Water Quality Within the Lower Cape Fear River Watersheds, 2012

Water Quality Within the Lower Cape Fear River Watersheds, 2012

Matthew McIver, Dr. Michael Mallin, Dr. James Merritt

Lower Cape Fear River ProgramAquatic Ecology Laboratory

UNC Wilmington Center for Marine ScienceJanuary 2014

Lower Cape Fear River Program (LCFRP)

• Multiparameter water quality monitoring program including physical, chemical and biological

analyses

• 35 stations in Cape Fear, Black and Northeast Cape Fear River watersheds

• Aquatic Ecology Laboratory (AEL) at the UNCW Center for Marine Science

North Carolina Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (NCDENR) Division of Water Quality (DWQ) Basinwide Water Quality Plan

Use support ratings Numerical standard exceeded in < 10% of samples = Supporting Numerical standard exceeded in > 10% of samples = Impaired Less than 10 samples collected = Not Rated

DO and pH standard exceeded in swamp streams = Not Rated

UNCW AEL use support ratingsNumerical standard exceeded in < 10% of samples = Rated GoodNumerical standard exceeded in 11-25% of samples = Rated FairNumerical standard exceeded in >25% of samples = Rated Poor

North Carolina State StandardsDissolved Oxygen (DO) 5.0 mg/LSwampwater DO 4.0 mg/LChlorophyll a 40 mg/LFecal coliform bacteria 200 CFU/100 mL (human contact)Enterococcus 276 MPN/100 mL (human contact)Turbidity

freshwater 50 NTUbrackish/seawater 25 NTU

UNCW AEL suggested StandardsNitrate or ammonium small streams 200 ug/L

blackwater rivers 500 ug/Lbrownwater rivers 1,000 ug/L

Total Phosphorus 500 ug/L

Cape Fear River Watershed8 Digit Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) 03030005

BRN , HAM, NC11, LVC2, AC, DP, IC, NAV, HB,BRR, M61, M54, M35, M23, M18

Cape Fear River, Harrison Ck, Turnbull Ck, Brown Ck, White Lake, Livingston Ck, Town Ck,

Cape Fear River Estuary

Elizabethtown, White Lake, Tar Heel, East Arcadia, Dublin, White Lake, Wilmington,

Navassa, Belville, Southport

NCDENR DWQ

2005 Basinwide Water Quality Plan

NPDES Dischargers: 48 @ 113.6 MGD

Registered swine operations = 57

Total Area = 985 mi2 Stream Miles = 586

Impaired for Fish Consumption in all waters (Hg)Impaired in Estuary for DO – TMDL suggested

BRN - representative of shallow creeks

NC11 - main stem of Cape Fear River

HB – Upper Estuary

M23 – Lower Estuary

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Dis

solv

ed O

xyge

n (m

g/L)

Dissolved Oxygen concentrations at LVC2, rated Poorfor 2012. The dashed line shows the NC State

Standard of 4.0 mg/L.

0123456789

1011


Dis

solv

ed O

xyge

n (m

g/L)

Dissolved Oxygen concentrations at LCFRP stations HB, BRR and M61, rated Poor for 2012. The dashed

line shows the NC State Standard of 5.0 mg/L.

0200400600800

100012001400160018002000


Feca

l Col

iform

Bac

teria

(cfu

/100

mL)

Fecal Coliform Bacteria concentrations at LCFRP stations BRN, HAM and LVC2, rated Poor for 2012. The dashed line shows the NC Human Contact Standard,

200 cfu/100 mL.

Black River Watershed8 Digit HUC 03030006

6RC, LCO, GCO, SR, B210, COL, BBT

South River, Little Black River, Big Ck, Black River, Six Runs Ck, Great Coharie Ck, Little

Coharie Ck, Black River, Colly Ck, Moores Ck,Singletary Lake

Angier, Benson, Coats, Dunn,Roseboro, Erwin, Garland, Clinton, Harrels, Magnolia, Newton Grove, Roseboro, Turkey,

Warsaw, Atkinson

NCDENR DWQ




Total Area = 1,577 mi2 Stream Miles = 1,039

Impaired for Fish Consumption in all waters

South River Great Coharie Creek

Colly Creek Black River at 210

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7


Dis

solv

ed O

xyge

n (m

g/L)

Dissolved Oxygen concentrations at SR, rated Poorduring 2012. The dashed line shows the NC State

Standard 4.0 mg/L.

