Buncombe 2013 VWIN Report

Water Quality Trends in Buncombe County Streams from 1990 to 2013: The Volunteer Water Information Network

Technical Report No. 15-1 Published February 2015

Ann Marie Traylor

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TABLE OF CONTENTS ! Acknowledgments ...... i I. Introduction ...... 1 Table 1: Approximate Locations of VWIN Sites in Buncombe County ...... 2 II. Methodology ...... 5 Chemical Monitoring ...... 5 Biological Monitoring ...... 5 III. Results and Discussion ...... 6 Table 2: 2013 Classification Grades Based on Parameter and Ranges ...... 10 Table 3: SMIE biological scores for 2013 samples ...... 21 IV. Summary ...... 21 Table 4: Index Rating for Buncombe County Monitoring Sites ...... 23 Southern Buncombe County ...... 24 Swannanoa River Watershed ...... 25 Urban Streams of Asheville ...... 27 Northeast Buncombe County ...... 29 Northwest Buncombe County ...... 31 The French Broad River ...... 32 Table 5: Median levels of monitored parameters at sites on the French Broad River ...... 33 V. References ...... 35 Appendix A: Chain of Custody form ...... 36 Appendix B: Laboratory Analysis ...... 37 Appendix C: Parameters and Ranges for Stream Quality Classifications ...... 38 Appendix D: Stream Ranking Index ...... 40 Appendix E: Data Summary ...... 45 Appendix F: Trends Related to Flow ...... 53 Appendix G: Trends Related to Time ...... 55 Appendix H: Seasonal Trends ...... 57

Acknowledgments

We wish to thank the Metropolitan Sewerage District, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners, and the City of Asheville Stormwater Services Division for their financial support of this work. Buncombe County has developed one of the most comprehensive water quality databases of any single county in North Carolina, and it is only with the support of these partner organizations that this work is able to continue. Continued monthly analysis provides an early warning system for stream degradation and for potential sewer line problems. These data help watershed managers use their limited resources effectively by identifying waterways in need of protection or restoration, and justifying efforts to improve water quality.

Local streams are used frequently for recreation in Western North Carolina (WNC). Buncombe County VWIN volunteers have noted fishermen in the Swannanoa River, Cane Creek, Reems Creek, and French Broad River. Kayaking and rafting is a popular sport in the French Broad River. Swimming holes abound, such as on the North Fork of the Swannanoa River and along the Swannanoa River on the Warren Wilson College campus. During warm weather, it is common to spot children in their bathing suits wading in the water at many Buncombe County streams. Increasingly, community groups are leading citizens in stream and river cleanups. With increasing interaction with streams, there is a growing public interest in water quality of local waterways.

As anyone associated with Volunteer Water Information Network (VWIN) knows, the volunteers are the primary reason for the program's outstanding level of success to date. Interest and support for the program has brought a steady stream of new volunteers willing to help. Volunteers collecting samples over the past three years include Bob Broadhead, Alex Brown, Vanessa Campbell, Hartwell Carson, Jim Degrave, John Dowse, Stacy Edmond, Molly Everett, Dan Gerber, Janna Gower, Jim Grode, John Hill, Steve Kallan, Deja Lizer, Sue Lomenzo, Peter Mangone, Julie Mayfield, Renee Mazurek, Erin McCombs, Kayla Mixoh, Don Monsees, Diane Morgan, Becky Patch, Steve Patch, John Petkovich, Bill Punshon, Kent Purser, Jack Saye, Natasha Shipman, Barbara Sloss, Larry Smith, Emily Thomas, Dayle West, Janie West, Holland West, Jim West, and Andrew Whelan. The interest and concern for water quality of these dedicated volunteers and all of the other volunteers who have collected samples in past years have made this program a success. Because of their donations of time and effort, costs have been kept to a minimum. This has allowed the funding to be directed toward monitoring as many sites as possible.

We would like to thank the businesses that provide cold storage for volunteers to collect their kits and leave their samples. This includes Market Center on Reems Creek Road in Weaverville, BP station on Mount Carmel Road in Leicester, Kounty Line Shell Station on Hendersonville Road in Fletcher, and Shell station on US70 in Swannanoa.

I. Introduction

The Volunteer Water Information Network (VWIN) is a partnership of groups and individuals dedicated to improving water quality in western North Carolina (WNC). Organizations and local governments such as the Buncombe County Metropolitan Sewerage District (MSD), the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners, MountainTrue (formerly the Environmental and Conservation Organization), Haywood Waterways Association, the Madison County Soil and Water Conservation District, the Town of Lake Lure, the Lake James Environmental Association, and the Friends of Lake Glenville provide program support. Volunteers venture out once per month to collect water samples from designated sites along streams and rivers in the region. The Environmental Quality Institute (EQI) provides administration and technical assistance through laboratory analysis of water samples, statistical analysis of water quality results, and written interpretation of the data.

An accurate and on-going water quality database, as provided by VWIN, is essential for good environmental planning. The data provide an increasingly accurate picture of water quality conditions and changes in these conditions over time. Communities can use this data to identify streams of high water quality that need to be preserved, as well as streams affected by water quality degradation. In addition, the information allows planners to assess the impacts of increased development and the success of pollution control measures. Thus, this program provides the water quality data for evaluation of current management efforts and can help guide decisions affecting future management actions. The VWIN program also encourages involvement of citizens in the awareness, ownership, and protection of their local water resources.

In February of 1990, volunteers began monthly sampling at 27 stream sites in Buncombe County. Since that time many other counties have begun monitoring local streams, rivers, and lakes to bring the total monitoring sites to over 160. In July 2009, most VWIN sampling was halted when UNC-Asheville closed EQI due to state budget cuts. Laboratory services resumed in October of 2010 when EQI reopened as a nonprofit organization. Monthly sampling of these sites provides extensive water quality information for the French Broad River Basin and other major watersheds in western North Carolina. Table 1 is a list of all monitoring sites in Buncombe County. Figure 1 depicts the locations of sites in the county, color-coded by the 2013 VWIN water quality rating.

This report represents statistical analyses and interpretation of Buncombe County water quality monitoring by VWIN volunteers through 2013. Those that are no longer monitored are marked with asterisks.

Table 1: Approximate Locations of VWIN Sites in Buncombe County (*discontinued)

1A Big Ivy at Forks of Ivy 1B Little Ivy at Forks of Ivy (Ivy River watershed) 2 Lower Sandymush Creek at NC 63/Leicester Hwy-Buncombe/Madison border 3A* Upper Sandymush Creek at Garret Cove Rd 3B Sandymush Creek at Willow Creek Rd 4 Lower Newfound Creek at Jenkins Valley Rd 5A Ox Creek at Ox Creek Road (Reems Creek watershed) 5B Reem's Creek at Ox Creek Rd 6A French Broad River at Ledges Park/NC 251 6B Reem's Creek at US 25/70 (near French Broad River) 7A Glenn Creek at UNCA Botanical Gardens 7B Reed Creek at UNCA Botanical Gardens (Reed Creek watershed) 8 Beaverdam Creek at Merrimon Avenue/Beaver Lake 9A Bee Tree Creek at Beetree Rd near Owen Lake (Swannanoa River watershed) 9B Swannanoa River near Bee Tree Rd at Owen Lake 10 Bull Creek at Old Farm School Road (Swannanoa River watershed) 11A* Hominy Creek at NC 151 11B* South Hominy Creek at NC 151 12A Bent Creek at Bent Creek Park on NC 191 12B French Broad River at Bent Creek Park on NC 191 13 French Broad River at Corcoran Park/Glenn Bridge Rd 14* Flat Creek at Lower Flat Creek Rd and Edna Roberts Rd 15A Cane Creek at Hwy 74 and Cane Creek Rd 15B Ashworth Creek at Hwy 74 and Cane Creek Rd (Cane Creek watershed) 16A Cane Creek at Mills Gap Rd. 16B* Robinson Creek at Cane Creek Rd near Mills Gap Rd (Cane Creek watershed) 17A Swannanoa River at NC 81 17B Haw Creek at NC 81 (Swannanoa River watershed) 18* Reem's Creek at Reem's Creek Road 19* Broad River at SR 9 20 Ivy Creek at Buckner Branch Road 21 Paint Fork at Paint Fork Rd in Barnardsville (Ivy River watershed) 22 Ivy Creek at Dillingham Road 23 French Broad River at Jean Webb Park/Riverside Drive in Asheville 24 Swannanoa River at railroad bridge near NC 70 25 South Turkey Creek at Turkey Creek Road 26 North Turkey Creek at North Turkey Creek Rd. 27 Flat Creek at US 19/23 28* Bent Creek downstream from Lake Powhatan 29* Avery’s Creek at Glenn Bridge Rd 30 Grassy Branch at Hickory Tree Road (Swannanoa River watershed) 31 Swannanoa River near Azalea Road 32 French Broad River at Walnut Island Park/NC 251 33 North Fork of the Swannanoa River at Grovestone Quarry 34 Lower Hominy Creek at SR 191 35 Smith Mill Creek at Louisiana Ave.

Table 1: Approximate Locations of VWIN Sites in Buncombe County (continued)

36 Newfound Creek at Dark Cove Road 37 Newfound Creek at Leicester Hwy (NC 63) 38 Swannanoa River at Bull Creek confluence near Old Farm School Road 39 South Creek at Beaver Lake/Merrimon Avenue 40 Ross Creek at Lower Chunn’s Cove Rd bridge (Swannanoa River watershed) 41 Ross Creek at Tunnel Rd (Swannanoa River watershed) 42 Ross Creek at Upper Chunn’s Cove Rd (Swannanoa River watershed) 43 Ross Creek at NC 81 (Swannanoa River watershed) 44* Gouges Branch (Newfound Creek watershed) 45* Swannanoa River at Thompson Street/Biltmore Village 46* Sweeten Creek at Thompson Street/Biltmore Village (Swannanoa River watershed) 47 Glenn Creek at entrance to UNCA 48* South Creek pond at Beaver Lake 49 Dingle Creek at Ramble Way 50 Dingle Creek at Overlook Road 51 Flow into wetland at Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary

County VWIN Monitoring Sites Figure 1: Map of Buncombe Buncombe of Map 1: Figure

II. Methodology

Chemical Monitoring

A water monitoring coordinator provides hands-on instruction and experience in sample collection to all volunteers prior to their first day of sample collection. Buncombe County stream samples are collected on the first Saturday of each month. Water samples are collected in five 250 mL polyethylene bottles. In order to assure consistent sampling techniques, each bottle is labeled with the site number and the parameter for which the water from that particular bottle will be analyzed. Each set of samples includes a chain- of-custody form to be completed by the volunteer. This form includes site number and site location, the time and date of sample collection, the name of the person collecting the sample, and the weather conditions prior to sample collection. Appendix A is a copy of the chain-of-custody form used by the volunteers.

After collection, the volunteer takes the samples and data sheet to a designated drop point where the samples are refrigerated. It is the job of the volunteer coordinator to pick up the samples from the drop point and deliver them to the EQI laboratory for analysis within two days of collection. A description of the laboratory analysis methodology is contained in Appendix B. Following analysis of samples the empty bottles are cleaned in the laboratory and then packed together with blank chain-of-custody forms for use the next month.

Various statistical analyses are performed on the data and are intended to:

1) Characterize the water quality of each stream site relative to accepted or established water quality standards,

2) Compare water quality of each stream site relative to all other sites in the VWIN program,

3) Identify effects of stream water level and seasonal and temporal trends on water quality after sufficient data has been collected.

Biological Monitoring

In addition to the VWIN chemical monitoring, EQI also coordinates biological monitoring of benthic macroinvertebrates at many of the same sites. The Stream Monitoring Information Exchange (SMIE) provides classroom instruction to volunteers in general stream ecology principles and the theory behind evaluating water quality. Instruction includes learning the identification and significance of the common groups of insects. Classroom instruction is followed by on-site stream monitoring training. Volunteers sample monitoring sites each fall and spring.

Riffle habitats of wadeable streams are the focus of sampling. A kick net (mesh size 500 µm) is used to collect macroinvertebrates in the riffle habitat. All organisms are picked from the net, identified, and recorded separately from the other collection methods. Leaf packs are collected in riffles at each site, with organisms picked from the net, identified, and recorded separately from the other samples. A visual survey is also performed by someone with a working knowledge of different types of habitat and insects. The visual survey often yields taxa not collected in the other two samples and is important to providing a total estimate of taxa richness at a site. A habitat survey is completed at each site to evaluate potential limiting factors to stream health.

Aquatic insect communities are excellent indicators of toxic substances in streams since they have limited mobility and have specific habitat requirements and tolerance levels to pollution. If a stream has good chemical ratings but poor biological scores, it could mean that unmeasured toxic substances are getting into the water periodically or that the habitat has been degraded. Several metrics are calculated from this data, including an SMIE rating of overall stream quality, taxa richness, and numbers of sensitive taxa. More details about sampling and analysis can be found in the 2013 SMIE Report (Traylor 2014).

III. Results and Discussion

This discussion is based on approximately 24 years of data gathered from February 1990 through December 2013. Samples were tested for lead, copper, and zinc from 1990 to 2009, but trace metals analysis was subsequently discontinued due to limited funding. Trends in water quality become more evident with each additional year of continuous stream monitoring, and a clearer picture of actual conditions existing in various streams and watersheds is available. Continuing water quality data collection over time provides updated information on changing conditions. With this information financial resources and policies can be focused on areas of greatest concern.

A discussion of the stream sites relative to specific water quality parameters follows. To better understand the parameters, explanations, standards and sources of contamination, some definitions of units and terms have been provided.

The amount of a substance in water is referred to in units of concentration. Parts per million (ppm) is equivalent to mg/L. This means that if a substance is reported to have a concentration of 1 ppm, then there is one milligram of the substance in each liter (1000 grams) of water. The parameter total suspended solids (TSS) illustrates the weight/volume concept of concentration. According to the statistical summary data for Buncombe County (Appendix E), site 1A had a median TSS concentration of 3.0 mg/L over the past three years, which is equivalent to 3.0 ppm. Thus if you filter one liter of

water from site 1A on average you will collect sediments that weigh 3.0 mg. Concentrations of the VWIN parameters in water samples are compared to normal ambient levels. Ambient levels are estimates of the naturally occurring concentration ranges of a substance. Ambient water quality standards, on the other hand, are used to judge acceptable concentrations. The ambient water quality standard for ammonia- nitrogen to protect trout populations is 1.0 mg/L, but the normal ambient level for most trout waters is about 0.1 mg/L.

A classification grade was assigned to each site based on the results of analysis. This report shows site-specific grades for each parameter for the three-year period from January of 2011 through December of 2013 (Table 2). Using only the past three years of data allows streams to show the most current water quality status. Thus, streams that may show improved water quality as a result of newly implemented management practices will reflect improvement in their grade. Likewise, streams where water quality has been deteriorating will show lower grades than past years. The grades are designed to characterize the water quality at each site with regard to individual parameters. Water quality standards were used where applicable to assess the possible impacts these levels could have on human health and organisms in the aquatic environment. For example, the 1.0 mg/L water quality standard for ammonia was used to determine grades for the sites. A grade of "B" would be assigned to a site if, over the last three years, no samples had a concentration that exceeded this standard. In contrast, due to the detrimental effects decreases in pH can have on the organisms that live in streams, a site could receive an "A" if minimum pH value was never lower than 6.0. Appendix C describes the criteria used for the grading system for each parameter.

Appendix D is a list of all VWIN stream sites monitored in WNC indexed and ranked using the grading system previously discussed and shown in Table 2. This indexing system was developed to facilitate comparisons of specific problem areas such as sediment and nutrient pollution. Parameters were grouped into these two categories and number grades were assigned to each parameter (A=100, B=75, C=50, D=25). The numbers were added and the total divided by the number of parameters in the dimension. For example, a site with a B in turbidity, a C in total suspended solids, and a B in conductivity would receive a sediment index of (75 + 50 + 75)/3 = 66.7 (rounded to 67). Index ratings for sediment and nutrient groups were added and the total divided by 2 to determine the overall index rating for each site. A maximum score of 100 and a minimum of 25 are possible. This is different from prior reports when heavy metals were used to calculate the overall rating. Since 2010, most VWIN partner organizations have dropped metal analysis, making it necessary to eliminate metals in comparisons between regional sites. In order to allow conductivity to be used in the ratings, it is now grouped into the sediment category.

It is important and useful to compare sites within the mountain area to understand how water quality from each stream ranks, not only within the county, but also within the

region. With this information, local governments, organizations, and individuals can compare areas with similar problems or successes, share, and develop regional plans. It is also helpful to note changes in ranking over time as stream water quality improves or deteriorates relative to the many other mountain streams tested in the VWIN program. Many factors, such as population density, industrial development, topography, and land use patterns can affect water quality. All of these factors must be taken into consideration when comparing stream water quality.

Appendix E contains summarized statistical data collected over the course of this study. It is a list of minimum, maximum, and median concentrations or values over the past three years and also includes the median values for each site over the past ten years. With this expanded information, changes in median values over time can be seen. The data from 177 sites throughout WNC in the VWIN program are used in this report to compare water quality from the stream sites in Buncombe County with water quality from the mountain region in general. The graphs in this discussion section include averages of median values for all sites analyzed throughout the region, or the "regional average medians". The averages for sites in mainly forested watersheds, or the "forested average medians", are included to show typical water quality in streams that are relatively unaffected by human disturbance. With most parameters, sites that show median values closer to the forested stream median levels exhibit better water quality. In the case of pH and alkalinity, however, the differences may be also related to elevation and rainfall because streams in lower elevation watersheds and those receiving less rainfall naturally exhibit higher pH and alkalinity.

It should be noted that, although there are always some sites in each county that are relatively unaffected by human activities, most VWIN sites are generally chosen to measure the effects of human activities on stream water quality. For this reason, forest streams are under-represented and the averages in all areas are weighted somewhat toward streams that experience various degrees of pollution.

A statistical analysis of the effects of stream water level, temporal changes, and seasonality on the water quality parameters at individual sites has also been included in this discussion. This analysis is used to determine if changes in concentrations or levels of a parameter relate to changes in water levels (i.e. flow) increases or decreases over the past ten years (i.e. temporal change), and changes of the seasons in WNC (i.e. seasonality). Trends are observed in the data and interpretations of what might be causing the trends are suggested. Trends are considered significant if the p-value is less than 0.05. The p-value is the probability of obtaining as much trend as observed in the data if, in fact, there was no true underlying trend. Trends were not determined for sites monitored less than five years.

Trends related to flow are determined by using flow measurements from nearby US Geological Survey gauging stations (USGS 2014). Although this method may also

present some problems as gauging stations can only truly represent the streams on which they are located, it is the best method for the least cost. The USGS gauging stations on the French Broad River at Asheville (03451500), the Ivy River near Marshall (03453000), the Swannanoa River at Biltmore (03451000), Bee Tree Creek (03450000), and the North Fork of the Swannanoa River (0344894205) were utilized to estimate relative flow for the sites in Buncombe County. Only gauge sites that have been monitored continuously since 1990 could be used. Each site was matched to the gauge station nearest that site. The logarithm of the ratio of the measured flow to the long-term average flow for each date was used as the predictor variable for flow. Corresponding flow data were found for all sample collection dates from the beginning of the Buncombe County monitoring program to present. Appendix F is a summary of trends related to flow, Appendix G shows trends related to time and Appendix H shows trends related to season.

