North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality - PowerPoint Presentation

North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources (DWR) – Basin Planning Branch Environmental Management Commission 2019 Annual Basinwide Water Resource Management Report September 12, 2019 Nora Deamer

Basin Planning 2 Watershed-based approach to managing water resources Considers the cumulative impacts to all activities across a river basin (point and nonpoint sources of pollution) Provides a single location to present water quality and water quantity related issues Basin plan required every 10 years (General Statute 143-215.8B )

3 Biological Monitoring (Benthic and Fish) Ambient Stream Monitoring(Physical and Chemical Parameter) NPDES Permits & Violations, Return Flows Data Collected by Outside Agencies (Coalitions, Watershed Groups, etc.)Fish Consumption Advisories (DHHS) Swimming Advisories & Shellfish Closures (DMF) Algal Toxin Analysis Local Water Supply Plans (LWSPs) Water Withdrawal & Transfer Registration (WWATR) Interbasin Transfer (IBT) Certifications Groundwater Lakes Ambient Monitoring Streamflow Data (USGS) Instream Flow Requirements Projections (Supply & Demand) Basin Planning Land Use & Land Cover Public Water Supply Capacity Use Area

Basin Planning4 5 Years 5 Years Modeling

5 2019 Annual Report on Basinwide Water Resource Management Plans § 143-215.8B (d).  Basinwide water quality management plans As a part of the report required pursuant to G.S. 143-355(p), the Commission and the Department shall each report on or before November 1 of each year on an annual basis to the Environmental Review Commission on the progress in developing and implementing basinwide water quality management plans and on increasing public involvement and public education in connection with basinwide water quality management planning . The report to the Environmental Review Commission by the Department shall include a written statement as to all concentrations of heavy metals and other pollutants in the surface waters of the State that are identified in the course of preparing or revising the basinwide water quality management plans. § 143-355 (p).  Report - The Department of Environmental Quality shall report to the Environmental Review Commission on the implementation of this section, including the development of basinwide hydrologic models , no later than November 1 of each year. The Department shall submit the report required by this subsection with the report on basinwide water management plans required by G.S> 143-215.8B(d) as a single report. Link to 143-215.8B: https://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/statutes/statutelookup.pl?statute=143-215.8B Link to 143-355: https://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/statutes/statutelookup.pl?statute=143-355

6 2019 Annual Report on Basinwide Water Resource Management Plans Per G.S. 143-215.8B(d) and 143-355(p), the Commission and the Department shall report on: Progress on hydrologic model development Progress in developing basin plans Progress in implementing basin plans Public involvement Public education All concentrations of heavy metals in surface waters - in the course of preparing or revising a basin plan Other pollutants in surface waters identified – in the course of preparing or revising a basin plan

7 2019 Annual Report on Basinwide Water Resource Management Plans Report includes river basin specific information to address the seven required components per the General Statute for the time period of July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019 1) Progress on hydrologic model development: Hydrologic model development for the New-Watauga and French Broad River basins are near completion (2020) Hydrologic models for the Yadkin-Pee Dee and the Lumber River Basins will begin in 2020 after those listed above are complete

8 2019 Annual Report on Basinwide Water Resource Management Plans 2) Progress in developing basin plans: Watauga River Basin plan was approved by the EMC in October 2018. Chowan River Basin will be out for public comment within the next few months and presented to the EMC in early 2020. White Oak River Basin update is well underway. The water supply assessment is complete. Currently incorporating shellfish and oyster harvesting information as well as incorporating CHPP implementation efforts. Neuse River NSW, estuarine and trends interpretations and assessment is underway. Work has begun on the Yadkin-Pee Dee River basin plan and work will begin on the upper and middle portions of the Cape Fear River basin as well as the Pasquotank and Broad River basins.

9 2019 Annual Report on Basinwide Water Resource Management Plans 3) Progress in implementing basin plans: Ongoing activities are briefly discussed for each of the 17 river basins. These include special study results, algal issues and other general water quality or quantity concerns.

10 2019 Annual Report on Basinwide Water Resource Management Plans 4) Public Involvement: Basin planners continually work with stakeholders as the basin plans are being developed to learn about local concerns and implementation efforts underway by watershed groups, local governments and resource agencies as well as university researchers. Draft basin plans are released for public comment for a minimum of 30 days prior to finalization and submission to EMC for review and approval.

11 2019 Annual Report on Basinwide Water Resource Management Plans 5) Public Education: Basin planners routinely meet with watershed stakeholders and provide presentations on basin specific issues as well as general water quality and quantity topics. Over the last year, planners presented at the WRRI annual conference, Science Advisory Council meetings, Chatham Conservation Partnership meeting, Rocky River Management Team meetings, and internal DWR training sessions. Planners have also participated in many internal and external discussions related to basin planning and protecting water resources. DWR and basin planners have worked over the last several years to increase access to the information presented in the basin plans. Much of the information can be found online including open data websites, interactive online maps and story maps (e.g. Watauga River Basin StoryMap )

12 2019 Annual Report on Basinwide Water Resource Management Plans 6) and 7) Report on the concentration of heavy metals and other pollutants in surface waters identified in the course of preparing and revising a basin plan: Updated report to reflect the approved 2018 Integrated Report (IR) summaries. Updated report to include the new dissolved metals water quality standards which were reflected in the 2018 IR. Updated basin specific sections with DWR special study results if available at time of completing the 2019 annual report. (e.g., algal bloom reports, Identification of Select Emerging Compounds in B. Everett Jordan Reservoir, Haw River Arm Watershed and New Hope Creek Arm Watershed report )

13 2019 Annual Basinwide Water Management Plan Report Annual Report to the General Assembly Environmental Review Commission on Basinwide Water Resource Management Plans - July1, 2018 to June 30, 2019 Per G.S. 143-215.8B(d) and 143-355(p), the Commission and the Department shall report on: Progress on hydrologic model development Progress in developing basin plans Progress in implementing basin plans Public involvement Public education All concentrations of heavy metals in surface waters - in the course of preparing or revising a basin plan Other pollutants in surface waters identified – in the course of preparing or revising a basin plan

14 Action Requested Request approval to send the 2019 Annual Report on Basinwide Water Resource Management Plans to the Environmental Review Commission. Nora Deamer nora.deamer@ncdenr.gov 919.707.9116 Water Resources Management Basin Model Basin Plan