Our Lakes at Risk: the Impact of Growth on North Carolina’S Water Quality

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Our Lakes at Risk: The Impact of Growth on North Carolina’s Water Quality

NCPIRG Education Fund Summer 2005

Our Lakes at Risk: The Impact of Growth on North Carolina’s Water Quality

Christine Wunsche Stephen Craig Lucas Wilkinson

NCPIRG Education Fund Summer 2005

3 Acknowledgements

The North Carolina Public Interest Research Group Education Fund gratefully acknowledges Amy Pickle of the Southern Environmental Law Center, Elaine Chiosso, Executive Director of the Haw River Assembly, and Bill Holman, Executive Director of the Clean Water Management Trust Fund for peer review.

Special thanks to Stanback Interns, Emily Hanawalt and Eboni Bledsoe for their assistance with data and production of tables and graphs in this report.

This report was made possible by generous grants from the Beldon Fund, Educational Foundation of America, Fred Stanback, and the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation.

The authors alone bear responsibility for any factual errors. The recommendations are those of the NCPIRG Education Fund. The views expressed in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily express the views of our funders.

NCPIRG

The NCPIRG Education Fund, is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to protecting the environment, the rights of consumers, and good government in North Carolina.

For more information about North Carolina PIRG, call (919) 833-2070 or email [email protected].

NCPIRG Education Fund 112 S. Blount Street Suite 102 Raleigh, NC 27601

4 Table of Contents

Executive Summary ...... 7 Introduction ...... 9 Understanding the Data...... 10 Land Use Changes in North Carolina’s River Basins ...... 12 Broad...... 13 Lake Lure...... 13 Cape Fear ...... 14 Jordan Lake ...... 14 Catawba...... 15 Lake Rhodhiss...... 15 Chowan...... 16 French Broad...... 17 Waterville (Walters) Lake...... 17 Hiwassee...... 18 Lake Chatuge ...... 18 Little Tennessee...... 19 Fontana Lake ...... 19 Lumber...... 20 Lake Waccamaw...... 20 Neuse ...... 22 Falls Lake ...... 22 New...... 23 Pasquotank...... 24 Lake Phelps ...... 24 Roanoke ...... 25 Lake Gaston...... 25 Savannah...... 26 Tar-Pamlico...... 27 Lake Mattamuskeet...... 27 Watauga...... 28 White Oak ...... 29 Yadkin ...... 30 High Rock Lake ...... 30 Projected Land Use Changes...... 31 Policy Findings ...... 33 End Notes...... 34

5 6 Executive Summary

AS NORTH CAROLINA’S population continues to grow, our forests, farmlands, and open spaces are disappearing.As these areas disappear and as people move closer to our rivers, lakes and streams, water quality suffers. Between 1982 and 2002, North Carolina lost 2,568,700 acres of cropland and forestland, while it gained 1,849,800 acres of developed land.

The quality of our lakes depends upon the quality of the waters that flow into it, and on the health of the land around those tributaries.A river basin is defined as “all of the land that water flows across or under on its way to a river.i”This report examines growth and development activity by river basin, and highlights lakes in many of the river basins already showing signs of pollution.

During the period from 1982 to 2002:

The French Broad basin lost 48.4 % of its total cropland and 8.3% of its forestland, higher rates of loss than any other river basin in the state.

The Cape Fear River basin saw 14.1% of its cropland and 8% of its forestland transformed; losing 171,700 acres of cropland and 281,100 acres of forestland. Meanwhile, Jordan Lake, which serves as an important drinking water supply and favorite recreational area, is severely polluted by nutrient pollution from wastewater treatment plants and polluted runoff from surrounding development.

The Neuse River basin lost a total of 21.2 % of its cropland and 8.7% of its forestland. Recent water quality data shows that Falls Lake, the primary drinking water supply for Raleigh and surrounding communities, is showing signs of pollution and may soon reach impaired status.

Between 1982 and 2002, developed land in North Carolina increased by 1,849,800 million acres.

The Watauga Basin saw a 230% increase in developed land, the highest change in developed land in any river basin.

The Neuse River basin added 313,100 acres of development, a 123% change, the sixth highest increase.

The Broad River basin added 72,200 acres of developed land, an increase of 174%, the second highest in the state.

If we do not act now to prepare for this growth and loss of open spaces in the coming years, the quality of our lakes may continue to decline—imperiling our drinking water and favorite recreation spots.

By the year 2027:

7.4% of forestland, equaling 1,157,592 acres will be lost.

25.4% of cropland, or 1,341,790 acres, will disappear.

Developed land area in the state will increase 58.3% or 2,177,336 acres.

7 Recommendations

IT IS IMPORTANT that we plan now so that North Carolinians will continue to have clean water along with growth and development. Our rivers, lakes, and streams are the places we treasure for fishing, boating, and swimming and they provide half of all North Carolinians with drinking water. Preserving water quality is vital to our health, our communities, and North Carolina’s economy—without clean water, our state will be unable to continue to support growth.

Waiting until our lakes are polluted to act can be costly and have damaging effects on water quality. There are several tools our state can use to ensure that costly, time-consuming clean-up of our lakes is not needed. These tools include: 1) preserving open spaces, 2) providing our pristine waters with protection, 3) monitoring our lakes for early signs of pollution, and 4) making sure that the clean up of our already polluted lakes happens quickly.

North Carolina’s leaders should take steps to:

Establish permanent, dedicated state and local sources of funding to preserve and restore our streams, wetlands, floodplains, greenways, and other important lands, including full funding of $100,000,000 for the Clean Water Management Trust Fund. Protect the tributaries to our lakes before they are degraded. Improve monitoring of our lakes and report the information to the public. Cap new discharges of wastewater into our major drinking water supply lakes such as Jordan and Falls Lakes; also, quickly clean up polluted lakes.