Table 2: 2013 Classification Grades Based on Parameter and Ranges Site Description pH Alk Turb TSS Cond Ortho P NH3-N NO3-N 1A Big Ivy at Forks of Ivy A C C B B B A A 1B Little Ivy at Forks of Ivy A A C C D C A B 2 Lower Sandymush Creek A A D B C C A B 3B Sandymush Creek at Willow Rd A A D D C C B C 4 Lower Newfound Creek A A D C D C A C 5A Ox Creek at Ox Creek Rd A B C C C B A A 5B Reems Creek at Ox Creek Rd A C B A B B A A 6A French Broad River at Ledges Pk A C C D C D A B 6B Reems Creek at confluence with FBR A B C B D B A A 7A Glenn Creek at UNCA Bot. Gardens A A A A D C B C 7B Reed Creek at UNCA Bot. Gardens A A A A D C B C 8 Beaverdam Creek at Merrimon Ave A A B B D C A B 9A Beetree Creek at Beetree Rd A C A A B B A A 9B Swannanoa River near Beetree Rd A C C A B A A A 10 Bull Creek at Old Farm Sch. Rd A C B A B C A A 12A Bent Creek at NC 191 A D A A A B A A 12B French Broad River at NC 191 A D C C B C C A 13 French Broad River at Corcoran Pk A D C D B C C A 15A Cane Creek at Hwy 74 A B C B B C A A 15B Ashworth Creek at Hwy 74 A A C B C C A B 16A Cane Creek at Mills Gap Rd A B C B C C A B 17A Swannanoa River at NC 81 A C C B C B A A 17B Haw Creek at NC 81 A A C A D C B B 20 Ivy Creek at Buckner Branch Rd A D C A B A A A 21 Paint Fork at Paint Fork Rd A B C B C B A A 22 Ivy Creek at Dillingham Rd A D A A A A A A 23 French Broad River at Jean Webb Pk A C C C C B A A 24 Swannanoa River at RR/NC 70 A C B A B B A A 25 South Turkey Creek at Turkey Cr Rd A A C B C C A B 26 North Turkey Creek at N Turkey C Rd A A C B C C B B 27 Flat Creek at US 19/23 A A C B D C A A 30 Grassy Branch at Hickory Tree Rd A B B A C C A B 31 Swannanoa River near Azalea Rd A C C A C A A A 32 French Broad River at NC 251 A C C D C D A B 33 N Fork Swannanoa R at Grovestone A C C A B A A A 34 Lower Hominy Creek at SR 191 A B C C C B A B 35 Smith Mill Creek at Louisiana Ave A B C B D B B C 36 Newfound Creek at Dark Cove Rd A B D D C C A B 37 Newfound Creek at Leicester Hwy A A D D D C A C 38 Swannanoa River at Bull Creek A C C A B B B A 39 South Creek at Beaver Lake A A C B D C B C 40 Ross Creek at Lower Chunn's Cove A A C B D C A A 41 Ross Creek at Tunnel Road A A C B D C A B 42 Ross Creek at Upper Chunn's Cove A B C D D B A A 43 Ross Creek at NC 81 A A C B D B A B 47 Glenn Creek at entrance to UNCA A A A A D C B C 49 Dingle Creek at Ramble Way A A A A D B A B 50 Dingle Creek at Overlook Rd A A A A D B A B 51 Flow into wetland at BLBS A A D B D C A C 10

A. Acidity (pH) and Alkalinity: The pH is a measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution. If the value of the measurement is less than 7.0, the solution is acidic. If the value is greater than 7.0, the solution is basic (sometimes called alkaline). The ambient water quality standard is between 6.0 and 9.0. Natural pH in area streams should be in the range of 6.5 - 7.2. Values below 6.5 may indicate the effects of acid rain or other acidic inputs, and values above 7.5 may be indicative of an industrial discharge. The VWIN regional average median for pH is 7.2, and the pristine average median is 7.0 standard units. Because organisms in aquatic environments have adapted to the pH conditions of natural waters, even small pH fluctuations can interfere with the reproduction of those organisms or can even kill them outright. The pH is an important water quality parameter because it has the potential to seriously affect aquatic ecosystems directly, as well as controlling the solubility of some toxic compounds such as metals.

Alkalinity is the measure of the acid neutralizing capacity of a water or soil. Waters with high alkalinity are considered protected (well buffered) against acidic inputs. Streams that are supplied with a buffer are able to absorb and neutralize hydrogen ions introduced by acidic sources such as acid rain, decomposing organic matter, and industrial effluent. For example, water can leach calcium carbonate (a natural buffer) from limestone soils or bedrock and then move into a stream, providing that stream with a buffer. As a result, pH levels in the stream are held constant despite acidic inputs. Unfortunately, natural buffering materials can become depleted due to excessive acidic precipitation over time. In that case, further acidic precipitation can cause severe decreases in stream pH. Potential future stream acidification problems can be anticipated by alkalinity measurement. There is no legal standard for alkalinity, but waters with an alkalinity below 30 mg/L are considered to have low alkalinity. The VWIN regional average median for alkalinity is 24.7 mg/L, and the pristine average median is 9.5 mg/L. WNC streams tend to have extremely low alkalinity because of generally thin soils and because the underlying granitic bedrock does not contain many acid- neutralizing compounds such as calcium carbonate.

Figures 2 and 3 are box-and-whisker plots for pH and alkalinity over the past three years at each monitoring site. The horizontal bar in the middle of the “boxes” represents the median for each site, while the upper and lower edges of the box represent the 25th and 75th percentiles respectively. The “whiskers” show the range of the data, with outliers indicated by dots. Boxplots are helpful to identify samples with extreme characteristics, or a particular skew to the data. Outliers are often the most information- rich part of the dataset, as they may indicate ecological disturbances. The plots also show WNC regional average medians and forested average medians for comparison.

Figure 2: pH levels at each monitoring site compared to the VWIN regional average median for WNC and to the median for sites in largely undisturbed areas South Swannanoa River Urban Asheville Northeast Northwest French Watersheds Watershed Watersheds Watersheds Watersheds Broad

9.09.0

8.58.5

8.08.0

pH 7.57.5

7.07.0

6.56.5 Bull Cr - 10 Bull Paint Fork Paint - 21 Smith Mill Cr - 35 Smith Mill Beaverdam Cr - 8 Beaverdam Upper Ross Cr - Ross 42 Upper Grassy Branch - Grassy 30 Branch North Turkey Cr - North 26 South Turkey Cr - South 25 Lower Hominy Cr - 34 Hominy Lower Ross Cr at NC 81 - Cr at 81 43 Ross NC Reems Cr at FBR Reems - 6B Haw Cr at NC 81 - Cr at 81 17B NC Haw Ox Cr at Ox - Cr Rd 5A Lower Newfound Cr - 4 Newfound Lower Flat Cr at US 19/23 Flat - Cr at 27 US 19/23 Bent Cr at NC 191 - 12A Bent Cr at 191 NC FBR at Corcoran Pk - FBR 13 at Corcoran Lower Sandymush Cr - 2 Sandymush Lower Cane Cr at Hwy 74 - Cr at 74 15A Hwy Cane FBR at Ledges Park - 6A FBR at Ledges Ross Cr at Ross St. - 40 Luke's Ross Cr at Tunnel Rd - Rd 41 Cr at Ross Tunnel Big Ivy Big at Forks of Ivy - 1A FBR at Bent Cr Park - 12B FBR at Jean Webb Pk FBR Webb - at 23 Jean Newfound Cr at NC 63 - Cr at 63 37 NC Newfound Ivy Cr at Dillingham Rd - Rd 22 Ivy Cr at Dillingham Little Ivy Little at Forks of Ivy - 1B Ivy Br - Cr at Rd 20 Buckner Swannanoa R at Bull Cr - R at 38 Bull Swannanoa Ashworth Cr at Hwy 74 - Cr at 74 15B Hwy Ashworth FBR at Walnut Island Pk FBR - at Island 32 Walnut Swannanoa R near N Fk R near - 24 Swannanoa South Cr at Beaver Lake - 39 Lake Cr at South Beaver Dingle Cr at Overlook Rd - Rd 50 Cr at Overlook Dingle Swannanoa R at NC 81 - R at 81 17A NC Swannanoa Dingle Cr at Ramble Way - 49 Cr at Ramble Dingle Cane Cr at Mills Gap Rd - Gap Rd 16A Cr at Mills Cane Flow into wetland at BLBS - 51 wetland into Flow Reems Creek at OxCreek - Cr Rd 5B Reems Reed Cr above confluence - 7B confluence Cr above Reed Bee Tree Cr at Owen Lake - 9A Tree Cr at Lake Bee Owen Glenn Cr above confluence - 7A confluence Cr above Glenn Glenn Cr at UNCA entrance - 47 entrance Cr at UNCA Glenn North Fork of Swannanoa R - 33 Fork North of Swannanoa Swannanoa R at Owen Lake - 9B R at Lake Owen Swannanoa Swannanoa R near Grassy Br R near - 31 Swannanoa Newfound Cr at Dark Cove Rd - Rd 36 Cr at Cove Dark Newfound Blue dotted line - Regional average median = 7.2 - Cr Rd 3B Cr at Willow Sandymush Red dashed line - Forested average median = 7.0

Figure 3: Alkalinity levels at each monitoring site compared to the VWIN regional average median for WNC and to the median for sites in largely undisturbed areas South Swannanoa River Urban Asheville Northeast Northwest French Watersheds Watershed Watersheds Watersheds Watersheds Broad 100100

40 Alkalinity (mg/L CaCO3) Alkalinity

20 Bull Cr - 10 Bull Paint Fork Paint - 21 Smith Mill Cr - 35 Smith Mill Beaverdam Cr - 8 Beaverdam Upper Ross Cr - Ross 42 Upper Grassy Branch - Grassy 30 Branch North Turkey Cr - North 26 South Turkey Cr - South 25 Lower Hominy Cr - 34 Hominy Lower Ross Cr at NC 81 - Cr at 81 43 Ross NC Reems Cr at FBR Reems - 6B Haw Cr at NC 81 - Cr at 81 17B NC Haw Ox Cr at Ox - Cr Rd 5A Lower Newfound Cr - 4 Newfound Lower Flat Cr at US 19/23 Flat - Cr at 27 US 19/23 Bent Cr at NC 191 - 12A Bent Cr at 191 NC FBR at Corcoran Pk - FBR 13 at Corcoran Lower Sandymush Cr - 2 Sandymush Lower Cane Cr at Hwy 74 - Cr at 74 15A Hwy Cane FBR at Ledges Park - 6A FBR at Ledges Ross Cr at Ross St. - 40 Luke's Ross Cr at Tunnel Rd - Rd 41 Cr at Ross Tunnel Big Ivy Big at Forks of Ivy - 1A FBR at Bent Cr Park - 12B FBR at Jean Webb Pk FBR Webb - at 23 Jean Newfound Cr at NC 63 - Cr at 63 37 NC Newfound Ivy Cr at Dillingham Rd - Rd 22 Ivy Cr at Dillingham Little Ivy Little at Forks of Ivy - 1B Ivy Br - Cr at Rd 20 Buckner Swannanoa R at Bull Cr - R at 38 Bull Swannanoa Ashworth Cr at Hwy 74 - Cr at 74 15B Hwy Ashworth FBR at Walnut Island Pk FBR - at Island 32 Walnut Swannanoa R near N Fk R near - 24 Swannanoa South Cr at Beaver Lake - 39 Lake Cr at South Beaver Dingle Cr at Overlook Rd - Rd 50 Cr at Overlook Dingle Swannanoa R at NC 81 - R at 81 17A NC Swannanoa Dingle Cr at Ramble Way - 49 Cr at Ramble Dingle Cane Cr at Mills Gap Rd - Gap Rd 16A Cr at Mills Cane Flow into wetland at BLBS - 51 wetland into Flow Reems Creek at OxCreek - Cr Rd 5B Reems Reed Cr above confluence - 7B confluence Cr above Reed Bee Tree Cr at Owen Lake - 9A Tree Cr at Lake Bee Owen Glenn Cr above confluence - 7A confluence Cr above Glenn Glenn Cr at UNCA entrance - 47 entrance Cr at UNCA Glenn North Fork of Swannanoa R - 33 Fork North of Swannanoa Swannanoa R at Owen Lake - 9B R at Lake Owen Swannanoa Swannanoa R near Grassy Br R near - 31 Swannanoa Newfound Cr at Dark Cove Rd - Rd 36 Cr at Cove Dark Newfound Blue dotted line - Regional average median = 24.7mg/L - Cr Rd 3B Cr at Willow Sandymush Red dashed line - Forested average median = 5.2mg/L

B. Turbidity and Total Suspended Solids (TSS): Turbidity is a measurement of the visual clarity of a water sample and indicates the presence of fine suspended particulate matter. The unit used to measure turbidity is NTU (nephelometric turbidity units), which measures the absorption and reflection of light when it is passed through a sample of water. Because particles can have a wide variety of sizes, shapes and densities, there is only an approximate relationship between the turbidity of a sample and the concentration (i.e. weight) of the particulate matter present. This is why there are separate tests for turbidity and suspended solids.

Turbidity is an important parameter for assessing the viability of a stream for trout propagation. Trout eggs can withstand only small amounts of silt before hatching success is greatly reduced. Fish that are dependent on sight for locating food are also at a great disadvantage when water clarity declines. For this reason, the standard for trout- designated waters is 10 NTU while the standard to protect other aquatic life is 50 NTU. The VWIN regional average median for turbidity is 5.2 NTU, and the pristine average median is 1.6 NTU. Mountain streams in undisturbed forested areas remain clear even after a moderately heavy rainfall event, but streams in areas with disturbed soil may become highly turbid after even a relatively light rainfall. Deposition of silt into a stream bottom can bury the complex bottom habitat. Consequently, the habitat for most species of aquatic insects, snails, and crustaceans is destroyed by stream siltation. The absence of these species reduces the diversity of the ecosystem. In addition, small amounts of bottom-deposited sediment can severely reduce the hatch rate of trout eggs. There is no legal standard for TSS, but values below 30.0 mg/l are generally considered low, and values above 100 mg/l are considered high. The VWIN regional average median for TSS is 6.2 mg/L, and the pristine average median is 2.1 mg/L. TSS quantifies solids by weight and is heavily influenced by the combination stream flow and land disturbing activities. A good measure of the upstream land use conditions is how much TSS rises after a heavy rainfall.

There are two elements to the rating system for the parameters and overall ratings, median levels and maximum levels. Median levels indicate typical conditions at a stream site on the average day of the year over the past three years, while maximum levels indicate the worst case that occurred in the past three years. In the case of turbidity and total suspended solids, that worst case normally occurs when surface runoff conditions reach peak levels following heavy rains. Under these circumstances, watersheds with the most exposed soil and higher gradients generally experience the greatest stream sedimentation. This usually occurs in agricultural areas or in areas where new development is occurring. Of course there are many other complicating factors that play a role in stream sedimentation including distance of cleared areas from the stream, the extent of stream buffers, the condition of stream banks, the amount and duration of rainfall, type of soil, and various other contributing factors. For that reason, analyzing only a few of the contributing causes cannot fully explain the reasons that some streams have more significant sedimentation than others.

Figures 4 and 5 are box-and-whisker plots for turbidity and TSS at the monitoring sites over the past three years. Note that extreme outliers for turbidity and TSS are shown at the top of the “a” plots, but are not to scale. The graphs are cropped in the “b” plots to show the distribution of the 0-75th percentile statistics, since the outliers dwarf the majority of the data. The plots also show WNC regional average medians and forested average medians for comparison.

C. Conductivity: Conductivity is measured in micromhos per centimeter (µmhos/cm) and is used to measure the ability of a water sample to conduct an electrical current. While pure water will not conduct an electrical current, samples containing dissolved solids and salts will form positively and negatively charged ions that will. The concentration of dissolved ions in a sample determines conductivity. Inorganic dissolved solids such as chloride, nitrate, sulfate, phosphate, sodium, magnesium, calcium, iron, and aluminum affect conductivity levels. Geology of an area can affect conductivity levels. Streams that run through areas with granitic bedrock tend to have lower conductivity because granitic rock is composed of materials that do not ionize in water. Streams that receive large amounts of runoff containing clay particles generally have higher conductivity because of the presence of materials in clay that ionize more readily in water. The VWIN regional average median for conductivity is 69.8 µmhos/cm, and the pristine average median is 19.0 µmhos/cm.

Figure 6 is a box-and-whisker plot for conductivity at the monitoring sites over the past three years. The plot also shows WNC regional average medians and forested average medians for comparison.