0

100

200

300

400

500

600


Feca

l Col

iform

Bac

teria

(cfu

/100

ml)

Fecal Coliform bacteria concentrations at GCO and SR, rated Poor during 2012. The dashed line shows the

NC State human contact standard, 200 cfu/100 mL.

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400


Nitr

ate

(mg/

L)

Nitrate concentrations at 6RC, LCO and GCO, rated Poor during 2012. The dashed line represents the AEL

recommended standard of 200 mg/L.

0200400600800

1,0001,2001,4001,6001,8002,000


Tota

l Pho

spho

rus

(mg/

L)

Total Phosphorus concentrations at GCO, rated Poorduring 2012. The dashed line shows the AEL

recommended standard, 500 mg/L.

Northeast Cape Fear River Watershed8 Digit HUC 03030007

NC403, SAR, GS, PB, LRC, ROC, ANC, BCRR, BC117, NCF117, NCF6, SC-CH

NE Cape Fear River, Matthews Ck, NE Cape Fear River, Rockfish Ck, Muddy Ck, Limestone Ck,

Smith Ck, Burgaw Ck, Burnt Mill Ck

Mt. Olive, Beulaville, Chinquapin, Faison,Greenevers, Harrells, Kenansville,

Pink Hill, Rose Hill, Teachey, Wallace,Burgaw, Watha, St. Helen, Wilmington

NCDENR DWQ




Total Area = 1,743 mi2 Stream Miles = 1,102

Impaired for Fish Consumption in all waters

Impaired for Low Dissolved Oxygen in Goshen Swamp, Muddy Ck, portions on NE River, Burnt

Mill Ck

NC403

Rockfish Creek

Panther Branch

N117

0123456789

1011


Dis

solv

ed O

xyge

n (m

g/L)

Dissolved Oxygen concentrations at BC117 and BCRR, rated Poor for 2012. The dashed line shows the NC

State Standard, 4.0 mg/L.

0123456789

101112


Dis

solv

ed O

xyge

n (m

g/L)

Dissolved Oxygen concentrations at NC403 and GS, rated Poor for 2012. The dashed line shows the NC

State Standard, 4.0 mg/L.

0

200

400

600

800

1000


Feca

l Col

iform

Bac

teria

(cfu

/100

mL)

Fecal Coliform concentrations at PB, LRC and ROC rated Poor during 2012. The dashed line represents the NC State

human contact standard of 200 cfu/100 mL.

0

200

400

600

800

1000


Feca

l Col

iform

Bac

teria

(cfu

/100

mL)

Fecal Coliform concentrations at BC117, BCRR and SC-CHrated Poor during 2012. The dashed line represents the NC

State human contact standard of 200 cfu/100 mL.

0

200

400

600

800

1000

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DECFe

cal C

olifo

rm B

acte

ria (c

fu/1

00 m

L)

Fecal Coliform concentrations at NC403, SAR and GSrated Poor during 2012. The dashed line represents the NC State

human contact standard of 200 cfu/100 mL.

