Native Fish Species Returned to Richland Creek

Biologists from DWQ are reintroducing several species of native fish to the upper reaches of Richland Creek in Haywood County - a testament to improvements in the creek's water quality and habitat. Thousands of rock bass, warpaint shiners, river chubs, Tuckasegee and greenfin darters and mottled sculpins were released in April to waters upstream of the Lake Junaluska dam. They are now able to populate waters that were once too polluted to support them.
Historically, Richland Creek had suffered from industrial discharges and spills, straight piping of untreated wastewater, hydrologic modifications, agricultural impacts and habitat degradation. However, in recent years DWQ staff has worked with the town of Waynesville, Haywood Waterways Association and the Haywood Soil and Water District to reduce ongoing impacts to the stream and to improve water quality and habitat.
Ed Williams, of the DWQ Asheville Regional Office, has worked with local groups over the past several years to bring improvements to the river. "We've made improvements but without the return of the native species, these waters would never be as they once were."
Fishery biologists from DWQ's Biological Assessment Unit, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, the Tennessee Valley Authority and University of Tennessee-Knoxville looked at other streams in similar watersheds to determine which fish species may have lived in Richland Creek years ago. The fish may have repopulated themselves, except for the barrier posed by the dam.
Twice a year, spring and fall, DWQ biologists will be collecting native fish from downstream areas and reintroducing them upstream. BAU staff will conduct an initial assessment of the repopulation effort in 2012. Once the population establishes itself, DWQ will continue to monitor the fish populations every five years at a minimum.

NPDES Program Streamlines for Better Customer Service

The DWQ NPDES Permitting and Compliance Program is making changes in order to provide more efficient customer service for permitting and compliance. National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits are issued to municipalities and industrial facilities that treat wastewater from domestic and/or industrial sources and discharge the treated wastewater to streams, rivers or other waterbodies. Beginning April 1, the program is divided into the Compliance and Expedited Permitting Unit and the Complex Permit Unit.
The Compliance and Expedited Permitting Unit handles all NPDES wastewater compliance and enforcement actions. It also issues general permits and permits for facilities that are allowed to discharge less than one million gallons per day. Jeff Poupart is the primary contact for this unit - jeff.poupart@ncdenr.gov, (919) 807-6309.
Facilities that discharge equal to or more than one million gallons per day or that have complex permit needs are handled by the Complex Permitting Unit. The primary contact person for this unit is Tom Belnick - tom.belnick@ncdenr.gov, (919) 807-6390.

Partners Reduce Pollution in Little Ivy Creek

Fencing and the installation of alternative watering facilities, like the one pictured, helped improve 2.6 miles of Little Ivy Creek.

Pollution from nonpoint sources, including problems with agricultural operations, had affected the 60-000 acre Ivy River watershed for years. Little Ivy Creek in Madison County was suffering from high levels of fecal coliform, nutrients and sediment. The problem was so bad that even the aquatic insects that live in the stream were having a hard time. As a result, in 2002 the N.C. Division of Water Quality put Little Ivy Creek on its list of impaired waters.

In response, community partners came together to improve water quality in the creek. Several projects were launched with the primary focus on agricultural best management practices. More than 48,000 linear feet of livestock exclusion fencing was installed to keep livestock out of the stream - a big help in reducing the fecal coliform counts and erosion. A total of 170 alternative watering facilities were also installed. Pasture and hay managment plans protected 530 acres of natural area. In addition, a farm access road was constructed, 30 acres of streamside vegetated buffer and 25 feed/waste management structures.

As a result, the bug and fish populations improved and Little Ivy Creek was removed from the impaired waters list in 2008.

Joining DWQ in the effort to improve water quality were the state Division of Soil and Water, Madison County government, UNC-Asheville, the Clean Water Management Trust Fund, the state Department of Transportation, the stat Wildlife Resources Commission and the Tennessee Valley Authority.  Learn more about this project on the US Environmental Protection Agency Web site at: http://www.epa.gov/nps/success/state/nc_ivy.htm

Revised General Construction Stormwater Permit

The Revised General Permit to Discharge Stormwater from Construction Activities is Available

Did you know that in just one rain event, poor erosion and sediment control practices can contribute nearly a ton of sediment per acre to a stream? Construction activities - including clearing, grading and excavation activities -  which will result in the disturbance of one or more acres of total land area are subject to the requirements of this general permit. Included are requirements for implementation of an approved sediment and erosion control plan, monitoring of sediment and erosion control measures and areas where stormwater leaves the site, and providing the operation and maintenance practices necessary to maintain the optimal performance of the stormwater controls. Want more information? Click here...

Falls Lake Nutrient Strategy

The Environmental Management Commission has approved draft rules to protect and restore Falls Lake Reservoir, in the upper Neuse River watershed. The primary drinking water source for Raleigh and nearby communities, Falls Lake was listed as impaired for chlorophyll-a on the draft 2008 state impaired waters list. High levels of chlorophyll-a often indicate problems with nutrients coming into the lake in excessive amounts. The portion of the lake above I-85 was also listed for turbidity - the suspension of soil in the water column - a result of land disturbing activity.

Draft rules were approved by the Environmental Management Commission at their March 11 meeting. The rules require reductions of nutrients from several sources including agriculture, new development, existing development and wastewater treatment plants. The two-stage approach is spread out over 25 years and includes opportunities for evaluating progress and adjusting  requirements appropriately. Public hearings have been scheduled for June 30 in Durham and July 1 in Raleigh. Public comments will be accepted until Aug. 16. To learn more, visit DWQ's Fall's Lake Nutrient Strategy website.