.7 1.3 34.3 9.2 65.0 2.9 2.3 3.0 148.5 max 1.1 0.7 12.7 22.2 2.7 3.6 max 1.8 1.3 3.8 2.5 min 0.5 0.3 0.5 0.4 1.8 0.3 0.4 0.6 0.7 min 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.2 min 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.3 40

Table 2.26 Biochemical Oxygen Demand (mg/L) at the LCFRP stations for 2005.

5-Day Biochemical Oxygen Demand

month NC11 AC ANC SAR GS N403 ROC BC117 NCF117 B210 LVC2 BBT JAN 0.7 0.9 1.2 1.0 0.6 1.1 0.6 1.4 0.8 0.9 1.3 0.9 FEB 1.1 1.3 1.5 0.8 0.9 1.5 1.2 1.5 0.9 0.8 1.0 1.6 MAR 1.3 1.5 1.4 1.0 1.0 1.1 1.4 1.4 0.9 0.9 1.4 1.3 APR 1.6 1.5 1.8 3.2 1.1 1.3 1.8 1.2 1.3 1.0 1.3 1.8 MAY 1.5 2.6 1.5 2.0 1.5 1.4 1.2 2.0 1.2 1.2 1.8 JUN 1.3 1.7 2.0 1.9 3.6 1.6 1.0 1.0 0.9 0.9 1.3 JUL 1.3 1.3 2.3 1.0 3.3 1.2 1.6 0.6 0.5 1.2 0.8 AUG 1.0 1.3 2.2 1.5 1.9 1.6 1.2 0.9 1.1 1.2 1.1 SEP 1.7 1.8 2.8 4.2 8.8 3.2 1.9 2.2 1.0 0.9 1.4 OCT 1.2 2.2 1.6 1.1 1.2 1.4 2.4 1.3 1.4 0.8 1.7 1.2 NOV 1.1 0.9 1.5 1.4 2.0 1.3 1.0 1.2 2.1 1.1 1.1 1.0 DEC 1.4 1.8 1.6 0.8 1.0 1.3 1.5 2.0 1.2 1.3 0.9 1.2 median 1.3 1.5 1.6 1.3 1.4 1.3 1.5 1.4 1.0 0.9 1.3 1.2 mean 1.3 1.6 1.8 1.7 2.2 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.1 1.0 1.3 1.2 max 1.7 2.6 2.8 4.2 8.8 3.2 2.4 2.2 2.1 1.3 1.8 1.8 min 0.7 0.9 1.2 0.8 0.6 1.1 0.6 1.0 0.6 0.5 0.9 0.8 stdev 0.3 0.5 0.5 1.1 2.3 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.2 0.3 0.3

20-Day Biochemical Oxygen Demand

month NC11 AC ANC SAR GS N403 ROC BC117 NCF117 B210 LVC2 BBT JAN 2.2 2.4 3.6 2.9 2.1 3.0 2.9 3.2 2.6 2.2 3.8 2.8 FEB 2.9 3.4 4.1 2.8 2.8 4.4 3.1 4.0 2.8 2.0 2.3 3.2 MAR 3.4 4.0 3.5 3.0 2.6 3.0 3.5 4.4 2.8 2.1 3.7 3.5 APR 3.7 3.8 4.5 7.1 3.2 3.6 4.6 3.3 3.6 2.4 2.9 4.1 MAY 3.3 6.2 4.4 5.2 4.3 3.8 3.2 5.0 3.5 3.1 4.3 JUN 3.2 3.9 5.1 4.3 8.8 3.6 2.6 3.2 2.7 2.9 2.9 JUL 4.5 5.0 8.9 5.0 9.0 4.7 6.3 2.9 2.6 4.5 3.5 AUG 3.2 3.9 6.4 4.6 4.3 4.5 3.8 2.9 3.2 3.8 3.2 SEP 4.2 5.5 7.6 9.0 9.1 8.7 5.3 5.3 3.0 2.6 4.7 OCT 2.9 6.1 5.0 3.9 4.1 5.3 6.9 4.1 4.4 2.5 4.8 3.5 NOV 2.6 2.3 3.9 3.7 5.1 3.6 2.6 3.5 5.3 2.9 3.7 2.7 DEC 3.9 4.9 3.5 2.1 2.3 2.8 3.4 4.1 2.9 2.7 2.6 3.4 median 3.3 4.0 4.5 4.1 4.2 3.6 3.6 4.1 3.0 2.6 3.8 3.3 mean 3.3 4.3 5.0 4.5 4.8 4.2 4.0 4.1 3.3 2.6 3.7 3.3 max 4.5 6.2 8.9 9.0 9.1 8.7 6.9 6.3 5.3 3.2 4.8 4.1 min 2.2 2.3 3.5 2.1 2.1 2.8 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.0 2.3 2.7 stdev 0.7 1.3 1.7 2.0 2.7 1.8 1.2 1.0 0.8 0.4 0.8 0.4 41

Table 2.27 Fecal Coliform Bacteria concentrations (CFU/100 mL) at the LCFRP stations for 2005. The NC State standard for human contact is 200 CFU/100 mL.

month NAV HB BRR M61 M54 M42 M35 M23 M18 SPD month NC11 AC DP IC NCF6 JAN 100 94 52 49 29 25 6 3 2 11 JAN 17 12 47 47 66 FEB 13 15 13 19 6 4 2 1 1 1 FEB 41 46 31 23 27 MAR 23 16 17 20 21 24 7 1 1 2 MAR 44 41 39 42 19 APR 50 47 44 49 43 44 34 13 11 14 APR 42 41 43 70 45 MAY 57 68 60 40 26 23 23 4 5 6 MAY 8 3 15 11 53 JUN 34 36 45 41 35 24 8 3 2 21 JUN 10 280 16 20 48 JUL 54 11 48 11 4 7 1 1 1 2 JUL 40 117 34 46 29 AUG 18 82 64 164 27 64 55 9 18 9 AUG 82 18 55 46 36 SEP 5 27 27 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 SEP 36 5 9 45 27 OCT 182 91 36 55 8 5 5 5 5 5 OCT 9 27 18 9 36 NOV 27 9 73 18 18 27 18 5 5 45 NOV 5 18 18 5 55 DEC 45 41 41 45 27 9 14 9 9 9 DEC 120 64 55 36 41 mean 51 45 43 43 21 22 15 5 5 11 mean 38 56 32 33 40 std dev 46 30 17 40 12 17 15 4 5 12 std dev 33 74 16 19 13 max 182 94 73 164 43 64 55 13 18 45 max 120 280 55 70 66 min 5 9 13 5 4 4 1 1 1 1 min 5 3 9 5 19 Geomean 35 34 39 30 16 15 9 4 4 7 Geomean 25 28 27 26 38