0100200300400500600700800900

1,000


Nitr

ate

(mg/

L)

Nitrate concentrations at NC403, SAR and ROC rated Poor during 2012. The dashed line represents the AEL


0100200300400500600700800900

1,000


Nitr

ate

(mg/

L)

Nitrate concentrations at ANC, BC117 and BCRR rated Poor during 2012. The dashed line represents the AEL


0100200300400500600700800900

1000


Tota

l Pho

spho

rus

(mg/

L)Total Phosphorus concentrations at ROC and N403, rated Fair for 2012. The dashed line shows the AEL


2012 Water Quality Ratings for the Cape Fear River Watershed Stations

Station DO Turbidity Chl a FC/Entero NIT TP

BRN G G G P P G

HAM G G G P G G

NC11 G G G G F G

LVC2 P G G P P G

AC G G G G P G

DP G G G G P G

IC G G G G G G

NAV F G G G G G

HB P F G G G G

BRR P F G G G G

M61 P G G F G G

M54 G G G G G G

M35 G G G F G G

M23 G G G F G G

M18 G G G F G G

2012 Water Quality Ratings for the NE Cape Fear River Watershed Stations

Station DO Turb Chla FC NIT TP

NC403 P G G P P F

SAR G G G P P G

GS P G G P G G

PB G G G P G G

LRC G G G P F G

ROC G G G P P F

ANC F G G P P G

BC117 P G G P P F

BCRR P G G P P G

NCF117 F G G G P G

NCF6 F G G G G G

SC-CH F G G P

2012 Water Quality Ratings for the Black RiverWatershed Stations

Station DO Turbidity Chl a FC NIT TP

6RC G G G F P G

LCO G G G F P G

GCO G G G P P P

SR P G G P G G

B210 G G G G G G

COL F G G G G G

BBT F G G

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

DO TURB CHLA FC/ENT NIT TP

Water Quality Ratings for All Stations During 2012

poorfairgood

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

DO TURB CHL A FC NITRATE TP

Water Quality Ratings for the Black River Watershed Stations 2012

poor

fair

good

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

DO TURB CHL A FC/ENT NITRATE TP

Water Quality Ratings for the Cape Fear River Watershed Stations 2012

poor

fair

good

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

DO TURB CHL A FC NITRATE TP

Water Quality Ratings for the NE Cape Fear River Watershed Stations 2012

poor

fair

good

70%10%

20%

Water Quality Ratings for All Stations, All Parameters during 2012

good

fair

poor

74%12%

14%

Water Quality Ratings for All Stations, All Parameters 1996-2012

good

fair

poor

The following analyses include LowerCape Fear River Program data

for the period 1996-2012

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

Dissolved Oxygen Ratings for the Cape Fear River Watershed Stations 1996-2012

poorfairgood

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

Dissolved Oxygen Ratings for the NE Cape Fear River watershed Stations 1996-2012

poor

fair

good19

9619

9719

9819

9920

0020

0120

0220

0320

0420

0520

0620

0720

0820

0920

1020

1120

12

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

Dissolved Oxygen Ratings for the Black River Watershed Stations 1996-2012

poorfairgood

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

Dissolved Oxygen Ratings for all LCFRP Sta-tions 1996-2012

poor

fair

good

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

Turbidity Ratings for all LCFRP Stations1996-2012

poor

fair

good

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

Turbidity Ratings for the Black River Wa-tershed Stations 1996-2012

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

Turbidity Ratings for the Cape Fear River Wa-tershed Stations 1996-2012

poor

fair

good

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

Turbidity Ratings for the NE Cape Fear River Watershed Stations 1996-2012

poor

fair

good

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

Chlorophyll a Ratings for the Cape Fear River Watershed Stations 1996-2012

poor

fair

good

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

Chlorophyll a Ratings for all LCFRP Stations 1996-2012

poor

fair

good

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

Chlorophyll a Ratings for the NE Cape Fear River Watershed Stations 1996-2012

poorfairgood

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

Chlorophyll a Ratings for the Black River Wa-tershed Stations 1996-2012

poor

fair

good

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

Fecal Coliform/Enterococcus Ratings for All LCFRP Stations 1996-2012

poor

fair

good

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

Fecal Coliform Ratings for the Black River Wa-tershed Stations 1996-2012

poorfairgood

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

Fecal Coliform/Enterococcus Ratings for the Cape Fear River Watershed Stations

1996-2012

poorfairgood

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

Fecal Colform Ratings for the NE Cape Fear River Watershed Stations 1996-2012

poor

fair

good

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%19

9619

9719

9819

9920

0020

0120

0220

0320

0420

0520

0620

0720

0820

0920

1020

1120

12

Total Phosphorus Ratings for AllLCFRP Stations 1996-2012

poorfairgood

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Total Phosphorus Ratings for the Black River Watershed Stations 1996-2012

