4.5 River Basins
T ABLE 4.82 Water quality classifcation and rating information for the Tar–Pamlico River Basin
Percent (Basin Waters)
Percent (Basin Waters)
Percent (Basin Waters)
Freshwater Miles
Freshwater Acres
Coastal Acres
Classifcations
Total Basin Waters
9,766
—
63,936
— <1 —
614,982 536,602
— 87
HQW ORW
635 231
7 2
99 —
24,178
4
Percent (Monitored Waters)
Percent (Monitored Waters)
Percent (Monitored Waters)
Freshwater Miles
Freshwater Acres
Coastal Acres
Use Ratings
Total Monitored
2,544
— 37
3,977 3,602
— 91
663,504 585,813 73,344
— 88 11 — <1
Supporting Impaired Not Rated
931
98
4 6
370
9
161
—
— <1
—
No Data
1,353
53
5
4,347
* Total Basin Waters estimated from National Hydrography Dataset (NHD), April 2015 (EPA 2014b) .
Te Pamlico Sound estuarine system is somewhat protected from oceanic infuences because of the Outer Banks barrier islands. Te estuary dynamics, including tidal, climatic, long retention time and nutrient loading conditions, enable eutrophication processes within the Pamlico River. During low-fow conditions, wind and tidal saltwater intrusion in the Tar River has been documented up to Greenville. Due to excessive levels of nutrients resulting in massive algal blooms and fsh kills, the entire Tar–Pamlico River Basin was designated as nutrient-sensitive water (NSW) in 1989. Tis designation resulted in the development and implementation of a nutrient manage- ment strategy to achieve a decrease in total nitrogen by 30% and no increase in total phos- phorus loads compared to 1991 conditions. Tere are no natural lakes in the Piedmont, but there are a few reservoirs that serve as water supplies and food control structures. Old millponds and Beaver impoundments are scattered across this region. Te most recent version of the NCDENR dam inventory reports 255 registered impoundments in the Tar–Pamlico River Basin; 227 of these are listed as privately owned ponds or lakes used primarily for recreation (NCDEMLR 2014) . Impoundments and reservoirs owned by local governments or agencies are used primarily for drinking water supply, recreation, or irrigation.
617
2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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