month ANC SAR GS NC403 PB LRC ROC BC117 BCRR month 6RC LCO GCO SR BRN HAM month NCF117 B210 COL LVC2 SC-CH JAN 57 280 28 44 70 92 180 109 54 JAN 41 59 26 22 60 76 JAN 37 91 27 45 100 FEB 44 54 23 41 66 59 86 99 62 FEB 50 28 23 21 44 88 FEB 16 25 20 25 35 MAR 27 52 22 12 49 68 34 66 74 MAR 43 27 25 94 44 400 MAR 37 45 40 23 64 APR 41 44 18 15 104 42 49 143 62 APR 99 47 43 14 59 90 APR 23 89 21 30 70 MAY 40 31 78 99 300 117 57 53 7 MAY 12 9 16 12 47 44 MAY 22 38 30 28 18 JUN 45 40 222 275 172 56 49 265 JUN 58 26 23 93 134 62 JUN 43 48 27 49 73 JUL 520 30 680 6,000 27 30 440 6,000 JUL 88 58 64 800 67 74 JUL 82 60 84 58 95 AUG 320 1,000 470 500 182 146 240 1,400 AUG 700 145 210 320 220 164 AUG 9 82 55 91 173 SEP 300 270 1,100 1,100 1,300 109 73 200 230 SEP 36 100 200 3,900 182 200 SEP 55 55 73 64 55 OCT 27 109 36 118 350 82 91 64 45 OCT 100 59 32 190 27 9 OCT 3 36 27 33 82 NOV 9 36 200 73 3,700 109 182 700 1,200 NOV 91 27 27 36 45 145 NOV 18 9 5 64 73 DEC 36 73 9 41 115 500 55 270 91 DEC 59 100 45 14 175 32 DEC 36 95 14 45 41 mean 122 168 241 171 1069 130 87 203 791 mean 115 57 61 460 92 115 mean 32 56 35 46 73 std dev 157 265 329 330 1785 120 51 186 1634 std dev 178 38 66 1060 64 101 std dev 21 27 23 19 38 max 520 1000 1100 1100 6000 500 182 700 6000 max 700 145 210 3900 220 400 max 82 95 84 91 173 min 9 30 9 12 49 27 30 49 7 min 12 9 16 12 27 9 min 3 9 5 23 18 Geomean 60 83 83 61 319 98 73 142 159 Geomean 66 45 41 80 73 80 Geomean 24 48 28 42 64 42

Figure 2.1 Mean salinity at the LCFRP mainstem estuary stations.

30

25

20 ) u s p ( y t

i 15 n i i l a S 10

5

0 NAV HB BRR M61 M54 M42 M35 M23 M18 SPD NCF6

July 1996-December 2004 January -December 2005 43

Figure 2.2 Mean Dissolved Oxygen concentrations at the LCFRP mainstem stations.

10

9

8

) 7 L / g m (

6 n NC State e g Standard y

x 5 O d e v 4 l o s s i

D 3

2

1

0 1 7 6 1 4 2 5 3 8 0 T P V B C C R I 1 1 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 F A B A D H R 1 2 C C M M M M M M B N B F B N N C N July 1996-December 2004 January -December 2005 44

Figure 2.3 Mean Field Turbidity levels at the LCFRP mainstem stations.

50 NC State freshwater standard 45

40

35 ) U T 30 N NC State saltwater (

y standard t i d i 25 b r u T d l 20 e i F 15

10

5

0 7 1 4 2 5 3 8 6 0 1 T P B V C R C I 1 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 1 F B A A D H R 1 2 C C M M M M M M B N B F B N N C N July 1996-December 2004 January -December 2005 45

Figure 2.4 Mean Light Attenuation at the LCFRP mainstem stations.

5

4 ) k (

n 3 o i t a u n e t t A t h 2 g i L

1

0 NC11 AC DP IC NAV HB BRR M61 M54 M42 M35 M23 M18 NCF6 BBT

July 1996-December 2004 January -December 2005 46

Figure 2.5 Mean Total Nitrogen concentrations at the LCFRP mainstem stations.

1,800

1,600

1,400

1,200 ) L / g m ( 1,000 n e g o r t i 800 N l a t o

T 600

400

200

0 1 4 2 5 3 8 7 6 0 1 P V B C C R I 1 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 1 F A A D H R 1 2 C C M M M M M M N B F B N N C N July 1996-December 2004 January -December 2005 47

Figure 2.6 Mean Nitrate-Nitrite concentrations at the LCFRP mainstem stations.

700

600

500 ) L / g m 400 ( e t i r t i N -

e 300 t a r t i N 200

100

0 1 4 2 5 3 8 7 6 0 1 T P B V C C R I 1 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 1 F A B A D H R 1 2 C C M M M M M M B N B F B N N C N July 1996-December 2004 January -December 2005 48

Figure 2.7 Mean Ammonium concentrations at the LCFRP mainstem stations.

140

120

100 ) L / g m

( 80 m u i n o m 60 m A

40

20

0 7 1 0 6 4 5 1 2 3 8 T V P B R C C I 1 1 1 5 3 6 4 2 1 F B A A D H R 1 2 C C B M M M M M M N B F B N N C N July 1996-December 2004 January -December 2005 49

Figure 2.8 Mean Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen concentrations at the LCFRP mainstem stations. 1200

1000 ) L / g 800 m ( n e g o r t i 600 N l h a d l e j K l 400 a t o T

200

0 1 0 1 4 2 5 3 8 7 6 V P B C R C I 1 1 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 F A A D H R 1 2 C C M M M M M M N B F B N N C N July 1996-December 2004 January -December 2005 50

Figure 2.9 Mean Total Phosphorus concentrations at the LCFRP mainstem stations.

