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Dis cove r North Carolin a’s River Basins ENVIRONMENTAL North Carolina is a diverse land with natural beauty that appeals to residents EDUCATION and visitors alike.

It is also a land experiencing competition for its natural resources that are already under stress and that could be lost to us in the absence of a wide spread awareness of their existence, their significance and their value.

Natural resources are not isolated from each other or the people who use them. Each resource is an integral part of the ecosystem. When one part of the system is affected, other parts feel the impact. It is environmental education that provides the knowledge, understanding and awareness of this intercon nected ness of all things and gives us the ability to make informed environmental decisions.

The more we understand and respect our own community, the more capable we are of being good stewards of the environment. If you have ever visited one of North Carolina’s many Environmental Education Centers — centers, parks, aquariums, museums, the zoo, public gardens, etc. —then you have already started appreciating natural systems and had fun while learning about them.

Environmental education is not issue advocacy or a biased point of view. Environmental education enables communities to care for their own environ - ment. Living within the limits set by the environment depends on the beliefs and commitment of individuals. Individuals working together as a community have more power to promote practices that can nourish rather than cripple their natural life-support systems. I N TH E 1990 S , several crises elevated rivers in the public consciousness. First came Pfiesteria , a lethal organism that killed millions of fish in coastal waters. Then a series of hurricanes brought river and development issues to the fore - front . How we treat rivers and the land around them has a direct relation ship to our quality of life. The purpose of this booklet is to describe how river basins func tion and how humans and rivers are interconnected. It demon strates how decisions we make as home owners and citizens affect the quality of the water we drink, swim in and fish from. With this knowl edge, individ uals can make more informed deci - North Carolina’s sions regarding their environment.

W HAT IS A R IVER B ASIN ? : a semi- River Basins A river basin is the land that enclosed area water flows across or under on its where KEN TAYLOR, WILDLIFE IMAGES way to a river. As a bath t ub catches all the water that falls within its sides, a from a river meets salty water from river basin sends all the water falling on the sur rounding land into a central the river and out to an estuary or the sea. river basin: drain age area of a river

A river basin drains all the land around a major GRAPHIC BY ERIN HANCOCK, NCWRC river. Basins can be divided into water sheds , or areas of land around a smaller river, or . Large river basins, such as the Neuse and watershed: all the land drained Cape Fear, are made by a river, stream up of many smaller or lake : the water sheds. The land - water found in scape is made up of many inter connected cracks and pores in , watersheds. Within each watershed, all water and rocks below runs to the lowest point—a stream, river, lake the earth’s surface or . On its way, water travels over the land surface —across farm fields, forestland, suburban lawns and city streets, or it seeps into the soil and travels as groundwater .

Everyone lives in a river basin. You influence ecosystem: a natural sys- what happens in your river basin, tem linked by living (plants, good or bad, by how you treat the natural resources—the soil, water, air, plants and animals) and nonliving (soil, air, water) things. animals. As water moves downstream, it carries and redeposits gravel, sand and silt. Water also transfers bacteria, chemicals, excess nutrients and organic matter. Whatever happens to the or groundwater upstream will even tu ally affect downstream systems. Therefore, the health of the is directly related to activities on land. 1 North Carolina’s

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Y A P A S Q U O T A N K D C T K A A R F R E N C H I - T N P A B R O A D A - N M P E L I T T L E W U L I E S C B T E N N E S S E E E E O B R O A D A

D E C H I W A S S E E A E P E F E A R S A V A N N A H W H I T E O A K

L U M B E R

N ORTH C AROLINA HAS 17 MAJOR RIVER BASINS . Five of the state’s river basins—the Hiwassee, Little Tennessee, French Broad, Watauga and New—are part of the Basin, which drains to the . All the others flow to the . Of the 17 basins, 11 originate in North Carolina, but only four are contained entirely within the state’s —the Cape Fear, Neuse, White Oak and Tar-Pamlico. *The green boundary on the small map marks the River Basins of the Albemarle-Pamlico Estuarine System. 2 River Basins