8 Introduction

NORTH CAROLINA IS home Increased pollution from run-off and waste- eutrophic. Lakes can stay at the same trophic to many stunning rivers, lakes, and streams. water treatment plants puts too many nutri- levels for thousands of years, but rapid These waters are where we go for a summer ents into our waters. Nutrients, or nitrogen changes in status are often the result of human afternoon hike, where we fish, where we go for and phosphorus, are common components of impacts, rather than natural processesvi. a boat ride, where we get our drinking water. fertilizer, animal and human wastes, vegeta- These are the waters that we want to pass on tion, aquaculture, and some industrial Many lakes in North Carolina are experiencing to future generations. processesv. Excessive nutrients then lead to nutrient pollution and algal blooms.As more excessive algae.Algae is a vital part of the food people are drawn to the beauty of our state, it Our drinking water reservoirs—some 160 chain and an important food source for fish, is important that we act now to preserve the across North Carolina—are special treasures, but too much algae can deplete dissolved drinking water supplies and recreational formed from the state’s most storied rivers, oxygen in the water, and cause serious water havens upon which our communities depend. streams, and creeks.Approximately half of quality problems.Algae blooms release toxins Some four million North Carolinians get their North Carolinians get their drinking water that make our drinking water smell and taste drinking water from lakes and streams. from rivers and lakes. bad, increasing the costs of treating the water These lakes are critical assets for our future before it reaches our faucets. economic growth, health, and quality of life. For many years, pollution from cities, textile and furniture factories and other industries Chlorophyll a is used to indicate algal biomass. The quality of our lakes depends upon the was the biggest threat to the state’s waters. North Carolina’s standard for chlorophyll a is quality of the waters that flow into it, and on Today, thanks to laws passed by state and 40 micrograms per liter for lakes and the health of the land around those tributaries. federal leaders in response, some of our lakes reservoirs. Many of the reservoirs located in A river basin is defined as “all of the land that and rivers are even cleaner than they once the piedmont are considered “eutrophic.” water flows across or under on its way to a were. But with technology increasingly able to Eutrophication is the accumulation of nutri- river.vii”As North Carolina continues to grow, stop direct pollution into our waters, and with ents and sediment in a waterbody.When the the impacts to our land effect our water the state’s rapid growth, pollution from new waterbody becomes rich in nutrients, is bio- quality.The condition of our lakes depends development is the largest-growing threat to logically productive and capable of supporting greatly on the condition of the surrounding our lakes, rivers, and streams. high levels of algae, the water is classified as landscape.We know that our state is developing rapidly, but have little knowledge of which river basins, and the lakes they are home to, are most threatened by rapid, uncontrolled th ii North Carolina is currently the 6 fastest growing state in the nation . If not development. This report examines growth handled responsibly, unmitigated, rapid growth will harm our fragile lakes, rivers and development activity by river basin, and and streams in two main ways: highlights lakes in many of the river basins already showing signs of pollution. 1. Polluted Runoff, or “Non-point Source” pollution. More pavement serves as a swift conduit for oil, dirt, fertilizer, and other toxins to go straight into our waters. This report examines current growth and Statewide, officials estimate that polluted runoff, a major source of nonpoint source rates of development within each of the state’s pollution, accounts for the impairment of 831.5 miles of freshwater streamsiii. This is 17 river basins. The report also includes more than any other source of pollution. projections for growth in the year 2027.We 2. Wastewater Treatment Plants, or “Point Source” Pollution. More people means there have also highlighted lakes in different basins is more sewage that cities and towns, which too often bear a disproportionate that are either already suffering from pollution amount of the costs of new development, don’t have the resources to treat properly. or that are examples of positive steps that Statewide, officials estimate that municipal point source pollution accounts for the communities have taken to preserve impairment of 311.4 miles of freshwater streamsiv. their lakes.

9 Understanding the Data

North Carolina River Basins

THIS REPORT USES the Natural River Basins Resources Conservation Service’s (NRCS) Natural Resource Inventory (NRI) data to The Department of Environment and Natural document trends in North Carolina land use Resources has taken a watershed based over the last 23 years and to make predictions approach to protecting water quality. The of future trends over the next 20 years. Division of Water Quality produces basinwide water quality reports. The division develops The NRI is a survey of land use nationwide plans for each of the river basins every conducted at five year intervals. NRI survey five years. data is available for the years 1982, 1987, 1992 and 1997. The Department of Environment These Basinwide Water Quality Plans and Natural Resources has analyzed the are important tools for citizens, previous NRI data by river basins.We have communities and decision makers. used that data to predict land-use changes The plans provide the most up to date viii through 2027. information concerning : The current status of water quality in The NRI survey categorizes land into one of the basins several land use types. From the survey, the NRCS is able to make a statistically relevant Water quality concerns and issues in estimate of the number of acres of various the basins land use types in an area as small as a multiple-county region we are examining Projected trends in development the data at a river basin level. within the basins and water quality The long range water quality goals for each basin; and Geography Recommended point and non-point Because the NRI is a survey and thus only an source management estimate, it is not statistically relevant at the individual county level. Groups of counties are The Basinwide Water Quality Plans, as well as the smallest geographical area for which the the Department’s Basinwide Assessment NRI can accurately portray land use acreages. Reports, have provided the background water quality data for the lakes highlighted in this We have combined the data to reflect counties report. Examining water quality at the basin- within each of North Carolina’s 17 river basins. wide level provides us with a more complete The Department of Environment and Natural picture of water quality and the impact of Resources has analyzed county NRI data to growth, development, and land use on water reflect land use acreages at a river basin level. quality throughout the basin. 10 Understanding the Numbers

THE NRI SURVEY estimates the The Projections acreage of various land use types down to the county level. Land use is divided into the In order to calculate estimated acreage for following categories: forest, cultivated and 2002 and then project changes in acreage noncultivated cropland, pasture, federal, through 2027, we used census results and water, conservation recovery, urban, rural future census projections to calculate land use transportation, and minor land cover. changes per new resident.We calculated estimates from 2002 because the most recent NRI For the purposes of this report, we have data reflects land use from the year 1997 and chosen to investigate trends in the three NRI data is compiled in 5 year increments. largest land use categories: forest, cropland, While there are multiple ways to make projec- and urban land. Forest and cropland are the tions of future land use, we felt it was impor- two largest open space categories surveyed by tant to link those projections to population.We the NRI and the two most rapidly decreasing felt any prediction of future growth must land use types. Developed land is the fastest account for the U.S. Census’ projections of growing land use type. rapid population growth in the next twenty- two years, which will be one of the most Our calculations for past changes in acreage of important factors in future development. forestland and cropland (composed of both cultivated and noncultivated cropland) are For each period between NRI surveys, 1982- from the results of the NRI report. 1987, 1987-1992, and 1992-1997, we calculated a per-new-resident change in acreage for each The total increase in developed acreage does of the three major land use categories—for not equal the decrease in acreage of forest and developed land, cropland, and forestland. cropland, meaning not all forestland and cropland lost has become developed, and/or To calculate the change in acreage for 1997- not all developed land took the place of 2002 for each land use category we multiplied cropland or forestland. the change in population between 1997 and 2002 by the change in acreage per new resi- Some cropland and forestland were converted dent from 1992-1997. Because we are looking into land use types other than urban at land use within river basins, we had to developed land, and vice versa, according to determine the basin’s population; many coun- the NRI survey.For example, cropland could ties fall into multiple basins, so basin popula- have been transformed into pasture land or tion represents an estimate population for the minor land uses. entire basin.Assuming county populations are distributed evenly throughout each county, we Some cropland and forestland may have been estimated population in the basin on the per- re-categorized without actually having centage of that county falling within the basin. changed land uses. For example, if the federal Portions of the basins that are within counties government purchased land formerly with large urban areas may underestimate the categorized by the NRI as forestland and that actual population in that portion of the basin. land is now labeled as federal land, the land itself has probably not been actually converted To calculate the projected land use changes to another land use. from 2002 through 2027 we took the differ- ence between population projections in 2027 Thus our estimates of cropland and forestland and 2002 census populations then multiplied lost include a margin of error. The error equals that by the per-new resident change in acreage the amount of cropland or forestland that was from 1992-1997. re-categorized into other land use labels without having actually changed uses. The error is unavoidable given that the data itself does not describe whether the re-categorization was due to a change in actual land use or a change in description. 11 Land Use Changes in North Carolina’s River Basins

IN THE LAST two decades, North Carolina has lost 2,568,700 acres of cropland and forestland. This means that 1,345,600 acres of our state’s cropland and 1,223,100 acres of its forestland have disappeared. The loss of these areas is due, for the most part, to an increase in developed area. Developed land has increased by 1,849,600 acres.