200

180

160

) 140 L / g m ( 120 s u r o h

p 100 s o h P

80 l a t o T 60

40

20

0 7 0 1 1 4 2 5 3 8 6 P V B C R C I 1 1 1 6 5 4 3 2 1 F A A D H R 1 2 C C M M M M M M N B F B N N C N July 1996-December 2004 January -December 2005 51

Figure 2.10 Mean Orthophosphate concentrations at the LCFRP mainstem stations.

100

90

80

) 70 L / g m (

60 e t a h p 50 s o h p o 40 h t r O 30

20

10

0 6 7 1 0 1 4 2 5 3 8 T P B V C C R I 1 1 1 6 5 4 3 2 1 F B A A D H R 1 2 C C B M M M M M M N B F B N N C N July 1996-December 2004 January -December 2005 52

Figure 2.11 Mean Chlorophyll a concentrations at the LCFRP mainstem stations.

8

7

6 ) L

/ 5 g m ( a l l y 4 h p o r o l h 3 C

2

1

0

July 1996-December 2004 January -December 2005 53

Figure 2.12 Mean Fecal Coliform Bacteria concentrations at the LCFRP mainstem stations.

140

120 ) L m 0

0 100 1 / u f c ( a i 80 r e t c a B 60 m r o f i l o C l 40 a c e F 20

0 7 1 1 4 2 5 3 8 6 0 P V B C R C I 1 1 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 F A A D H R 1 2 C C M M M M M M N B F B N N C N July 1996-December 2004 January -December 2005 54

3.0 Water Quality Evaluation by Subbasin in the Lower Cape Fear River System

Matthew R. McIver, Michael A. Mallin, and James F. Merritt Aquatic Ecology Laboratory Center for Marine Science University of North Carolina Wilmington

3.0 Water Quality Evaluation by Subbasin

This section details an evaluation of water quality within each subbasin for dissolved oxygen, turbidity, chlorophyll a, fecal coliform bacteria and some nutrient species at the LCFRP sampling sites. Monthly data from January to December 2005 are used in the comparisons.

3.1 Introduction

The NC Division of Water Quality prepares a basinwide water quality plan for each of the seventeen major river basins in the state every five years (NCDENR, DWQ Cape Fear River Basinwide Water Quality Plan, October 2005). The basinwide approach is a nonregulatory watershed-based approach to restoring and protecting the quality of North Carolina’s surface waters. The first basinwide plan for the Cape Fear River was completed in 1996 and five-year interval updates have been completed in 2000 and 2005.

The goals of the basinwide program are to: - Identify water quality problems and restore full use to Impaired waters. - Identify and protect high value resource waters. - Protect unimpaired waters while allowing for reasonable economic growth.

DWQ accomplishes these goals through the following objectives: - Collaborate with other agencies to develop appropriate management strategies. - Assure equitable distribution of waste assimilative capacity. - Better evaluate cumulative effects of pollution. - Improve public awareness and involvement.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) identifies 6 major hydrological areas in the Cape Fear River Basin. Each of these hydrologic areas is further divided into subbasins by DWQ. There are 24 subbasins within the Cape Fear River basin, each denoted by 6- digit numbers, 03-06-01 to 03-06-24 (NCDENR-DWQ, October 2005).

All surface waters in the state are assigned a primary classification that is appropriate to the best uses of that water. North Carolina’s Water Quality Standards Program adopted classifications and water quality standards for all the state’s river basins by 1963. The program remains consistent with the Federal Clean Water Act and its amendments. 55

DWQ assesses ecosystem health and human health risk through the use of five use support categories: aquatic life, recreation, fish consumption, water supply and shellfish harvesting. [Note: All waters east of Interstate 95 are considered impaired for fish consumption due to mercury levels in fish tissue.] These categories are tied to the uses associated with the primary classifications applied to NC rivers and streams. Waters are supporting if data and information used to assign a use support rating meet the criteria for that use category. If these criteria are not met then the waters are Impaired. Waters with inconclusive data and information are Not Rated. Waters where no data or information is available to make an assessment are rated No Data.

For ambient water quality monitoring criteria, DWQ uses water quality data collected by both their own monitoring system as well as several NPDES discharger coalitions including the Lower Cape Fear River Program. The parameters used to assess water quality in the aquatic life category include dissolved oxygen, pH, chlorophyll a and turbidity. DWQ rates use support based on whether the NC State Water Quality Standard is exceeded as listed below:

Standard exceeded in < 10% of samples = Supporting Standard exceeded in > 10% of samples = Impaired Less than 10 samples collected = Not Rated DO and pH standard exceeded in swamps = Not Rated

*Some standards are written with more specific criteria and the reader should refer to the Basinwide Water Quality plan for complete details about the DWQ rating system (refer).

3.2 UNCW Aquatic Ecology Laboratory Evaluation

The UNCW Aquatic Ecology Laboratory (AEL) has developed an evaluation system that incorporates some of the guidelines used by DWQ and utilizes data collected by the Lower Cape Fear River Program. This approach determines a water quality “status” for the parameters dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll a, fecal coliform bacteria, and turbidity and the nutrient species nitrate and total phosphorus. For dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll a, and fecal coliform bacteria we compare LCFRP data to the N.C. Water Quality Standards (http://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/csu/index.htm).

For Total Phosphorus and Nitrate/Nitrite the water quality status is based on levels noted to be problematic in the scientific literature and our own published research. Based on data from four years of nutrient addition bioassay experiments using water from the Black and Northeast Cape Fear Rivers, Colly Creek and Great Coharie Creek, the UNCW-AEL considers nitrate levels of 200 g/L and total phophorus levels of 500 g/L harmful to water quality. These nutrient levels may lead to algal blooms, high bacteria levels and high Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) in blackwater streams (Mallin et al., 2001; 2002; 2004). Water quality status for nutrient species was not evaluated at the mainstem stations on the Cape Fear River because its waters are quite different than the blackwater areas.

Our system lists a sampling location as having good quality (G) if standard is exceeded in none or 1 sample out of 12 measurements, fair quality (F) if standard is exceeded in 2 56 or 3 or 12 of measurements, or poor quality (P) if standard is exceeded in 4-12 out of 12 measurements.

