Water Quality Stakeholders Work to Implement CHPP

Summit attendees were welcomed by a group of key stakeholders, including Mike Blanton, CCRW Industry Working Group Commercial Fisherman and Member of NC Marine Fisheries Commission. Commissioner Blanton talked about how water quality is “vitally important to these fisheries.” He added that systems are “obviously stressed” and highlighted concerns with harmful algae blooms at the coast. “When folks look-out there (on the water), they don’t see what’s truly happening.” At CCRW, we know this all too well. If you are not reviewing aerial images of waterbodies, it can be hard to locate water quality concerns such as harmful algae blooms, run off from coastal development and emerging contaminant pollution. Blanton also expressed the necessity for this programming to carry on “coastal heritage and economy.”

“No matter what fishery we are talking about“, water quality makes a difference. “We all recognize the connections between clean water, clean coastal habitats, and fisheries.” – taken from Kathy Rawls, Director of Division of Marine Fisheries, notes and presented by Jacob Boyd, Chief, Habitat and Enhancement Section, NC Division of Marine Fisheries.

Click here to learn more about how water quality impacts coastal fisheries.

– Dr. Jud Kenworthy, Research Fisheries Biologist, NOAA (retired) and CCRW supporting member

Dr. Jess Jarvis, Associate Professor, UNCW, talked more about SAVs and the proposed NC Water Clarity Standard based on SAV light requirements, which is highlighted in the CHPP 2021 amendment SAV-RA-4.7, which recommends a water quality standard for light penetration for all SAV waterbody regions.

The recommendation sets the standard of:

Low Salinity: 13% to the deep edge (1.5 m)

High Salinity: 22% to the deep edge (1.7 m)

In July and September 2022, the Nutrient Criteria Development Plan Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) supported the adoption of the water quality standard.

What has happened with Water Quality since the CHPP was first written in 2004:

1. There is an overall decline in coastal water quality in North Carolina despite management efforts implemented for several decades to control sediment, nutrients, sediment, pathogens, and other pollutants. However, our state has made progress on reducing some forms of nitrogen, the most stimulatory nutrient for algal growth.

2. While some inorganic nitrogen loads have declined, recent water quality monitoring indicates that organic nitrogen is rising.

3. More intensive rainfall due to climate extremes exacerbates coastal water quality degradation by increasing surface runoff.

4. Rapid population growth is leading to more intensive urban and rural land use which changes watershed hydrology. This results in greater volumes and rates of surface runoff.

(SOURCE: Report)

“Coastal habitat protection is vital for water quality. We were grateful to have the time to participate in this process and we hope that the actions and objectives go beyond words on paper.

Protecting water quality means making hard-decisions about how and where communities develop on the coast.

The flood doors on high-impact coastal development have been open for far too long. It’s no longer a question of how high-impact development impacts our coastal communities (ecology and economy). It is time for measurable change and reports that include a holistic view of our community’s return on investment for us all, not just those that profit short-term.

We need to slow-down the faucet and require smarter decisions based-on science to lead the way for the future of coastal living. It will take action from local governments and coastal decision-makers, who have had access to the CHPP since 2004, and action from coastal developers to prioritize science-based low-impact designs. It will take State DEQ offices to fill positions and use resources to enforce current regulations and the NGO stakeholders, like CCRW, to fill in gaps in service.”

– Lisa Rider, CCRW Executive Director

In addition to local level policies and practices, it will take local grassroots advocacy to fight for the protection of our remaining natural coastal heritage and habitat areas (JOIN US).

Riley Lewis,

White Oak Waterkeeper

Coastal Carolina Riverwatch

RileyL

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Highlights from the 2022 NCMDS!

Marine debris is an umbrella term for man made items that end up in waterways. Marine Debris include plastics, microplastics, abandoned derelict vessels, building supplies displaced by storms, and more.

Day 2 focused on research, partnerships, and policy. During the morning session, researchers from Plastic Ocean Project presented on plastic ingestion and microplastic accumulation research, while NC Sea Grant and CCRW presented on river system research partnerships and the success of upstream capture devices. One of the programs highlighted on day 2 is a project where CCRW is working with the City of Jacksonville to capture debris and identify common pollutants through the installation of a Trash Trout capture system and continual monitoring. A highlight of day 2 was the NC Plastics Policy Workshop. Presentations during this session covered how Statewide and local level policies can make a huge impact on reducing plastic pollution. Also covered in day 2, a session on the benefits of reusables, and a program on locally tested products that can make a difference in everyday consumer plastic waste reduction.