Figure 1: North Carolina Land Use Types in 1982 Figure 2: North Carolina Land Use types in 2002

12 Broad

Lake Lure

Lake Lure is a 720 acre reservoir located adjacent to the city of Lake Lure. The lake is a popular recreation spot, especially for boating—in 2001, over 1,200 boating permit were issued for the lake. Situated in the heart of the Hickory Nut Gorge, National Geographic has called Lake Lure one of the most beautiful THE HEADWATERS AND major man-made lakes in the worldix. tributaries in the Broad River Basin begin in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Although the lake is located 26 miles southeast Carolina. The four major tributaries in the of Asheville, the lake is not immune from basin include the Green River, First Broad growth, and residential development is River, Second Broad River, and North Pacolet increasing along its shoreline.While most of River. Several areas in the basin are classified the land in the lake’s watershed is forested, for water supply use, and approximately portions of the subbasin are being rapidly 30 percent of the streams are classified as developed for second homes, vacation lodges trout waters. and recreational activities, such as golf courses. Most of this development is happening As developed land sprawls out from the Broad along the Broad River and on Lake Lurex. River Basin’s urban centers, open space is disappearing at an alarming rate. Between 1982 As more development occurs along the lake’s and 2002, the basin lost 43,500 acres of forest- shoreline, water quality is adversely affected by land and 44,500 acres of cropland, decreases polluted runoff.Although the current quality of 6.8% and 34.7%, respectively. of the lake is good, increased algae growth may occur if nutrient loading from the water- The Broad River Basin’s rapid rate of open shed is not carefully controlledxi.The proposed space loss corresponds with its high rates of Hickory Nut Gorge/Chimney Rock State Park development. Between 1982 and 2002, the would help protect water quality in the lake. basin developed an additional 72,200 acres Creating this state park could help control the of land, a 174.4% increase in developed development happening in the watershed and land area. decrease polluted runoff.

13 Cape Fear

Jordan Lake

Jordan Lake is among the top reasons people visit the Triangle. One million people visited Jordan Lake last year—to catch a striper, peek at a bald eagle, to soak up the summer sun, or to take a dip in the water.

Around the rivers and streams that flow into Jordan Lake, and the lake itself, the population has jumped 37 percent, and development more than 100 percent, in the last 10 years. In the past 3 years, 20 new developments, housing at least 20,000 new residents, have started or applied to start construction in the area.

As a result, Jordan Lake is in trouble. The Upper New Hope section of the lake is already polluted with excessive nitrogen and phosphorous (nutrients) and is on the U.S Environmental Protection Agency’s list of “impaired”waters. Just this year, state officials declared the entire lake impaired. This pollution is impacting the drinking water of citizens in Cary,Apex, Morrisville, Northern Chatham County, and portions of Research AT 9,322 SQUARE MILES of total Triangle Park. area, the Cape Fear River Basin is the largest in North Carolina. The entire basin lies within Jordan Lake’s problems have been going on North Carolina’s borders and it begins where for quite some time. In 1997, the General the Haw and Deep rivers converge. The most Assembly ordered the Environmental populated areas in the basin are in and around Management Commission, the state’s the Triad (Greensboro, Burlington, and High environmental rulemaking body, and local Point), the Durham-Chapel Hill area, and governments to clean up the lake by 2002. Fayetteville. Rulemaking is just now beginning in 2005, which means that measures controlling The Cape Fear River Basin has lost 281,100 pollution in the lake will not be in place until acres of forestland and 171,700 acres of 2010 at the earliest. cropland between 1982-2002, decreases of 8.0% and 14.1%, respectively. The pollution in Jordan Lake is a powerful example of what can happen if we do not plan The Cape Fear River Basin has also for growth in our communities and if we wait experienced incredible rates of development. too long to address pollution. Now instead of Between 1982 and 2002, the basin developed having to clean up just one section of the lake, an additional 338,800 acres of land, a the state is faced with developing clean-up 91.6% increase in developed land area. plans for all of Jordan Lake.

14 Catawba

Lake Rhodhiss

Created in 1925, Lake Rhodhiss is relatively small, with only 90 miles of shoreline. Lake Rhodiss is the second of seven reservoirs commonly referred to as the Catawba River Chain Lakes.A secret haven for bass fishing enthusiasts, the lake is an important source of recreation. Lake Rhodhiss also provides drinking water for the surrounding communities Granite Falls, Lenoir, Morganton, and Valdese. Pollution problems in the lake are already so severe that state officials intend on adding the lake to the impaired waters list.

Over the past several years, Lake Rhodhiss has experienced problems with blue-green algal blooms, causing taste and odor problems in THE CATAWBA RIVER BASIN is drinking water. To address the problem, water the eighth largest river basin in the state and is treatment plants drawing from the lake have located in the south central portion of western had to use expensive charcoal treatments to North Carolina. The Catawba River begins on make the water drinkablexii. the eastern slopes of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Avery, Burke, Caldwell and Currently, three-fourths of the lake’s watershed McDowell counties and flows southeast to the is forested; however, the watershed is experi- North Carolina-South Carolina border near encing increasing pressure from development. Charlotte. The upper part of the basin consists Sources of nutrient pollution in Lake Rhodhiss mostly of forest and the lower portion of the include polluted runoff as well as discharges basin consists largely of agriculture and urban from the Morganton,Valdese, and Lenoir use. Nonpoint runoff from agricultural wastewater treatment plants which discharge operations and urban areas has caused into the lake or one of the lake’s tributariesxiii.A nutrient over-enrichment and sedimentation model created by the Western Piedmont in the streams, rivers and lakes of the lower Council of Governments predicts that by 2020, area. Though the basin does not consist of the nutrient pollution caused by just four many large cities, the lower region is point source dischargers will increase by 31% experiencing tremendous urban growth that for nitrogen and 62% for phosphorousxiv. has affected the water quality of the lakes, streams and rivers. Maintaining water quality in Lake Rhodhiss is not only important for the lake, but for Between 1982 and 2002, the Catawba River downstream lakes such as Lake Hickory as Basin lost 77,700 acres of cropland and well. In the summer of 2002, problems with 147,100 acres of forestland, decreases of 31.5% the taste and odor of drinking water from and 14.3%.At the same time, developed land Lake Hickory were only resolved once algal increased 69.4%, an increase of 244,300 acres. blooms in Lake Rhodhiss died down.

15 Chowan

Figure 3: Changes in Cropland for Broad, Cape Fear, Catawba, and Chowan Basins

THE CHOWAN RIVER BASIN is The Chowan River Basin is dominated by In 2002 urban land only made up a little more located in the northeastern coastal plain of forest and agricultural uses. From 1982-2002 than 3% of the Chowan River Basins land North Carolina. The basin includes all or part the basin lost 6,700 acres of forestland, a cover, but that was up 82.1% since 1982.As of of Bertie, Chowan, Gates, Hertford, and decrease of 1.5%. Cropland remained 2002 there were 25,500 acres of developed Northampton counties. It has two major consistent over the 20 years. The acreage land in the river basin. drainages, the Chowan and Meherrin Rivers. fluctuated, but it remained between 264,100 The Chowan River is formed at the confluence and 262,700 throughout the 20 years. of the Nottoway and Blackwater Rivers at the North Carolina and Virginia border. The streams flow southeast towards the Albemarle Sound.

Figure 4: Changes in Forest Land for Broad, Cape Fear, Figure 5: Increase in Developed Land for Broad, Cape Catawba, and Chowan Basins Fear, Catawba, and Chowan Basins

16 French Broad

THE FRENCH BROAD RIVER Waterville (Walters) Lake BASIN is located largely within the Pisgah National Forest and Pisgah Game Lands. Waterville Lake was created in the 1920s by Another portion of the basin is located in the impounding the lower Pigeon River in north Great Smoky Mountains National Park at the central Haywood County.The reservoir is northwest corner of Haywood County.The used to generate hydroelectric power for three major drainages in the basin include the Progress Energy. The lake’s watershed French Broad River, Pigeon River and encompasses most of Haywood County and Nolichucky River. These rivers individually includes numerous municipal and industrial flow northwest into Tennessee. dischargers.