The 36 stations monitored by the LCFRP by subbasin:

Subbasin # LCFRP Stations 03-06-16 BRN, HAM, NC11

03-06-17 LVC2, AC, DP, IC, NAV, HB, BRR, M61, M54, M42, M35, M23, M18, SPD

03-06-18 SR

03-06-19 6RC, LCO, GCO

03-06-20 COL, B210, BBT

03-06-21 N403

03-06-22 SAR, GS, PB, LRC, ROC

03-06-23 ANC, BC117, BCRR, NCF6, NCF117, SC-CH

3.2 Methods

Each subbasin is addressed separately with a description and map showing the LCFRP stations. This will be followed by a summary of the information published in the Cape Fear River Basinwide Water Quality Plan, October 2005 and water quality status discussion using the UNCW-AEL approach for the 2005 data. 57 3.3 Cape Fear River Subbasin 03-06-16

Location: Cape Fear River upstream and downstream of Elizabethtown Counties: Bladen, Columbus, Cumberland, Pender Water bodies: Cape Fear River Municipalities: Elizabethtown, Dublin, White Lake, East Arcadia, Tar Heel NPDES Dischargers: 7 @ 13.7 million gallons per day Concentrated Swine Operations: 50

LCFRP monitoring stations (DWQ #): BRN (B8340050), HAM (B8340200), NC11 (B8360000) NC DWQ monitoring stations (DWQ #): Six ambient monitoring stations

BRN

HAM

NC11

58 Subbasin 03-06-16 includes the Cape Fear River and many streams that drain coastal plain wetlands and bay lakes. Most of the watershed is forested with some agriculture present.

The CFR Basinwide Water Quality Plan lists the following ratings for this subbasin:

Aquatic Life Recreation Supporting 101.5 freshwater miles Supporting 115.1 freshwater miles Not Rated 40.1 freshwater miles Not Rated 4.8 freshwater miles Not Rated 1,593.2 freshwater acres No Data 153.1 freshwater miles No Data 131.4 freshwater miles No Data 2,510.8 freshwater acres No Data 917.6 freshwater acres

*Brown’s Creek, rated as impaired in the 2000 CFRBWQP, was upgraded in the 2005 plan (NCDENR DWQ CFRWQBP, July 2000 and NCDENR DWQ CFRWQBP, October 2005).

Lower Cape Fear River Program Evaluation

Data collection: NC11 since June 1995, BRN & HAM since February 1996 Sampling relevance: Represents water entering the Lower Cape Fear River watershed from the middle basin (NC11). There are also several concentrated animal operations within the area (BRN and HAM).

BRN - representative of small tributaries of the Cape Fear River

NC11 - main stem of Cape Fear River, deep channel, freshwater with slight tidal influence 59 The sites BRN and NC11 were found to have a good quality status for dissolved oxygen, meeting the North Carolina State Standard of 5.0 mg/L in all sampled months (Table 3.3.1). HAM, a small channeled tributary, had a fair status with dissolved oxygen levels falling below 5.0 mg/L in three of the twelve sampled months (25% of the time). The lowest concentrations of dissolved oxygen at HAM were 3.4 mg/L, found in September 2005. The dissolved oxygen concentrations for Hammonds Creek are represented graphically in Figure 3.3.1.

All sites within this subbasin were found to have a good quality status for chlorophyll a concentrations (Table 3.3.1). The North Carolina State Standard for chlorophyll a of 40 g/L was not exceeded at any station during 2005.

Fecal coliform bacteria concentrations were low at NC11, which had a good quality status with no sample over the NC State Standard for human contact waters of 200 CFU/100mL in 2005 (Table 3.3.1). BRN received a good quality status for fecal coliform bacteria concentrations, exceeding the standard 8% of the time. HAM had a good quality status for fecal coliform bacteria concentrations, exceeding the NC State Standard in 8% of samples (Figure 3.3.2).

All sites within this subbasin were found to have a good quality status for turbidity concentrations (Table 3.3.1). The North Carolina State Standard for turbidity in freshwater of 50 NTU was not exceeded at any station during 2005.

For nutrients, BRN and HAM (NC11 is a mainstem station) were found to have a good quality status for Total Phosphorus (Table 3.3.1). For Nitrate both BRN and HAM had a fair quality status with exceedances of 25% and 17%, respectively.

Table 3.3.1 UNCW AEL evaluation for subbasin 03-06-16 Total Station Dissolved Oxygen Field Turbidity Chlorophyll a Fecal Coliform Nitrate Phosphorus

BRN G/G G G G F G

HAM F/F G G G F G

NC11 G G G G na na 60 Figure 3.3.1 Dissolved Oxygen concentrations (mg/L) at HAM during 2005. The dashed line is the NC State Standard of 5.0 mg/L.

14

12 ) L /

g 10 m (

n e

g 8 y x O

d

e 6 v o l s s i

D 4

2

0 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Figure 3.3.2. Fecal Coliform Bacteria concentrations (CFU/100mL) at HAM during 2005. The dashed line is the NC State Standard for human contact of 200 CFU/100mL.

450

400 ) u f

c 350 (

a i r

e 300 t c a B

250 m r o f

i 200 l o C

l 150 a c e

F 100

50

0 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC 61 3.4 Cape Fear River Subbasin 03-06-17

Location: Cape Fear River near Riegelwood, downstream to estuarine area near Southport Counties: Columbus, Pender, Brunswick, New Hanover Waterbodies: Cape Fear River and Estuary Municipalities: Wilmington, Southport NPDES Dischargers: 41 @ 99.9 million gallons per day Concentrated Swine Operations: 7

LCFRP monitoring stations (DWQ #): LVC (B8445000), AC (B8450000), DP (B8460000), IC (B9030000), NAV (B9050000), HB (B9050100), BRR (B9790000), M61 (B9750000), M54 (B9795000), M42 (B9845100), M35 (B9850100), M23 (B9910000), M18 (B9921000), SPD (B9980000)

DWQ monitoring stations: NAV (B9050000), M61 (B9750000), M54(B9795000)

AC DP LVC2

IC NAV HB

BRR M61

M54 M42

M35

M23 M18 SPD

62

Subbason 03-06-17 includes the mainstem of the Cape Fear River, the Cape Fear River Estuary and many streams that drain the areas west of the River. Most of the watershed is forested with some urban areas including Wilmington and Southport.

