15A NCAC 02B .0308. CATAWBA RIVER BASIN

(a)  Effective February 1, 1976, the adopted classifications assigned to the waters within the Catawba River Basin are set forth in the Catawba River Basin Schedule of Classifications and Water Quality Standards, which may be inspected at the following places:

(1)           the Internet at http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/wq/ps/csu/rules; and

(2)           the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources:

(A)          Mooresville Regional Office

                610 East Center Avenue, Suite 301

                Mooresville, North Carolina;

(B)          Asheville Regional Office

                2090 US Highway 70

                Swannanoa, North Carolina; and

(C)          Division of Water Quality

                Central Office

                512 North Salisbury Street

                Raleigh, North Carolina.

(b)  Unnamed Streams. Such streams entering South Carolina are classified "C."

(c)  The Catawba River Basin Schedule of Classifications and Water Quality Standards was amended effective:

(1)           March 1, 1977 (see Paragraph (d) of this Rule);

(2)           August 12, 1979 (see Paragraph (e) of this Rule);

(3)           April 1, 1982 (see Paragraph (f) of this Rule; Rule);

(4)           January 1, 1985 (see Paragraph (g) of this Rule);

(5)           August 1, 1985 (see Paragraph (h) of this Rule);

(6)           February 1, 1986 (see Paragraph (i) of this Rule);

(7)           March 1, 1989 (see Paragraph (j) of this Rule);

(8)           May 1, 1989 (see Paragraph (k) of this Rule);

(9)           March 1, 1990 (see Paragraph (l) of this Rule);

(10)         August 1, 1990 (see Paragraph (m) of this Rule);

(11)         August 3, 1992 (see Paragraph (n) of this Rule);

(12)         April 1, 1994 (see Paragraph (o) of this Rule);

(13)         July 1, 1995 (see Paragraph (p) of this Rule);

(14)         September 1, 1996 (see Paragraph (q) of this Rule);

(15)         August 1, 1998 (see Paragraph (r) of this Rule);

(16)         April 1, 1999 (see Paragraph (s) of this Rule);

(17)         August 1, 2000 (see Paragraph (t) of this Rule);

(18)         August 1, 2004 (see Paragraph (u) of this Rule);

(19)         May 1, 2007 (see Paragraph (v) of this Rule);

(20)         September 1, 2010 (see Paragraph (w) of this Rule); and

(21)         March 1, 2013 (see Paragraph (x) of this Rule).

(d)  The Schedule of Classifications and Water Quality Standards for the Catawba River Basin was amended effective March 1, 1977 as follows:

(1)           Torrence Branch (Index No. 11-136) from source to North Carolina-South Carolina State Line was reclassified from Class D to Class B; and

(2)           Edwards Branch (Index No. 11-137-8-2-1) from source to Brier Creek was reclassified from Class D to Class C. 

(e)  The Schedule of Classifications and Water Quality Standards for the Catawba River Basin was amended effective August 12, 1979 as follows: Unnamed Tributary to Lower Little River (Robinette Creek) (Index No. 11-69-1.5) from source to Lower Little River was reclassified from Class C to Class B.

(f)  The Schedule of Classifications and Water Quality Standards for the Catawba River Basin was amended effective April 1, 1982 as follows:

(1)           Spainhour Creek (Index No. 11-39-3) from source to Lower Creek was reclassified from Class C (1) to Class C; and

(2)           Allen Creek (Index No. 11-129-5-7-2-4) from source to Maiden Creek was reclassified from Class C to Class A-II.  

(g)  The Schedule of Classifications and Water Quality Standards for the Catawba River Basin was amended effective January 1, 1985 as follows: Catawba Creek from source to N.C. Highway 275 was reclassified from Class C(1) to Class C.

(h)  The Schedule of Classifications and Water Quality Standards for the Catawba River Basin was amended effective August 1, 1985 as follows:

(1)           Brier Creek (Index No. 11-137-8-2) from source to Little Sugar Creek was reclassified from Class C (1) to Class C;

(2)           Little Hope Creek (Index No. 11-137-8-3) from source to Little Sugar Creek was reclassified from Class C (1) to Class C; and

(3)           McMullen Creek (Index No. 11-137-9-5) from source to N.C. Highway 16 was reclassified from Class C (1) to Class C.