About 46% of the land in the basin was Due in part to these dischargers, the lake is forested in 2002, a decrease of 8.3% from experiencing nutrient problems.Water quality 1982. Likewise, cropland made up 2.8% of the problems in the lake include algal blooms, and land in 2002, a decrease of 48.4% from 1982. chlorophyll a and dissolved oxygen violations. In total, the basin lost 75,200 acres of forests Despite recent improvements to water quality, and 46,700 acres of cropland in that 20-year there are still concerns over nutrients in the period. The steep slopes limit the land area lake as well as chlorophyll a.xv suitable for development, but that has not stopped 108,600 acres from being developed in the river valleys between 1982-2002. During that time period development increased by 102.8%.

17 Hiwassee

Lake Chatuge

Lake Chatuge is nestled in the Nantahala National Forest, framed by the Blue Ridge Mountains. Located half in North Carolina and half in Georgia, the lake was created by an impounding the Hiwassee River, has 130 miles of shoreline and is a popular site for recreation. Lake Chatuge is home to more than 32 species of fish, including popular game fish including largemouth and spotted bass.

THE HIWASSEE RIVER BASIN is Within the past several years, there has been located in the Southwest corner of North rapid and heavy residential development Carolina within Cherokee and Clay counties. It within the lake’s watershed. In response, a is the third smallest river basin in North number of citizen groups came together to Carolina in total area with only 644 square address water quality concerns.xvi miles located within the state. The Hiwassee is also located close to Atlanta and is already The Tennessee Valley Authority has monitored feeling exurban and suburban pressures. the lake as part of a program testing heavily used recreational areas throughout the Between 1982 and 2002 the Hiwassee River Tennessee Valley.Although the lake used to Basin lost 17,000 acres of forestland, a 10.2% receive ratings of good from the TVA,since the loss and 7,100 acres of cropland, or 66.4%. late 1990s the lake’s overall ecological health Concurrently, the basin experienced a 132.2% has consistently been rated as poor. There have increase in developed land, or 16,000 acres of also been reports of fish kill and “rotten egg” development. odors, all indicating water quality problems.xvii

18 Little Tennessee

Fontana Lake

The 10,000 acre Fontana Lake was created in the 1940s by damming the Little Tennessee River near the Graham/Swain County line. Fontana Lake is a popular site for recreation and provides drinking water to Robbinsville and Fontana Village. Much of the lake’s watershed is protected by the Great Smoky THE LITTLE TENNESSEE RIVER Mountains and the Nantahala National Forest. BASIN is located next to the Hiwassee River The watershed contains some of the most Basin in the Southwest corner of North pristine streams in the state, including many Carolina within portions or all of Cherokee, rivers and streams named Outstanding Clay, Graham, Jackson, Macon, and Swain Resource Waters. counties. The total size of the basin is not large in comparison with many of the other river The primary problems in the basin continue basins within North Carolina, but it contains to be non-point sources, contributing to both 2,500 miles of streams and rivers and 18,000 sedimentation and nutrient pollution. acres of lakes. The Tar-Pamlico and Roanoke Although much of the lake’s watershed is River Basins are two and three times larger forested, development is often located along than the Little Tennessee, but have fewer riverbanks with inadequate buffer zones. New stream miles. development in Swain, Jackson, and Macon counties are impacting the upper reaches of The Little Tennessee River Basin consists Fontana Lake. mostly of forested land. Over half of the land in the basin is publicly owned and lies within Recently, the North Carolina General Assembly the Great Smoky Mountains National Park or took steps to protect water quality in the lake. the Nantahala National Forest.Another 31% is Legislation was enacted that expedites the forestland outside of the publicly owned land. process of reclassifying many of the lake’s trib- The forestland not in the parks has been utaries as Outstanding Resource Water, provid- subject to depletion, however. From 1982-2002 ing safeguards against point source pollution these lands saw a 6.9% decrease, a total of and placing restrictions on development. 26,300 acres. The basin has very little cropland These tributaries, such as Forney, Chambers, (less than 2%) because of its location in Hazel, and Eagle Creek have excellent water Western North Carolina, but still lost 3,800 quality, wild trout, and national and state acres. The reason for the depletion of the recreational and ecological significance. Some forestland is that development in the basin have species of special concern and some may during the time period was up 165.1% for a have federally and state listed endangered and total increase of 35,500 acres. threatened species. 19 Lumber

Lake Waccamaw

Lake Waccamaw, the largest natural bay lake in southeastern North Carolina, has shallow, clean waters that provide a unique habitat for THE LUMBER RIVER BASIN is many endemic species of fish and mollusks. It located in the southeast corner of North is widely considered one of the most unique Carolina on the border with South Carolina. lakes in the Southeastern United States. The The basin contains all or part of 10 counties lake is also an excellent example of how the including: Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, use of both protective water classifications and Cumberland, Hoke, Montgomery, Moore, the state’s trust funds can protect a body Richmond, Robeson, and Scotland. The most of water. populated cities within the basin include Lumberton, Laurinburg, Southern Pines, In 2000, the state designated the lake as an Pinehurst and Whiteville. Groundwater is Outstanding Resource Water based on its abundant and a major water supply source in excellent water quality and diversity of aquatic the basin, especially southeast of Lumberton. species. The town of Lake Waccamaw has also received $4,500,000 from the Clean Water The Lumber River Basin saw enormous losses Management Trust Fund to construct of open space from 1982-2002. Forestland stormwater controls as well as $588,000 from shrunk by 36,600 acres and cropland dropped the state revolving loan for new wastewater 59,600 acres, decreases of 2.8% and collection lines. 9.8%, respectively. Land use in the watershed is mostly forested, Much of this loss of open space can be attrib- with some developed areas around the lake. uted to rapid development. Urban areas saw Development is occurring right on the lake’s an 98.5% increase in developed acreage northern and western shorelines, but the between 1982 and 2002.All told, the basin efforts already made to preserve the lake are saw 85,200 acres developed over the important steps in working to keep the twenty-year period. lake pristine.

20 Lumber

Figure 6: Decrease in Cropland for Lumber and Neuse Basins

Figure 7: Decrease in Forest Land for Lumber and Neuse Basins

Figure 8: Increase in Developed Land for Lumber and Neuse Basins

21 Neuse

Neuse River Basin has lost 226,700 acres of cropland and 154,100 acres of forestland, percent decreases of 21.2% and 8.7% respectively.

Falls Lake

Falls Lake, which takes in the Eno River, the Little River, Little Lick, and other creeks, col- lects the headwaters of the Neuse River before continuing east. More than 750,000 people visit Falls Lake each year, fishing for bass, camping, or paddling the rapids of its tributaries. Falls Lake is also the City of Raleigh’s primary water supply and also provides water to Garner, Rolesville, Fuquay Varina, Holly Springs, Knightdale,Wake Forest, Wendell, and Zebulon.

The federal Clean Water Act and North Carolina’s own laws have helped clean up the Neuse estuary, but they have not preserved water quality in rivers and lakes in upstream portions of the basin.As a result, waters located upstream, such as Falls Lake are showing signs of pollution.