CFR Basinwide Water Quality Plan lists the following ratings for this subbasin:

Aquatic Life Recreation Supporting 14,125.4 saltwater acres Supporting 21,092.3 saltwater acres Not Rated 2.0 saltwater acres Impaired 96.6 saltwater acres Impaired 6,457.0 saltwater acres Supporting 44.1 freshwater miles Supporting 75.4 freshwater miles Not Rated 5.6 coast miles Not Rated 22.3 freshwater miles Impaired 4.7 coast miles Not Rated 406.9 freshwater acres No Data 2,254.6 saltwater acres No Data 2,859.2 saltwater acres No Data 269.1 freshwater miles No Data 215.4 freshwater miles No Data 1,251.5 freshwater acres No Data 844.5 freshwater acres No Data 12.5 coast miles No Data 22.8 coast miles

Lower Cape Fear River Program Assessment

Data collection: Most stations since 1995, all sampled since 1998 Sampling relevance: Highly important estuary for fisheries productivity. Also receives point source discharge and non-point source pollution.

AC - representative of riverine system channel

HB - riverine station, upstream of HB – upper estuary, upstream of Wilmington 63

M35 – represents wide estuary

Sites given a good quality status for dissolved oxygen include: AC, BRR, M54, M42, M35, M23, and M18 (Table 3.4.1). Sites having a fair quality status for dissolved oxygen, with the percentage of samples not meeting the standard of 5.0 mg/L shown in parentheses: DP (25%), IC (25%), NAV (17%), HB (25%), M61 (17%). LVC2 had a poor water quality status with 42% of samples falling below the standard.

All sites within this subbasin were found to be good quality in terms of chlorophyll a concentrations (Table 3.4.1). None of the sampled locations exceeded the 40 g/L North Carolina State Standard on any sample occasion.

All sites within this subbassin were rated as good quality for fecal coliform bacteria concentrations (Table 3.4.1). No site exceeded the 200 CFU/100mL NC State Standard for human contact waters. Areas in the middle estuary at M35 down to mouth of the river can have harvestable populations of shellfish including oysters (Crassotrea virginica) and clams (Mercenaria mercenaria). The NC State fecal coliform bacteria standard for shellfishing states that the geometric mean cannot exceed 14 CFU/100mL and no more than 10% of samples may exceed 43 CFU/100mL. All of the LCFRP stations in shellfishing areas met the NC State standard.

All the LCFRP sites in this subbasin had a good quality status for turbidity (Table 3.4.1). The station NAV and those upstream were evaluated using the NC State Standard for freshwater of 50 NTU while all stations downstream of NAV were evaluated with the NC State Standard for brackish waters of 25 NTU. 64

Table 3.4.1 UNCW AEL evaluation for subbasin 03-06-17 Total Station Dissolved Oxygen Field Turbidity Chlorophyll a Fecal Coliform Nitrate Phosphorus

LVC2 P G G G na na

AC G G G G na na

DP F G G G na na

IC F G G G na na

NAV F G G G na na

HB F G G G na na

BRR G G G G na na

M61 F G G G na na

M54 G G G G na na

M42 G G G G na na

M35 G G G G na na

M23 G G G G na na

M18 G G G G na na

SPD G G G G na na 65

Figure 3.4.1 Dissolved Oxygen concentrations (mg/L) at NAV, HB and M61 for 2005. The dashed line shows the NC State Standard of 5.0 mg/L.

12

10 ) L / g m

( 8

n e g y x 6 O

d e v l

o 4 s s i NAV D HB 2 M61

0 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC 66 3.5 Cape Fear River Subbasin 03-06-18

Location: South River headwaters above Dunn down to Black River Counties: Bladen, Cumberland, Harnett, Johnston, Sampson Waterbodies: South River, Mingo Swamp Municipalities: Dunn, Roseboro NPDES Dischargers: 2 @ 0.08 million gallons per day Concentrated Swine Operations: 105

LCFRP monitoring stations (DWQ #): SR (B8470000) DWQ monitoring stations: none

SR 67 This subbasin is located on the inner coastal plain and includes the South River which converges with the Great Coharie Creek to form the Black River, a major tributary of the Cape Fear River. Land use is primarily agriculture including row crops and concentrated animal operations.

CFR Basinwide Water Quality Plan lists the following ratings for this subbasin:

Aquatic Life Recreation Not Rated 52.1 freshwater miles Supporting 52.1 freshwater miles Not Rated 1,454.2 freshwater acres No Data 242.5 freshwater miles No Data 242.5 freshwater miles No Data 1,454.2 freshwater acres

Lower Cape Fear River Program Assessment

Data collection: Since February 1996 Sampling relevance: Below City of Dunn, hog operations in watershed

SR – a slow black water tributary

SR was found to have a poor water quality status for dissolved oxygen concentrations (Table 3.5.1). The North Carolina State Standard of 5.0 mg/L was not met 58% of the time and the swampwater standard of 4.0 mg/L was not 58% of the time. The lowest levels were found in late summer and early fall (Figure 3.5.1).

This site was found to be good quality for chlorophyll a, with no samples exceeding the 40 g/L North Carolina State Standard (Table 3.5.1).

SR had a fair water quality status for fecal coliform bacteria concentrations, exceeding the NC State Standard of 200 CFU/100mL in 27% of samples (Table 3.5.1). The highest concentrations were in September (3,900 CFU/100mL) and July (800 CFU/100mL).

SR had a good water quality status for turbidity, nitrate and phosphorus (Table 3.5.1). 68

Table 3.5.1 UNCW AEL evaluation for subbasin 03-06-18 Total Station Dissolved Oxygen Field Turbidity Chlorophyll a Fecal Coliform Nitrate Phosphorus

SR P G G F G G

Figure 3.5.1 Dissolved Oxygen concentrations (mg/L) at SR during 2005. The dashed line shows the NC State Standard for swampwater of 4.0 mg/L.

12

10 ) L / g 8 m (

n e g y

x 6 O

d e v l o

s 4 s i D

2

0 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC 69

3.6 Cape Fear River Subbasin 03-06-19

Location: Three main tributaries of Black River near Clinton Counties: Sampson Waterbodies: Black River, Six Runs Ck., Great Coharie Ck., Little Coharie Ck. Municipalities: Clinton, Newton Grove, Warsaw NPDES Dischargers: 8 @ 6.8 million gallons per day Concentrated Swine Operations: 374

LCFRP monitoring stations (DWQ #): LCO (B8610001), GCO (B8604000), 6RC (B8740000)

DWQ monitoring stations: none

GCO

LCO 6RC 70

This subbasin is located in the coastal plain within Sampson County. Land adjacent to the Black River is primarily undisturbed forest. There is are numerous concentrated swine operations within this subbasin.