(i)  The Schedule of Classification and Water Quality Standards for the Catawba River Basin was amended effective February 1, 1986 with the reclassification of all A-I and A-II streams to WS-I and WS-III in the Catawba River Basin.

(j)  The Schedule of Classifications and Water Quality Standards for the Catawba River Basin was amended effective March 1, 1989 as follows:

Wilson Creek (Index No. 11-38-34) and all tributary waters were reclassified from Class B-trout and Class C-trout to Class B-trout ORW and Class C-trout ORW.

(k)  The Schedule of Classifications and Water Quality Standards for the Catawba River Basin was amended effective May 1, 1989 as follows:

(1)           Henry Fork [Index Nos. 11-129-1-(1) and 11-129-1-(2)] from source to Laurel Creek, including all tributaries, were reclassified from Class WS-I, C and C trout to Class WS-I ORW, C ORW and C trout ORW, except Ivy Creek and Rock Creek which will remain Class C trout and Class C; and

(2)           Jacob Fork [Index Nos. 11-129-2-(1) and 11-129-2-(4)] from source to Camp Creek, including all tributaries, were reclassified from Class WS-III trout and WS-III to WS-III trout ORW and WS-III ORW.

(l)  The Schedule of Classifications and Water Quality Standards for the Catawba River Basin was amended effective March 1, 1990 as follows:

(1)           Upper Creek [Index No. 11-35-2-(1)] from source to Timbered Branch including all tributaries except Timbered Branch (Index No. 11-35-2-9) was reclassified from Class C Trout to Class C Trout ORW; and

(2)           Steels Creek [Index No. 11-35-2-12(1)] from source to Little Fork and all tributaries was reclassified from Class C Trout to Class C Trout ORW.

(m)  The Schedule of Classifications and Water Quality Standards for the Catawba River Basin was amended effective August 1, 1990 as follows:

(1)           The classification for the portion of Mackey Creek [Index No. 11-15-(2)] from Marion Water Supply Intake to Laurel Fork was reclassified from Class C to Class C HQW; 

(2)           Laurel Fork Creek [Index No. 11-15-3] from source to Mackey Creek was reclassified from Class C Tr to Class C Tr HQW;

(3)           Armstrong Creek [Index No. 11-24-14-(1)] from source to Bee Rock Creek was reclassified from Class WS-III Tr to Class WS-III Tr HQW;

(4)           Two segments of Linville River [Index Nos. 11-29-(16) and 11-29-(19)] were reclassified from Class B Tr and Class B to Class B Tr HQW and Class B HQW, respectively;

(5)           Upper Creek [Index No. 11-35-2-(8.5)] and its named tributaries were reclassified from Class C Tr to Class C Tr HQW;

(6)           Upper Creek (Clear Water Beach Lake) [Index No. 11-35-2-(10)] from Holly Spring Branch to Dam Clear Water Beach Lake was reclassified from Class B Tr to Class B Tr HQW;

(7)           Holly Spring Branch [Index No. 11-35-2-11] from source to Upper Creek was reclassified from Class C Tr to Class Tr HQW;

(8)           Steels Creek [Index No. 11-35-2-12-(5)] from Little Fork to a point 1.7 miles upstream from N.C. Highway 181 Bridge was reclassified from Class B Tr to Class B Tr HQW and Steels Creek [Index No. 11-35-2-12-(7)] from a point 1.7 miles upstream from N.C. Highway 181 bridge to Clear Water Beach Lake, Upper Creek was reclassified from Class B to Class B HQW;

(9)           Upper Creek [Index No. 11-35-2-(13)] from Dam at Clear Water Beach Lake to Warrior Fork was reclassified from Class WS-III Tr to Class WS-III Tr HQW;

(10)         The portion of Johns River [Index No. 11-38-(28)] from Wilson Creek to Rhodhiss Lake, Catawba River was reclassified from Class C to Class C HQW;

(11)         Mulberry Creek [Index No. 11-38-32-(1)] from source to Boone Fork and its tributaries Left Fork Mulberry Creek [Index No. 11-38-32-2], Right Fork Mulberry Creek [Index No. 11-38-32-3], Roaring Creek [Index No. 11-38-32-8] and Clark Branch [Index No. 11-38-32-10] were reclassified from Class C Tr to Class C Tr HQW;