Several of the lake’s major tributaries are listed as in fair or poor condition, including the ORIGINATING IN NORTH central Little River, Ellerbe Creek, Lick Creek, and North Carolina, the Neuse River Basin is the Little Lick Creek. Now, the upper portions of third largest in North Carolina. It flows Fall Lake are seeing signs of nutrient pollution southeasterly from Person and Orange and the lake will soon be listed as impaired. counties until it reaches tidal waters near the Wastewater treatment plants in Durham, City of New Bern. From then on the river Hillsborough, and Butner discharge into the broadens into an estuary that eventually flows lake’s tributaries, including the already into the Pamlico Sound. Major tributaries of impaired Knap of Reeds Creek. the Neuse River include the Eno and Flat Rivers, Crabtree Creek, Swift Creek, Little The Falls Lake watershed is seeing more River, Contentnea Creek and Trent River. growth in part because of its proximity to Raleigh and the Research Triangle Park.As The most populated areas within the Neuse more people move into the area, there has River Basin are located in and around the been a rise in the number of homes cities of Raleigh, Durham, Hillsborough,Apex, surrounding the lake. Cary, and Wake Forest, as well as around the other larger municipalities such as New Bern, The Department of Environment and Natural Kinston, Goldsboro,Wilson, Greenville, and Resources has already started monitoring Havelock. Over the past couple of decades pollution levels in the lake. This monitoring the Neuse River Basin has experienced a sub- will give a clearer idea of how polluted the lake stantial amount of growth and development. has become and aid in the development of a nutrient management strategy.Efforts are also Between the years of 1982 and 2002, develop- underway by the city of Raleigh to limit ment within the Neuse River Basin has development along the lake. The city has increased by 123.2 %, representing the build pledged $10,000 and is working with several up of nearly 313,100 acres of land. As a result land trusts to buy land or conservation of the increase in urban development, the easements upstream of the lake. 22 New

Figure 9: Decrease in Cropland for French Broad, Hiwassee, Little Tennessee, and New Basins

THE NEW RIVER BASIN is located with- and crop production. Therefore, most agricul- in the Blue Ridge Province of the Appalachian tural and development activities are Mountain region of western North Carolina. concentrated in valleys. Roads are also located The New River originates at the confluence of along streams and rivers in the basin. Despite the North Fork New River and the South Fork the obstacles that the terrain of the New River New River in northeastern Ashe County. It Basin presents, urban development has still flows northward through Alleghany County increased more than 11,300 acres or greater and into Virginia, looping back only briefly than 53% in a twenty year time span. There into North Carolina before continuing through has also been a sharp decline in acres of Virginia into West Virginia where it joins the cropland. From 1982-2002 cropland decreased Gauley River to form the Kanawha River. by 34,500 acres (93.2%). Some may have been converted to forestland, which for the period The land comprising the New River basin is from 1982-2002, actually decreased 7,803 mountainous and distinctly rural. Steep slopes acres, or 2.9%. limit the land that is suitable for development

Figure 10: Changes in Forest Land for French Broad, Figure 11: Increase in Developed Land for French Broad, Hiwassee, Little Tennessee, and New Basins Hiwassee, Little Tennessee, and New Basins

23 Pasquotank

THE PASQUOTANK RIVER BASIN Lake Phelps is located in the state’s northeast outer coastal plain. The Basin encompasses over 3,600 Lake Phelps is the second largest natural lake square miles of low lying lands and vast open in North Carolina and is believed to be more waters, including the Albemarle Sound. It than 38,000 years old. Located in the Pettigrew contains numerous small watersheds that State Park, the lake is a popular place for drain into Albemarle, Currituck, Croatan, recreation including boating, sailing, skiing, Roanoke and Pamlico Sounds. and fishing.

The basin includes portions of 10 counties and Lake Phelps is also an excellent example of 11 municipalities. It also contains several how the state can use protective classifications lakes, including Lake Phelps, the second to provide safeguards for our pristine waters. largest natural lake in North Carolina. Land In 2000, the lake was reclassified as an within the basin is dominated by open water. Outstanding Resource Water. This classifica- 41% of the basin is covered by water with tion provides protective buffers, prevents new another 38% classified as Forest/Wetlands. wastewater discharges and requires Despite the overabundance of water in the stormwater controls on development.As the Pasquotank Basin there has been a substantial area continues to grow, the lake will remain amount of growth and development. From protected. 1982-2002 urban development increased by 41,490 acres (112.4%). The basin has also experienced a reduction in forest and cropland. Forestland diminished by more than 172,700 acres (25.8%) and cropland has decreased by 62,300 acres (12.6%).

24 Roanoke

Figure 12: Loss of Cropland for Pasquotank and Roanoke Basins

ORIGINATING IN THE Blue Ridge development within the Roanoke River Basin According to the Department of Environment Mountains of Northwestern Virginia, The has increased 167.1 %, leading to the build-up and Natural Resources,“Measures should be Roanoke River flows in a southeasterly of nearly 92,000 acres. Over this time span put in place now to reduce nutrient loads to direction for 400 miles before emptying into forestland has decreased more than 8,000 the reservoir in runoff from residential lawns, the Albemarle Sound in eastern North acres in addition to a loss of 81,900 acres impervious surfaces, golf courses, and agricul- Carolina. The portion of the Roanoke Basin (16.3%) of cropland. tural lands.xviii These measures will help control within North Carolina is composed of two pri- the amount of pollution entering the lake as mary parts; the Dan River and its tributaries Lake Gaston the area continues to grow. in the western section; and the Roanoke River from Virginia to the Sound in the eastern Located on the North Carolina/Virginia While levels of nitrogen and phosphorous are section. The Roanoke River begins its journey border, Lake Gaston is 34 miles long and has not currently too high, there is concern for the through North Carolina by passing through over 350 miles of shoreline. It was constructed future. Nutrient levels are highest in the North the John H. Kerr reservoir and then flowing in 1963 by Virginia Electric and Power Carolina portion of the lake and increases in into Lake Gaston and Roanoke Rapids Lake Company for power generation, but today it is nutrient levels could lead to algae blooms and before once again taking on the form of a free also a popular recreation site, home to many violation of the chlorophyll a standard. flowing river. campgrounds, marinas, and swimming beaches. The lake is also a popular place to There are 15 counties located wholly or par- live—many residential developments are tially within the basin. The most populated located along the lake’s shoreline. areas are located northeast of the Greensboro/ Winston-Salem/ High Point area and around the larger municipalities in the basin. Over the twenty year period from 1982-2002 urban Figure 14: Increase in Developed Land for Pasquotank and Roanoke Basins

Figure 13: Changes in Forest Land for Pasquotank and Roanoke Basins

25 Savannah

THE SAVANNAH RIVER BASIN is The 10,000 acre Gorges State Park and the smallest basin in the state. The basin is Gameland in Transylvania County and the 172 square miles and contains portions of four Nantahala National Forest help protect the counties. The basin contains approximately headwaters of the Savannah River. 176 miles of freshwater streams and While most of the land in the basin is forested 1,366 acres of lakes. Rivers within the North (96%), many retirement and second home Carolina portion of the Basin include the developments, as well as commercial resorts, Chattooga, Horsepasture, and Toxaway Rivers, continue to be constructed in the basin. which flow south into Georgia and South During the twenty year period between the Carolina. The Savannah River flows to the years of 1982 and 2002, urban development South and Southeast, forming the border has increased by 34%, or 2,800 acres.At the between Georgia and South Carolina before same time forestland has diminished by eventually emptying into the Atlantic Ocean. nearly 1.5%, or 622 acres.