CFR Basinwide Water Quality Plan lists the following ratings for this subbasin:

Aquatic Life Recreation Supporting 71.3 freshwater miles Supporting 153.0 freshwater miles Not Rated 99.7 freshwater miles Not Rated 8.8 freshwater miles No Data 338.4 freshwater miles No Data 347.6 freshwater miles

Lower Cape Fear River Program Assessment

Data collection: February 1996 to present Sampling relevance: Many concentrated animal operations (CAOs) within the watershed, reference areas for point and nonpoint source pollution

GCO - blackwater stream, drains riparian wetlands

LCO and 6RC had a good water quality status for dissolved oxygen concentrations, with no measurements below the NC State Standard of 5.0 mg/L or 4.0 mg/L for swampwater (Table 3.6.1). GCO had a fair water quality status for dissolved oxygen concentrations, not meeting the standard of 5.0 mg/L in 17% of the samples. When evaluated using the swampwater standard of 4.0 mg/L, GCO had a good quality status, with 8% of samples below the 4.0 mg/L swamp water standard.

All sites within this subbasin had a good water quality status for chlorophyll a and turbidity concentrations (Table 3.6.1).

GCO had a fair water quality status for fecal coliform bacteria with 17% of sampes exceeding the NC State human contact standard of 200 CFU/100mL (Table 3.6.1). Both LCO and 6RC had good water quality status for fecal coliform bacteria.

Nitrate levels were high in Six Runs Creek (6RC), exceeding 200 g/L for 67% of the samples, therefore 6RC was given a poor water quality status (Table 3.6.1, Figure 3.6.1). Both LCO and GCO had a fair water quality status for nitrate, having nitrate levels above 200 g/L in 25% of the samples. 71

Table 3.6.1 UNCW AEL evaluation for subbasin 03-06-19 Total Station Dissolved Oxygen Field Turbidity Chlorophyll a Fecal Coliform Nitrate Phosphorus

6RC G G G G P G

LCO G G G G F G

GCO F G G F F G

Figure 3.6.1 Nitrate concentrations (g/L) at 6RC, LCO, and GCO during 2005. The dashed line shows level considered problematic in black water streams.

1,200

1,000 6RC LCO 800 ) GCO L / g (

e 600 t a r t i N 400

200

0 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC 72

3.7 Cape Fear River Subbasin 03-06-20

Location: Lower reach of Black River Counties: Pender Waterbodies: Black River, Colly Creek, Moores Creek Municipalities: Town of White Lake, Currie, Atkinson NPDES Dischargers: 2 at 0.82 million gallons per day Concentrated Swine Operations: 18 LCFRP monitoring stations (DWQ #): COL (B8981000), B210 (B9000000), BBT (none)

DWQ monitoring stations: none

B210

COL

BBT 73

This subbasin is located on the coastal plain in Pender County and the land is mostly forested with some agriculture. The streams in this watershed typically have acidic black waters. The Black River in this area has been classified as Outstanding Resource Waters (ORW) (NCDENR DWQ Cape Fear River Basinwide Water Quality Plan, October 2005).

The CFR Basinwide Water Quality Plan lists the following ratings for this subbasin:

Aquatic Life Recreation Supporting 13.0 freshwater miles Supporting 34.9 freshwater miles Not Rated 77.9 freshwater miles No Data 199.8 freshwater miles Not Rated 576.0 freshwater acres No Data 576.0 freshwater miles No Data 143.8 freshwater acres

Lower Cape Fear River Program Assessment

Data collection: February 1996 to present Sampling relevance: Colly Creek is a pristine swamp reference site, B210 and BBT are middle and lower Black River sites

COL – blackwater stream, drains large swamp area, very low pH

B210 - Black River at Hwy 210 bridge 74

All three sites had a good water quality status for dissolved oxygen when using the NC State swampwater standard of 4.0 mg/L (Table 3.7.1). When using the 5.0 mg/L standard, COL and B210 had a fair water quality status with levels below the standard 17% and 25% of the samples, respectively. BBT had a poor water quality status with levels below 5.0 mg/L 33% of the time.

Chlorophyll a, Field Turbidity, and Nutrient concentrations were low for each site within this subbasin and all sites had a good water quality status for these parameters (Table 3.7.1).

Fecal coliform bacteria concentrations were generally low, and COL and B210 had a good water quality status (Table 3.7.1). No single sample was above the NC State standard for human contact (200 cfu/100 mL). BBT samples were not analyzed for fecal coliform bacteria.

Table 3.7.1 UNCW AEL evaluation for subbasin 03-06-20 Total Station Dissolved Oxygen Field Turbidity Chlorophyll a Fecal Coliform Nitrate Phosphorus

B210 F/G G G G G G

COL F/G G G G G G

BBT P/G G G G G G 75

3.8 Cape Fear River Subbasin 03-06-21

Location: Headwaters of NE Cape Fear River below Mount Olive Counties: Duplin, Wayne Waterbodies: Northeast Cape Fear River Municipalities: Mount Olive NPDES Dischargers: 6 @ 1.4 million gallons per day Concentrated Swine Operations: 75

LCFRP monitoring stations (DWQ#): NC403 (B9090000) DWQ monitoring stations: NC403

NC403

This subbasin includes the headwaters of the Northeast Cape Fear River and small tributaries. This section of the NE Cape Fear River is very slow moving and somewhat congested with macrophytic growth. Most of the watershed is forested and there is significant agriculture in the basin.