Figure 4a: Turbidity levels at each monitoring site compared to the VWIN regional average median for WNC and to the median for sites in largely forested areas South Swannanoa River Urban Asheville Northeast Northwest French Watersheds Watershed Watersheds Watersheds Watersheds Broad

12001200

10001000

800800

600600 Turbidity (NTU) Turbidity

400400

200200

0 Bull Cr - 10 Bull Paint Fork Paint - 21 Smith Mill Cr - 35 Smith Mill Beaverdam Cr - 8 Beaverdam Upper Ross Cr - Ross 42 Upper Grassy Branch - Grassy 30 Branch North Turkey Cr - North 26 South Turkey Cr - South 25 Lower Hominy Cr - 34 Hominy Lower Ross Cr at NC 81 - Cr at 81 43 Ross NC Reems Cr at FBR Reems - 6B Haw Cr at NC 81 - Cr at 81 17B NC Haw Ox Cr at Ox - Cr Rd 5A Lower Newfound Cr - 4 Newfound Lower Flat Cr at US 19/23 Flat - Cr at 27 US 19/23 Bent Cr at NC 191 - 12A Bent Cr at 191 NC FBR at Corcoran Pk - FBR 13 at Corcoran Lower Sandymush Cr - 2 Sandymush Lower Cane Cr at Hwy 74 - Cr at 74 15A Hwy Cane FBR at Ledges Park - 6A FBR at Ledges Ross Cr at Ross St. - 40 Luke's Ross Cr at Tunnel Rd - Rd 41 Cr at Ross Tunnel Big Ivy Big at Forks of Ivy - 1A FBR at Bent Cr Park - 12B FBR at Jean Webb Pk FBR Webb - at 23 Jean Newfound Cr at NC 63 - Cr at 63 37 NC Newfound Ivy Cr at Dillingham Rd - Rd 22 Ivy Cr at Dillingham Little Ivy Little at Forks of Ivy - 1B Ivy Br - Cr at Rd 20 Buckner Swannanoa R at Bull Cr - R at 38 Bull Swannanoa Ashworth Cr at Hwy 74 - Cr at 74 15B Hwy Ashworth FBR at Walnut Island Pk FBR - at Island 32 Walnut Swannanoa R near N Fk R near - 24 Swannanoa South Cr at Beaver Lake - 39 Lake Cr at South Beaver Dingle Cr at Overlook Rd - Rd 50 Cr at Overlook Dingle Swannanoa R at NC 81 - R at 81 17A NC Swannanoa Dingle Cr at Ramble Way - 49 Cr at Ramble Dingle Cane Cr at Mills Gap Rd - Gap Rd 16A Cr at Mills Cane Flow into wetland at BLBS - 51 wetland into Flow Reems Creek at Ox Creek - Cr Rd 5B Reems Reed Cr above confluence - 7B confluence Cr above Reed Bee Tree Cr at Owen Lake - 9A Tree Cr at Lake Bee Owen Glenn Cr above confluence - 7A confluence Cr above Glenn Glenn Cr at UNCA entrance - 47 entrance Cr at UNCA Glenn North Fork of Swannanoa R - 33 Fork North of Swannanoa Swannanoa R at Owen Lake - 9B R at Lake Owen Swannanoa Swannanoa R near Grassy Br R near - 31 Swannanoa Newfound Cr at Dark Cove Rd - Rd 36 Cr at Cove Dark Newfound Blue dotted line - Regional average median = 5.2 NTU - Cr Rd 3B Cr at Willow Sandymush Red dashed line - Forested average median = 1.6 NTU Purple dashed line - State regulatory limit for trout = 10.0 NTU Black dotted line - State regulatory limit for aquatic life = 50.0 NTU

Figure 4b: Turbidity levels at each monitoring site, with values higher than 55 NTU cropped to show ranges South Swannanoa River Urban Asheville Northeast Northwest French Watersheds Watershed Watersheds Watersheds Watersheds Broad

Turbidity values greater than 55NTU not displayed

30 Turbidity (NTU) Turbidity 20

Figure 5a: Total suspended solids concentrations at each monitoring site compared to the VWIN regional average median for WNC and to the median for sites in largely forested areas South Swannanoa River Urban Asheville Northeast Northwest French Watersheds Watershed Watersheds Watersheds Watersheds Broad

14001400

12001200

10001000

800800

600600

400400 Total Suspended Solids (mg/L) Solids Total Suspended

200200

0 Bull Cr - 10 Bull Paint Fork Paint - 21 Smith Mill Cr - 35 Smith Mill Beaverdam Cr - 8 Beaverdam Upper Ross Cr - Ross 42 Upper Grassy Branch - Grassy 30 Branch North Turkey Cr - North 26 South Turkey Cr - South 25 Lower Hominy Cr - 34 Hominy Lower Ross Cr at NC 81 - Cr at 81 43 Ross NC Reems Cr at FBR Reems - 6B Haw Cr at NC 81 - Cr at 81 17B NC Haw Ox Cr at Ox - Cr Rd 5A Lower Newfound Cr - 4 Newfound Lower Flat Cr at US 19/23 Flat - Cr at 27 US 19/23 Bent Cr at NC 191 - 12A Bent Cr at 191 NC FBR at Corcoran Pk - FBR 13 at Corcoran Lower Sandymush Cr - 2 Sandymush Lower Cane Cr at Hwy 74 - Cr at 74 15A Hwy Cane FBR at Ledges Park - 6A FBR at Ledges Ross Cr at Ross St. - 40 Luke's Ross Cr at Tunnel Rd - Rd 41 Cr at Ross Tunnel Big Ivy Big at Forks of Ivy - 1A FBR at Bent Cr Park - 12B FBR at Jean Webb Pk FBR Webb - at 23 Jean Newfound Cr at NC 63 - Cr at 63 37 NC Newfound Ivy Cr at Dillingham Rd - Rd 22 Ivy Cr at Dillingham Little Ivy Little at Forks of Ivy - 1B Ivy Br - Cr at Rd 20 Buckner Swannanoa R at Bull Cr - R at 38 Bull Swannanoa Ashworth Cr at Hwy 74 - Cr at 74 15B Hwy Ashworth FBR at Walnut Island Pk FBR - at Island 32 Walnut Swannanoa R near N Fk R near - 24 Swannanoa South Cr at Beaver Lake - 39 Lake Cr at South Beaver Dingle Cr at Overlook Rd - Rd 50 Cr at Overlook Dingle Swannanoa R at NC 81 - R at 81 17A NC Swannanoa Dingle Cr at Ramble Way - 49 Cr at Ramble Dingle Cane Cr at Mills Gap Rd - Gap Rd 16A Cr at Mills Cane Flow into wetland at BLBS - 51 wetland into Flow Reems Creek at Ox Creek - Cr Rd 5B Reems Reed Cr above confluence - 7B confluence Cr above Reed Bee Tree Cr at Owen Lake - 9A Tree Cr at Lake Bee Owen Glenn Cr above confluence - 7A confluence Cr above Glenn Glenn Cr at UNCA entrance - 47 entrance Cr at UNCA Glenn North Fork of Swannanoa R - 33 Fork North of Swannanoa Swannanoa R at Owen Lake - 9B R at Lake Owen Swannanoa Swannanoa R near Grassy Br R near - 31 Swannanoa Newfound Cr at Dark Cove Rd - Rd 36 Cr at Cove Dark Newfound Blue dotted line - Regional average median = 6.2mg/L - Cr Rd 3B Cr at Willow Sandymush Red dashed line - Forested average median = 2.1mg/L

Figure 5b: Total suspended solids concentrations at each monitoring site, with values higher than 300mg/L cropped to show ranges

South Swannanoa River Urban Asheville Northeast Northwest French Watersheds Watershed Watersheds Watersheds Watersheds Broad

50 TSS values greater than 50mg/L not displayed

20 Total Suspended Solids (mg/L) Solids Total Suspended

0 Bull Cr - 10 Bull Paint Fork Paint - 21 Smith Mill Cr - 35 Smith Mill Beaverdam Cr - 8 Beaverdam Upper Ross Cr - Ross 42 Upper Grassy Branch - Grassy 30 Branch North Turkey Cr - North 26 South Turkey Cr - South 25 Lower Hominy Cr - 34 Hominy Lower Ross Cr at NC 81 - Cr at 81 43 Ross NC Reems Cr at FBR Reems - 6B Haw Cr at NC 81 - Cr at 81 17B NC Haw Ox Cr at Ox - Cr Rd 5A Lower Newfound Cr - 4 Newfound Lower Flat Cr at US 19/23 Flat - Cr at 27 US 19/23 Bent Cr at NC 191 - 12A Bent Cr at 191 NC FBR at Corcoran Pk - FBR 13 at Corcoran Lower Sandymush Cr - 2 Sandymush Lower Cane Cr at Hwy 74 - Cr at 74 15A Hwy Cane FBR at Ledges Park - 6A FBR at Ledges Ross Cr at Ross St. - 40 Luke's Ross Cr at Tunnel Rd - Rd 41 Cr at Ross Tunnel Big Ivy Big at Forks of Ivy - 1A FBR at Bent Cr Park - 12B FBR at Jean Webb Pk FBR Webb - at 23 Jean Newfound Cr at NC 63 - Cr at 63 37 NC Newfound Ivy Cr at Dillingham Rd - Rd 22 Ivy Cr at Dillingham Little Ivy Little at Forks of Ivy - 1B Ivy Br - Cr at Rd 20 Buckner Swannanoa R at Bull Cr - R at 38 Bull Swannanoa Ashworth Cr at Hwy 74 - Cr at 74 15B Hwy Ashworth FBR at Walnut Island Pk FBR - at Island 32 Walnut Swannanoa R near N Fk R near - 24 Swannanoa South Cr at Beaver Lake - 39 Lake Cr at South Beaver Dingle Cr at Overlook Rd - Rd 50 Cr at Overlook Dingle Swannanoa R at NC 81 - R at 81 17A NC Swannanoa Dingle Cr at Ramble Way - 49 Cr at Ramble Dingle Cane Cr at Mills Gap Rd - Gap Rd 16A Cr at Mills Cane Flow into wetland at BLBS - 51 wetland into Flow Reems Creek at Ox Creek - Cr Rd 5B Reems Reed Cr above confluence - 7B confluence Cr above Reed Bee Tree Cr at Owen Lake - 9A Tree Cr at Lake Bee Owen Glenn Cr above confluence - 7A confluence Cr above Glenn Glenn Cr at UNCA entrance - 47 entrance Cr at UNCA Glenn North Fork of Swannanoa R - 33 Fork North of Swannanoa Swannanoa R at Owen Lake - 9B R at Lake Owen Swannanoa Swannanoa R near Grassy Br R near - 31 Swannanoa Newfound Cr at Dark Cove Rd - Rd 36 Cr at Cove Dark Newfound Blue dotted line - Regional average median = 6.2mg/L - Cr Rd 3B Cr at Willow Sandymush Red dashed line - Forested average median = 2.1mg/L

Figure 6: Conductivity levels at each monitoring site compared to the VWIN regional average median for WNC and to the median for sites in largely forested area South Swannanoa River Urban Asheville Northeast Northwest French Watersheds Watershed Watersheds Watersheds Watersheds Broad

600600

500500

400400

300300 Conductivity (umhos/cm) Conductivity 200200

100100

0 Bull Cr - 10 Bull Paint Fork Paint - 21 Smith Mill Cr - 35 Smith Mill Beaverdam Cr - 8 Beaverdam Upper Ross Cr - Ross 42 Upper Grassy Branch - Grassy 30 Branch North Turkey Cr - North 26 South Turkey Cr - South 25 Lower Hominy Cr - 34 Hominy Lower Ross Cr at NC 81 - Cr at 81 43 Ross NC Reems Cr at FBR Reems - 6B Haw Cr at NC 81 - Cr at 81 17B NC Haw Ox Cr at Ox - Cr Rd 5A Lower Newfound Cr - 4 Newfound Lower Flat Cr at US 19/23 Flat - Cr at 27 US 19/23 Bent Cr at NC 191 - 12A Bent Cr at 191 NC FBR at Corcoran Pk - FBR 13 at Corcoran Lower Sandymush Cr - 2 Sandymush Lower Cane Cr at Hwy 74 - Cr at 74 15A Hwy Cane FBR at Ledges Park - 6A FBR at Ledges Ross Cr at Ross St. - 40 Luke's Ross Cr at Tunnel Rd - Rd 41 Cr at Ross Tunnel Big Ivy Big at Forks of Ivy - 1A FBR at Bent Cr Park - 12B FBR at Jean Webb Pk FBR Webb - at 23 Jean Newfound Cr at NC 63 - Cr at 63 37 NC Newfound Ivy Cr at Dillingham Rd - Rd 22 Ivy Cr at Dillingham Little Ivy Little at Forks of Ivy - 1B Ivy Br - Cr at Rd 20 Buckner Swannanoa R at Bull Cr - R at 38 Bull Swannanoa Ashworth Cr at Hwy 74 - Cr at 74 15B Hwy Ashworth FBR at Walnut Island Pk FBR - at Island 32 Walnut Swannanoa R near N Fk R near - 24 Swannanoa South Cr at Beaver Lake - 39 Lake Cr at South Beaver Dingle Cr at Overlook Rd - Rd 50 Cr at Overlook Dingle Swannanoa R at NC 81 - R at 81 17A NC Swannanoa Dingle Cr at Ramble Way - 49 Cr at Ramble Dingle Cane Cr at Mills Gap Rd - Gap Rd 16A Cr at Mills Cane Flow into wetland at BLBS - 51 wetland into Flow Reems Creek at OxCreek - Cr Rd 5B Reems Reed Cr above confluence - 7B confluence Cr above Reed Bee Tree Cr at Owen Lake - 9A Tree Cr at Lake Bee Owen Glenn Cr above confluence - 7A confluence Cr above Glenn Glenn Cr at UNCA entrance - 47 entrance Cr at UNCA Glenn North Fork of Swannanoa R - 33 Fork North of Swannanoa Swannanoa R at Owen Lake - 9B R at Lake Owen Swannanoa Swannanoa R near Grassy Br R near - 31 Swannanoa Newfound Cr at Dark Cove Rd - Rd 36 Cr at Cove Dark Newfound Blue dotted line - Regional average median = 69.8 umhos/cm - Cr Rd 3B Cr at Willow Sandymush Red dashed line - Forested average median = 19.0 umhos/cm

3- + D. Nutrients (Orthophosphate (PO4 ), Ammonia-Nitrogen (NH4 /NH3), and - - Nitrate/Nitrite-Nitrogen (NO3 /NO2 ): Phosphorus is an essential nutrient for aquatic plants and algae. It occurs naturally in water and is usually the limiting nutrient in most aquatic systems. Plant growth is restricted by the availability of phosphorus in the system. Excessive phosphorus inputs stimulate the growth of algae and diatoms on rocks in a stream and cause periodic algal blooms in reservoirs downstream. Slippery green mats of algae in a stream, or blooms of algae in a lake are usually the result of an introduction of excessive phosphorus into the system that has caused algae or aquatic plants to grow at abnormally high rates. Eutrophication is the term used to describe this growth of algae due to an over abundance of a limiting nutrient. Sources of phosphorus include soil, disturbed land, wastewater treatment plants, failing septic systems, runoff from fertilized crops and lawns, and livestock waste storage areas. Phosphates have an attraction for soil particles, and phosphorus concentrations can increase greatly during rains where surface runoff is a problem. In this report orthophosphate is reported in the 3- form of orthophosphate (PO4 ). To isolate phosphorus (P) from the measurement, divide the reported amount by 3.07.

Orthophosphate: This is a measure of the dissolved phosphorus that is immediately available to plants or algae. Orthophosphate is also referred to as soluble reactive phosphorus. There is no legal water quality standard, but generally phosphorus (P) levels must be below 0.05 mg/L (0.15 mg/L of orthophosphate) to prevent downstream

eutrophication. The VWIN regional average median for orthophosphate is 0.11 mg/L, and the pristine average median is 0.06 mg/L.

+ Ammonia-Nitrogen (NH4 /NH3) is produced by the decomposition of dead plants and animals. The normal ambient level is approximately 0.10 mg/L, and elevated levels of NH3 can be toxic to fish. Although the actual toxicity depends on the pH of the water, the proposed ambient standard to protect trout waters is 1.0 mg/L in summer and 2.0 mg/L in winter. The VWIN regional average median for ammonia is 0.08 mg/L, and the pristine average median is 0.03 mg/L. The most probable sources of ammonia nitrogen are agricultural runoff, livestock farming, septic drainage, and sewage treatment plant discharges. In WNC, streams with extensive trout farming may also show elevated ammonia-nitrogen concentrations.

- - Nitrate/Nitrite-Nitrogen (NO3 /NO2 ) serves as an algal nutrient contributing to excessive stream and reservoir algal growth. Nitrate is highly toxic to infants and the unborn when ingested, causing inhibition of oxygen transfer in the blood stream at high doses. This is the basis for the 10 mg/L national drinking water standard. The ambient standard to protect aquatic ecosystems is 10 mg/L as well. The VWIN regional average median for nitrate/nitrite-nitrogen is 0.4 mg/L, and the pristine average median is 0.2 mg/L. The most probable sources are septic drainage and fertilizer runoff from agricultural land and domestic lawns. Nitrates from land sources end up in streams more quickly than other nutrients such as phosphorus because they dissolve in water more readily and can travel with ground water into streams. Consequently, nitrates are a good indicator of sources of pollution from sewage or animal waste during dry weather.

Figures 7, 8, and 9 are box-and-whisker plots for orthophosphate, nitrate/nitrite-nitrogen, and ammonia-nitrogen respectively at the Buncombe County monitoring sites over the past three years. Extreme outliers are shown at the top of the plots, but are not to scale. The plots also show WNC regional average medians and forested average medians for comparison.

Figure 7: Orthophosphate concentrations at each monitoring site compared to the VWIN regional average median for WNC and to the median for sites in largely forested areas South Swannanoa River Urban Asheville Northeast Northwest French Watersheds Watershed Watersheds Watersheds Watersheds Broad

0.80.8

0.60.6

0.40.4 Orthophosphate (mg/L) Orthophosphate

0.20.2

0.00.0 Bull Cr - 10 Bull Paint Fork Paint - 21 Smith Mill Cr - 35 Smith Mill Beaverdam Cr - 8 Beaverdam Upper Ross Cr - Ross 42 Upper Grassy Branch - Grassy 30 Branch North Turkey Cr - North 26 South Turkey Cr - South 25 Lower Hominy Cr - 34 Hominy Lower Ross Cr at NC 81 - Cr at 81 43 Ross NC Reems Cr at FBR Reems - 6B Haw Cr at NC 81 - Cr at 81 17B NC Haw Ox Cr at Ox - Cr Rd 5A Lower Newfound Cr - 4 Newfound Lower Flat Cr at US 19/23 Flat - Cr at 27 US 19/23 Bent Cr at NC 191 - 12A Bent Cr at 191 NC FBR at Corcoran Pk - FBR 13 at Corcoran Lower Sandymush Cr - 2 Sandymush Lower Cane Cr at Hwy 74 - Cr at 74 15A Hwy Cane FBR at Ledges Park - 6A FBR at Ledges Ross Cr at Ross St. - 40 Luke's Ross Cr at Tunnel Rd - Rd 41 Cr at Ross Tunnel Big Ivy Big at Forks of Ivy - 1A FBR at Bent Cr Park - 12B FBR at Jean Webb Pk FBR Webb - at 23 Jean Newfound Cr at NC 63 - Cr at 63 37 NC Newfound Ivy Cr at Dillingham Rd - Rd 22 Ivy Cr at Dillingham Little Ivy Little at Forks of Ivy - 1B Ivy Br - Cr at Rd 20 Buckner Swannanoa R at Bull Cr - R at 38 Bull Swannanoa Ashworth Cr at Hwy 74 - Cr at 74 15B Hwy Ashworth FBR at Walnut Island Pk FBR - at Island 32 Walnut Swannanoa R near N Fk R near - 24 Swannanoa South Cr at Beaver Lake - 39 Lake Cr at South Beaver Dingle Cr at Overlook Rd - Rd 50 Cr at Overlook Dingle Swannanoa R at NC 81 - R at 81 17A NC Swannanoa Dingle Cr at Ramble Way - 49 Cr at Ramble Dingle Cane Cr at Mills Gap Rd - Gap Rd 16A Cr at Mills Cane Flow into wetland at BLBS - 51 wetland into Flow Reems Creek at Ox Creek - Cr Rd 5B Reems Reed Cr above confluence - 7B confluence Cr above Reed Bee Tree Cr at Owen Lake - 9A Tree Cr at Lake Bee Owen Glenn Cr above confluence - 7A confluence Cr above Glenn Glenn Cr at UNCA entrance - 47 entrance Cr at UNCA Glenn North Fork of Swannanoa R - 33 Fork North of Swannanoa Swannanoa R at Owen Lake - 9B R at Lake Owen Swannanoa Swannanoa R near Grassy Br R near - 31 Swannanoa Newfound Cr at Dark Cove Rd - Rd 36 Cr at Cove Dark Newfound Blue dotted line - Regional average median = 0.11mg/L - Cr Rd 3B Cr at Willow Sandymush Red dashed line - Forested average median = 0.06mg/L