26 Tar-Pamlico

Lake Mattamuskeet

Lake Mattamuskeet, located in Hyde County, is the largest natural lake in North Carolina. The THE TAR-PAMLICO RIVER BASIN lake is only five feet deep and residents once is the fourth largest in the state, covering an attempted to drain the lake for farming area of 5,440 square miles. The basin purposes. Now the lake is well known as a originates in the upper Piedmont region in popular site for fishing, hunting, and Person and Granville counties and flows observing wildlife. southeastward towards the Pamlico Sound. The basin also includes North Carolina’s Located in the heart of the Mattamuskeet largest natural lake—Lake Mattamuskeet. National Wildlife Refuge, the lake is a haven for bird lovers. More than 200 species of birds, The Tar-Pamlico Basin encompasses all or including Snow Geese, Ospreys, and Bald part of 16 counties and 51 municipalities. Eagles, can be found around the lake Areas surrounding the larger municipalities throughout the year. within the basin such as Rocky Mount and Greenville have experienced the most growth. Data collected from the lake beginning in 1981 From 1982-2002 urban growth and develop- shows that the lake has consistently been ment has increased by 122.4% within the eutrophic, and has recently seen excessive basin. This is nearly an 117,900 acre increase amounts of nitrogenxix.In fact,the Division of in developed land. In addition to increasing Water Quality has recommended that land dis- development, forestland has decreased by turbing activities in the watershed implement more than 80,700 acres (5.2%) and cropland best management practices to prevent future has diminished by 190,600 acres (20.5%). impacts to the lake’s water qualityxx.

27 Watauga

THE WATAUGA RIVER BASIN is The land within the Watauga River Basin is located within the Blue Ridge Province of the mountainous and rural. Rugged terrain and Appalachian Mountains of western North steep slopes limit the options for development Carolina. The watershed drains North to and farming. Despite these limitations, urban Northwest from North Carolina to Tennessee. development has increased by 230%, or 8,498 The North Carolina portion of the Watauga acres, between the years of 1982 and 2002.At River basin is composed of the Elk River and the same time forestland has diminished by Watauga River. This is the second smallest nearly 11% and cropland by 73.2%, losses of basin in the state, covering only 205 square 8,100 and 4,100 acres respectively. miles and containing portions of only two counties,Avery and Watauga.

Figure 15: Decrease in Cropland for Savannah, Figure 16: Changes in Forest Land for Savannah, Watauga, and White Oak Basins Watauga, and White Oak Basins

28 White Oak

THE WHITE OAK RIVER also experienced a reduction in forest and BASIN lies entirely within the southern coastal cropland over the 1982-2002 period. plain and is comprised of four separate river Forestland decreased by 39,100 acres (10.3%) systems; including the New River, The White and cropland decreased by 4,000 acres (6%). Oak River, the Newport River, and the North River. In addition the basin also includes the As the population in the basin’s towns has Bogue and Core Sounds. increased, municipalities are feeling the stress of dealing with fast paced development. The basin has experienced a great deal of Unfortunately, shellfishing waters are suffering growth over the past couple of decades. Urban from the strains of development. In 2001, Development has increased by more than 28,058 acres of shellfishing waters were 42,500 acres of land from 1982-2002. That is a classified as impaired, primarily caused by 78.8% increase in development. The basin has stormwater pollutionxxi.

Figure 17: Increase in Developed Land for Savannah, Watauga, and White Oak Basins

29 Yadkin

Figure 18: Decrease in Cropland for Tar-Pamlico and Yadkin-Pee Dee Basins

THE HEADWATERS OF the Yadkin nearly 308,200 acres (86.9%).While forestland portions of its tributaries are so polluted that River Basin originate in northwestern North decreased in the face of development by less they have already been listed as impaired. Carolina and southern Virginia; the Yadkin than 135,000 acres (5.6%), cropland decreased flows across the midsection of North Carolina by 329,900 acres (33.1%). Water quality concerns date back to the 1970s and eventually merges with the Uwharrie and the state has said that a need for a nutri- River where it becomes the Pee Dee River. High Rock Lake ent reduction plan has existed since the mid These rivers join to create two of the largest 1990s.xxii High Rock Lake has consistently had lakes in a chain of six. The Pee Dee River High Rock Lake, located in Davidson and problems with excessive algal growth, chloro- eventually empties into the Atlantic Ocean. Rowan Counties, is the largest impoundment phyll a violations, and excessive nutrients, all of the Yadkin River. High Rock Lake is well leading to the lake’s impairment. Phosphorous The North Carolina portion of the Yadkin known for its fishing, perhaps most well limits have already been placed on the lake’s River Basin includes parts of 21 counties and known for largemouth bass, having hosted point source dischargers and a shoreline 93 municipalities. There has been significant several major bass fishing tournaments. The management plan has been developed by the growth and development throughout the basin lake’s watershed includes several major urban hydroelectric company that manages the lake over the course of the past two decades. From areas including Winston Salem, Salisbury, in order to encourage responsible development 1982-2002 urban development increased by Lexington and High Point. The lake and around the lakexxiii.

Figure 19: Decrease in Forest Land for Tar-Pamlico Figure 20: Increase in Developed Land for Tar-Pamlico and Yadkin-Pee Dee Basins and Yadkin-Pee Dee Basins

30 Projected Land Use Changes

IF TODAY’S PATTERNS of land use transformation continue North Carolina will lose an additional 2.4 million acres of forest land and cropland in the next twenty-two years.

Land use transformation will be driven by development. Prodded by a booming population and low-density development projects, developed land area will increase by more than 2 million acres from 2002. (See Understanding the Data section for methodology of projections.)

Projected Open Space Loss

Rates of open space loss will continue at the highest rates in the Neuse River Basin, Tar-Pamlico River Basin and Cape Fear River Basin. The Neuse area will see croplands decrease by 460,289 acres and its forest land will shrink by 137,279 acres. The Tar-Pamlico River Basin will see a lost of 239,917 acres of cropland as well as 96,872 acres of forestland. The Cape Fear will lose 220,831 acres of cropland and 335,054 acres of forest land.

NC projected forest and cropland 2027

Table 1: Projected Decrease in Open Space by River Basin, 2002-2027

Basin Projected Cropland % Change in Projected Acres % Change in Acres Lost 2002-2027 Cropland Area 2002-2027 of Forest Land Forest Land Area Lost 2002-2027 2002-2027 Broad +15,351 18.4 32,682 -5.5 Cape Fear 220,831 -21.0 335,054 -10.3 Catawba 50,155 -29.7 206,192 -23.4 Chowan +1,884 0.7 5,204 -1.2 French Broad 36,489 -73.4 76,627 -9.2 Hiwassee 304 -8.3 15,512 -10.4 Little Tennessee N/A N/A 13,342 -3.7 Lumber 66,988 -12.2 33,035 -2.6 Neuse 460,289 -54.7 137,279 -8.5 New 2,500 -100 +15,649 5.7 Pasquotank 36,383 -8.4 +24,980 5.0 Roanoke 26,351 -6.3 31,291 -2.3 Savannah N/A N/A 2,186 -5.0 Tar-Pamlico 239,917 -32.5 96,872 -6.5 Watauga 2,513 -100.0 132 -0.1 White Oak +956 1.6 87,723 -25.6 Yadkin 217,261 -32.7 125,090 -5.6 Total 1,341,790 -25.4 1,157,592 -7.4

31 Projected Increase In Developed Land

By the year 2027, development will occur most rapidly in the Neuse and Cape Fear basins. The Neuse basin will see an increase of 452,213 developed acres, a 79% increase, while the Cape Fear Basin will see an increase of 441,663 acres of developed land. The lowest rate of development will occur in the Watauga Basin, which will see an increase of 1,111 acres, or 9%.