(12)         Amos Creek [Index No. 11-38-32-4] and Mills Creek [Index No. 11-38-32-5] and their named tributaries were reclassified from Class C to Class C HQW;

(13)         Cane Branch [Index No. 11-38-32-6], Rush Branch [11-38-32-7] and Frankum Creek [11-38-32-9] and its named tributaries were reclassified from Class C to Class C HQW;

(14)         Mulberry Creek [Index No. 11-38-32-(11)] from Boone Branch to Dam at Mulberry Beach was reclassified from Class B to Class B HQW;

(15)         Boone Branch (Fork) [Index No. 11-38-32-12] and its named tributaries from source to Mulberry Creek were reclassified from Class B to Class B HQW;

(16)         Brown Branch [Index No. 11-38-32-13] and Moore Branch [Index No. 11-38-32-14] were reclassified from Class B to Class B HQW; and

(17)         Anderson Creek [Index No. 11-38-32-16] was reclassified from Class C to Class C HQW. 

(n)  The Schedule of Classifications and Water Quality Standards for the Catawba River Basin was amended effective August 3, 1992 with the reclassification of all water supply waters (waters with a primary classification of WS-I, WS-II or WS-III).  These waters were reclassified to WS-I, WS-II, WS-III, WS-IV or WS-V as defined in the revised water supply protection rules, (15A NCAC 02B .0100, .0200 and .0300) which became effective on August 3, 1992.  In some cases, streams with primary classifications other than WS were reclassified to a WS classification due to their proximity and linkage to water supply waters.  In other cases, waters were reclassified from a WS classification to an alternate appropriate primary classification after being identified as downstream of a water supply intake or identified as not being used for water supply purposes.

(o)  The Schedule of Classifications and Water Quality Standards for the Catawba River Basin was amended effective April 1, 1994 as follows:

(1)           Friday Lake (Index No. 11-125.5) from its source to Little Paw Creek was reclassified from Class C to Class B; and

(2)           The Linville River [Index No. 12-29-(1)] from Grandmother Creek to Linville Falls was reclassified from Class C Tr to Class B Tr.

(p)  The Schedule of Classifications and Water Quality Standards for the Catawba River Basin was amended effective July 1, 1995 with the reclassification of Clark Creek from a point 0.6 mile downstream of Catawba County SR 2014 to 0.4 mile upstream of Larkard Creek [Index No. 11-129-5-(4.5)], and Howards Creek from its source to 0.7 mile upstream of Lincoln County State Road 1200 [Index No. 11-129-4], including associated tributaries from Class WS-IV to Classes C and WS-IV.

(q)  The Schedule of Classifications and Water Quality Standards for the Catawba River Basin was amended effective September 1, 1996 as follows:

(1)           North Fork Catawba River [Index No. 11-24-(1)] from Laurel Branch to Armstrong Creek from Class C Tr to Class B Tr; and

(2)           Catawba River (Lake Hickory) from Rhodhiss dam to highway 321 [Index No. 11-(51)] from Class WS-IV CA to Class WS-IV B CA.

(r)  The Schedule of Classifications and Water Quality Standards for the Catawba River Basin was amended effective August 1, 1998 as follows:

(1)           The primary classification for portions of South Fork Catawba River [Index No. 11-129-(0.5)] and Hoyle Creek [Index No. 11-129-15-(1)] was reclassified from Class WS-IV to Class WS-V;

(2)           Mill Creek [Index No. 11-7] from its source to Swannanoa Creek, including all tributaries, from Class C Tr to Class Tr HQW;

(3)           Toms Creek [Index Nos. 11-21-(1) and 11-21-(2)] from its source to Harris Creek, including all tributaries were reclassified from Class C Tr to Class Tr HQW; and

(4)           Harris Creek to McDowell County SR 1434, including all tributaries were reclassified from Class C to Class HQW.