Figure 8: Nitrate/nitrite-nitrogen concentrations at each monitoring site compared to the VWIN regional average median for WNC and to the median for sites in largely forested areas South Swannanoa River Urban Asheville Northeast Northwest French Watersheds Watershed Watersheds Watersheds Watersheds Broad 3.53.5

3.03.0

2.52.5

2.02.0

1.51.5

1.01.0 Nitrate/nitrite-nitrogen (mg/L) Nitrate/nitrite-nitrogen

0.50.5

0.00.0 Bull Cr - 10 Bull Paint Fork Paint - 21 Smith Mill Cr - 35 Smith Mill Beaverdam Cr - 8 Beaverdam Upper Ross Cr - Ross 42 Upper Grassy Branch - Grassy 30 Branch North Turkey Cr - North 26 South Turkey Cr - South 25 Lower Hominy Cr - 34 Hominy Lower Ross Cr at NC 81 - Cr at 81 43 Ross NC Reems Cr at FBR Reems - 6B Haw Cr at NC 81 - Cr at 81 17B NC Haw Ox Cr at Ox - Cr Rd 5A Lower Newfound Cr - 4 Newfound Lower Flat Cr at US 19/23 Flat - Cr at 27 US 19/23 Bent Cr at NC 191 - 12A Bent Cr at 191 NC FBR at Corcoran Pk - FBR 13 at Corcoran Lower Sandymush Cr - 2 Sandymush Lower Cane Cr at Hwy 74 - Cr at 74 15A Hwy Cane FBR at Ledges Park - 6A FBR at Ledges Ross Cr at Ross St. - 40 Luke's Ross Cr at Tunnel Rd - Rd 41 Cr at Ross Tunnel Big Ivy Big at Forks of Ivy - 1A FBR at Bent Cr Park - 12B FBR at Jean Webb Pk FBR Webb - at 23 Jean Newfound Cr at NC 63 - Cr at 63 37 NC Newfound Ivy Cr at Dillingham Rd - Rd 22 Ivy Cr at Dillingham Little Ivy Little at Forks of Ivy - 1B Ivy Br - Cr at Rd 20 Buckner Swannanoa R at Bull Cr - R at 38 Bull Swannanoa Ashworth Cr at Hwy 74 - Cr at 74 15B Hwy Ashworth FBR at Walnut Island Pk FBR - at Island 32 Walnut Swannanoa R near N Fk R near - 24 Swannanoa South Cr at Beaver Lake - 39 Lake Cr at South Beaver Dingle Cr at Overlook Rd - Rd 50 Cr at Overlook Dingle Swannanoa R at NC 81 - R at 81 17A NC Swannanoa Dingle Cr at Ramble Way - 49 Cr at Ramble Dingle Cane Cr at Mills Gap Rd - Gap Rd 16A Cr at Mills Cane Flow into wetland at BLBS - 51 wetland into Flow Reems Creek at Ox Creek - Cr Rd 5B Reems Reed Cr above confluence - 7B confluence Cr above Reed Bee Tree Cr at Owen Lake - 9A Tree Cr at Lake Bee Owen Glenn Cr above confluence - 7A confluence Cr above Glenn Glenn Cr at UNCA entrance - 47 entrance Cr at UNCA Glenn North Fork of Swannanoa R - 33 Fork North of Swannanoa Swannanoa R at Owen Lake - 9B R at Lake Owen Swannanoa Swannanoa R near Grassy Br R near - 31 Swannanoa Newfound Cr at Dark Cove Rd - Rd 36 Cr at Cove Dark Newfound Blue dotted line - Regional average median = 0.4mg/L - Cr Rd 3B Cr at Willow Sandymush Red dashed line - Forested average median = 0.2mg/L

Figure 9a: Ammonia-nitrogen concentrations at each monitoring site compared to the VWIN regional average median for WNC and to the median for sites in largely forested areas, with values higher than 0.75mg/L cropped to show ranges

South Swannanoa River Urban Asheville Northeast Northwest French Watersheds Watershed Watersheds Watersheds Watersheds Broad

*B7B: Max=0.85 *B13: Max=1.86 *B39: Max=0.80 *B12B: Max=1.67 *B26: Max=0.80

0.60.6

0.40.4 Ammonia (mg/L) Ammonia

0.20.2

0.00.0 Bull Cr - 10 Bull Paint Fork Paint - 21 Smith Mill Cr - 35 Smith Mill Beaverdam Cr - 8 Beaverdam Upper Ross Cr - Ross 42 Upper Grassy Branch - Grassy 30 Branch North Turkey Cr - North 26 South Turkey Cr - South 25 Lower Hominy Cr - 34 Hominy Lower Ross Cr at NC 81 - Cr at 81 43 Ross NC Reems Cr at FBR Reems - 6B Haw Cr at NC 81 - Cr at 81 17B NC Haw Ox Cr at Ox - Cr Rd 5A Lower Newfound Cr - 4 Newfound Lower Flat Cr at US 19/23 Flat - Cr at 27 US 19/23 Bent Cr at NC 191 - 12A Bent Cr at 191 NC FBR at Corcoran Pk - FBR 13 at Corcoran Lower Sandymush Cr - 2 Sandymush Lower Cane Cr at Hwy 74 - Cr at 74 15A Hwy Cane FBR at Ledges Park - 6A FBR at Ledges Ross Cr at Ross St. - 40 Luke's Ross Cr at Tunnel Rd - Rd 41 Cr at Ross Tunnel Big Ivy Big at Forks of Ivy - 1A FBR at Bent Cr Park - 12B FBR at Jean Webb Pk FBR Webb - at 23 Jean Newfound Cr at NC 63 - Cr at 63 37 NC Newfound Ivy Cr at Dillingham Rd - Rd 22 Ivy Cr at Dillingham Little Ivy Little at Forks of Ivy - 1B Ivy Br - Cr at Rd 20 Buckner Swannanoa R at Bull Cr - R at 38 Bull Swannanoa Ashworth Cr at Hwy 74 - Cr at 74 15B Hwy Ashworth FBR at Walnut Island Pk FBR - at Island 32 Walnut Swannanoa R near N Fk R near - 24 Swannanoa South Cr at Beaver Lake - 39 Lake Cr at South Beaver Dingle Cr at Overlook Rd - Rd 50 Cr at Overlook Dingle Swannanoa R at NC 81 - R at 81 17A NC Swannanoa Dingle Cr at Ramble Way - 49 Cr at Ramble Dingle Cane Cr at Mills Gap Rd - Gap Rd 16A Cr at Mills Cane Flow into wetland at BLBS - 51 wetland into Flow Reems Creek at Ox Creek - Cr Rd 5B Reems Reed Cr above confluence - 7B confluence Cr above Reed Bee Tree Cr at Owen Lake - 9A Tree Cr at Lake Bee Owen Glenn Cr above confluence - 7A confluence Cr above Glenn Glenn Cr at UNCA entrance - 47 entrance Cr at UNCA Glenn North Fork of Swannanoa R - 33 Fork North of Swannanoa Swannanoa R at Owen Lake - 9B R at Lake Owen Swannanoa Swannanoa R near Grassy Br R near - 31 Swannanoa Newfound Cr at Dark Cove Rd - Rd 36 Cr at Cove Dark Newfound Blue dotted line - Regional average median = 0.08mg/L - Cr Rd 3B Cr at Willow Sandymush Red dashed line - Forested average median = 0.03mg/L

E. Biological Monitoring: Due to the time constraints and high cost of laboratory testing for organic pollutants, such as pesticides, biological monitoring is preferable. Aquatic insect communities are excellent indicators of toxic substances in streams, since they are in the water constantly and have specific tolerance levels to pollutants. If a stream has good chemical ratings, but poor biological scores, it could mean that unmeasured toxic substances are getting into the water periodically.

The Stream Monitoring Information Exchange (SMIE), currently coordinated by EQI, has carried out 9 years of biological sampling in Buncombe County (Traylor 2014). This protocol utilizes the SMIE method of collection and analysis but reflects scores using a new Biotic Index method of analysis, tailored to taxa found in WNC. This SMIE score is a measure of the diversity and pollution sensitivity of organisms found at a site. Water quality ratings based on the biological monitoring are categorized as Excellent, Good, Good-Fair, Fair, and Poor, in descending order. Biomonitoring results for the sites sampled in spring and fall of 2013 are shown in Table 3.

Table 3: SMIE biological scores for 2013 samples

SMIE VWIN SMIE SMIE Taxa Total # EPT #Taxa <2.5 Site Name Season Site # Site # Rating Score Richness Individuals Richness Sens 9 Cane Creek at Miller Rd - Spring Good 3.1 13 179 7 6 9 Cane Creek at Miller Rd - Fall Good-Fair 3.9 21 219 10 7 10 Ashworth Creek B15B Spring Good-Fair 3.8 13 200 7 2 10 Ashworth Creek B15B Fall Fair 4.2 18 240 7 5 11 Cane Creek at Ashworth Creek B15A Spring Good-Fair 3.6 16 201 8 5 11 Cane Creek at Ashworth Creek B15A Fall Good-Fair 3.9 16 166 5 4 12 Bent Creek B12A Spring Excellent 3.0 19 105 11 7 12 Bent Creek B12A Fall Good 3.2 18 114 9 7 13 Hominy Creek - Spring Fair 4.2 15 32 7 6 13 Hominy Creek - Fall Good-Fair 3.6 12 161 7 4 62 Swannanoa River at Flat Creek - Spring Good-Fair 3.9 13 146 8 5 62 Swannanoa River at Flat Creek - Fall Excellent 2.9 17 165 9 7 63 Swannanoa River at Blk Mtn Rec Park - Spring Good 3.5 11 151 6 3 63 Swannanoa River at Blk Mtn Rec Park - Fall Fair 4.1 14 243 7 3 64 Swannanoa River at North Fork B24 Spring Good-Fair 3.7 14 194 9 5 64 Swannanoa River at North Fork B24 Fall Fair 4.1 13 221 6 4 14 Swannanoa River downstream of Beetree Cr B9A Spring Fair 4.8 11 83 8 3 14 Swannanoa River downstream of Beetree Cr B9A Fall Good-Fair 3.6 17 443 11 6 15 Swannanoa River upstream of Bull Creek B38 Spring Fair 4.4 15 76 8 5 15 Swannanoa River upstream of Bull Creek B38 Fall Good-Fair 3.9 13 218 8 4 16 Smith Mill Creek B35 Spring Fair 4.7 8 48 3 1 16 Smith Mill Creek B35 Fall Fair 4.3 10 193 5 3 34 Nasty Branch (Town Branch) - Spring Poor 6.7 5 32 1 0 34 Nasty Branch (Town Branch) - Fall Poor 5.6 10 223 3 1 17 Reed Creek at the Botanical Gardens B7A Spring Fair 4.8 15 150 5 2 17 Reed Creek at the Botanical Gardens B7A Fall Fair 4.7 11 168 3 0 18 Newfound Creek B4 Spring Fair 4.2 16 200 6 3 18 Newfound Creek B4 Fall Fair 4.5 11 244 4 1 19 Reems Creek B5B Spring Good-Fair 3.6 16 223 9 6 19 Reems Creek B5B Fall Good-Fair 3.6 17 257 8 6 20 Sandymush Creek B3B Spring Good-Fair 3.7 14 475 6 2 20 Sandymush Creek B3B Fall Fair 4.4 15 134 9 3 24 Little Ivy River B1B Spring Good 3.4 11 212 5 2 24 Little Ivy River B1B Fall Good-Fair 3.7 17 197 8 6 25 Big Ivy River B1A Spring Good 3.1 12 181 8 3 25 Big Ivy River B1A Fall Good 3.2 15 257 10 7

IV. Summary

Most Buncombe County streams are located in the French Broad River Basin. In this basin, Buncombe and Henderson Counties have experienced more rapid population growth than surrounding areas in western North Carolina. The valleys along the Upper French Broad River have provided suitable land for development and agriculture, bringing nonpoint sources of pollution in close proximity to the streams. Factors affecting WNC streams include replacement of native riparian buffer vegetation with impervious surfaces, aging sewage systems, and erosion that lead to sedimentation of stream substrates. In more urban areas, stormwater infrastructure diverts pollutant- laden runoff directly to streams.

Rainfall has a strong influence on stream water quality. Aside from some abnormally dry conditions during the parts of 2010 through 2012, rainfall in recent years has been mostly normal (Drought Management Advisory Council 2014, State Climate Office of North Carolina 2014). Heavy rainfall in 2013 led to widespread flooding in Buncombe County, leading to high levels of sediment in many streams. Stormwater can wash 21

pollutants and sediment off the surface of the land and resuspend sediment already present in the stream. Another consequence of the flooding was sanitary sewer overflows including a particularly large spill into the French Broad River at the MSD sewage treatment plant in late April of 2013. The VWIN data show that turbidity, TSS, and ammonia often increase as flow increases. Alkalinity and conductivity tend to decrease as flow increases. Drought conditions can also have severe impacts on streams by reducing aquatic habitats, providing less water to dilute point source pollution, and reducing nonpoint source pollution between rainfall events. The WNC mountains experienced an extreme drought that lasted approximately two years from 2007 to 2009. Many sites in Buncombe County exhibited the best water quality scores in the drought years of 2008 and 2009, and the worst water quality scores in the years of heavy rainfall in 2003 and 2004. The sites that show this trend are likely highly impacted by stormwater runoff in their watersheds. Many sites showed a decline in water quality ratings between 2009 and 2012. The differences may be in part due to the discontinuation of metals analysis, the change from drought conditions in 2007-2009 to more normal rainfall in 2011-2013, or other unmeasured factors.

Orthophosphate is trending higher over time at many sites in the county. Turbidity and nitrates appear to be declining over time at many sites. Alkalinity and conductivity tend to be highest in the fall and lowest in the spring. Nitrates tend to be higher in the winter and lower in the fall. Turbidity, TSS, and ammonia tend to be higher in the summer and lowest in the fall and winter. The summer and fall exhibit the highest pH values, which are lowest in the winter.

Table 4 is a summary of Buncombe County VWIN scores that were generated using the past three years of data (2011 to 2013). The table is organized by watershed to permit comparison of problems such as stream sedimentation, urban runoff of chemicals, and nutrient loading. Of all the sites, Bent Creek, Bee Tree Creek, and Ivy Creek at Dillingham Road received Excellent overall chemical ratings. Smith Mill Creek, South Creek, the Little Ivy River, Newfound Creek, and Sandymush Creek all rated Poor. All sites had median values well below the state standards for nitrates and ammonia, since the standards are far greater than the normal ambient levels. Several sites from January, August, and September of 2011, March of 2012, and May of 2013 yielded samples with highest levels of sediment due to heavy rains in the 24 hours prior to sampling. The highest orthophosphate concentrations occurred in January, August, September, and November of 2011.

External sources have been used for the discussion of watersheds in this report, such as the 2013 SMIE report (Traylor 2014) and NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Division of Water Resources (NC DWR) basinwide reports for the French Broad River, the 2012 Integrated Report (303(d) listing), and (NCDENR 2012, NCDENR-DWQ-BPU 2011, NCDENR- DWQ-ESS 2008). Volunteer observations and local media reports were also useful in documenting water quality at specific sites.

Table 4: Index Rating for Buncombe County Monitoring Sites site # site name sediment nutrients overall rating VWIN - WNC Regional Average 63 81 72 Southern Buncombe County 15B Ashworth Creek at Cane Creek 58 75 67 Below Average 15A Cane Creek at Hwy 74 67 83 75 Average 16A Cane Creek at Mills Gap Rd. 58 75 67 Below Average 12A Bent Creek at SR 191 (at French Broad River) 100 92 96 Excellent 50 Dingle Creek at Overlook Rd. 75 83 79 Average 49 Dingle Creek at Ramble Way 75 83 79 Average Average for this grouping 72 82 77 percent sites below regional average 33% 33% 33%

site # site name sediment nutrients overall rating VWIN - WNC Regional Average 63 81 72 Swannanoa River Watershed 33 North Fork Swannanoa River at Grovestone Quarry 75 100 88 Good 24 Swannanoa River at confluence with North Fork 83 92 88 Good 9A Bee Tree Creek above Owen Lake 92 92 92 Excellent 9B Swannanoa River at Bee Tree Creek 75 100 88 Good 10 Bull Creek at Swannanoa River 83 83 83 Good 38 Swannanoa River at Bull Creek 75 83 79 Average 30 Grassy Branch 75 75 75 Average 31 Swannanoa River at Grassy Branch Confluence 67 100 83 Good 17A Swannanoa River at NC81 below S. Tunnel Rd 58 92 75 Average 17B Haw Creek at Swannanoa River 58 67 63 Below Average 42 Ross Creek at Upper Chunn's Cove 33 92 63 Below Average 40 Ross Creek at Lower Chunn's Cove Rd bridge 50 83 67 Below Average 41 Ross Creek at Tunnel Rd 50 75 63 Below Average 43 Ross Creek at Swannanoa River 50 83 67 Below Average Average for this grouping 66 87 76 percent sites below regional average 43% 21% 36%

site # site name sediment nutrients overall rating VWIN - WNC Regional Average 63 81 72 Urban Watersheds of Asheville 34 Lower Hominy Creek at SR 191 50 83 67 Below Average 35 Smith Mill Creek at Louisiana Blvd. 50 67 58 Poor 47 Glenn Creek at entrance to UNCA 75 58 67 Below Average 7A Glenn Creek at UNC-A Botanical Gardens 75 58 67 Below Average 7B Reed Creek at Reed Creek Confluence 75 58 67 Below Average 39 South Creek at Beaver Lake 50 58 54 Poor 8 Beaverdam Creek at Beaver Lake 58 75 67 Below Average Average for this grouping 62 65 64 percent sites below regional average 57% 86% 100%

site # site name sediment nutrients overall rating VWIN - WNC Regional Average 63 81 72 Northeastern Buncombe County 5A Ox Creek at Reem's Creek 50 92 71 Average 5B Reem's Creek at Ox Creek 83 92 88 Good 6B Reem's Creek at US 25/70 50 92 71 Average 27 Flat Creek at US 19/23 50 83 67 Below Average 22 Ivy Creek at Dillingham Road 100 100 100 Excellent 21 Paint Fork at Ivy Creek confluence in Barnardsville 58 92 75 Average 20 Ivy Creek at Buckner Branch Road 75 100 88 Good 1B Little Ivy at Forks of Ivy 42 75 58 Poor 1A Big Ivy at Forks of Ivy 67 92 79 Average Average for this grouping 64 91 77 percent sites below regional average 56% 11% 44% 23

Table 4: Index Rating for Buncombe County Monitoring Sites - continued site # site name sediment nutrients overall rating VWIN - WNC Regional Average 63 81 72 Northwestern Buncombe County 36 Newfound Creek at Dark Cove Road 33 75 54 Poor 37 Newfound Creek at Leicester Hwy 25 67 46 Poor 4 Lower Newfound Creek 33 67 50 Poor 25 South Turkey Creek 58 75 67 Below Average 26 North Turkey Creek at North Turkey Creek Rd. 58 67 63 Below Average 3B Sandymush at Willow Creek 33 58 46 Poor 2 Lower Sandymush Creek 50 75 63 Below Average Average for this grouping 42 69 55 percent sites below regional average 100% 100% 100%

site # site name sediment nutrients overall rating VWIN - WNC Regional Average 63 81 72 French Broad River 13 French Broad River at Corcoran Park 50 67 58 Poor 12B French Broad River at Bent Creek 58 67 63 Below Average 23 French Broad River at Jean Webb Park 50 92 71 Average 6A French Broad River at Ledges Park 42 67 54 Poor 32 French Broad River at Walnut Island Park 42 67 54 Poor Average for this grouping 48 72 60 percent sites below regional average 100% 80% 100%

Overall County Rating Below Average Good Average Average for All Sites 60 80 70 percent sites below regional average 61% 49% 63%

Southern Buncombe County

Monitoring sites in southern Buncombe County are located on Bent Creek, Dingle Creek, and in the Cane Creek watershed. Cane Creek is a large tributary of the French Broad River that drains much of southeastern Buncombe County and northeastern Henderson County before its confluence with the French Broad River. Agriculture and pasture are the principal land uses in the catchment. Ashworth Creek originates in Fairview near the border with Henderson County and flows northwest into Cane Creek. It runs through agricultural areas and has a minimal riparian zone along much of its length. Ashworth Creek earned a Below Average chemical rating in 2013, with high median orthophosphate concentrations. This site had higher medians of most parameters than either site on Cane Creek further downstream. Ashworth Creek has demonstrated a wide range of water quality scores over the years, with the lowest (Poor) in the rainy year of 2003, and the highest (Average) in the dry year of 2009. This indicates that runoff in the watershed strongly influences the stream. The VWIN volunteer has occasionally documented a manure smell in the air at this site. It earned Good-Fair and Fair biological ratings in 2013.

