Presented at the Stakeholder Meeting

Mike Herrmann,

NCEEP Central Watershed Planner

January 27th, 2009

Project Status & Phase I Results

Field and GIS inventory Delineate and characterize drainages Assess Functions Form stakeholder group Review existing Monitoring dataProducts: Critical data gaps identified Goals for the LWP Potential hotspots & projects Monitoring & fieldwork plans Preliminary Assessment Report

Objective: Begin Characterizing Watershed Conditions Process:

Phase I Activities & Products

Functional Assessment

Phase I Assessment

o Diverse aquatic & terrestrial communities o Abundant and diverse microhabitat (sticks,

leaf packs, logs, and root masses)o Limited embeddedness (covering of channel

by fine sediment)o Stable streambankso A variety of bottom substrate (sand, gravel,

cobbles and boulders)o Stream canopy covero Terrestrial habitat is abundant and

provides adequate food and sheltero Promotes propagation of native

and/or threatened specieso Minimally fragmented forestso Forested wetlands and corridors

*Bold specifies that the factor was part of the Phase I Assessment

Phase I Assessment

Assessment Factors

Hexastylis naniflora (Dwarf flowered Heartleaf).

Habitat Function

Water Quality Function

o Chemical, pathogens, and sediments are not excessive

o Riparian zones and wetlands and promote nutrient & sediment uptake

o Stream maintains a hospitable environment for aquatic life

o Attaining its designated use (e.g., biological integrity, recreation, or water supply)

*Bold specifies that the factor was part of the Phase I Assessment

Phase I Assessment

Assessment Factors

Hydrology Function Phase I AssessmentAssessment Factors

o Wooded floodplains to slow flood flows, reducing stress on streams

o Upland areas also have higher amounts of forests, wetlands, or other permeable land cover that encourage infiltration

o Effective transport of water and sedimento Low bank-height ratios (vertical stability)o Reasonably stable streambanks (lateral stability) o Higher base flows, and lower peak flows o Promote groundwater recharge while storing floodwater flows and

deposited sediment

*Bold specifies that the factor was part of the Phase I Assessment

Hydrology – Draft Results Phase I AssessmentForested floodplain & riparian area

Watershed

Disturbed Floodplain

Acres

Total Floodplain

Acres% of Area Disturbed

Indian Creek 1,286 6,130 21%

Howard’s Creek 755 2,612 29%

Middle South Fork 560 1,090 51%

LWP Total 2,601 9,832 26%

100-year floodplain

Floodplain Conditions, Middle Indian Creek

Subwatersheds

Phase I Assessment

Watershed Functions Ratings

Phase I Assessment

• High-functioning: Watershed is functioning efficiently and is resilient to changes in the natural environment.

• Functioning – at risk: Watershed functions are minimally achieved but have been diminished and are at risk to both natural and man-made alterations.

• Low-functioning: existing conditions indicate that function is not being achieved.

Watershed FunctionsHydrology

Phase I Assessment

Watershed FunctionsResults

Phase I Assessment

Funtional Rating

Sub-watersheds

(#)

High 4

At Risk 16

Low 14

Phase I Gaps Phase I Assessment

• How do streams compare to regional reference conditions? • How has drought affected aquatic biology?• Are water quality conditions in streams draining urban subwatersheds

comparable to rural subwatersheds?• Are water quality conditions healthy upstream of Cherryville’s drinking

water intake? • What are the stressors for the lower Indian Creek Impairment?

Monitoring

Phase I Gaps Phase I Assessment

o Streambank Stabilityo Low bank-height ratios (vertical stability)o Microhabitat Condition (sticks, leaf packs, logs, and root

masses)o Limited embeddedness (covering of channel by fine

sediment)o A variety of bottom substrate (sand, gravel, cobbles and

boulders)o Identification of Stream and Wetland Stressorso Identification of Natural Resource Assetso Assess Stormwater BMP opportunities in watersheds

draining Cherryville.

Stream and Wetland Conditions

Instream Monitoring Physical/chemical Biological communities

Channel and riparian zone assessment Stormwater BMP Investigation Wetland Functional Assessments Modeling the benefits of Restoration Practices/BMPs Characterization of watershed condition and function

Phase II Detailed Assessment Report DWQ Monitoring Reports (Water Chemistry, Biology, Wetlands) Source Water Protection (SWP) Program activities Activities to meet the Project Goals

Phase II Objective: Complete assessments to characterize watershed and act on project goals.

Phase II – Detailed Watershed Assessment

Activities

Products

Urban Goals Timeframe

1 - Identify the best subwatersheds and project sites for stormwater BMPs. Short-term

2 - Develop recommendations for improving stormwater management. Short-term

3 - Seek funding for stormwater BMPs identified through the LWP. Long-term

Rural Goals

1 - Work with rural landowners to implement agricultural BMPs within priority subwatersheds. Long-term

2 – Work with Land Trust(s) to develop a rural preservation strategy. Short-term

Watershed-wide Goals

1 – Identify the best subwatersheds for various project types, and rank projects for implementation. Short-term

2 – Evaluate the effectiveness of current local ordinances related to watershed protection, and

A – Establish new local ordinances as needed; and

B- Provide for more effective enforcement of existing rules and ordinances

Long-term

3 – Develop a local Watershed Education Program. Short-term

4 – Develop a Source Water Protection Plan for Cherryville. Short-term

Project GoalsPhase II

Assessment

Phase II Fieldwork Planning Phase II Assessment• Developing Fieldwork Plan

– Entrix under contract to complete the following assessments

Feature Sites Visited Project Report

Impacted Streams 40 (~25 miles) 25 (~15 miles)

Impacted Wetlands 30 (~270ac) 20 (~150 ac)

Stream Preservation

20 Streams (~14 miles)

10 (~10 miles)

Stormwater BMPs Up to 10 stream reaches

3 BMPs

Ag BMPs (modeled BMPs)

0 5

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Winter 2008

Summer 2008

Winter 08/09

Summer 2009

Planning Process Begins

Monitoring Begins

Develop Preliminary FindingsPhase 1 Activities End

Fieldwork (Stream, Wetland, Stormwater, Ag BMPs)

Data Analysis/Summaries

Water Quality, Biologic Monitoring

Watershed Finding Reports

Final Public Meetings

Final Reports

Phase 2 Activities End

Plan Implementation

Phase 3 Activities EndWinter 09/10

• Atlas of Project Sites

• Final Assessment and Recommendations

Monitoring Summary Report

Form Stakeholder Group

Project Timeline