The CFR Basinwide Water Quality Plan lists the following ratings for this subbasin:

Aquatic Life Recreation Supporting 21.7 freshwater miles Supporting 57.3 freshwater miles Not Rated 38.9 freshwater miles No Data 88.1 freshwater miles No Data 84.7 freshwater miles 76

Lower Cape Fear River Program Assessment

Data collection: June 1997 – present Sampling relevance: Below Mount Olive Pickle Plant

NC403 - slow moving headwaters of NE Cape Fear River

*NC403 had a reduced number of sampling occasions due to bridge construction and limited access. Samples were not obtained during June, July and August 2005

The NC403 site had a poor water quality status for dissolved oxygen concentrations, not meeting the NC State Standard of 5.0 mg/L in 66% of all samples (Table 3.8.1). When using the NC swamp water standard of 4.0 mg/L, NC403 also had a poor water quality status, not meeting the standard 33% of the time. Because of the missing data during the time of year likely to have the lowest dissolved oxygen levels, we must assume that these exceedance percentages would be much higher with twelve months of data.

NC403 had a good water quality status in terms of chlorophyll a, yet there is very high aquatic macrophyte biomass present, often times completely covering and blocking the waterway (Table 3.8.1). As we have noticed at several of our stations over the years, Chlorophyll a, a measurement of phytoplankton biomass, and often used as an indicator of eutrophic conditions, is not always adequate to determine problematic conditions with regard to aquatic flora.

Fecal Coliform Bacteria and Field Turbidity levels indicated a good water quality status at NC 403 (Table 3.8.1). One fecal coliform bacteria sample exceeded the NC State standard for human contact (200 CFU/100 mL), while no field turbidity levels exceeded the NC State standard.

High nitrate levels at NC403 led to a poor water quality status (Table 3.8.1). Nitrate-N concentrations >200 g/L occurred for 42% of the samples at NC403 during 2005. UNCW AEL researchers are concerned about the elevated nitrate levels that are periodically found at this site since these levels increase the likelihood of algal blooms and excessive aquatic macrophyte growth. Total phosphorus concentrations exceeded the UNCW AEL recommended harmful level on one occasion, giving this site a good 77 water quality status for TP. Nutrient concentrations are shown graphically for NC403 in Figure 3.8.2.

Table 3.8.1 UNCW AEL evaluation for subbasin 03-06-21. Total Station Dissolved Oxygen Field Turbidity Chlorophyll a Fecal Coliform Nitrate Phosphorus

NC403 P/P G G G P G

Figure 3.8.1 Dissolved Oxygen concentrations (mg/L) at NC403 during 2005. The dashed line shows the NC State Standard of 4.0 mg/L for swampwater.

12

10 ) L / g m (

8 n e g y x O

6 d e v l o s

s 4 i D

2

0 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC 78

Figure 3.8.2 Nitrate concentrations (g/L) at NC403 for 2005. The dashed line represents levels at which excessive algal growth may occur (200 g/L).

1,200

1,000

800 ) L / g m (

N

- 600 e t a r t i N 400

200

0 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC 79 3.9 Cape Fear River Subbasin 03-06-22

Location: NE Cape Fear River and tributaries in the vicinity of Kenansville Counties: Duplin Waterbodies: Northeast Cape Fear River, Rockfish Creek Municipalities: Beulaville, Kenansville, Rose Hill and Wallace NPDES Dischargers: 13 @ 9.9 million gallons per day Concentrated Swine Operations: 449

LCFRP monitoring stations (DWQ #): PB (B9130000), GS (B9191000), SAR (B9191500), LRC (9460000) ROC (B9430000)

DWQ monitoring stations: none

PB

GS

SAR

LRC

ROC 80

Land coverage in this watershed is mostly forested with significant agriculture, including row crops and a dense concentration of animal operations (poultry and swine).

The CFR Basinwide Water Quality Plans lists the following ratings for this subbasin:

Aquatic Life Recreation Supporting 51.1 freshwater miles Supporting 73.2 freshwater miles Not Rated 72.1 freshwater miles Not Rated 3.0 freshwater miles Impaired 50.1 freshwater miles No Data 505.9 freshwater miles No Data 408.8 freshwater miles

Lower Cape Fear River Program Assessment

Data collection: February 1996 to present Sampling relevance: Below point and non-point source discharges

PB – slow moving swamp-like stream

ROC - Rockfish Creek below Wallace 81

For the Dissolved Oxygen standard of 5.0 mg/L, LRC and ROC had a good water quality status and PB had a fair water quality status (Table 3.9.1). GS and SAR both had a poor water quality status with levels below the standard 67% and 33% of the time, respectively. Using the swampwater standard of 4.0 mg/L, SAR, PB, LRC and ROC had a good water quality status. GS had a poor water quality status with levels below the standard 67% of the time. The Dissolved Oxygen concentrations for GS are shown graphically in Figure 3.9.1.

For Chlorophyll a concentrations all sites except PB had a good water quality status (Table 3.9.1). PB had a fair status with levels above the 40 mg/L standard 17% of the time.

For Fecal Coliform Bacteria concentration, using the NC State standard of 200 CFU/100 mL for human contact, LRC and ROC had a good water quality status and SAR had a fair status (Table 3.9.1). GS and PB had a poor water quality status with 42% and 58% of samples above the standard, respectively. Fecal coliform bacteria concentrations for GS and PB are shown graphically in Figure 3.9.2.

All sites had a good water quality status for Field Turbidity concentrations (Table 3.9.1). Mean levels were less than 12 NTU for all sites within this subbasin for the 2005.

For Nitrate, GS had a good water quality status and PB was fair (Table 3.9.1). SAR, LRC, and ROC all had a poor water quality status with levels exceeding the UNCW AEL standard (200 g/L) 58%, 33%, and 50% of the time, respectively. Nitrate levels for SAR, LRC and ROC are shown graphically in Figure 3.9.3.

For Total Phosphorus SAR, GS, LRC and ROC had a good water quality status (Table 3.9.1). PB had a fair status, exceeding the UNCW AEL standard in 17% of samples.

Table 3.9.1 UNCW AEL evaluation for subbasin 03-06-22 Total Station Dissolved Oxygen Field Turbidity Chlorophyll a Fecal Coliform Nitrate Phosphorus

SAR P/G G G F P G

GS P/P G G P G G

PB F/G G F P F F

LRC G/G G G G P G

ROC G/G G G G P G 82

Figure 3.9.1 Dissolved Oxygen concentrations (mg/L) at GS and SAR during 2005. The dashed line shows the NC State swampwater standard of 4.0 mg/L.

14

12 GS ) L / 10 SAR g m (

n

e 8 g y x O

d 6 e v l o s s

i 4 D 2

0 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Figure 3.9.2 Fecal Coliform Bacteria concentrations (CFU/100mL) at GS and PB during 2005. The dashed line is the NC State Standard for human contact of 200 cfu/100mL.