Cane Creek itself is lined with a mix of agricultural fields, pastures, and residential areas, with development increasing downstream near Fletcher. The upstream Cane Creek VWIN site at Fairview Rd earned an Average chemical rating, and Good-Fair biological ratings in 2013. Further downstream at Mills Gap Rd, Cane Creek earned a

Below Average chemical rating. Both sites have earned similar VWIN ratings over the years, with the highest scores in the dry year of 2009 (Good) and the worst scores in the wet year of 2003 (Below Average). This trend was more pronounced at the downstream Mills Gap Road site. Another site is monitored in Henderson County, closer to the French Broad River at Howard Gap Road, which also rated Below Average (Traylor 2013). Sites in this watershed exhibited high sediment readings in May of 2013 after heavy rains, and the volunteers frequently described the water as turbid. NC DWR has documented declining water quality in this watershed. Cane Creek is listed as impaired from Ashworth Creek to Cushion Branch due to a Poor benthic invertebrate classification. The valley is becoming more developed and increased erosion may be responsible for high values for both turbidity and total suspended solids. NC DWR also reports excessive sedimentation at many locations, suggesting the effects of non-point source pollution.

Bent Creek is a tributary to the French Broad River located in the southwest part of the county. It was of the few monitoring sites in Buncombe County with an Excellent VWIN rating in 2013, and had many of the lowest alkalinity, turbidity, TSS, conductivity, and ammonia values. This watershed is mainly located in the Bent Creek Experimental Forest and the NC Arboretum. Bent Creek has always earned either Good or Excellent VWIN ratings over the years, with minimal fluctuations in water quality. This site exhibited an Excellent SMIE biological rating in the spring of 2013, which is one of the highest in Buncombe County, and a Good rating in the fall.

Dingle Creek is a small tributary to the French Broad located in South Asheville. The upstream site near Hendersonville Rd is fairly urban. The downstream site in The Ramble community is more residential and forested. Both sites earned an Average chemical rating, with identical sediment and nutrient scores. Since monitoring began in 2012, this creek has shown some of the lowest turbidity and TSS values in the county. Alkalinity, conductivity, and nitrates declined from upstream to downstream. The owner of the apartment complex on Overlook Rd, where the upstream site is sampled, has mentioned that sometimes “thick foam like whipped cream” comes through the creek.

The Swannanoa River Watershed

The Swannanoa River is a major tributary to the French Broad River, flowing west from Black Mountain through Swannanoa and Asheville. VWIN monitors six tributaries near their confluences with the Swannanoa River, as well as five sites on the river itself. The North Fork of the Swannanoa River is uppermost tributary, which had a Good VWIN rating in 2013. The protected Burnett Reservoir watershed makes up the headwaters of the North Fork, which also has a stone and sand quarry upstream of the monitoring site. The North Fork exhibited low sediment and nutrient values, and the lowest minimum conductivity. It has earned Average to Excellent VWIN ratings since monitoring began, with a sharp increase in water quality between 2008 and 2009. Bee Tree Creek in

Swannanoa was one of the highest scoring sites in 2013, with an Excellent rating. It also is largely forested, with a reservoir in its headwaters and increasing residential land use near the Swannanoa River. Some water from Bee Tree Creek is diverted to fill Owen Lake in the park adjacent to the Swannanoa River. There is an EPA Superfund Site on Bee Tree Creek, which is contaminated with industrial wastes. VWIN ratings are based mostly on nutrients and sediment and would not reflect this type of industrial pollution. Bee Tree Creek had one of the lowest maximum turbidity and TSS values, as well as low ammonia and nitrate/nitrite concentrations. This site has always earned Good to Excellent VWIN ratings, with the highest score in 2009. Bull Creek near the Warren Wilson College campus earned a Good VWIN rating in 2013. It has a mixture of forest, residential, and agricultural land use in its watershed. The volunteers often described Bull Creek as turbid, with a lot of stream bank erosion at this site. Bull Creek has always earned Average to Good VWIN ratings, with little variation between years.

Of the Swannanoa River tributaries further downstream, Grassy Branch had a VWIN rating of Average, while Haw Creek and Ross Creek in Asheville rated Below Average. Grassy Branch is much more residential than the upstream Bull Creek, with minimal riparian zones for long stretches. It had higher orthophosphate and nitrate/nitrite values than other Swannanoa River tributaries. Its sediment values were also higher than others except for Ross Creek, and showed increasing TSS over time. The volunteer noted that it is quite muddy after heavy rains. Grassy Branch has had a wide range of water quality ratings over the years, from Poor in 1999 and 2003 to Excellent in 2007 and 2008. Haw Creek is highly urban, and channelized below ground in several locations near Tunnel Road, I-240, and the Asheville Mall. Haw Creek had one of the highest maximum conductivity values in Buncombe County, and one of the highest medians in the Swannanoa River watershed. It has earned Poor to Good ratings since monitoring began. All Swannanoa River tributaries except Bull Creek experienced a decline in water quality scores from 2009 to 2012. The ratings in the Swannanoa watershed show a strong link to rainfall, with the lowest scores in the wet year of 2003 and the highest in the dry year of 2009.

Four sites are monitored along Ross Creek, and all four VWIN monitoring sites rated Below Average in 2013. Ross Creek originates in Chunn’s Cove, crosses under Tunnel Road, and feeds Lake Kenilworth before emptying in to the Swannanoa River. While the upstream site is largely forested, some residential development and steep terrain in the headwaters cause the highest turbidity and TSS values in the Ross Creek watershed. This site has earned Poor to Below Average VWIN ratings since rating began in 2001. The highest score for this site was recorded in the dry year of 2009, and the lowest scores occurred in 2005 and 2006. Between the upstream site and the midstream site at St. Luke’s church, the gradient decreases and there are large residential lawns with minimal riparian vegetation and some cows along the stream. Sediment concentrations declined toward Tunnel Road. The site on Ross Creek at Tunnel Rd had some of the highest conductivity values in the county, likely due to runoff from the impervious

surfaces in that urbanized area. Water quality scores at the St. Luke’s and Tunnel Road sites show a stronger relationship with rainfall, with troughs in the high rainfall years of 2003 and 2004, and peaks in the drought year of 2009. Downstream of Lake Kenilworth, the last sample is collected before the confluence with the Swannanoa River. Sediment rose again downstream of Lake Kenilworth, but that may have been partly due to leaves and other particulate matter on the surface of the channelized section of the stream. The nitrate/nitrite median was also higher downstream of Lake Kenilworth. This site has rated Good since 2001, except for a decline to Below Average in 2012. NC DWR lists Ross Creek as impaired from I-240 to Lake Kenilworth due to the Poor classification of the benthic invertebrate community.

The Swannanoa River earned a Good VWIN rating near the confluences with North Fork and Bee Tree Creek, but dipped down to Average near Bull Creek because of higher nutrient values. The campus of Warren Wilson College, which has a working farm with pastures and agricultural fields, is located along the Swannanoa River between Bee Tree and Bull Creeks. The upstream site near North Fork had the lowest maximum orthophosphate concentration in the county. Volunteers sometimes commented on a manure smell at this site, perhaps due to a pig living near the site. Biological communities were sampled in 2013 at five sites on the Swannanoa River, from Flat Creek in Black Mountain to Bull Creek in Swannanoa. Water quality mostly measured Good-Fair and Fair, however the upstream site at Flat Creek had one of the highest bioclassifications (Excellent) in the fall. The NC DWR however lists the Swannanoa River from the headwaters to the North Fork as impaired due to a Poor benthic invertebrate classification. Below the confluence with Grassy Creek, the Swannanoa River again showed a Good VWIN rating with nutrient concentrations improving, but the rating fell to Average below South Tunnel Rd due to increasing sediment. This lower stretch of the river runs through an increasingly urban terrain. The volunteers at this site frequently documented water so turbid that they could not see the bottom of the river. Almost all Swannanoa River VWIN ratings have stayed between Average and Excellent over the years. All Swannanoa River sites except at Bee Tree Creek showed improvements in water quality scores from 2007 to 2009 and declines from 2009 to 2012. River sites from North Fork to Bull Creek showed lower ratings in 2007 and 2008, while sites near Grass Branch and South Tunnel Road were lowest in between 1998 to 2003.

Urban Streams of Asheville

All of the urban streams sampled in Asheville rated Below Average or Poor. Smith Mill Creek and South Creek both earned a Poor VWIN rating. Below Average city streams include Hominy Creek, Glenn Creek, Reed Creek, Beaverdam Creek, as well as Haw and Ross Creeks described in the previous section.

Hominy Creek drains Buncombe County west of Asheville and empties into the French

Broad River. Hominy Creek had some of the highest sediment values of the urban streams. The volunteer frequently noted that the water was “muddy” and “chocolate milk colored.” This site had a Poor VWIN rating from 1999 to 2003, with the lowest score in the high rainfall year of 2003. The best rating for this creek (Average) occurred in the dry year of 2009, indicating that surface runoff has a huge impact on water quality in Hominy Creek. A biomonitoring site further upstream on Hominy Creek indicated Good- Fair to Fair water quality. NC DWR lists Hominy Creek as impaired for turbidity from Moore Creek to the French Broad River.

Smith Mill Creek drains much of West Asheville. It had relatively high nitrate/nitrite concentrations. The VWIN ratings were mostly Below Average from 1998 to 2006, but improved to Average in the dry years o 2007 to 2009. Like Hominy Creek, stormwater runoff has a strong influence on this stream. The VWIN volunteer regularly reported litter in and near the stream since it is located behind the KFC restaurant on Patton Ave.

Glenn Creek flows from the Grove Park property (which includes a golf course), past UNC Asheville and joins Reed Creek at the Botanical Gardens north of Asheville. Glenn Creek had some of the highest median conductivity values of all Buncombe County VWIN sites at the UNCA entrance and Botanical Gardens. It has rated Below Average to Average over the years. Reed Creek flows from downtown Asheville through the Montford neighborhood before meeting Glenn Creek. The Reed Creek site located at the Botanical Gardens had the lowest median turbidity and TSS values of all Buncombe County sites. However it had pollution reflected in high conductivity, ammonia, and nitrite/nitrate values. In fact, Reed Creek had the highest median and maximum conductivity values and nitrate/nitrate concentrations of all sites in Buncombe County. Its median nitrite/nitrate concentration was more than twice that of any other site in the county. Glenn Creek had higher orthophosphate concentrations, which declined downstream. Both Glenn Creek sites showed decreasing orthophosphate concentrations over time. These three sites had some of the lowest pH values (6.5 standard units), all in May of 2012 when the volunteer noted that the water was “very murky”, “turbid”, and “black.” Glenn and Reed Creeks also had some of the highest alkalinity values in the county. Glenn Creek has had lower VWIN scores at the entrance to UNCA than at the Botanical Gardens until 2009, but both sites have earned the same scores since then. Reed Creek exhibited its lowest VWIN scores in 1998 and 1999, and is one of the few sites that earned higher scores in the wet years of 2003 and 2004 than in the dry years of 2008 and 2009, and may indicate sources of pollution besides stormwater runoff.

Beaverdam Creek’s watershed is mostly residential, and contains a golf course on the approach to Beaver Lake. The creek often backs up and has reduced flow due to high water levels in Beaver Lake downstream. Beaverdam Creek has mostly earned Average to Good VWIN ratings over the years, with the best score in the wet year of 2003. South Creek is a short stream that starts as stormwater drainage along Merrimon Road, flows

through a retention pond, and into Beaver Lake a short distance away. Sinkholes and aging infrastructure have led to sediment repeatedly filling the pond. In the spring and summer of 2012, the Elisha Mitchell Audubon Society reconstructed the pond/wetland at the Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary, and began VWIN monitoring of the water coming through the culvert into the constructed wetland in February of 2013. However, due to heavy rains in the summer of 2013, silt and gravel again refilled the pond and reduced the functionality. Eleven months of monitoring revealed that this runoff had the highest median alkalinity, minimum conductivity, and second highest nitrate concentrations in the county. South Creek had a relatively high median alkalinity, but the flow into the wetland had the highest in the county. South Creek had the lowest pH value of 6.2 in May of 2012 when the lake level was low and there was construction in the sanctuary. It had high ammonia concentrations, much higher in fact than the flow into the pond upstream. Turbidity and TSS also increased from upstream of the wetland to downstream. However, nitrate/nitrite, orthophosphate, pH, and alkalinity declined between the wetland inflow and South Creek. South Creek had higher sediment values than most other urban streams. The volunteers frequently reported low or no flow in this stream. It is a short stretch of stream between the constructed wetland and Beaver Lake, so the water levels in both of these water bodies heavily influence the flow in South Creek. This site has rated Poor in most years since 2001, with the lowest scores in 2004 to 2009. It improved to Below Average in 2012 and 2013.

Conductivity and nitrates are very common characteristics of urban stormwater. Metals and road salt contribute to conductivity readings, which is a measure of the ionic strength of the water. Pollutants that lead to high conductivity values are known to negatively impact invertebrate and fish assemblages. Smith Mill Creek and Reed Creek are monitored by the SMIE program and earned Fair biological ratings in 2013. The third urban stream (not monitored for chemicals in 2013) was Town Branch, which had a Poor bioclassification. Nitrates are largely from sources such as landscape runoff (e.g. fertilizer), sewage, and to a lesser extent, atmospheric deposition. Nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen lead to eutrophication of downstream water bodies, and promote excess algae growth and lower oxygen levels.

Northeast Buncombe County

VWIN sites in the northeastern section of Buncombe County are located on Flat Creek, and in the Reems Creek and Ivy River watersheds. Reems Creek flows through northeastern Buncombe County and into the French Broad River. Land in the headwaters of Reems Creek and Ox Creek is a mix of forest and agriculture. Ox Creek is a tributary to Reems Creek and had an Average VWIN rating in 2013 due to high sediment values. It earned Good VWIN ratings from 1998 to 2001, but declined to Below Average from 2003 to 2007 before improving again in the drought years of 2008 and 2009. The volunteer for this site occasionally reported cattle in or near the creek upstream. Reems Creek east of Weaverville earned a Good rating in 2013. This

upstream site had the one of the lowest maximum TSS concentrations. It earned Excellent VWIN ratings in 2001 and 2009, with a decline to Average from 2003 to 2006. Reems Creek had Good-Fair biological ratings in 2013, but typically reveals a healthy benthic macroinvertebrate community. The VWIN rating declined to Average near the confluence with the French Broad River due to an increase in every parameter, especially sediment. This site had declined from 2001 to 2007, but improved again in 2008 and 2009. The lower part of the watershed is more developed than upstream, and has a quarry near the confluence of Reems Creek and the river.

Flat Creek north of Weaverville had a Below Average rating in 2013. This site had its highest (and only Excellent) VWIN rating in 2003. There is forested and agricultural land in this part of the watershed. The volunteer frequently reported turbid water in this stream. There is lots of garbage, particularly drink containers under the bridge at this location. Development in the watershed is more prevalent between this monitoring site and the French Broad River than it is upstream.

The Ivy River (also called Ivy Creek or the Big Ivy) is a tributary of the French Broad River, mostly situated in southeastern Madison County and northeastern Buncombe County. Ivy Creek at Dillingham Rd in Barnardsville was one of the highest scoring VWIN sites in WNC with an Excellent rating, reflecting its highly forested watershed. It had some of the lowest turbidity, alkalinity, conductivity, orthophosphate, and ammonia values. This site has always earned Excellent VWIN ratings since monitoring began with little variation between years. Paint Fork is a tributary to the Ivy River, which earned an Average chemical rating. The VWIN ratings at this site have ranged from Below Average to Good over the years, with peaks in 2003 and 2009 and the lowest scores from 2005 to 2007. The monitoring site has grassy banks and no riparian vegetation. The Ivy River’s rating declined to Good downstream of the confluence with Paint Fork, with increased sediment, orthophosphate, and ammonia inputs. That being said, this site still had some of the lowest conductivity and ammonia values, and one of the lowest median orthophosphate concentrations. The Ivy River has always earned either Good or Excellent ratings at this site, with slightly higher scores in the dry years of 2008 and 2009. Further downstream at the Forks of Ivy, the Big Ivy had an Average rating, with a further increase in sediment. It has earned Average to Good ratings since monitoring began, with peaks in 2001 and 2009 and lower scores in 2004 and 2007. This site had Good SMIE biological ratings in 2013. NC DWR lists the Ivy River as impaired from Barnardsville to the Forks of Ivy for fecal coliform.