C Ma yo Dismal U John H. K err Roanoke R Currituck Eden Lake Reservo ir Reservo ir Sw am p R Lake GA TE S C IT Hyco Gaston A U RO CKINGHAM C M C C Ya n c ey v i l l e Roanok e h u Lake GRANVILLE NOR THAMPT ON o P D K r Rapids w A r e a n E r Gatesville i Ro xboro S N t R Q u Winton c Reidsville Warrenton i U Wentworth v k CASWELL Henderso n Halifa x Ja ckson e O Elizabet h WA RRE N r T City PERSON HER TFORD A Camden Oxford N VA NC E K HALI FA X Lake P To wnsend PERQUIMANS a Quaker s Lake Bur lington R q o u Creek a Hertf or d o n t Reservoir o CHO WA N a n S k k e o FRANKLI N R u GUILFORD n iv Bur lington d e d ORANGE BE RT IE S o u n r Louisburg T l e Greensbor o Edenton m a r a l b e ALAMANCE DURHA M r NASH A Windsor r Ro ck y e Graham v R i Carrbor o Mount i v Durham Nashville e R C H Fa lls Lake Wa ke r r Columbiao M anteo a Forest a t w a Chapel H ill Tarbor o r n Williamston WASHINGT ON o EDGECOMBE t Plymouth a S Phelps g o TYRRELL i l u B. Ev erett WAKE l Lake Hollow n R A DARE Jordan MA RT IN Ground d D e iv Raleigh e p e Lake Cary Sw am p r R Wilso n i Pungo Lak e v Ashebor o Pittsboro e Harr is N r New ay e WILSO N Lake rw CHA THAM Reservo ir Gar ner u PITT te RANDOLPH s a e W r ns v e Green ville R i astal Wa shington traco In Lake JOHNST ON BEA UFO RT Mattamusk ee t Sanf or d GREENE Sw an Quarter Smithfield HYDE LE E Sn ow Hill P WA YN E a m l Lillington i c o d R n i v e r u Carthage o Tro y Goldsbor o S HARNETT OME RY MOOR E Kinsto n o Gum Swam p l i c S a m R i v e r CRA VE N P Cape Hatteras L L LENOIR I Ba yboro s Ne w Ber n k

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e Cape Fear 9,164 r Yadkin-PeeDee 7,221 Tar-Pamlico 6,148 Cape Fear Neuse 6,062 Roanoke 3,493 Pasquotank 3,366 Lumber 3,329 Catawba 3,285 French Broad 2,829 Little Tennessee 1,797 Broad 1,514 White Oak 1,382 Chowan 1,298 New 754 This map is provided in poster format by the Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs in the N.C. Hiwassee 644 Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Watauga 205 Map by Lee Ratcliffe, from the Nov. 1999 special issue of Wildlife in North Carolina Magazine, “Rivers of North Savannah 171 Carolina,” published by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. Base map copyright John Fels, 1997. Sources: NCDENR Division of Water Resources; NCDENR Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs; Only indicates square mileage within North Carolina’s borders N.C. Depart ment of Transportation; N.C. State University School of Design.

3 is it headed? To answer these questions, you must know what river basin you live in—part of your ecological address.

The river basin you live in is one component of your ecological address, but even within those boundaries, there are subtle differences in your address and that of your neighbors—just as your own house may be different from others on your street. Your ecological address is made up of nine components: (1) river basin, (2) topography, (3) , (4) groundwater, (5) , (6) soil, (7) air, (8) climate and (9) energy.

Think about the following questions as you con - sider the scope of your ecological address.

what Even if you GRAPHIC BY ERIN HANCOCK, NCWRC ri ver basin don’t live on The same amount of water on the planet the water- Do you today was present 3 billion years ago: do you live in? know ? not a drop more or less. Water on earth f ront, the land circu lates continuously. It falls as rain, around your house drains to a river, estuary or filters into the ground to recharge lake nearby. Into what river or stream does your and runs along the earth’s surface as creeks, rivers land eventually drain? Does the water running off and . That same water transpires through plants or evap - orates from the surface, re-enters the as vapor, your property enter a storm drain, a ditch or an then falls again as rain or snow. open field? Did you know that water flowing into a storm drain goes directly to a river or stream, not to a water treatment plant? DISCOVER YOUR ECOLOGICAL ADDRESS How fast does runoff enter local streams and to Most of us are far removed from the source of what extent is it filtered and cleansed by veg - : a porous etation? How is land used alongside the nearest rock layer under - the water we use every day. The development of ground that is a indoor plumbing and systems has made stream? How much is paved or covered with reservoir for water our connection to rivers and streams less obvious. hard surfaces such as roads or rooftops?