1,000

900

800 ) u

f GS c ( 700 PB a i r e t 600 c a B 500 m r o f i l 400 o C

l

a 300 c e

F 200

100

0 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC 83

Figure 3.9.3 Nitrate-N concentrations (g/L) at SAR, LRC and ROC during 2005. The dashed line represents the UNCW AEL suggested threshold for good water quality.

1,000

900

800 SAR LRC 700 ROC ) L / 600 g m (

e

t 500 a r t i

N 400

300

200

100

0 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC 84 3.10 Cape Fear River Subbasin 03-06-23

Location: Area near Burgaw and Angola swamp Counties: Pender Waterbodies: Northeast Cape Fear River,Burgaw Creek Municipalities: Burgaw NPDES Dischargers: 7 @ 3.8 million gallons per day Concentrated Swine Operations: 52

LCFRP monitoring stations (DWQ #): ANC (69), BCRR (82), BC117 (83), NCF117 (84), NCF6 (85)

DWQ monitoring stations: NCF117

BC117 BCRR ANC

NCF117

NCF6 85 This subbasin is located in the outer coastal plain where many streams are slow flowing blackwater streams that often dry up during the summer months. Most of the watershed is forested with some agriculture and increasing human development.

The CFR Basinwide Water Quality Plan lists the following ratings for this subbasin:

Aquatic Life Recreation Supporting 73.8 freshwater miles Supporting 39.5 freshwater miles Not Rated 36.8 freshwater miles Supporting 1.0 saltwater acre Impaired 23.4 freshwater miles Not Rated 11.6 freshwater miles Not Rated 8.3 freshwater miles No Data 324.5 freshwater miles No Data 233.2 freshwater miles Not Rated 1.0 saltwater acre

Lower Cape Fear River Program Assessment

Data collection: NCF117 & NCF6 since June 1995, others from February 1996 Sampling relevance: point and non-point source dischargers

ANC - Angola Creek

BC117 - Burgaw Canal at US 117 86

NCF117 - Northeast Cape Fear River at at US117

This subbasin had extensive Dissolved Oxygen problems with BC117 the only site having a good water quality status when using the 5.0 mg/L standard (Table 3.10.1). All other sites, ANC, BCRR, NCF117, NCF6 and SC-CH, had a poor water quality status. Using the swampwater standard of 4.0 mg/L, BC117 and NCF6 had good water quality status and SC- CH had a fair status with 17% of samples below the standard. ANC, BCRR, and NC117 had poor water quality status with sub-standard samples 50%, 42% and 33% of the time, respectively. Dissolved Oxygen levels for ANC, BCRR and NCF117 are seen in Figure 3.10.1.

All sites in this subbasin had good water quality status for Chlorophyll a and Field Turbidity (Table 3.10.1). Means for 2005 were well below the standards of 40 g/L and 50 NTU.

For Fecal Coliform Bacteria, NCF117, NCF6 and SC-CH had a good water quality status (Table 3.10.1). ANC had a fair status, exceeding the human contact standard 25% of the time. BC117 and BCRR had a poor water quality status, exceeding the standard 42% of the time. Fecal coliform bacteria concentrations for BCRR and BC117 are shown in Figure 3.10.3.

Nutrient loading of Nitrate and Total Phosphorus was problematic at BC117 which had a poor water quality status for both (Table 3.10.1, Figure 3.10.3). BC117 had the highest Nitrate and TP levels seen in the LCFRP system. These levels were far above the concentrations known to lead to algal bloom formation, bacterial increases and increased biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) in blackwater streams (Mallin et al. 2001, Mallin et al. 2002).

Table 3.10.1 UNCW AEL evaluation for subbasin 03-06-23 Total Station Dissolved Oxygen Field Turbidity Chlorophyll a Fecal Coliform Nitrate Phosphorus

ANC P/P G G F G G

BC117 G/G G G P P P

BCRR P/P G G P F G

NCF117 P/P G G G G G

NCF6 P/G G G G G G

SC-CH P/F G G G na na 87 Figure 3.10.1 Dissolved Oxygen concentrations (mg/L) for 2005. The dashed line shows NC State swampwater standard of 4.0 mg/L.

14 ANC BCRR 12 NCF117 ) L / g 10 m (

n e g

y 8 x O

d e

v 6 l o s s i

D 4

2

0 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Figure 3.10.2 Fecal Coliform Bacteria concentrations (CFU/100mL) at BC117 and BCRR during 2005. The dashed line shows the NC State Standard for human contact waters of 200 CFU/100mL.

800

700 ) L m

0

0 600 BC117 1 /

U BCRR F 500 C (

a i r e t 400 c a B

m 300 r o f i l o

C 200

l a c e

F 100

0 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC 88

Figure 3.10.3 Nitrate and Total Phosphorus concentrations (g/L) at BC117 during 2005.

11,000 2,500 Nitrate 10,000 TP

9,000 2,000 ) L

8,000 / g m ( 7,000 ) s L 1,500 u / r g o m

6,000 h (

p e s t o a 5,000 r h t i P

N 1,000 l a

4,000 t o T 3,000

2,000 500

1,000

0 0 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC 89

3.12 References Cited

Mallin, M.A., L.B. Cahoon, D.C. Parsons and S.H. Ensign. 2001. Effect of nitrogen and phosphorus loading on plankton in Coastal Plain blackwater streams. Journal of Freshwater Ecology 16:455-466.

Mallin, M.A., L.B. Cahoon, M.R. McIver and S.H. Ensign. 2002. Seeking science-based nutrient standards for coastal blackwater stream systems. Report No. 341. Water Resources Research Institute of the University of North Carolina, Raleigh, N.C.

Mallin, M. A., M.R. McIver, S.H. Ensign and L.B. Cahoon. 2004. Photosynthetic and heterotrophic impacts of nutrient loading to blackwater streams. Ecological Applications14: 823-838.

NCDENR-DWQ (North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Division of Water Quality), Cape Fear River Basinwide Water Quality Plan. July 2000, Raleigh, N.C.

NCDENR-DWQ (North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Division of Water Quality), Cape Fear River Basinwide Water Quality Plan. October 2005, Raleigh, N.C.