The Little Ivy River is a tributary to the Big Ivy River, flowing from the north in rural Madison County. The Little Ivy at Forks of Ivy on the county line had a Poor rating in 2013, with much worse sedimentation and nutrient pollution than the Big Ivy. This site regularly displayed high pH values, with the highest median pH and one of the highest maximum pH values in Buncombe County. It also had some of the highest alkalinity and conductivity values. This watershed is known for nonpoint source pollution from

agricultural runoff and failing septic systems. It has earned a Poor VWIN rating in every year except 2009, when it rose to Average, showing that the water quality greatly benefited from lack of runoff in that dry year. NC DWR lists the Little Ivy as impaired from California Creek to Forks of Ivy for fecal coliform. The Little Ivy at this location earned Good and Good-Fair bioclassifications in 2013. Further downstream in Madison County, the Ivy River earned a Poor rating, with sediment and nutrient pollution evident. However, this site is sampled by Madison County Soil and Water Conservation District and the data set is incomplete. In 2013, the Ivy River Partnership completed a Source Water Protection Plan for the Ivy River Watershed to outline a strategy for addressing water quality problems.

Northwest Buncombe County

The Newfound and Sandymush Creek watersheds are the focus of monitoring in Northwest Buncombe County. Newfound Creek flows through the Leicester community of western Buncombe County and its watershed is largely rural with significant agricultural land use and deforestation. All three sites monitored on Newfound Creek itself rated Poor, with the midstream site on Leicester Highway having one of the lowest overall VWIN water quality scores in WNC. Since ratings began in 1998, these three sites have almost always earned either Poor or Below Average VWIN ratings. This entire stream is characterized by some of the highest sediment and nutrient (particularly orthophosphate and nitrate/nitrite) concentrations in the county. Alkalinity, pH, nitrate/nitrite, orthophosphate, and conductivity increased from the upper to mid-stream site, but there was less of a difference between the mid-stream site and lower Newfound Creek. Turbidity and TSS actually decreased from upstream to downstream. The volunteer at the Leicester Hwy site reported in 2012 that a nearby resident had commented, “the stream seems more "dingy" and that water is not clearing like it used to.” Volunteers at the site at lower Newfound Creek almost always reported murky, cloudy water, even after dry spells. While these sites demonstrated slight water quality improvements in the dry years of 2007 to 2009, they were still some of the worst sites in the county. Biomonitoring at the lower Newfound Creek site indicated a Fair water quality rating. NC DWR lists all of Newfound Creek as impaired based on the benthic invertebrate communities.

Sandymush Creek originates in northwestern Buncombe County, and then runs along the Madison County border until its confluence with the French Broad River. The upstream site on Sandymush Creek at Willow Creek Road had one of the lowest VWIN scores in WNC, and corresponding Poor rating. This part of the watershed is steep and used for agricultural purposes. Upper Sandymush displayed one of the highest median and maximum turbidity and TSS values, as well as minimum and maximum orthophosphate concentrations. This site earned Good-Fair and Fair biological ratings in 2013. VWIN volunteers have also noted a manure smell from the creek, although livestock are present upstream and not usually within sight of the sampling area. Further

downstream, and with a decreasing gradient, Sandymush Creek improved to Below Average. This was due to improvements in sediment and nutrient concentrations. In all years but 2003, the downstream site demonstrated better water quality than the upstream site. The Lower Sandymush site also showed a stronger trend related to rainfall, with lowest scores in the wet year of 2003 and highest scores in the dry year of 2009. Alkalinity and pH increased from upstream to downstream. During sample collection in January of 2013, a local farmer was observed in Sandymush Creek with a dump truck and backhoe under the bridge at the Madison-Buncombe County line. He said he was collecting soil to fill in holes on his farm road. EQI contacted NC DWR, who sent inspectors. The NC DWR staff found the farmer and discussed the negative impacts that type of work can have, repair work that needed to be done, and some additional information.

North and South Turkey Creeks join to form Turkey Creek, a tributary to Sandymush Creek before its confluence with the French Broad River. Both North and South Turkey Creeks rated Below Average. North Turkey Creek had some of the highest maximum ammonia and nitrate/nitrite concentrations in the county, likely influenced by upstream dairy farms. South Turkey Creek is lined with active agricultural fields, including a section that was tilled all the way to the stream edge in November of 2013. The streambank at this sampling location is eroding near the bridge. North Turkey Creek had received better VWIN water quality scores than South Turkey Creek until 2009, but that has switched in recent years. Both creeks showed water quality improvements in 2001 and 2009, with the lowest scores recorded in 2003.

The French Broad River

The French Broad River originates in Transylvania County and flows through Henderson, Buncombe, and Madison Counties in NC before entering into Tennessee. The upper reaches of the river are surrounded by national forest land. Through parts of Transylvania and Henderson Counties there is much adjacent agricultural land. Direct input from wastewater treatment plants and the many tributaries also influence the water quality. Buncombe County VWIN sites on the river have almost always rated between Poor and Average. In 2008 a logjam formed in the river near Penrose in Transylvania County and was removed in the spring of 2012. During that time, it grew large enough for the river to reroute itself through farmland, taking tons of soil with it.

Table 5 shows the median levels of parameters at all VWIN sites on the French Broad River, including two sites in Henderson County, five sites in Buncombe County, and one site in Madison County. There were some analysis differences between counties, for example Buncombe and Madison counties no longer test for metals. Madison County had most of their testing done by students at Mars Hill University instead of using EQI’s lab, and the data set is incomplete. With that said, water quality in the French Broad River declined from Henderson to Buncombe County. Both Henderson County sites at

Horseshoe and Mountain Home rated Average, but dropped to Poor when entering Buncombe County near Corcoran Park (Traylor 2013). The river at Corcoran Park had some of its lowest VWIN scores in the dry years of 2001 and 2008, with the highest score in 2003. This indicates that influences beyond stormwater runoff influence water quality at this site. The Corcoran Park location usually has debris piled against the middle bridge support. Just upstream at Bent Creek, the River exhibited the highest maximum pH value in the county. The French Broad rose to Below Average near Bent Creek, and Average in the River Arts District. The water quality near Bent Creek shows less of a trend with rainfall over the years, although it was highest in 2009. In the River Arts District, the VWIN scores show more of an effect from rainfall, with lowest scores in 2003 and highest (and the only Good rating) in 2009. From Ledges Park north, the three remaining sites earned a Poor rating. The sites at Ledges and Walnut Island both show similar trends over the years, with the Walnut Island scores generally better than at Ledges.

Sediment increased at the first site in Buncombe County at Corcoran Park, and again at Ledges Park downstream of Asheville. The spike in the median TSS (but not turbidity) observed at the Madison County site is believed to be due to incomplete data or sample analysis from Mars Hill University. Conductivity and nitrates increased continuously in the river from upstream to downstream. Orthophosphate and ammonia spiked at the Ledges Park monitoring site downstream of the Metropolitan Sewerage District, with the highest medians among VWIN sites in Buncombe County. In November of 2011, the Corcoran Park and Bent Creek sites exhibited extremely high orthophosphate and ammonia concentrations. EQI reported these results to NC DWR and other local partners. No smoking gun was found, but an upstream dairy farm in Henderson County was subsequently charged with repeatedly failing to maintain waste storage lagoons.

Table 5: Median levels of seven monitored parameters at the sites on the French Broad River in Henderson, Buncombe, and Madison counties

Site # Location Turbidity TSS Conductivity Ortho-P Ammonia-N Nitrate-N NTU mg/L umhos/cm mg/L mg/L mg/L H1 Horseshoe 7.4 10.2 22.1 0.08 0.09 0.2 H2 Mountain Home 6.4 9.6 26.8 0.10 0.09 0.2 B13 Corcoran Park 9.5 14.2 32.6 0.12 0.10 0.3 B12B Bent Creek 7.0 9.2 33.1 0.12 0.08 0.3 B23 Jean Webb Park 7.2 9.8 51.1 0.09 0.09 0.3 B6A Ledges Park 9.4 12.5 51.5 0.28 0.30 0.5 B32 Walnut Island Park 9.9 11.0 52.6 0.23 0.20 0.5 M2 Barnard Bridge 9.2 27.2 52.5 0.20 0.20 0.5

Figure 11: Median turbidity and total suspended solids levels at each monitoring site on the French Broad River (2011-2013)

30.0#

25.0#

20.0#

15.0#

10.0# Turbidity)(NTU))and)Total)suspended)solids)(mg/L)) 5.0#

0.0# Horseshoe# Mountain# Corcoran# Bent#Creek# Jean#Webb# Ledges#Park# Walnut#Island# Barnard# Home# Park# Park# Park# Bridge#

Turbidity# TSS#

Figure 12: Median orthophosphate and ammonia-nitrogen concentrations at each monitoring site on the French Broad River (2011-2013)

0.35#

0.30#

0.25#

0.20#

0.15#

0.10# Orthophosphate*and*Ammonia*(mg/L)*

0.05#

0.00# Horseshoe# Mountain# Corcoran# Bent#Creek# Jean#Webb# Ledges#Park# Walnut#Island# Barnard# Home# Park# Park# Park# Bridge#

OrthoCP# AmmoniaCN#

V. References

Drought Management Advisory Council. (2014). Drought Monitor Archive. US Drought Monitor of North Carolina. [Online]. Available: http://www.ncdrought.org/archive/.

NCDENR, DWQ. 2012. 2012 North Carolina Integrated Report. Raleigh, NC.

NCDENR, DWQ Basinwide Planning Unit (BPU). 2011. French Broad River Basinwide Water Quality Plan. North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Raleigh, NC.

NCDENR, DWQ Environmental Sciences Section (ESS). 2008. French Broad River Basinwide Assessment Report. North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Raleigh, NC.

NCDENR, DWQ. 2007. “Redbook”: Surface Waters and Wetland Standards, NC Administrative Code 15A NCAC 2B .0200. Raleigh, NC.

State Climate Office of North Carolina. (2014). NC CRONOS Database. NC State University. [Online]. Available: http://www.nc-climate.ncsu.edu/cronos.

Traylor, A.M. 2014. Nine Years of Volunteer Biomonitoring in Western North Carolina Streams. The Environmental Quality Institute Technical Report #2014-1. 59 pp.

Traylor, A.M. 2013. Water Quality In the Mountains: Henderson County Volunteer Water Information Network Year Nineteen Report. The Environmental Quality Institute Technical Report #2013-3. 58 pp.

US Geological Survey. 2014. USGS Real-Time Water Data for North Carolina. National Water Information System: Web Interface. [Online]. Available: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nc/nwis/rt.

Appendix A: Chain of Custody form

Volunteer Water Information Network Buncombe County 1) Sample Site Number . 2) Sample Site Name . 3) Collection Date Day . 4) Time Collected . 5) Temperature at drop-off site (in cooler) . 6) Volunteer's Name . 7)Volunteer's Phone# &/or Email: . (please provide current mailing address if there has been a change) 8) Water Flow Rate (please circle one) Very High High Normal Low 9) Type of Rain in past 3 days (please circle one) Heavy Medium Light Dry 10) General Observations (turbidity, waste matter, dead animals upstream, anything out of the ordinary) . . . Parameter Results (For Lab Use Only) Parameter and Result Date of Analysis

NH3 mg/L .

NO3 mg/L .

Po mg/L .

Turb NTU .

TSS mg/L .

Cond umhos/cm .

Alk mg/L .

pH .

Appendix B: Laboratory Analysis

Samples are kept refrigerated until they are delivered to the EQI laboratory on the Monday morning following Saturday collections. Methods follow EPA or Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater-18th-20th Edition techniques and the EQI laboratory is certified by the State of North Carolina for water and wastewater analysis of orthophosphate, total phosphorus, ammonia-nitrogen, turbidity, total suspended solids, pH, conductivity, copper, lead, and zinc. All samples are kept refrigerated until the time of analysis. Shipped samples are sent on ice. Analysis for nitrogen, phosphorus, pH, turbidity, and conductivity are completed within 48 hours of the collection time. As pH cannot be tested on site, the holding time for pH is exceeded. When immediate analysis does not occur, such as for total phosphorus and heavy metals, the samples are preserved by acidification.

Explanations about the procedures and instruments used in the EQI lab are quite technical in nature and will be omitted from this report. Detailed information is available on request. The reporting limits for each parameter have been provided.

Approximate Analytical Reporting Limits for VWIN Water Quality Parameters.

PARAMETER REPORTING LIMIT UNITS

Ammonia Nitrogen 0.02 mg/L Nitrate/Nitrite Nitrogen 0.1 mg/L 3- Orthophosphate (as PO4 ) 0.02 mg/L Alkalinity 1.0 mg/L Total Suspended Solids 10.0 mg/L Conductivity 10.0 µmhos/cm Turbidity 1.0 NTU pH n/a SU

Appendix C: Parameters and Ranges for Stream Quality Classifications pH - Grade A= never less than 6.0 Grade B= below 6.0 in less than 10% of samples, never below 5.0 Grade C= never less than 5.0 Grade D= at least one sample was less 5.0

Alkalinity - Grade A= median greater than 30 mg/L (indicates little vulnerability to acidic inputs) Grade B= median 20-30 mg/L (indicates moderate vulnerability to acidic inputs) Grade C= median less than 20 mg/L (considered to be vulnerable to acidic inputs) Grade D= median less than 15 mg/L (very vulnerable to acidic inputs)

Turbidity - Grade A= median less than 5 NTU and exceeded the standard for trout waters of 10 NTU in less than 10% of samples, but never exceeded 50 NTU Grade B= median less than 7.5 NTU and never exceeded the 50 NTU standard Grade C= median less than 10 NTU and exceeded 50 NTU in less than 10% of samples Grade D= median greater than 10 NTU or exceeded 50 NTU in more than 10% of samples

Total Suspended Solids - Grade A= median less than 5 mg/L and maximum less than 100 mg/L - not measurably disturbed by human activities Grade B= median less than 7.5 mg/L and exceeded 100 mg/L in less than 10% of samples - low to moderate disturbance Grade C= median less than 10 mg/L and exceeded 100 mg/L in less than 10% of samples - moderate to high disturbance Grade D= median greater than 10 mg/L or maximum exceeded 100 mg/L in more than 10% of samples - high level of land disturbance

Conductivity - Grade A= median less than 30 µmhos/cm, never exceeded 100 µmhos/cm Grade B= median less than 50 µmhos/cm, exceeded 100 µmhos/cm in less than 10% of samples Grade C= median greater than 50 µmhos/cm, exceeded 100 µmhos/cm in less than 10% of samples Grade D= exceeded 100 µmhos/cm in more than 10% of samples

Appendix C (continued)

3- Orthophosphate (as PO4 ) - Grade A= median less than or equal to ambient level of 0.05 mg/L Grade B= median between 0.06 mg/L but less than 0.10 mg/L Grade C= median greater than 0.10 mg/L but less than 0.20 mg/L Grade D= median greater then 0.20 mg/L

Ammonia Nitrogen - Grade A= never exceeded 0.50 mg/L Grade B= never exceeded the proposed ambient standard for trout waters in the summer of 1 mg/L Grade C= exceeded 1 mg/L in less than 10% of samples, but never exceeded 2mg/L Grade D= exceeded 1 mg/L in more than 10% of samples, or at least one sample had a concentration greater than the proposed ambient standard for trout waters in the winter of 2.0 mg/L

Nitrate Nitrogen - Grade A= median does not exceed 0.3 mg/L, no sample exceeded 1.0 mg/L Grade B= less than 10% of samples exceeded 1.0 mg/L, none exceeded 5 mg/L Grade C= no samples exceeded 5 mg/L Grade D= at least one sample exceeded 5 mg/L

Appendix D: Stream Ranking Index

Excellent Median and maximum pollutant levels in all parameters show little effect from human disturbances Good One or more parameters show minor or only occasional increases in pollutant levels from human disturbances Average Exhibits constant low levels of one or more pollutants or sudden significant, but short term increases. Below Ave Median pollutant levels are abnormally high in one or more parameters, or exhibits very high pollutant levels during certain weather conditions Poor Pollutant levels are consistently higher than average in several parameters and/or show extreme levels during certain weather conditions

B = Buncombe County H = Henderson County HW = Hiawassee River Watershed HY = Haywood County J = Jackson/Lake Glenville LJ = Lake James LL = Lake Lure M = Madison County NOT=Nottely River Watershed P = Polk County TOE = Toe River Watershed TU = Tuckasegee River watershed

site # site description Excellent 1 B22 Ivy Creek at Dillingham Rd 100 2 H11 Green River/down L Summit 100 3 HI1 Upper Hiwassee River 100 4 HI11 Hog Creek 100 5 HI2 Martin's Creek 100 6 HI3 Hightower Creek 100 7 HI6 Eagle Fork Creek 100 8 HI8 Lower Shooting Creek 100 9 J1 Hurricane Creek at Norton Rd bridge 100 10 J5 Cedar Creek at Bee Tree Rd bridge 100 11 NOT1 Nottely River upstream 100 12 NOT5 Coosa Creek 100 13 T3 South Toe River 100 14 TU1 East Fork of Tuckasegee River 100 15 TU14 Deep Creek 100 16 TU3 Caney Fork 100 17 TU5 Tuckasegee R above Scott's Crk 100 18 Y33 Pigeon River above Canton 100 19 B12A Bent Creek at NC 191 96 20 HI7 Upper Shooting Creek 96 21 J2 Norton Creek at N. Norton Rd bridge 96

Appendix D: Stream Ranking Index (continued) 22 J3 Mill Creek downstream from N. Norton br 96 23 LL6 Pool Creek at Hwy 64/74/9 96 24 NOT3 Nottely River 96 25 NOT7 Young Cane Creek 96 26 NOT8 Ivy Log Creek 96 27 TU11 Conley Creek 96 28 TU12 Tuckasegee R below Bryson City 96 29 TU15 Oconaluftee River 96 30 TU18 Alarka Creek 96 31 TU2 West Fork of Tuckasegee River 96 32 TU4 Cullowhee Creek 96 33 TU9 Tuckasegee R above Barkers Cr 96 34 Y27 Jonathan Creek in Maggie Valley 92 35 B9A Beetree Creek at Beetree Rd 92 36 HI9 Upper Bell Creek 92 37 LL9 Buffalo Creek at Lake Lure 92 38 HI4 Scataway Creek 92 39 J4 Pine Creek at Pine Creek Rd bridge 92

Good 40 Y13 Allens Creek 88 41 B20 Ivy Creek at Buckner Branch Rd 88 42 B24 Swannanoa River at RR/NC 70 88 43 B33 N Fork Swannanoa R at Grovestone 88 44 B5B Reems Creek at Ox Creek Rd 88 45 B9B Swannanoa River near Beetree Rd 88 46 H10 Mills River/Hooper Lane 88 47 H7 North Fork Mills River 88 48 H8 South Fork Mills River 88 49 H9 Mills River/Hwy 191 88 50 HI12 Woods Creek 88 51 LJ5 Linville River at Hwy 126 88 52 LL10 Fairfield Mountains Crk at Lake Lure 88 53 TU10 Barker's Creek 88 54 TU17 Wayehutta Creek 88 55 B31 Swannanoa River near Azalea Rd 83 56 H12 Green River/Terry's Ck Rd 83 57 H19 Green River/Old 25 83 58 LL8 Cane Creek 1/4 mile above Tryon Bay 83 59 T4 North Toe River at Red Hill 83 60 T5 Cane River at MH High Sch 83 61 TU7 Savannah Creek 83 62 TU8 Green's Crk (trib of Savannah Cr) 83 63 B10 Bull Creek at Old Farm Sch. Rd 83 64 H15 Bat Fork Creek/Tabor Rd 83 65 H26 Brittain Creek/Patton Park 83 66 T1 Cane Creek at Bakersville 83 67 Y10 Richland Creek at West Waynesville 83 68 Y12 Jonathan Creek downstream 83 41