(s)  The Schedule of Classifications and Water Quality Standards for the Catawba River Basin was amended effective April 1, 1999 as follows:

(1)           Portion of the Catawba River [Index Nos. 11-(27.5) and 11-(31)] from Class WS-IV B and WS-IV to Class WS-V B and WS-V;

(2)           Armstrong Creek [Index Nos. 11-24-14-(1), 11-24-14-(13.5) and 11-24-14-(14)], and all tributaries from Classes WS-II Tr, WS-II, WS-II CA and C Tr to Classes C Tr HQW and C HQW;

(3)           Lookout Shoals Lake from Oxford Dam to Island Creek [Index No. 11-(67)] from Class WS-V to Class WS-IV CA, from Island Creek to Elk Shoal Creek [Index No. 11-(70.5)] from Class WS-IV to Class WS-IV CA and from Elk Shoal Creek to a point one half mile upstream of Lookout Shoals Dam [Index No. 11-(72)] from Class WS-IV B to Class WS-IV B CA;

(4)           The classifications of tributary streams that are within five miles and draining to the normal pool elevation of Lookout Shoals Lake (Protected Area) have been revised to Class WS-IV; and

(5)           The classifications of tributary streams that are within one half mile and draining to the normal pool elevation of Lookout Shoals Lake (Critical Area) have been revised to Class WS-IV CA.

(t)  The Schedule of Classifications and Water Quality Standards for the Catawba River Basin was amended August 1, 2000 with the reclassification of Little Grassy Creek (Index No. 11-29-2), including all tributaries, from its source to the Linville River from Class C Tr to Class C Tr ORW.

(u)  The Schedule of Classifications and Water Quality Standards for the Catawba River Basin was amended August 1, 2004 with the reclassification of a segment of three surface waters, more specifically Henry Fork [11-129-1-(1)], Jerry Branch [11-129-1-3-(1)], and He Creek [11-129-1-4-(1)], from source to a formerly used City of Morganton Water Intake from Class WS-I ORW to Class WS-V ORW.

(v)  The Schedule of Classifications and Water Quality Standards for the Catawba River Basin was amended May 1, 2007 with the reclassification of the Catawba River [Index No. 11-(31.5)] from a point 0.6 mile upstream of Muddy Creek to a point 1.2 miles upstream of Canoe Creek from WS-IV to WS-IV Tr and Catawba River [Index No. 11-(32.3)] from a point 1.2 miles upstream of Canoe Creek to a point 0.7 mile upstream of Canoe Creek (Morganton water supply intake) from WS-IV CA to WS-IV Tr CA.  Named and unnamed tributaries to this portion of the Catawba River are not classified as Trout.  Between the last day of May and the first day of November the water quality standard for dissolved oxygen shall not be less than a daily average of 5.0 mg/l with a minimum instantaneous value of not less than 4.0 mg/l.

(w)  The Schedule of Classifications and Water Quality Standards for the Catawba River Basin was amended September 1, 2010 with the reclassification of the portion of the Catawba River [Index No. 11-(1)], from its source to the Left Prong Catawba River confluence, and its named tributaries, Chestnut Branch (Fork) [Index No. 11-2], Clover Patch Branch [Index No. 11-3], Youngs Fork Creek [Index No. 11-4], Spring Branch [Index No. 11-5], and Left Prong Catawba River [Index No. 11-6] from Class C Tr to Class C Tr HQW.

(x)  The Schedule of Classifications and Water Quality Standards for the Catawba River Basin was amended March 1, 2013 as follows:

(1)           the portion of Maiden Creek [Index No. 11-129-5-7-2-(1)] from source to a point 0.7 mile upstream from backwaters of Maiden Reservoir, and its named tributary, Bee Branch [Index No. 11-129-5-7-2-2], from Class WS-II HQW to WS-V;

(2)           the portion of Maiden Creek [Index No. 11-129-5-7-2-(2.5)] from a point 0.7 mile upstream from backwaters of Maiden Reservoir to dam at Maiden Reservoir from Class WS-II HQW CA to WS-V;

(3)           the portion of Allen Creek [Index No. 11-129-5-7-2-4-(1)] from source to a point 0.7 mile upstream of Maiden water supply intake from Class WS-II HQW to WS-V; and

(4)           the portion of Allen Creek [Index No. 11-129-5-7-2-4-(2)] from a point 0.7 mile upstream of Maiden water supply intake to Maiden water supply intake from Class WS-II HQW CA to WS-V.

 

History Note:        Authority G.S. 143-214.1; 143-215.1; 143-215.3(a)(1);

Eff. February 1, 1976;

Amended Eff. March 1, 2013; December 1, 2010; September 1, 2010; May 1, 2007; August 1, 2004; August 1, 2000; April 1, 1999; August 1, 1998; September 1, 1996; July 1, 1995; April 1, 1994; August 3, 1992; August 1, 1990.