Projected increase in developed lands 2002-2027

Table 2: Projected Increase in Population and Development Rates Development by River Basin, 2002-2027 Rapid population growth and the development that comes along with growth are behind the rapid degradation of the North Carolina landscape over the last twenty years. However, development is Basin Projected % Change in not solely attributable to our rising population; while population has increased 42% in the last Increase Developed twenty years, development has increased 75%. In Acres Area Developed 2002-2027 These rates illustrate a change in the pattern of development in North Carolina. Not only is the 2002-2027 number of people coming into the state increasing, the amount of space being developed for each Broad 48,528 42.7 new person is growing. Cape Fear 441,663 62.3 Catawba 295,357 49.5 Chowan 6,385 25.1 New sprawling patterns of development mean more of our farmlands, forests, and green spaces will French Broad 91,222 42.6 disappear in coming years.As sprawling development extends out from the suburbs of our urban Hiwassee 14,498 51.6 areas, new developments are, on average, using more space than previous urban development Little Tennessee 23,349 40.9 would have for the same number of people. New sprawling development mean bigger roads, more Lumber 83,505 48.6 parking lots, larger homes, more shopping malls, etc.All of that new development is leading to Neuse 452,213 79.7 increasing amounts of pollution runoff into our lakes and rivers. New 4,824 14.7 Pasquotank 55,932 71.3 The good news is that while development has led to increased pollution in many of our lakes and Roanoke 69,719 47.5 Savannah 2,186 19.8 rivers over the last twenty years, many areas have taken the initiative to clean up their treasured Tar-Pamlico 126,749 59.2 waters. The clean up that has occurred has proven to be very successful and is a good model for Watauga 1,111 9.0 cleaning up the rest of the lakes in North Carolina.At the same time, they are able to maintain their White Oak 65,075 67.3 lake’s cleanliness after clean up, which can be replicated statewide to protect waters all across the Yadkin 395,020 59.6 state before they become polluted. Total 2,177,336 58.3 The bad news is that despite the positive steps many have taken, most of North Carolina’s waters are not protected from runoff created by development. Census projections for the next twenty years predict an increase of 34%, or 2.9 million people. Thus unless planning and protection take place soon, the lakes and rivers in North Carolina will be subjected to increasing levels of runoff from development. 32 Policy Findings

North Carolina’s leaders and wetland restoration projects. One recent state does not publish a report detailing which should take steps to: success story is the use of funds to acquire communities receive their drinking water land to expand Lake James State Park by from our lakes and the condition of those Establish permanent, dedicated nearly six times its original size. lakes. This is information we should all have. It state and local sources of funding is important that the state make information to preserve and restore our streams, While the trust fund programs have been on our drinking water lakes readily available, wetlands, floodplains, greenways, successful, the state is behind on its progress including information on whether the lakes and other important lands, including to save a million acres—currently only saving are exhibiting pollution problems. full funding of $100,000,000 for land at a little more than 60% of the rate the Clean Water Management needed to meet the million acres goal. Too often, we only become aware of pollution Trust Fund. Meanwhile, the funding for these trust funds problems once a lake is already severely pol- is continually threatened. For fiscal year 04, luted. State officials should establish a pro- Protect the tributaries to our lakes the Clean Water Management Trust Fund gram for monitoring the condition of our before they are degraded. received a 38% cut from its original allocation. lakes, especially those that provide us with Improve monitoring of our lakes and drinking water, and set an action level before report the information to the public. During tough fiscal times, the trust funds are our lakes are impaired. Once a lake is seeing not seeing the funding they need to work signs of pollution, early monitoring systems Cap new discharges of wastewater into towards the million acre goal. North Carolina’s will make identifying sources of pollution and our major drinking water supply lakes leaders need to establish a permanent, dedi- monitoring the condition of the lake much such as Jordan and Falls Lakes; also, cated source of open space protection funding. easier and will allow the state to get a handle quickly clean up polluted lakes. on pollution before costly cleanup is necessary. Protect Tributaries Preserve Open Spaces Clean up Lakes already polluted One fundamental way to protect our lakes is to In 2000, the General Assembly pledged to save preserve the water quality in the tributaries Currently, state officials only act to protect our 1 million acres of open spaces by 2010. They feeding into lakes. Once tributaries become lakes once they become so polluted that they designated four open space preservation pro- polluted, it is only a matter of time before the are considered impaired, and clean up can grams to meet this goal. Protecting our open pollution reaches the body it flows into. North take years. Jordan Lake is an example of how spaces is an important means of protecting Carolina already has the ability to protect waiting too long to clean up our lakes can water quality.Intact natural areas filter out rivers and streams with excellent water quality mean more pollution problems. In 1997, after pollutants before they reach our waterways. from degradation. pollution problems were identified, the General Assembly ordered the clean up of The Clean Water Management Trust Fund, the In North Carolina, waters with excellent water Jordan Lake by 2002. It is now 2005 and the Park and Recreation Trust Fund, the Natural quality can be designated as High Quality state is just beginning rulemaking to protect Heritage Trust Fund, and the Farmland Waters or Outstanding Resource Waters. These the lake against pollution—the rules will not Preservation Trust Fund have been very suc- classifications protect waters from wastewater actually take effect until 2010 at the earliest. cessful in protecting our state’s natural areas. discharges and polluted runoff, preserving Meanwhile, data shows that nutrient pollution Most important for water quality has been the water quality. has increased from just upper portions of the success of the Clean Water Management Trust lake to the entire lake. Fund, aimed at cleaning up pollution in North Carolina needs to take steps to reclassify the state’s surface waters and protecting the state’s approximately 75 remaining pristine As Jordan Lake illustrates, it is important that unpolluted waters. rivers and streams, ensuring that these waters we act quickly to clean up our polluted lakes. It and the lakes they may feed into are protected is also important that while lakes are being The Clean Water Management Trust Fund as our state continues to grow. cleaned up, steps are taken to ensure that even provides funds for wastewater improvement, more pollution is not entering the lake. stormwater management, watershed planning Monitor our Lakes projects, wetland and stream restoration, riparian corridor and open space acquisition. Most people do not take the time to wonder The Fund has already protected 3,189 miles of where the water flowing from their tap is riparian buffers and preserved 273,057 acres actually coming from. Unfortunately, if you of land by funding 91 riparian buffer, stream seek the answer, it is often difficult to find. The

33 End Notes

i From Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Environmental Education, at www.eenorthcarolina.org/public/ecoaddress/ecoaddresssmain.htm.

ii North Carolina State Demographics Office, http://demog.state.nc.us

iii North Carolina Water Quality Assessment and Impaired Waters List (2004 Integrated 305(b) and 303(d) Report), downloaded from http://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/tmdl/documents/2004IntegratedReporttext_001.pdf

iv Ibid.

v Department of Environment and Natural Resources,“Citizen Guide to Water Quality on the Web,”downloaded from http://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/wqs.

vi Ibid.

vii From Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Environmental Education, at www.eenorthcarolina.org/public/ecoaddress/ecoaddresssmain.htm.

viii Department of Environment and Natural Resources,“Citizen Guide to Water Quality on the Web,”downloaded from http://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/wqs.

ix www.lake-lure.com

x Department of Environment and Natural Resources, 2003 Broad River Basinwide Water Quality Plan, http://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/basinwide.