Appendix D: Stream Ranking Index (continued)

Average 69 B1A Big Ivy at Forks of Ivy 79 70 H18 Mud Creek/7th Ave 79 71 H21 Mud Creek/Berea Church Rd 79 72 H24 Little Willow Creek 79 73 H3 Mud Creek/Erkwood Rd 79 74 J6 Glenville Creek at Tator Knob Rd 79 75 LJ2 Catawba River at US-221A 79 76 LL2 Hickory Crk at Hwy 74 (Bat Cave) 79 77 LL4 Rocky Broad River at Chimney Rock 79 78 LL5 Rocky Broad River at Lake Lure 79 79 TU13 Kirkland Creek 79 80 B38 Swannanoa River at Bull Creek 79 81 B49 Dingle Creek at Ramble Way 79 82 B50 Dingle Creek at Overlook Rd 79 83 H13 Big Hungry River below dam 79 84 LL15 Buffalo Creek at Bald Mt Lake 79 85 LL7 Public Golf Course Crk at Hwy 64/74 79 86 NOT2 Arkaqua Creek 79 87 T2 Cane Creek at Loafer's Glory 79 88 Y11 Richland Creek at Lake Junaluska 79 89 Y9 Plott Creek 79 90 B15A Cane Creek at Hwy 74 75 91 B17A Swannanoa River at NC 81 75 92 B21 Paint Fork at Paint Fork Rd 75 93 B30 Grassy Branch at Hickory Tree Rd 75 94 H1 French Broad River/Banner Farm Rd 75 95 H2 French Broad River/Butler Br Rd 75 96 H20 Clear Creek/Apple Valley Rd 75 97 H23 Big Willow Creek/Patterson Rd 75 98 H31 Wash Creek/West Allen St 75 99 H32 King Creek/Airport Rd 75 100 LJ3 North Fork of the Catawba River at SR-1552 75 101 LL1 Reedypatch Crk at Hwy 64 (Bat Cave) 75 102 LL3 Broad River at Hwy 9 (Bat Cave) 75 103 TU6 Scott's Creek 75 104 Y8 Eaglenest Creek 75 105 Y31 Beaverdam Crk dnstrm I-40 71 106 Y4 Pigeon River downstream of Canton 71 107 Y6 Rush Fork at Crabtree 71 108 B23 French Broad River at Jean Webb Pk 71 109 B5A Ox Creek at Ox Creek Rd 71 110 B6B Reems Creek at confluence with FBR 71 111 H33 Devil's Fork/Howard Gap 71 112 H35 Featherstone Creek at Howard Gap 71 113 H14 Boylston Creek/Ladson Rd 71 114 H28 Shaw Creek/Hunters Glen 71

Appendix D: Stream Ranking Index (continued)

Below Average 115 Y25 Raccoon Creek downstream 67 116 Y26 Crabtree Creek 67 117 Y32 Beaverdam Crk at Long Branch Rd 67 118 Y7 Fines Creek downstream 67 119 B15B Ashworth Creek at Hwy 74 67 120 B16A Cane Creek at Mills Gap Rd 67 121 B25 South Turkey Creek at Turkey Cr Rd 67 122 B47 Glenn Creek at entrance to UNCA 67 123 B7A Glenn Creek at UNCA Bot. Gardens 67 124 B7B Reed Creek at UNCA Bot. Gardens 67 125 B8 Beaverdam Creek at Merrimon Ave 67 126 H16 Cane Creek/Howard Gap Rd 67 127 H22 Hoopers Creek/Jackson Rd 67 128 H25 Gash Creek/Etowah School Rd 67 129 H30 Devil's Fork/Dana Rd 67 130 H34 Byers Creek at Howard Gap 67 131 H5 Clear Creek/Nix Rd 67 132 NOT4 Butternut Creek 67 133 T7 Jack's Creek at Smith Johnson Rd 67 134 B27 Flat Creek at US 19/23 67 135 B34 Lower Hominy Creek at SR 191 67 136 B40 Ross Creek at Lower Chunn's Cove 67 137 B43 Ross Creek at NC 81 67 138 Y24 Raccoon Creek upstream 63 139 B12B French Broad River at NC 191 63 140 B17B Haw Creek at NC 81 63 141 B2 Lower Sandymush Creek 63 142 B26 North Turkey Creek at N Turkey C Rd 63 143 B41 Ross Creek at Tunnel Road 63 144 B42 Ross Creek at Upper Chunn's Cove 63 145 LJ13 North Fork/Catawba River at Old Linville Rd 63

Poor 146 B13 French Broad River at Corcoran Pk 58 147 B35 Smith Mill Creek at Louisiana Ave 58 148 H29 Brandy Branch/Mills R Village 58 149 H4 Mud Creek/N Rugby Rd 58 150 B1B Little Ivy at Forks of Ivy 58 151 T6 Bald Creek at Bald Crk Elem 58 152 Y14 Rush Fork upstream 58 153 Y15 Fines Creek midstream 58 154 Y19 Fines Creek upstream 58 155 Y23 Ratcliff Cove Branch 58

Appendix D: Stream Ranking Index (continued) Poor 156 B32 French Broad River at NC 251 54 157 B36 Newfound Creek at Dark Cove Rd 54 158 B39 South Creek at Beaver Lake 54 159 B51 Flow into wetland at BLBS 54 160 B6A French Broad River at Ledges Pk 54 161 H27 Mill Pond Creek/S Rugby Rd 54 162 Y20 Cove Creek 54 163 Y21 Hyatt Creek upstream 54 164 Y5 Pigeon River at Hepco Bridge 54 165 B4 Lower Newfound Creek 50 166 M4 East Fork of Bull Creek 50 167 Y22 Hyatt Creek downstream 50 168 B37 Newfound Creek at Leicester Hwy 46 169 B3B Sandymush Creek at Willow Rd 46 170 M1 Ivy River at 25/70 46 171 M11 Bull Creek 46 172 M12 Grapevine Creek 46 173 M13 California Creek 46 174 M14 Middle Fork Creek 46 175 M15 Paint Fork Creek 46 176 M2 French Broad River at Barnard Br 46 177 M17 Gabriel's Creek 42

Appendix E: Data Summary

pH - Last 3 Years Last 10 Years pH - Last 3 Years Last 10 Years site # samples low median high sample # median site # samples low median high sample # median 1A 36 6.8 7.3 8.1 104 7.3 22 36 6.8 7.0 7.3 104 7.1 1B 36 7.1 7.8 8.9 104 7.8 23 36 6.7 7.1 7.5 105 7.1 2 36 7.2 7.6 7.9 104 7.6 24 36 6.7 6.9 7.1 104 6.9 3B 31 7.0 7.4 7.7 91 7.4 25 36 7.0 7.3 7.6 105 7.3 4 36 7.0 7.5 8.0 105 7.4 26 36 7.0 7.3 7.6 105 7.3 5A 36 7.0 7.3 7.5 105 7.3 27 36 7.0 7.3 7.5 103 7.3 5B 36 7.0 7.2 7.4 105 7.2 30 36 6.8 7.2 7.8 104 7.2 6A 36 6.9 7.2 7.7 105 7.3 31 36 6.9 7.1 7.5 105 7.1 6B 36 7.1 7.4 7.8 105 7.4 32 36 6.9 7.3 8.6 105 7.3 7A 36 6.5 7.4 7.6 105 7.4 33 36 6.7 7.0 7.6 104 7.0 7B 36 6.5 7.3 7.8 105 7.3 34 36 6.8 7.2 7.5 105 7.2 8 36 6.9 7.2 7.4 105 7.2 35 36 6.8 7.1 8.0 105 7.1 9A 36 6.8 7.2 7.4 104 7.1 36 36 6.8 7.1 7.2 105 7.1

45 9B 36 6.9 7.1 7.5 104 7.1 37 36 6.9 7.5 7.8 105 7.4 10 36 6.9 7.2 7.4 103 7.2 38 36 6.9 7.2 7.4 104 7.2

12A 36 6.6 7.0 7.2 105 7.0 39 36 6.2 7.0 7.5 105 6.9 12B 36 6.6 7.0 9.0 105 7.0 40 35 6.8 7.2 7.5 101 7.2 13 36 6.6 6.9 7.9 105 6.9 41 33 6.9 7.2 7.4 97 7.2 15A 36 6.7 7.2 7.6 104 7.2 42 35 6.9 7.1 7.5 100 7.2 15B 36 6.7 7.2 7.4 104 7.2 43 34 7.0 7.2 7.6 98 7.2 16A 36 6.6 7.3 7.7 104 7.2 47 36 6.5 7.4 7.6 105 7.4 17A 36 6.8 7.1 7.4 105 7.2 49 26 7.1 7.2 7.4 26 7.2 17B 36 6.7 7.3 7.6 104 7.2 50 26 7.1 7.2 7.4 26 7.2 20 36 6.8 7.2 7.7 104 7.2 51 11 6.8 7.1 7.3 11 7.1 21 36 6.8 7.2 7.5 104 7.2

Appendix E: Data Summary – continued

Alkalinity - Last 3 Years, RL 1 mg/L Last 10 Years Alkalinity - Last 3 Years, RL 1 mg/L Last 10 Years site # samples low median high sample # median site # samples low median high sample # median 1A 36 8.0 15.0 42.0 104 16.0 22 36 5.5 9.0 23.0 104 10.0 1B 36 30.0 49.5 99.0 104 48.7 23 36 12.0 18.0 36.0 105 18.0 2 36 22.0 36.0 74.0 104 34.0 24 36 9.0 15.0 27.0 104 15.0 3B 31 20.0 33.0 60.0 91 31.0 25 36 18.0 31.0 54.0 105 29.0 4 36 16.0 44.5 86.0 105 42.0 26 36 7.0 35.0 65.0 105 34.0 5A 35 11.0 20.0 48.0 104 20.1 27 36 14.0 30.5 84.0 103 32.2 5B 36 10.0 16.5 40.0 105 18.0 30 36 17.0 27.0 51.0 104 24.0 6A 36 8.0 16.5 35.0 105 18.0 31 36 8.0 19.5 45.0 105 19.0 6B 36 12.0 25.0 63.0 105 25.0 32 36 7.0 17.0 35.0 105 19.0 7A 36 33.0 49.0 89.0 105 46.5 33 36 5.0 18.0 36.0 104 18.0 7B 36 22.0 49.0 91.0 104 45.6 34 36 9.0 22.5 44.0 105 22.0 8 36 18.0 31.5 62.0 105 31.0 35 36 16.0 27.5 50.0 105 26.0

46 9A 36 8.0 16.0 50.0 104 16.0 36 36 13.0 22.0 42.0 105 21.0

9B 36 8.0 18.0 38.0 104 18.0 37 36 26.0 41.5 82.0 105 38.8 10 36 12.0 19.5 45.0 103 19.2 38 36 8.0 19.0 44.0 104 18.0 12A 36 5.0 9.0 26.0 105 11.0 39 36 20.0 47.5 86.0 105 45.0 12B 36 9.0 14.0 26.0 105 14.0 40 35 18.0 36.0 64.0 101 35.0 13 36 8.0 14.0 31.0 105 15.0 41 33 18.0 41.0 73.0 97 40.0 15A 36 8.0 20.5 47.0 104 19.0 42 35 10.0 23.0 49.0 100 22.8 15B 36 8.0 31.0 56.0 104 28.0 43 34 21.0 38.0 77.0 99 36.0 16A 36 13.0 27.5 51.0 104 26.0 47 36 33.0 50.5 87.0 105 46.0 17A 36 10.0 19.0 48.0 105 19.0 49 26 15.0 31.5 63.0 26 31.5 17B 36 20.0 36.5 66.0 104 36.0 50 26 20.0 47.5 74.0 26 47.5 20 36 6.0 12.5 39.0 104 13.0 51 11 37.0 67.0 80.0 11 67.0 21 36 12.0 22.0 49.0 104 22.0

Appendix E: Data Summary – continued

Turbidity (NTU) - Last 3 Years, RL 1 NTU Last 10 Years Turbidity (NTU) - Last 3 Years, RL 1 NTU Last 10 Years site # samples low median high sample # median site # samples low median high sample # median 1A 36 <1.0 2.8 110.0 104 3.4 22 36 <1.0 1.0 14.0 104 1.9 1B 36 1.2 9.0 360.0 104 8.1 23 36 1.3 7.2 65.0 105 7.3 2 36 1.3 7.8 120.0 104 6.9 24 36 <1.0 2.5 50.0 104 3.5 3B 31 2.0 13.0 1100.0 91 13.0 25 36 1.7 9.5 60.0 105 7.8 4 36 5.8 11.5 320.0 105 13.0 26 36 1.6 6.8 850.0 105 5.8 5A 36 <1.0 7.1 55.0 105 7.4 27 36 <1.0 4.7 120.0 103 6.5 5B 36 <1.0 3.9 16.0 105 4.8 30 36 1.0 4.8 31.0 104 4.5 6A 36 1.5 9.4 140.0 105 10.0 31 36 1.0 2.6 63.0 105 3.9 6B 36 1.4 6.4 220.0 105 8.1 32 36 1.3 9.9 80.0 105 10.0 7A 36 <1.0 2.2 38.0 105 2.8 33 36 <1.0 1.8 60.0 104 3.9 7B 36 <1.0 0.8 12.0 105 2.1 34 36 1.6 8.2 290.0 105 9.3 8 36 <1.0 4.6 38.0 105 5.0 35 36 1.3 5.1 130.0 105 5.8 9A 36 <1.0 1.6 9.3 104 2.4 36 36 4.7 17.5 800.0 105 17.0 9B 36 <1.0 2.3 75.0 104 3.2 37 36 3.7 12.0 1300.0 105 10.0 10 36 1.0 3.5 36.0 103 4.4 38 36 <1.0 2.9 80.0 104 4.2

47 12A 36 <1.0 2.0 7.1 105 3.2 39 36 1.5 8.3 140.0 105 14.0 12B 36 1.2 7.0 55.0 105 6.7 40 35 <1.0 3.7 65.0 101 4.6

13 36 2.4 9.5 70.0 105 9.3 41 33 <1.0 2.1 170.0 97 3.3 15A 36 <1.0 3.3 300.0 104 4.2 42 35 2.1 6.2 75.0 100 9.0 15B 36 1.4 4.1 350.0 104 5.7 43 34 1.2 5.6 90.0 99 5.0 16A 36 1.0 3.3 380.0 104 4.9 47 36 <1.0 2.4 39.0 105 2.8 17A 36 1.1 3.5 85.0 105 5.1 49 26 <1.0 1.6 37.0 26 1.6 17B 36 <1.0 3.1 100.0 104 5.1 50 26 <1.0 1.5 22.0 26 1.5 20 36 <1.0 2.4 55.0 104 2.9 51 11 1.7 3.3 110.0 11 3.3 21 36 1.4 5.9 65.0 104 7.9

Appendix E: Data Summary – continued

TSS (mg/L) - Last 3 Years, RL 10 mg/L Last 10 Years TSS (mg/L) - Last 3 Years, RL 10 mg/L Last 10 Years site # samples low median high sample # median site # samples low median high sample # median 1A 36 <4.0 3.0 114.0 104 2.8 22 36 <4.0 1.2 30.8 104 1.6 1B 36 <4.0 8.8 415.8 104 5.8 23 36 <4.0 9.8 79.2 105 7.6 2 36 <4.0 6.4 164.4 104 6.4 24 36 <4.0 2.4 37.2 104 2.4 3B 31 <4.0 17.6 1059.4 91 16.0 25 36 <4.0 7.2 50.8 105 6.0 4 36 <4.0 8.8 581.0 105 8.8 26 36 <4.0 7.0 780.0 105 5.6 5A 36 <4.0 9.2 58.4 105 8.4 27 36 <4.0 2.8 151.0 103 3.2 5B 36 <4.0 4.6 23.2 105 4.8 30 36 <4.0 4.4 36.8 104 3.2 6A 36 <4.0 12.5 137.2 105 10.4 31 36 <4.0 3.0 79.6 105 2.8 6B 36 <4.0 7.0 126.1 105 7.2 32 36 <4.0 11.0 127.2 105 9.6 7A 36 <4.0 2.0 30.0 105 2.0 33 36 <4.0 1.2 37.6 104 2.0 7B 36 <4.0 0.8 56.0 105 0.8 34 36 <4.0 8.2 578.4 105 8.4 8 36 <4.0 5.0 79.6 105 4.0 35 36 <4.0 4.0 169.6 105 3.2 9A 36 <4.0 1.8 15.6 104 2.0 36 36 5.6 25.0 784.5 105 20.0 9B 36 <4.0 1.8 52.4 104 2.0 37 36 <4.0 10.4 1390.0 105 8.0 10 36 <4.0 3.6 64.4 103 4.4 38 36 <4.0 3.2 62.4 104 3.2

48 12A 36 <4.0 1.4 8.4 105 1.6 39 36 <4.0 5.6 236.0 105 8.0 12B 36 <4.0 9.2 86.0 105 8.0 40 35 <4.0 3.6 136.0 101 4.0

13 36 4.0 14.2 113.6 105 11.6 41 33 <4.0 1.2 153.6 97 1.2 15A 36 <4.0 4.2 487.8 104 4.0 42 35 <4.0 12.0 56.4 100 14.7 15B 36 <4.0 4.8 649.0 104 5.4 43 34 <4.0 5.2 200.8 99 3.6 16A 36 <4.0 3.4 861.0 104 3.4 47 36 <4.0 1.2 27.2 105 1.2 17A 36 <4.0 4.8 106.4 105 4.8 49 26 <4.0 0.8 85.2 26 0.8 17B 36 <4.0 1.9 86.0 104 2.9 50 26 <4.0 1.0 18.8 26 1.0 20 36 <4.0 2.8 63.2 104 2.8 51 11 <4.0 2.4 146.4 11 2.4 21 36 <4.0 7.4 104.8 104 7.2

