CHOWAN RIVER BASINWIDE WATER QUALITY PLAN July 2002 Prepared by: NC Department of Environment & Natural Resources Division of Water Quality/Planning 1617 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1617 (919) 733-5083, ext. 374 This document was approved and endorsed by the NC Environmental Management Commission on July 11, 2002 to be used as a guide by the NC Division of Water Quality in carrying out its Water Quality Program duties and responsibilities in the Chowan River basin. This plan is the first five-year update to the Chowan River Basinwide Water Quality Management Plan approved by the NC Environmental Management Commission in September 1997. No state funds were used to print this public document. This publication was funded through the Clean Water Act’s Section 319 Program and the Nonpoint Source Program Section 6217. TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................ x Section A – General Basinwide Information ................................................................................. 1 Chapter 1 – Introduction to Basinwide Water Quality Planning................................................... 2 1.1 What is Basinwide Water Quality Planning?................................................. 2 1.2 Goals of Basinwide Water Quality Planning ................................................. 2 1.3 Major Components of the Basinwide Plan..................................................... 4 1.4 Benefits of Basinwide Water Quality Planning ............................................. 4 1.5 How to Get Involved...................................................................................... 5 1.6 Other References............................................................................................ 5 1.7 Division of Water Quality Functions and Locations...................................... 6 Chapter 2 – Basin Overview.......................................................................................................... 8 2.1 General Overview .......................................................................................... 8 2.2 Local Governments and Planning Jurisdictions in the Basin....................... 11 2.3 Surface Water Hydrology............................................................................. 11 2.4 Land Cover................................................................................................... 12 2.5 Population and Growth Trends .................................................................... 16 2.6 Natural Resources ........................................................................................ 19 2.6.1 Public Lands in the Chowan River Basin...................................... 19 2.6.2 Ecological Significance of the Chowan River Basin..................... 19 2.6.3 Significant Natural Heritage Areas................................................ 21 2.6.4 Rare and Threatened Aquatic Species in the Chowan River Basin .............................................................................................. 22 2.6.5 Fisheries Resources ....................................................................... 24 2.7 Permitted Wastewater and Stormwater Discharge Facilities ....................... 25 2.7.1 Wastewater Discharges in the Chowan River Basin ..................... 25 2.7.2 Stormwater Discharges in the Chowan River Basin...................... 26 2.8 Animal Operations ....................................................................................... 28 2.9 Water Use..................................................................................................... 32 2.9.1 Local Water Supply Planning........................................................ 32 2.9.2 Water Withdrawals and Interbasin Transfers ................................ 32 Chapter 3 – Summary of Water Quality Information for the Chowan River Basin .................... 35 Table of Contents i 3.1 General Sources of Pollution ....................................................................... 35 3.2 Description of Surface Water Classifications and Standards....................... 36 3.2.1 Program Overview......................................................................... 36 3.2.2 Surface Water Classifications........................................................ 36 3.2.3 Classifications and Standards in the Chowan River Basin............ 37 3.3 DWQ Water Quality Monitoring Programs in the Chowan River Basin..... 39 3.3.1 Benthic Macroinvertebrate Monitoring ......................................... 39 3.3.2 Fish Assessments........................................................................... 42 3.3.3 Aquatic Toxicity Monitoring......................................................... 43 3.3.4 Ambient Monitoring System Program........................................... 44 3.4 Other Water Quality Research ..................................................................... 45 3.4.1 Division of Environmental Health Shellfish Sanitation and Recreational Water Quality Section .............................................. 46 3.4.2 Virginia’s Water Quality Monitoring ............................................ 46 3.5 Use Support Summary ................................................................................. 47 3.5.1 Introduction to Use Support........................................................... 47 3.5.2 Comparison of Use Support Ratings to Streams on the Section 303(d) List ..................................................................................... 48 3.5.3 Use Support Ratings for the Chowan River Basin ........................ 48 Chapter 4 – Water Quality Issues Related to the Entire Chowan River Basin............................ 54 4.1 Overview...................................................................................................... 54 4.2 Biological Monitoring Issues ....................................................................... 54 4.2.1 Draft Criteria for Assessing Benthic Macroinvertebrates in Swamp Streams ............................................................................. 54 4.2.2 Draft Criteria for Assessing Fish Communities............................. 55 4.3 Fish Consumption Advisories...................................................................... 55 4.3.1 Mercury Related Fish Consumption Advisories............................ 55 4.3.2 Dioxin Related Fish Consumption Advisories .............................. 56 4.3.3 2002 Recommendations................................................................. 57 4.4 Growth and Development and Stormwater Management............................ 59 4.4.1 Introduction.................................................................................... 59 4.4.2 Recommendations for Addressing Growth, Development and Stormwater Impacts ....................................................................... 60 4.5 Effects of Hurricanes on Water Quality....................................................... 64 4.5.1 Contaminants ................................................................................. 64 4.5.2 De-Snagging .................................................................................. 65 4.5.3 2002 Recommendations................................................................. 65 4.6 Wetland Loss................................................................................................ 66 4.6.1 Introduction.................................................................................... 66 4.6.2 Physical Impacts to Wetlands and Streams ................................... 66 4.6.3 2002 Recommendations................................................................. 68 Table of Contents ii 4.7 Chowan River Basin Wastewater Discharger Issues ................................... 68 4.7.1 Chowan River Nutrient Sensitive Waters (NSW) Strategy........... 68 4.7.2 Discharges of Oxygen-Consuming Waste to Swamp Waters ....... 69 4.7.3 2002 Recommendations................................................................. 69 4.8 Priority Issues for the Next Five Years ........................................................ 69 4.8.1 Introduction.................................................................................... 69 4.8.2 Strategies for Restoring and Protecting Impaired Waters ............. 70 4.8.3 Addressing Waters on the State’s 303(d) List ............................... 70 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Section B – Water Quality Data and Information by Subbasin................................................... 72 Chapter 1 – Chowan River Subbasin 03-01-01 Includes the Upper Chowan River, Wiccacon River and Ahoskie Creek Watershed................................................................................................................. 73 1.1 Water Quality Overview .............................................................................. 73 1.2 Status and Recommendations for Previously Impaired Waters................... 76 1.2.1 Ahoskie Creek ............................................................................... 77 1.2.2 Wiccacon River (Hoggard Swamp)............................................... 77 1.2.3 Merchants Millpond (Bennetts Creek) .......................................... 78 1.3 Status and Recommendations for Newly Impaired Waters ......................... 78 1.4 Other Water Quality