When pollution closes waters to swimming or NC AQUARIUMS fishing, when force us to curb water consumption, and when flooding brings rivers closer to our doorstep, we are reminded of our close relationship with rivers and streams. But if we are to preserve this life - line, we must be aware that we make choices every day that affect our land, our water and our air.

When you turn on a faucet to get a drink, where does your water come from? When you flush a toilet or drain your bathtub or sink, where does your water go? When rain washes down your street and into a ditch or drain, where 4 topog raphy: kinds of plants can grow and how much rainwater is how is the land shaped absorbed by vegetation before it reaches a river. around your home? Is the land around you permeable (absorbent) Topography describes the physical features of a or impermeable (water runs off readily)? place, or the terrain—such as mountains, valleys and . Is the land around you or how clean is The quality of the hilly? How close are you to a (a usually your air ? air in a river basin dry area that becomes inundated with water also influences its Learning your ecological when streams and rivers overflow)? forests, agricultural crops and surface waters. address will help you to bet ter appreciate how where are the Pol lutants in the air, such as automobile exhaust wetlands and industry emissions, will eventually return to your lifestyle influences near your home? the ground and enter the . your sur roundings. Con- sider your daily habits. A is an area where the water what is your is at, near or above the land surface long climate like? • How do you maintain enough during the year to support the growth of your lawn and garden? specially adapted plants. Wetlands help regulate Consider how much rain or snow is typical for a • How much do you use water flow and act like a sponge, filtering pollut- given year and when it falls. This will give you an your car? ants and providing control. How do nearby idea of when the ground is likely to be saturated • How much water do wetlands connect to the system of streams that with water. When no more water can seep into you consume? drain your river basin? the ground, runoff rushes quickly over land. • What kind of deter- groundwater: how much energy gent and household where do you get do you use each day? cleaners do you use? your drink ing water? Energy is the ability to do work. Everything we • How do you dispose If it comes from a well, the source is ground water. do requires energy. Our bodies get the energy of common and toxic The quantity and quality of groundwater are of they need from food. We use fuels to power house hold ? concern to humans. Water that flows through our cars and provide houses with electricity. How • How many pets do you contaminated soils can become tainted. What does your food get to your table? How much have and where is is the quality of groundwater where you live? water was used to grow it? What other resources their waste deposited? were involved in getting it to you? To further biodi versity: If you were the only explore your ecological address, check out the per son making these what species share Office of Environmental Education and Public your back yard? daily deci sions, then the Affairs’ website at www.eenorthcarolina.org/ effects would be hardly Biodiversity is the totality of genes, species and eco - resources-discover-ecoaddress.html. notice able. But you are s ystems in a region. Humans depend on biodiver - one of over 9 million sity for food, medicine and balanced natural sys - THE ECOSYSTEM CONNECTION people in North Carolina tems. These natural systems affect the quality and A river is merely the course that water takes as whose daily con tributions quantity of water and tell us much about the health it flows from the highest point in a river basin —both positive and neg - of the whole river basin. How much land is for - to the lowest. Together, the stream and its sur - a tive—add up quickly. ested? What species are endangered where you live? rounding land make up rich and diverse eco - Answers to questions like Are there any rare natural areas near your home? ystems. These ecosystems provide for the ones above help living creatures both large and small. Every determine your eco- what kind of The local soil creature—whether clad in scales, feathers, fur, logical footprint. soil is beneath type deter - shells or clothing—shares a common home that your feet? ecological footprint: mines what stretches from the bed of the stream to the top the amount of land happens when bare soil is exposed to wind and of the trees and to human dwellings around and water needed rain, what happens to toxic material dumped on the flood . The stream plays a vital role to support one’s life- the soil (such as oil from your car or pet and in human lives, and our activities strongly style using technology human wastes), how groundwater percolates, what influence the condition of the stream. 5 maintaining fish populations. A clean stream is also necessary if humans are to have ample food, water, recrea tional opportunities and even jobs.