xi Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Broad Basin 2001 Basinwide Assessment Report, www.esb.enr.state.nc.us/bar.html.

xii Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Catawba Basin 2003 Basinwide Assessment Report, www.esb.enr.state.nc.us/bar.html.

xiii Department of Environment and Natural Resources,2004 Catawba Basinwide Water Quality Plan Section A: Chapter 4 – Water Quality Issues Related to Multiple Watersheds in the Catawba River Basin, http://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/basinwide.

xivWPCOG, June 2003 from Catawba Basinwide Water Quality Plan, Section A: Chapter 4 – Water Quality Issues Related to Multiple Watersheds in the Catawba River Basin, http://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/basinwide

xv Department of Environment and Natural Resources, 2005 draft French Broad River Basinwide Water Quality Plan, http://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/basinwide.

xvi Department of Environment and Natural Resources , Hiwassee River Basin 2000 Assessment Report www.esb.enr.state.nc.us/bar.html.

xvii Department of Environment and Natural Resources , Hiwassee River Basin 2000 Assessment Report www.esb.enr.state.nc.us/bar.html.

xviii Department of Environment and Natural Resources, 2001 Roanoke River Basinwide Water Quality Plan, http://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/basinwide.

xix Department of Environment and Natural Resources, 2004 Tar-pamlico Basinwide Water Quality Plan, http://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/basinwide.

xx Department of Environment and Natural Resources, 2004 Tar-pamlico Basinwide Water Quality Plan, http://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/basinwide.

xxi North Carolina Coastal Federation, www.nccoast.org/Newsroom/pressCentral.html

xxii Department of Environment and Natural Resources , 2003 Yadkin Basinwide Water Quality Plan, chapter 4, http://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/basinwide.

xxiii Department of Environment and Natural Resources ,Yadkin Basin 2002 Assessment Report, www.esb.enr.state.nc.us/bar.html.

34 35 Appendix A

Data for Increase in Developed Area by River Basin, 1982-2002

BASIN 1982 DEVELOPED LAND AREA 2002 DEVELOPED LAND AREA TOTAL ACRES DEVELOPED 1982-2002 % CHANGE IN DEVELOPED AREA Broad 41.4 113.6 72.2 174.4% Cape Fear 370.0 708.8 338.8 91.6% Catawba 352.0 596.3 244.3 69.4% Chowan 14.0 25.5 11.5 82.1% French Broad 105.6 214.2 108.6 102.8% Hiwassee 12.1 28.1 16.0 132.2% Little Tennessee 21.5 57.0 35.5 165.1% Lumber 86.5 171.7 85.2 98.5% Neuse 254.1 567.2 313.1 123.2% New 21.3 32.6 11.3 53.1% Pasquotank 36.9 78.4 41.5 112.4% Roanoke 54.9 146.6 91.7 167.1% Savannah 8.3 11.1 2.8 34.0% Tar-Pamlico 96.3 214.2 117.9 122.4% Watauga 3.7 12.2 8.5 229.7% White Oak 54.1 96.7 42.6 78.8% Yadkin 354.3 662.4 308.1 87.0% Total 1,887.0 3,736.6 1,849.6 98.0%

Data is represented in 1,000’s of acres.

36 Appendix B

Data for Loss of Open Space by River Basin, 1982-2002

BASIN 1982 CROPLAND 2002 CROPLAND TOTAL CROPLAND % CHANGE IN 1982 FOREST 2002 FOREST TOTAL FOREST % CHANGE IN AREA AREA LOST 1982-2002 CROPLAND LAND AREA LAND AREA LAND AREA FOREST LAND AREA 1982-2002 LOST 1982-2002 AREA 1982-2002

Broad 128.4 83.9 44.5 -34.7% 640.8 597.3 43.5 -6.8% Cape Fear 1,221.6 1,049.9 171.7 -14.1% 3,531.7 3,250.6 281.1 -8.0% Catawba 247.0 169.3 77.7 -31.5% 1,029.6 882.5 147.1 -14.3% Chowan 264.1 264.3 +0.2 0.0 8% 445.9 439.2 6.7 -1.5% French Broad 96.4 49.7 46.7 -48.4% 905.1 829.9 75.2 -8.3% Hiwassee 10.7 3.6 7.1 -66.4% 166.5 149.5 17.0 -10.2% Little Tennessee 21.5 17.7 3.8 -17.7% 381.6 355.3 26.3 -6.9% Lumber 608.9 549.3 59.6 -9.8% 1,330.3 1,293.7 36.6 -2.8% Neuse 1,067.5 840.8 226.7 -21.2% 1,769.4 1,615.3 154.1 -8.7% New 37.0 2.5 34.5 -93.2% 264.8 272.6 +7.8 2.9% Pasquotank 493.2 430.9 62.3 -12.6% 668.7 496.0 172.7 -25.8% Roanoke 503.5 421.6 81.9 -16.3% 1,377.4 1,369.3 8.1 -0.6% Savannah 0 0 0 0 44.6 44.0 0.6 -1.4% Tar-Pamlico 929.0 738.4 190.6 -20.5% 1,565.1 1,484.4 80.7 -5.2% Watauga 5.6 1.5 4.1 -73.2% 75.8 67.7 8.1 -10.7% White Oak 67.0 63.0 4.0 -6.0% 381.3 342.2 39.1 -10.3% Yadkin 995.2 665.3 329.9 -33.1% 2,378.7 2,244.6 134.1 -5.6% Total 6,696.6 5,351.7 1,345.6 -20.0% 16,957.3 15,734.1 1,223.1 -7.2%

Data is represented in 1,000’s of acres.

37 Appendix C

Ranks of Study Areas by Projected Open Space Loss 2002-2025

REGION RANK % CHANGE IN CROPLAND AREA New 1 100.0 Watauga 1 100.0 French Broad 3 73.4 Neuse 4 54.7 Yadkin 5 32.7 Tar-Pamlico 6 32.5 Catawba 7 29.7 Cape Fear 8 21.0 Lumber 9 12.2 Pasquotank 10 8.4 Hiwassee 11 8.3 Roanoke 12 6.3 Chowan 13 +0.7 White Oak 14 +1.6 Broad 15 +18.4 Little Tennessee N/A N/A Savannah N/A N/A

REGION RANK % CHANGE IN FOREST LAND AREA White Oak 1 25.6 Catawba 2 23.4 Hiwassee 3 10.4 Cape Fear 4 10.3 French Broad 5 9.2 Neuse 6 8.5 Tar-Pamlico 7 6.5 Yadkin 8 5.6 Broad 9 5.5 Savannah 10 5.0 Little Tennessee 11 3.7 Lumber 12 2.6 Roanoke 13 2.3 Chowan 14 1.2 Watauga 15 0.1 Pasquotank 16 +5.0 New 17 +5.7

REGION RANK % CHANGE IN DEVELOPED AREA Neuse 1 79.7 Pasquotank 2 71.3 White Oak 3 67.3 Cape Fear 4 62.3 Yadkin 5 59.6 Tar-Pamlico 6 59.2 Hiwassee 7 51.6 Catawba 8 49.5 Lumber 9 48.6 Roanoke 10 47.5 Broad 11 42.7 French Broad 12 42.6 Little Tennessee 13 40.9 Chowan 14 25.1 Savannah 15 19.8 New 16 14.7 Watauga 17 9.0 38

NCPIRG

NCPIRG Education Fund 112 S. Blount Street Suite 102 Raleigh, NC 27601