poor

fair

good

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Total Phosphorus Ratings for the Cape Fear River Watershed Stations 1996-2012

poor

fair

good

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Total Phosphorus Ratings for the NE Cape Fear River Watershed Stations 1996-2012

poor

fair

good

Dissolved Oxygen ratings for the Cape Fear RiverStation 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012BRN G G G G G F G G G G G G G G G G G

HAM G F F F G G F F G F G F F F F G G

NC11 G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G

LVC F F F G G G F F F P G P P P P P P

AC G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G

DP F P G G P G G F G F G G F F G

IC P F P P G F P F F F G P G G F F G

NAV F F P P P F P G F F P G F G F F F

HB F P P F F G F G F F P F F P F F P

BRR F F P G F G F G F G F F F P P F P

M61 F F F F F G F G F F P P F F F F P

M54 P G G F F G F G G G P G G F F G G

M42 F G G G F G G G G G F F G G G G

M35 F G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G

M23 G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G

M18 G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G

SPD G F G G F G G G G F G G G G

Fecal Coliform Bacteria ratings for the Cape Fear RiverStation 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012BRN F F P F G G F F F G P P P P P P P

HAM F F P P P F P P P F P F P P P P P

NC11 G G G G G G G G G G G G F G G G G

LVC G G F F F G G G G G F G F P G F P

AC G G F G G G G G G G F G F G G G G

DP G F F G G G G G G G G G G G G G

IC G G F G G G G G G G G G G G G G G

NAV G G P G G F G G G G G G G F G G G

HB G G F G G F G G G G G G G F G G G

BRR G G F G G G G G G G G G G G G G G

M61 G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G F

M54 G G G G G G G G G G F G G G G G G

M42 G G G G G G G G G G F G G G G G

M35 G G G G G G F G G G G G G G G G F



SPD G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G

Dissolved Oxygen ratings for the NE Cape Fear RiverStation 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012NC403 P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P

PB P P G P P P P F F G G G G G G G

GS P F P P F P P P P P P P F P P P P

SAR F G F F G F F F G G G G G G G G G

LRC G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G

ROC F G F G G G G F G G G G G G G G G

ANC F F F P P P P P P P F P F F P P F

BC117 G G G G G F G G G G G G G G F G P

BCRR G F F F F P P F P P G P P F P P P

NCF117 F G F P F F F P G F P G G G F F F

NCF6 F G G G G G F G F G F G G G F F F

SC-CH G F F

Fecal Coliform ratings for the NE Cape Fear River

Station 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012NC403 P P F G G G G G F P P F F F P

PB G P G F G F F P P P P P P P F P

GS G F P G F F F G F P F P P G F F P

SAR G G G F G G F G G F P F F P P P P

LRC P P P P P P P F F G P F P P P P P

ROC G G F F F F F F F G P G P P F F P

ANC G G G F G G P F F F F F F G G F P

BCRR P P P P P P P F P P P F P P P P P

BC117 P P P P F P P P P P P P P P P P P

NCF117 G G G G G G G G G G F F G G G G G

NCF6 G G F G G G G G G G G G G G G G G

SC-CH F P P

Total Phosphorus ratings for the NE Cape Fear RiverStation 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012NC403 G F F F P F P G F G G F G G F

SAR G G G F G G G G G G G G G G G G G

GS G G G G G G G G G G G F G G G G G

PB G G G G G G G G F G G G F F F G

LRC P P F G G G G G G G G G G G G G G

ROC G G F G G P P G G G G P G G P P F

ANC G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G

BC117 P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P F

BCRR G G G G G G G G G G G G G G F G G

NCF117 G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G

NCF6 G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G

Dissolved Oxygen ratings for the Black River

Station 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 20126RC F G F G G G F G G G G G G G G G G