Streams are affected not only by what is put into them, but also by how they are physically mani p - ulated. Humans often alter the land around the river and even change the path of the water itself influencing and quantity. As a result, communities may be more vulnerable to flood - ing because humans have filled wetlands, straight -

DERRICK HAMRICK ened streams and paved and developed large areas. A healthy streambed teems with aquatic insects We have also changed the way water flows which Invasive and other organisms that crawl around or attach impedes the ability of many natural systems to SPECIES themselves to the bottom. They eat decomposed absorb and detain floodwaters. However, in some Animals and plants that twigs and plant matter or other creatures. Many basins man-made can mitigate flooding are not a part of the local of these small creatures are in the immature—or and also provide water supplies, recreation and ecosystem, commonly riparian: per tain- larval—stages of their hydroelectric power. A river basin that drains called invasive, exotic or ing to the edges life cycle. Many even - thousands of square miles has many natural non-native species, pose of streams or tually emerge as terres - features—including wetlands and woodlands— rivers a threat to rivers and trial or winged creatures that store excess rainwater and slow its move - streams. These species and mate and lay eggs in the stream. In all their ment. Accelerated urban development and land come from all over the stages, they are food for fish and larger creatures. disturbance reduce the land’s ability to absorb world. They are intention - They are the base of the aquatic food web and run off. Because of this, a building site that 30 ally and sometimes acci - the foundation of the riparian ecosystem. Both years ago was designated outside the 100-year dent ally being introduced a large variety and large numbers of aquatic floodplain might be considered in the middle through plant nurseries, organisms indicate good water quality. of the floodplain today. the pet/aquarium trade and that travel THE HUMAN CONNECTION from one Plants and trees surrounding the stream—often to another. These species described as a vegetative buffer —also influence Histor ically, human development clustered are considered to be the health of the eco system. Riparian forests around a good supply of water. Communities invasive if they disrupt the provide shade to keep water cool and capable of looked first to streams, then eventually to wells balance of the native holding more oxygen. They also keep soil in place and springs, to satisfy their thirst. As populations eco system. Invasive spec - along riverbanks, filter nutrients and many toxic increased, people dipped into water upstream ies often cause eco - substances from runoff and contribute organic and emptied their wastes downstream. Advanced nomic, human health or matter (rotting leaves and other material) that technology supplied running water to individual environmental damage feeds a stream’s smallest inhabitants. homes and enabled the development of mecha - in areas where they are nized systems to dispose of wastewater. In the introduced. Examples of As a stream becomes KEN TAYLOR, NCWRC invasive aquatic species : eroded polluted, many small, in North Carolina include soil particles that juvenile organisms are hydrilla, an aggressively wash or blow into rivers spreading plant that clogs the first to perish. waterways, and flathead Large quantities of catfish, an introduced sediment , nutrients and chemicals entering the fish that is threatening stream will smother and poison tiny aquatic the existence of native creatures, wreak ing havoc throughout the food fish species. web—from insects to fish to humans. A diverse population of aquatic insects is essen tial for 6 Do you Does the water running off your property know ? enter a storm drain, a ditch or an open field? When rain falls on your street, roof or yard, what creek or river will it even - tually flow into? What kinds of things from your yard will the rainwater carry with it on its way to that creek or river? Is your street flat or hilly? How close are you to the nearest stream or river? What kinds of things can wash from your yard during a storm? How fast does water running off your yard enter those streams or rivers nearby? How is the land used alongside the stream nearest your home? Is it mainly vegetation or hard GRAPHIC COURTESY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY, CA, PROGRAM surfaces such as roads and rooftops? Explore your ecolog- ical address to find out how you affect the water quality in your river basin. mid- 1950s, a connection became apparent RIVER BASIN In the late 1980s, North Carolina established a between decline in water quality and the manage- PLANNING water qual ity management program focused on ment of waste water. By the early 1970s, the gov - each of the state’s 17 river basins. The N.C. Depart - ernment became involved in the construction of ment of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) Division of Water Qua l ity facilities to treat wastewater and safeguard human updates the management plan for each river basin every five years based on health and aquatic ecosystems downstream. extensive data from water quality sampling. Public input is gathered before drafting the basinwide plan. Later, a public review period is held to obtain A wide variety of pollutants— comments on the draft plan. The plans contain available information on char- including sedi ment, nutrients acteristics of the basin, current water quality and manage ment strategies for and chem icals—enters our rivers protecting or improv ing water quality. For more information about river basins and from various sources. The federal nonpoint source pollution in North Carolina, explore the website of the Basin Plan- Clean Water Act of 1972 established ning Program: http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/wq/ps/bpu. For each river basin, you’ll a goal of making all the nation’s waters fish - find a basin wide plan, river statistics, notices of upcoming events, links to contacts able and swimmable. To meet that directive, North for water shed groups and other helpful information. Caro lina surveyed and evaluated its streams and rivers and labeled most bodies of water with a use that each has tradi tionally supported, such as fishing, swimming and drinking. 7 point source pollu - tion: enter ing a stream at a specific, detect -

able point such as NC AQUARIUMS a pipe or The state monitors and collects information on lots as well as chemicals or particles in the air streams to determine if they are fulfilling their that eventually “rain down” on land. Water labeled use. If not, the waters are considered running over and off land is a natural phen om - impaired. The government has a legal obligation enon; the problem lies in the pollutants that get to protect these uses and to create and implement picked up and moved algal bloom: strategies to reduce pollution in impaired waters. along the way. Non - rapid, dense The goal is that water quality in every river will point source pol lution growth of be good enough to support its designated use. is harmful to rivers for algae that robs nonpoint source What is the quality of water in your river basin? many reasons. Large the water of pollution: diffuse oxygen as it runoff from large You can find out more information about your amounts of sediment dies and areas of land river basin by referring to the individual river can smother stream decomposes basin inserts available from the Office of animals and block Environmental Education and Public Affairs. sunlight to aquatic plants. Excess nutrients may cause harmful algal blooms that deplete oxygen To curb , we must know its source. needed by fish. Toxins have acute and chronic Pollution entering rivers is classified as one of two effects, killing orga nisms immediately or by types, depending on its origin. Point source accumulating in the food chain. pollution comes from a cen tral point or loca tion, such as a pipe. Non point source pollution comes The kind and amount of pollution in point source from land use activities within a river basin; it discharges are monitored and regulated by state results from rainwater washing pollutants off and federal governments, but nonpoint source the land and into streams. This type of pollution pollution, which accumulates from indi vid uals includes pesticides and from yards and over large areas of land, is more difficult to pin - fields, human and animal waste, eroded sedi - point and regulate. ments, oil and chemicals on streets and parking 8 To fully appreciate nonpoint source pollution WHAT CAN I DO? where you live, examine how the land around Citizen involvement helps determine government you is used. How much land is developed in your policy. Legislators listen to citizens, then respond river basin? How much area is paved or covered by setting policies that state government must with hard (impervious) surfaces? This will influ- adopt. In this manner , government plays a role in ence the amount of protecting and often repairing riparian ecosystems. stormwater: sur plus For example, the state now requires vegetative water from rain stormwater and how and melted snow fast it runs off. Is land buffers along many streams and rivers in your neighborhood • to protect their banks from , covered with natural vegetation or is it mostly • to reduce the impact of nonpoint source lawns? Are there parks and greenways? What pollution by trapping, filtering and con- types of pollu tion sources are immediately verting pollutants, and affecting you? • to supply food, shelter and shade to fish and other aquatic wildlife. THE EFFECT OF PLANTS AND TREES Other government programs promote “best GRAPHIC BY ERIN HANCOCK, NCWRC man agement practices”—more environ men - VEGETATIVEIVE BBUFFER tally friendly methods of agriculture, forestry and development.

natural filtration Laws alone cannot completely protect river basins. Our rivers will be only as pure as our commitment clear water to preserving them. What we do in river basins ultimately affects striped bass, freshwater mussels, oceangoing fish and shellfish and even us . NO VEGETATIVEIVE BBUFFER Damage done to aquatic ecosystems can be irreversible or cost millions of dollars to

sediment runoff fix —it is easier, safer and more econom ical to consider future consequences as we develop our river basins. Protection is much cheaper than erosion siltation restoration. Staying actively involved in the deci - sions affecting your community and state is the key to ensuring a healthy future for river basins.

AIRLIE GARDENS

9 Here are just a few ways citizens are making a DIFFE RENCE in their communities:

● STREAM WATCH Clean waterways are as important as safe neighbor hoods. The Stream Watch program is based on the philosophy that those in the best NCDENR DIVISION OF WATER QUALITY position to notice the signs of a stream’s distress ● RENEWAL are its neighbors: the people who live along its Unfortunately, most urban streams have been banks or use its waters. The program is one of straightened, walled in concrete, diverted through the best examples of citizen monitoring in North culverts and filled with trash until they seem to Carolina. With the help of the state Division of barely exist as natural entities. Several pro grams Water Resources, Stream Watch volunteers are funded by public and private partners are focus ing encouraged to take an active role in promoting attention on these lost and abandoned water ways. the well-being of the waterway they “adopt.” : open Projects include trash Stewardship activities space or con - cleanups, plant ings macroinvertebrate: include stream and nector along a and nat ural methods animal that lacks natural corridor a backbone and river cleanups, of along (such as a river) is visible to the wildlife identifica- man-made channels used for parks naked eye tion and inven tories, and and acquisition of water quality testing, land for parks and surveys of macroinvertebrates , educational green ways . To learn how you can work through programs and nature walks. For more informa - local government to acquire funding for stream tion, contact the Division of Water Resources at restoration, conract the N.C. Division of Water www.ncwater.org and click on “Stream Watch.” Resources at www.ncwater.org.

hen you’re out walking or riding, pay WATERWIS Wattention to the continuing changes in BE E the . Look around at subdivisions, shopping centers and new con struction and make a mental checklist of the structures you see and what they are used for. After a heavy rain, notice how and where the stormwater flows. Try to follow the route of a stream as it passes through your community or city: Where is it visible and where does it seemingly disappear? What is good or bad about all of the things you see? Think about

L IL your everyday habits and practices and BR AM AD BY how they affect your immediate environ - ON ATI STR ILLU ment and your quality of life.

10 RIVERWORKS AT STURGEON CITY

OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS

NC AQUARIUMS

● LAND CONSERVATION ● ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION Land conservancy groups across the state are vital Public education is critical for protecting rivers to clean water efforts because they pur chase and and streams. Through environmental education, protect land bordering riparian areas. Another you can learn more about the natural systems trend is conservation easements on land that that support you. To encourage citizens to make borders rivers and streams; this practice gives informed environmental decisions, North Caro - land owners tax breaks in exchange for their prom - lina offers many environmental education pro - ise to preserve and not develop certain parts grams to the public through facilities from the of their land. To find out how to contribute mountains to the coast. These include parks, to or participate in a conservation easement museums, environmental education centers, program, contact your local soil and water aquariums, zoos and botanical gardens. conservation district or a land conservancy or trust in your area. To learn about the wealth of programs and opportunities available, please visit the Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs’ website at www.eenorthcarolina.org .

11 What’s Diffe rent?

You may have noticed some minor changes to the map and some of the river basin boundaries. Good eye! About half of the basins experienced small changes to their borders. These changes help make the basins more accurate. They now reflect the flow of the water instead of political lines such as county and city borders. The changes are very minor, but the most obvious change came to the White Oak and Cape Fear basins. The White Oak River Basin now extends south to near Wilmington. This change better demonstrates how the water flows.

The map above illustrates the changes to the basins. The black lines represent the former boundaries. The different colors represent the new boundaries.

Original map courtesy of

12 Every decision we make changes North Caro lina—for better or worse. Often we blame agriculture, industries and munic - ipalities as the source of environmental problems, but we all play a role. It isn’t always obvious how our daily actions affect the environment, but our personal choices have con se - quences. Responsibility for the care of North Carolina’s natural systems rests in our hands. It is essential to stay informed and make decisions about the environ ment—whether it’s by changing daily habits or partici pating in government. Start by looking at the small com mit ments you can make, then con - tinue to learn more about your connections to the natural systems that sustain us.

CARL V. GALIE JR. State of North Carolina Governor : Pat McCrory North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary : John E. Skvarla, III Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs Program Manager: Lisa Tolley

The Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs is part of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The office helps coordinate many environmental education programs and resources offered by the department and throughout North Carolina, and offers several related publications and services.

To learn more contact: Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs http://www.eenorthcarolina.org or N.C. Basinwide Planning Program http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/wq/ps/bpu

Project Manager: Ian Brown Editor: Carla Burgess Designer: Kimberly Schott, Red Gate Design Special Thanks: North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, North Carolina Division of Water Resources and North Carolina Natural Heritage Program

Front cover photos, clockwise from center: Melissa McGaw; Melissa McGaw; N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission; Ken Taylor; Derrick Hamrick; background photo: N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. Back cover photo: Harry Ellis.

8,000 copies of this document were printed at a cost of $4,779.11 or $0.597 per copy. This publication was funded through a Walmart Stormwater Compliance Grant.

Printed on recycled paper Revised: 2013