Appendix E: Data Summary – continued

Conductivity - Last 3 Years, RL 10 umhos/cm Last 10 Years Conductivity - Last 3 Years, RL 10 umhos/cm Last 10 Years site # samples low median high sample # median site # samples low median high sample # median 1A 36 27.0 36.1 58.4 104 39.4 22 36 16.8 22.9 34.7 104 24.6 1B 36 103.6 162.8 239.8 104 161.4 23 36 31.2 51.1 96.3 105 52.5 2 36 60.1 74.2 97.2 104 78.0 24 36 27.2 41.7 106.4 104 39.4 3B 31 54.5 66.4 103.5 91 70.9 25 36 57.5 68.5 90.9 105 74.1 4 36 65.1 102.3 136.2 105 105.8 26 36 63.9 73.1 111.4 105 78.5 5A 36 40.3 51.1 132.7 105 52.0 27 36 58.9 89.0 487.0 103 88.9 5B 36 29.7 40.2 63.5 105 41.4 30 36 58.0 69.4 103.4 104 66.3 6A 36 33.0 51.5 84.0 105 56.0 31 36 26.0 51.6 117.8 105 49.1 6B 36 47.1 73.5 149.5 105 74.2 32 36 34.2 52.6 103.7 105 58.4 7A 36 135.6 182.4 362.0 105 169.1 33 36 15.6 49.9 74.0 104 49.6 7B 36 97.7 240.7 659.0 105 212.3 34 36 48.1 71.1 98.0 105 71.4 8 36 64.6 86.5 119.4 105 86.9 35 36 69.6 94.0 160.8 105 89.5 9A 36 22.9 35.0 68.3 104 32.8 36 36 51.5 66.1 92.9 105 67.9 9B 36 22.6 46.3 93.0 104 42.4 37 36 80.9 101.8 156.8 105 101.3 10 36 36.7 45.0 65.8 103 46.3 38 36 24.4 48.8 116.1 104 48.0

49 12A 36 17.2 21.1 28.6 105 21.8 39 36 53.8 142.3 487.0 105 139.3 12B 36 23.3 33.1 64.8 105 34.2 40 35 86.8 101.6 229.0 101 103.2

13 36 25.5 32.6 71.0 105 35.0 41 33 127.0 193.6 661.0 97 188.9 15A 36 28.7 46.0 67.0 104 41.6 42 35 61.1 75.8 125.7 100 72.1 15B 36 34.4 75.6 95.2 104 72.1 43 34 108.0 153.3 302.5 99 157.4 16A 36 41.9 64.5 90.6 104 61.7 47 36 142.2 183.7 358.0 105 170.6 17A 36 29.6 58.5 384.0 105 57.8 49 26 52.4 93.4 212.0 26 93.4 17B 36 88.3 130.7 532.0 104 130.4 50 26 74.0 152.9 194.0 26 152.9 20 36 22.2 31.9 47.7 104 32.8 51 11 135.6 165.9 200.0 11 165.9 21 36 40.8 53.9 75.9 104 54.7

Appendix E: Data Summary – continued

Orthophosphate (mg/L) - Last 3 Years, RL 0.02 mg/L Last 10 Years Orthophosphate (mg/L) - Last 3 Years, RL 0.02 mg/L Last 10 Years site # samples low median high sample # median site # samples low median high sample # median 1A 36 0.03 0.08 0.38 104 0.06 22 36 <0.02 0.05 0.20 104 0.03 1B 36 0.06 0.17 0.57 104 0.15 23 36 0.03 0.09 0.40 105 0.07 2 36 0.07 0.17 0.38 104 0.14 24 36 0.02 0.06 0.16 104 0.04 3B 31 0.11 0.19 0.93 91 0.18 25 36 0.04 0.11 0.35 105 0.09 4 36 0.09 0.16 0.53 105 0.13 26 36 0.07 0.16 0.63 105 0.12 5A 36 0.03 0.09 0.29 105 0.06 27 36 0.06 0.16 0.53 103 0.15 5B 36 0.02 0.07 0.24 105 0.05 30 36 0.04 0.16 0.57 104 0.11 6A 36 0.13 0.28 0.56 105 0.28 31 36 0.02 0.05 0.24 105 0.03 6B 36 0.03 0.08 0.26 105 0.06 32 36 0.11 0.23 0.71 105 0.23 7A 36 0.08 0.18 0.46 105 0.25 33 36 <0.02 0.05 0.23 104 0.03 7B 36 0.07 0.15 0.36 105 0.18 34 36 0.02 0.08 0.23 105 0.05 8 36 0.03 0.10 0.31 105 0.08 35 36 <0.02 0.07 0.18 105 0.05 9A 36 0.02 0.06 0.24 104 0.04 36 36 0.04 0.12 0.74 105 0.10 9B 36 0.02 0.05 0.21 104 0.04 37 36 0.07 0.19 0.86 105 0.13 10 36 0.03 0.10 0.29 103 0.07 38 36 <0.02 0.06 0.23 104 0.03

50 12A 36 0.02 0.09 0.23 105 0.08 39 36 0.05 0.11 0.36 105 0.08 12B 36 0.06 0.12 0.75 105 0.10 40 35 0.04 0.11 0.27 101 0.09

13 36 0.05 0.12 0.86 105 0.12 41 33 0.04 0.11 0.21 97 0.08 15A 36 0.02 0.12 0.31 104 0.07 42 35 0.03 0.09 0.31 100 0.07 15B 36 0.08 0.20 0.43 104 0.13 43 34 <0.02 0.07 0.27 99 0.05 16A 36 0.05 0.13 0.41 104 0.08 47 36 0.06 0.20 0.41 105 0.26 17A 36 <0.02 0.06 0.19 105 0.04 49 26 0.02 0.08 0.19 26 0.08 17B 36 0.03 0.11 0.32 104 0.07 50 26 0.03 0.08 0.25 26 0.08 20 36 <0.02 0.05 0.25 104 0.05 51 11 0.09 0.13 0.42 11 0.13 21 36 0.04 0.10 0.30 104 0.07

Appendix E: Data Summary – continued

Ammonia-nitrogen (mg/L) - Last 3 Years, RL 0.02 mg/L Last 10 Years Ammonia-nitrogen (mg/L) - Last 3 Years, RL 0.02 mg/L Last 10 Years site # samples low median high sample # median site # samples low median high sample # median 1A 36 <0.02 0.04 0.22 104 0.05 22 36 <0.02 0.02 0.11 104 0.03 1B 36 0.03 0.10 0.22 104 0.09 23 36 0.04 0.09 0.25 105 0.10 2 36 0.05 0.09 0.24 104 0.09 24 36 0.03 0.07 0.20 104 0.07 3B 31 0.05 0.10 0.58 91 0.12 25 36 0.04 0.09 0.21 105 0.09 4 36 0.09 0.13 0.21 105 0.14 26 36 0.04 0.08 0.80 105 0.07 5A 36 0.02 0.06 0.17 105 0.07 27 36 0.04 0.07 0.31 103 0.09 5B 36 0.02 0.05 0.14 105 0.05 30 36 0.03 0.07 0.20 104 0.07 6A 36 0.20 0.30 0.46 105 0.30 31 36 0.03 0.07 0.19 105 0.07 6B 36 0.02 0.07 0.20 105 0.08 32 36 0.12 0.20 0.47 105 0.21 7A 36 0.02 0.05 0.74 105 0.06 33 36 <0.02 0.06 0.18 104 0.07 7B 36 <0.02 0.04 0.85 105 0.05 34 36 0.04 0.08 0.21 105 0.10 8 36 0.03 0.07 0.28 105 0.08 35 36 0.04 0.09 0.53 105 0.13 9A 36 <0.02 0.03 0.14 104 0.04 36 36 <0.02 0.11 0.44 105 0.11 9B 36 0.02 0.05 0.19 104 0.06 37 36 0.05 0.11 0.23 105 0.11 10 36 0.03 0.06 0.15 103 0.06 38 36 0.03 0.06 0.73 104 0.07

51 12A 36 <0.02 0.05 0.11 105 0.06 39 36 0.09 0.26 0.80 105 0.38 12B 36 0.03 0.08 1.67 105 0.10 40 35 0.03 0.06 0.25 101 0.07

13 36 0.04 0.10 1.86 105 0.12 41 33 0.03 0.06 0.45 97 0.07 15A 36 <0.02 0.06 0.19 104 0.06 42 35 0.03 0.06 0.16 100 0.07 15B 36 0.04 0.10 0.22 104 0.10 43 34 0.05 0.14 0.38 99 0.13 16A 36 0.03 0.08 0.26 104 0.09 47 36 0.03 0.06 0.68 105 0.07 17A 36 0.04 0.07 0.18 105 0.08 49 26 0.02 0.04 0.14 26 0.04 17B 36 0.05 0.08 0.51 104 0.12 50 26 0.02 0.04 0.16 26 0.04 20 36 <0.02 0.04 0.10 104 0.04 51 11 0.07 0.13 0.22 11 0.13 21 36 <0.02 0.07 0.14 104 0.09

Appendix E: Data Summary – continued

Nitrate/nitrite-nitrogen (mg/L)- Last 3 Years, RL 0.1 mg/L Last 10 Years Nitrate/nitrite-nitrogen (mg/L)- Last 3 Years, RL 0.1 mg/L Last 10 Years site # samples low median high sample # median site # samples low median high sample # median 1A 36 0.1 0.3 0.6 104 0.4 22 36 0.1 0.3 0.5 104 0.4 1B 36 0.1 0.4 1.1 104 0.7 23 36 0.1 0.3 0.4 105 0.4 2 36 0.3 0.6 1.1 104 0.8 24 36 0.1 0.2 0.4 104 0.2 3B 31 0.5 0.7 1.4 91 1.0 25 36 0.4 0.6 1.2 104 0.8 4 36 0.3 0.8 1.2 105 0.9 26 36 0.4 0.6 2.2 105 0.8 5A 36 0.2 0.3 0.5 105 0.4 27 36 <0.1 0.3 0.6 103 0.5 5B 36 0.1 0.3 0.4 105 0.3 30 36 0.4 0.6 0.8 104 0.7 6A 36 0.1 0.5 1.0 105 0.6 31 36 <0.1 0.2 0.3 105 0.3 6B 36 0.1 0.3 0.6 105 0.4 32 36 0.1 0.5 1.1 105 0.6 7A 36 0.3 0.8 1.4 105 0.9 33 36 0.1 0.2 0.3 104 0.2 7B 36 0.7 2.7 3.4 105 2.5 34 36 0.1 0.5 0.7 105 0.6 8 36 0.2 0.4 0.6 105 0.4 35 36 0.7 1.0 1.4 105 1.1 9A 36 0.1 0.2 0.3 104 0.2 36 36 0.2 0.5 1.1 105 0.7 9B 36 <0.1 0.2 0.3 104 0.2 37 36 0.5 0.8 3.0 104 1.0 10 36 0.1 0.2 0.4 103 0.3 38 36 0.1 0.3 0.3 104 0.3

52 12A 36 0.1 0.2 0.5 105 0.2 39 36 0.1 0.7 1.3 105 0.9 12B 36 0.1 0.3 0.4 105 0.4 40 35 0.2 0.3 0.7 101 0.4

13 36 <0.1 0.3 0.4 104 0.4 41 33 0.3 0.4 0.7 97 0.5 15A 36 <0.1 0.3 0.5 104 0.3 42 35 <0.1 0.3 0.5 100 0.4 15B 36 0.2 0.5 0.7 104 0.7 43 34 0.1 0.4 1.7 99 0.4 16A 36 0.1 0.4 2.0 104 0.4 47 36 0.4 0.9 1.2 105 0.9 17A 36 0.1 0.2 0.4 105 0.3 49 26 0.2 0.4 0.5 26 0.4 17B 36 <0.1 0.4 0.6 104 0.5 50 26 0.3 0.6 0.8 26 0.6 20 36 0.1 0.3 0.6 104 0.4 51 11 1.0 1.2 1.4 11 1.2 21 36 0.1 0.3 0.6 104 0.4

Appendix F: Trends Related to Flow increases as flow increases decreases as flow increases C C o o A n O A n O l T d r A N l T d r A N k u u t m i k u u t m i a r c h m t a r c h m t l b t o o r l b t o o r i i i - n a i i i - n a n d v p i t n d v p i t i i T i h a e i i T i h a e p t t S t o - - p t t S t o - - site # site name H y y S y s N N H y y S y s N N Southern Buncombe County 12A Bent Creek at SR 191 (at French Broad River) X X X X X X 15A Cane Creek at Hwy 74 X X X X X 15B Ashworth Creek at Cane Creek X X X X X X 16A Cane Creek at Mills Gap Rd. X X X X X X Swannanoa River Watershed 33 North Fork Swannanoa River at Grovestone Quarry X X X X X 24 Swannanoa River at confluence with North Fork X X X 9A Bee Tree Creek above Owen Lake X X X X X 9B Swannanoa River at Bee Tree Creek X X X X X X 10 Bull Creek at Swannanoa River X X X X 38 Swannanoa River at Bull Creek X X X X X 30 Grassy Branch X X X X 31 Swannanoa River at Grassy Branch Confluence X X X X X 17B Haw Creek at Swannanoa River X 17A Swannanoa River below S. Tunnel Rd. X X X X X 42 Ross Creek at Upper Chunn's Cove X X X X 40 Ross Creek at Lower Chunn's Cove Rd bridge 41 Ross Creek at Tunnel Rd X X X X X X 43 Ross Creek at Swannanoa River X X X Urban/Suburban Watersheds 34 Lower Hominy Creek at SR 191 X X X X X 8 Beaverdam Creek at Beaver Lake X X X X 39 South Creek at Beaver Lake X X X 7A Glenn Creek at UNC-A Botanical Gardens X X X 7B Reed Creek at Reed Creek Confluence X X 47 Glenn Creek at entrance to UNCA X X X X 35 Smith Mill Creek at Louisiana Blvd.

Appendix F: Trends Related to Flow continued increases as flow increases decreases as flow increases C C o o A n O A n O l T d r A N l T d r A N k u u t m i k u u t m i a r c h m t a r c h m t l b t o o r l b t o o r i i i - n a i i i - n a n d v p i t n d v p i t i i T i h a e i i T i h a e p t t S t o - - p t t S t o - - site # site name H y y S y s N N H y y S y s N N Northeastern Buncombe County 5A Ox Creek at Reem's Creek X X X X 5B Reem's Creek at Ox Creek X X X X X X 6B Reem's Creek at US 25/70 X X X X X X 27 Flat Creek at US 19/23 X X X X X 22 Ivy Creek at Dillingham Road X X X X X 21 Paint Fork at Ivy Creek confluence in Barnardsville X X X 20 Ivy Creek at Buckner Branch Road X X X X X X 1A Big Ivy at Forks of Ivy X X X X X 1B Little Ivy at Forks of Ivy X X Northwestern Buncombe County 36 Newfound Creek at Dark Cove Road X X X X X 37 Newfound Creek at Leicester Hwy X X X X X 4 Lower Newfound Creek X X X X X X 25 South Turkey Creek X X X X X 26 North Turkey Creek at North Turkey Creek Rd. X X X X X 3B Sandymush at Willow Creek X X 2 Lower Sandymush Creek X X X X X French Broad River 13 French Broad River at Corcoran Park X X X X X X X 12B French Broad River at Bent Creek X X X X X X X 23 French Broad River at Jean Webb Park X X X X X X 6A French Broad River at Ledges Park X X X X X X X X 32 French Broad River at Walnut Island Park X X X X X X X

Appendix G: Trends Related to Time increasing over time decreasing over time C C o o A n O A n O l T d r A N l T d r A N k u u t m i k u u t m i a r c h m t a r c h m t l b t o o r l b t o o r i i i - n a i i i - n a n d v p i t n d v p i t i i T i h a e i i T i h a e p t t S t o - - p t t S t o - - site # site name H y y S y s N N H y y S y s N N Southern Buncombe County 12A Bent Creek at SR 191 (at French Broad River) X X X X X X 15A Cane Creek at Hwy 74 X X X 15B Ashworth Creek at Cane Creek X X X 16A Cane Creek at Mills Gap Rd. X X X Swannanoa River Watershed 33 North Fork Swannanoa River at Grovestone Quarry X X X X X 24 Swannanoa River at confluence with North Fork X 9A Bee Tree Creek above Owen Lake X X X X X 9B Swannanoa River at Bee Tree Creek X X X 10 Bull Creek at Swannanoa River X X X X 38 Swannanoa River at Bull Creek X X X 30 Grassy Branch X X X X 31 Swannanoa River at Grassy Branch Confluence X X X X 17B Haw Creek at Swannanoa River X X X X X 17A Swannanoa River below S. Tunnel Rd. X X X 42 Ross Creek at Upper Chunn's Cove X X X X X X X 40 Ross Creek at Lower Chunn's Cove Rd bridge X X 41 Ross Creek at Tunnel Rd X X X X 43 Ross Creek at Swannanoa River X X Urban/Suburban Watersheds 34 Lower Hominy Creek at SR 191 X X X X 8 Beaverdam Creek at Beaver Lake X 39 South Creek at Beaver Lake X X X X X X 7A Glenn Creek at UNC-A Botanical Gardens X X X 7B Reed Creek at Reed Creek Confluence X X X 47 Glenn Creek at entrance to UNCA X X X X X 35 Smith Mill Creek at Louisiana Blvd. X X X X

Appendix G: Trends Related to Time continued increasing over time decreasing over time C C o o A n O A n O l T d r A N l T d r A N k u u t m i k u u t m i a r c h m t a r c h m t l b t o o r l b t o o r i i i - n a i i i - n a n d v p i t n d v p i t i i T i h a e i i T i h a e p t t S t o - - p t t S t o - - site # site name H y y S y s N N H y y S y s N N Northeastern Buncombe County 5A Ox Creek at Reem's Creek X X X X 5B Reem's Creek at Ox Creek X X X 6B Reem's Creek at US 25/70 X X X 27 Flat Creek at US 19/23 X X 22 Ivy Creek at Dillingham Road X X X X X X 21 Paint Fork at Ivy Creek confluence in Barnardsville X X X X 20 Ivy Creek at Buckner Branch Road X X X X X 1A Big Ivy at Forks of Ivy X X X 1B Little Ivy at Forks of Ivy X Northwestern Buncombe County 36 Newfound Creek at Dark Cove Road X X X 37 Newfound Creek at Leicester Hwy X X X 4 Lower Newfound Creek X X 25 South Turkey Creek X X X 26 North Turkey Creek at North Turkey Creek Rd. X X X X 3B Sandymush at Willow Creek X X X 2 Lower Sandymush Creek X X French Broad River 13 French Broad River at Corcoran Park X X X X 12B French Broad River at Bent Creek X X 23 French Broad River at Jean Webb Park X X X 6A French Broad River at Ledges Park X X 32 French Broad River at Walnut Island Park X X

Appendix H: Seasonal Trends

Seasons include the following months: winter = December, January, February spring = March, April, May summer = June, July, August fall = September, October, November

Totals for Buncombe County Sites number of sites examined for trends = 50 % sites parameter hi winter hi spring hi summer hi fall lo winter lo spring lo summer lo fall trend sites showing trend

pH 2 19 15 36 36 73.5% alkalinity 8 33 40 1 41 83.7% turbidity 1 8 26 13 22 35 71.4%

total susp sol 12 25 21 16 37 75.5% conductivity 4 1 5 24 30 3 1 34 69.4% orthophos. 13 4 9 8 17 34.7% ammonia-N 2 1 26 18 3 1 7 29 59.2% nitrate-N 31 3 3 1 6 7 25 38 77.6%