Stormwater Pollution Impacts

Due to rapid growth in coastal areas, increased construction, and the draining of wetlands, the amount of impervious surfaces has increased tremendously in coastal North Carolina.

Impervious surfaces are developed areas such as roads, sidewalks, parking lots, rooftops, and construction sites that are impermeable; therefore, water does not soak through the surface. Instead, stormwater runs over the impervious surfaces, catches and concentrates contaminants, and washes them into drainage ditches or storm drains which lead to surface waters and beach areas.

Stormwater runoff is one of the greatest contributors to nutrient loading in surface waters. This type of nonpoint source pollution comes from the drainage in urban and suburban areas. As a result of N loadings, eutrophication has been described as the “single largest threat to the integrity of coastal ecosystems” (Song, et al., 2014).

Learn more about how stormwater pollution impacts local water quality and fisheries by clicking here.

Watch the documentary film showcasing the top five water quality impacts to coastal NC fisheries by clicking here.

Growing Oyster Industry in NC

Going into 2022, the oyster industry in North Carolina looked promising. Based on NCDEQ reports, oyster harvest numbers were at an all time high in 2021, with 232,016 bushels being collected by commercial fishers that year, and harvests seems to be continually growing. However, those who have oyster farms know the statewide trends aren’t always representative of individual farms and see first hand how variable harvest numbers can be year to year.

The summer of 2022 was hard for oyster farmers. Shellfish growers throughout coastal NC experienced multiple die-off events that spanned from southern Onslow through northern Carteret Counties. Farmed oysters seemed to be more impacted than wild populations and some sites lost up to 90% of their oysters.

“What was unique about this year, is the geographic scope — and that across a large area, mortality events within individual estuaries all seemed to happen at the same time.” – Dr. Tal Ben-Horin, North Carolina State University Center for Marine Sciences and Technology’s Shellfish Pathology Laboratory

The heat and salinity in the summer seasons usually leads to some oyster mortality, but 2022 was more hot and dry than usual. The drought conditions being felt throughout the state led to less rain and higher salt levels in coastal waters. Oysters are sensitive to their environment. Water temperature, clarity and salinity, as well as pathogens and algae are some of the factors that can influence an oysters survivability and, in many places, waters can be stressed by multiple of these different factors that cause poor water quality. Because there are so many factors that influence oyster health, it can be difficult to identify what exactly causes a mortality event.

In September of 2022, CCRW responded to an algae bloom in the New River that could be seen from Stones Bay all the way down to Chadwicks Bay. This species hadn’t been seen before in this area but was known to harm shellfish in the Chesapeake Bay. Many shellfish farmers came to us reporting die-offs but even after investigating and working with research labs, we were unable to definitively know how this bloom impacted local oyster populations.

Many coastal areas are working to recover oyster populations and ensure healthy numbers so that industry and water quality can be supported in the future. The City of Jacksonville has been leading the Oyster Highway Project for over a decade and is continuing to expand reefs throughout the River.

CCRW helps to protect oyster populations and safe harvesting through boots on the ground water quality monitoring, investigations of pollution events, and reporting health concerns to the public and local authorities.

CCRW Oyster Roast “Fun”draiser – Coming Soon!

This water quality “Shell”ebration is hosted by our friends and water quality advocates at Backstreet Pub in Beaufort NC.

This donation based event will take place on Sunday, January 22nd and starting at 3pm.

Come for live music, steamed local oysters, and hear from the Waterkeeper, Riley Lewis, about how our community works collaboratively to protect the quality of water and quality of life.

Waterkeeper

Please DO NOT TOUCH!

If you find significant numbers of dead birds, you should report the finding to either NCDA&CS or NC Wildlife Resources Commission. NC Wildlife Helpline at 866-318-2401, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., or email HWI@ncwildlife.org, or call USDA at 866-536-7593.

Your donation goes directly to programming that protects the quality of water and quality of life in coastal North Carolina.

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www.coastalcarolinariverwatch.org

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“Forever Chemicals” Research in Coastal NC Waters

These “forever chemicals” accumulate in people, wildlife, and the environment. PFAS have been found in surface water, air, soil, food, and many commercial materials. PFAS are widely linked to serious health conditions such as cancer, liver and kidney disease, reproductive issues, immunodeficiencies, and hormonal disruptions.

Known PFAS sources include:

• Soil and Water at, near, and downstream of Disposal Sites (Landfills)
• Facilities that use Fire Fighting Foam (Airports, Shipyards, Municipal Fire Training Facilities, Military Bases, Refineries and Chemical Plants)
• PFAS Manufacturing Facilities
• Food Contaminated by PFAS (Fish, Livestock,)
• Food Packaging
• Household Products
• Dust
• Personal Care Products
• Biosolids from Wastewater Treatment Plants
• Drinking Water and Surface Waters

SOURCE: USEPA, 2022, epa.gov/pfas

CCRW has taken the following downstream surface water samples:

• New River Marine Air Station on the SW Creek
• Bogue Sound by the Marine Landing Field
• Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) outfall off Taylors creek in Beaufort
• Newport River downstream of the Newport WWTP outfall
• Blue Creek in Jacksonville, downstream of the Onslow Landfill

These samples will be analyzed by Cyclopure and sent to CCRW for a comprehensive report on contamination in NC. The data will be used to inform communities of potential contamination and exposure and can be used to pursue PFAS regulations in NC.

“It’s really important to be testing for these chemicals all around the White Oak River Basin. We need to get a better idea of how widespread PFAS contamination is and make sure communities aren’t being heavily impacted. So much is unknown about the true danger of these chemicals and serious work needs to be done to keep them out of our environment.” – Riley Lewis, White Oak Waterkeeper.

To learn more and follow this and other PFAS research, Click Here.

For many PFAS chemicals, the EPA has not even set a health advisory limit that would give the public a baseline to determine what amount of PFAS is unhealthy in drinking water. In most cases, the EPA is not doing adequate monitoring for these chemicals, which is why these findings are so unique and important.

Your support can help turn PFAS legislation into a reality. Contact your Members of Congress today in support of this urgently needed legislation.

Want to support additional PFAS sampling in coastal NC, collaborative community-based advocacy and outreach efforts? Click to donate today.

Riley Lewis, White Oak Waterkeeper

RileyL

Please DO NOT TOUCH!

If you find significant numbers of dead birds, you should report the finding to either NCDA&CS or NC Wildlife Resources Commission. NC Wildlife Helpline at 866-318-2401, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., or email HWI@ncwildlife.org, or call USDA at 866-536-7593.

Make the resolution to become a water quality advocate and consider donating to the cause!

Business Members

Business Members

Business Members

Your donation goes directly to programming that protects the quality of water and quality of life in coastal North Carolina.

www.coastalcarolinariverwatch.org

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