Catawba River below Lake Hickory Dam.

Photo by J. Wes Bobbitt. Flight by Southwings.

McCrary Creek, Mooresville, Lake Norman. Photo by J. Wes Bobbitt.

Gaston County, South Fork of the Catawba. Photo by J. Wes Bobbitt

I-77, Lake Norman. Photo by J. Wes Bobbitt

Hwy. 49, Lake Wylie. Photo by J. Wes Bobbitt

Sun City, Indian Lands, SC

Photo by J. Wes Bobbitt

Lowes Headquarters, Mooresville, NC

Lake Norman

Photo by J. Wes Bobbitt

Buffer zone destruction

Landfill near Catawba in Alexander County. Photo by J. Wes Bobbitt.

Photo by J. Wes Bobbitt

Polluted Surface WatersOver the past 20 years, non-point source pollution sources have increased Over the past 20 years, non-point source pollution sources have increased

by over 55% in our region due to the change in land cover.by over 55% in our region due to the change in land cover.

Lake Wylie Dam

Water Quality Issues Too many nutrients,

leading to

eutrophication and

too little dissolved oxygen Acid rain Mercury Fecal coliform (improper sewage treatment, sewage

spills, line leakage, and boat discharges) Sedimentation

1 inch rainfall on an acre of woods produces no runoff.

The same one inch of rainfall on one acre of asphalt will produce approximately 26,000 gallons of runoff.

Development (continued)

A one-acre parking lot produces 25,806 gallons of stormwater for every inch of rain compared with 1,630 gallons from a one-acre meadow.

Two thirds of the nation's polluted runoff comes from highways and roads.

Sediment

Bacteria

Metals

Pesticides

Fertilizers

Petroleum

Non-Point Source Pollutants

Pollution from development

Regional Land Cover Change1984 to 2003

Provided by American Forests

1984

Volume + Velocity Change in Natural Stream Flow

=

14 feet

Polluted, Sediment Filled Streams and Lakes

More People = More Pollution

Uses Lost

The Charlotte Observer-Layne Bailey

Photo by J. Wes Bobbitt

Who must obtain the permit? Easy:

The “operator.”

Who is the “operator?” Not so easy.

Operator:(1) operational control over the site specifications

(2) day-to-day operational control of those activities at the site necessary to ensure compliance.

Normandy Rd., Mooresville, Lake Norman

Normandy Rd., Mooresville, Lake Norman

Normandy Rd., Mooresville, Lake Norman

Norman Point Subdivision, Denver, Lake Norman

Norman Point Subdivision, Denver, Lake Norman