LCO G G G G G G G F G G G G G G G G G

GCO F G F F G F F P F G F G F G G G G

SR P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P

COL F G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G

B210 F G G F G G G G G G G G G G G G F

BBT F G G F G G G F G G F G G G F F

Fecal Coliform Bacteria ratings for the Black River

Station 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012SR F G F F G F P G G F F P P F P F F

6RC F G G G F G F G F G F P P F P P F

LCO F G F G G G G G G G G F F G P F P

GCO F G F F G G G G G F G G G G F F P

COL G G G G G G G G G G G F F G G G G

B210 G G G G G G G G G G F G F G G G G

BBT

Total Phosphorus ratings for the Black River

Station 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 20126RC G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G

LCO G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G

GCO G G G G G G F G G G F F F G F P P

SR G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G

COL G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G

B210 G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G

BBT

5/31/2012

6/20/2012

7/10/2012

7/30/2012

8/19/2012

9/8/2012

05

1015202530354045

NC11 Chlorophyll a vs. Date

Surface Film Surface

Chlo

roph

yll a

(µg/

L)

5/31/2012

6/20/2012

7/10/2012

7/30/2012

8/19/2012

9/8/2012

0

20

40

60

80

100

AC Chlorophyll a vs. Date


Chlo

roph

yll a

(µg/

L)

5/31/2012

6/20/2012

7/10/2012

7/30/2012

8/19/2012

9/8/2012

02468

1012141618

DP Chlorophyll a vs. Date


Chlo

roph

yll a

(µg/

L)

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 1000.01.02.03.04.05.06.07.08.09.0

f(x) = 0.0568010376040609 x + 1.23091986183452R² = 0.537912151807406

Chlorophyll a vs. BOD5 (Surface Film)

Chlorophyll a (µg/L)

BOD5

(mg/

L)

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 400.00.51.01.52.02.53.03.54.04.5

f(x) = 0.0893488638963163 x + 1.0420532744312R² = 0.662604110734319

Chlorophyll a vs. BOD5 (sub-surface)


BOD5

(mg/

L)

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 1000.01.02.03.04.05.06.07.08.09.0

f(x) = 0.0596404507605849 x + 1.22801365227881R² = 0.56314455195459

Chlorophyll a vs. BOD5 (all)


BOD5

(mg/

L)2012 Chlorophyll a vs BOD ConcentrationsBoth surface film samples and sub-surface (10 cm deep) bottle grabs yielded strong statistical relationships between the two parameters.Decaying phytoplankton blooms provide a highly digestible BOD source to river bacteria.The Cape Fear is under a TMDL for low dissolved oxygen, and these new blooms have not been considered in prior modeling efforts.

Conditions for the Blooms

• These blooms have occurred June through September from 2009 through 2012; Water temperatures have ranged from 25.6 – 32.2oC at NC11

• Strictly a freshwater phenomenon, although in 2012 portions of the blooms were reported by biologists to be seen in the downtown dock areas in Wilmington, an oligohaline area

• Reduced river discharge appears to enhance bloom formation. Average river discharge at Lock and Dam #1 from May – September 1995 – 2010 was approximately 3,580 CFS. Average discharge for those “warm season” months in 2009 was 1,898 CFS; for 2010 it was 1,769 CFS, and for 2011 it was 1,210 CFS; i.e. low flow conditions increase the chance for bloom formation.

• In August 2012 heavy rains in the Piedmont increased river discharge and appeared to flush out the major July blooms.

• First publication is now out: • Isaacs, J.D., W.K. Strangman, M.A. Mallin, M.R. McIver, and J.L.C. Wright. 2014. Microcystins and two new micropeptin cyanopeptides produced by unprecedented Microcystis aeruginosa blooms in North Carolina’s Cape Fear River. Harmful Algae.31:82-86.

Water Quality Within the Lower Cape Fear River Watersheds, 2012

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