“It has been an honor to present another collaborative agenda for the NC Marine Debris Symposium this year. This is one of my favorite events of the year. It’s become a family reunion for many who work tirelessly to prevent plastic pollution in NC. Our team is grateful for the support of those that submitted papers, volunteered time, presented, sponsored, and participated. We’re looking forward to another year of planning content that will reduce plastic pollution and protect the quality of water and life in NC.”
– Lisa Rider, CCRW Executive Director

“Thanks for a wonderful enlightening symposium last Thursday. I have been doing my plastic inventory at home and I have a lot of work to do. It’s amazing how plastics are everywhere. Now that my eyes are open, I can start to make changes. Unfortunately it is going to slowly because of how entrenched plastics are in our lives.”
– Brian Treston, 2022 NCMDS Live Stream Attendee

“This was my first NCMDS and I am so honored to be a part of such a collaborative effort to reduce marine debris in North Carolina. The presenters were local researchers and industry working professionals that taught me so much about the issue. By the end of the Symposium I felt so inspired to make a difference and felt equipped with a toolkit of resources. I look forward to using what I have learned to support Coastal Carolina Riverwatch’s debris reduction efforts.”

– Riley Lewis, White Oak Waterkeeper

Check out the full agenda here.

Check out NCMDS speaker interviews throughout October and November on the CCRW Facebook page.

CCRW would like to extend special thanks to the participants of the 10th NCMDS. Their contribution to conversation and the expertise and diversity of the presenters lead to a deeper understanding of the issue and the culmination of resources needed for local advocates to make change.

We would also like to highlight the Duke Marine Lab for their beautiful campus and great tech support for our virtual attendees.

Thank you!

Riley Lewis,

White Oak Waterkeeper

Coastal Carolina Riverwatch

RileyL

Sponsors of the 10th North Carolina Marine Debris Symposium

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Rust Tide on the New River

From the air there appeared to be no signs of the bloom located in the Chadwick Bay area of Sneads Ferry and was most likely washed out by the heavy rain. However, the bloom located in Stones Bay appears to still be present and potentially growing (red coloration in photo above).

“At CCRW, we are grateful for SouthWings support of our mission to protect the quality of water and life in coastal NC. SouthWings donates thousands of dollars in flights each year to the work of CCRW. Their crucial service to our organization is part of our integrated watershed investigative process.”

– Lisa Rider, Executive Director

CCRW Executive Director, Lisa Rider, spent this past Sunday morning on the New River hearing concerns from Oyster Farmers and monitoring the waters of Stones Bay.

“Blooms can last this long because they continue to be fed by nutrient pollutants, most likely from runoff. Coastal Carolina Riverwatch will continue to monitor this bloom and continue to report to the State and notify the public”

– Riley Lewis, White Oak Waterkeeper

Harmful Algae Blooms can be influenced by manmade pressures including the use of fertilizers, pesticides, and impervious surfaces. These contaminants flow into waterways and harm the organisms that live there. The best way to prevent Fish Kills is by stopping these contaminants from getting into waterways in the first place.

Residents of coastal communities can make a big difference by following proper application instructions on pesticides and fertilizers. Only use as much as you need, where you need it and do not apply them before wet weather.

Residents can also ensure to properly dispose of lawn clippings and plant debris to prevent them from entering waterways, where they can add excess nutrients and cloud the water.

Communities can prevent Harmful Algae Blooms by implementing good stormwater management and by familiarizing themselves with coastal processes and how water moves through the property.

For more info about local water quality information, please contact:

Riley Lewis,

White Oak Waterkeeper

Coastal Carolina Riverwatch

RileyL

LAST CHANCE – EVENT STARTS WEDNESDAY!

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Hogs in the Hurricane Alley

“In the aftermath of these storms, confinement buildings containing thousands of chickens, turkeys and hogs flood, some to their rooftops. The birds kept inside perish under these conditions. So do many of the hogs. Horrific environmental damage occurs when swine and poultry feces and urine get flushed out of the confinement buildings and the massive lagoons (cesspools) that are in harm’s way.” – Rick Dove

Rick is an advisor to the larger Waterkeeper Alliance and has been involved with monitoring CAFOs in NC for nearly 30 years and thoroughly documented the environmental impacts of Hurricane Florence.

Because of this impact on fish communities and water quality, CAFOs are identified as one of the top 5 water quality concerns for NC fishing communities identified in CCRW’s Water Quality For Fisheries project.

As of 2020, the NC Department of Environmental Quality has record of 61 CAFOs in Onslow County and 1 located in Carteret County.

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To learn more about how industrial agriculture and factory farming practices can impact water quality and coastal fisheries, watch this: