ROBESON CREEK WATERSHED PROJECT

Chattam County, NC

Robeson Creek, located in Chatham County, is a 303d listed stream with chlorophyll a violations in the lower segment. NC DWQ currently is developing a Total Maximum Daily Load for total nitrogen and total phosphorus to be submitted to EPA in July 2003. NCSU is currently working with NC DWQ under a separate 319 grant to perform a watershed assessment and develop a TMDL Implementation Plan concurrently with the TMDL development.

There are several objectives for this project. The first is to implement BMPs in critical areas of the Robeson Creek watershed targeted towards reducing total nitrogen and total phosphorus loading to Robeson Creek and its tributaries to achieve TMDL, as well as reducing other pollutants of concern identified in the watershed assessment. The second objective is to monitor water quality of Robeson Creek and its tributaries to: further refine critical areas for BMP implementation; evaluate progress made at achieving TMDL reduction, and evaluate effectiveness of BMPs at reducing pollutant levels and improving water quality for all pollutants of concern.

The project will implement the TMDL Implementation Plan to meet total N and P TMDLs. It will also implement BMPs to meet total N and P TMDLs and other pollutants and will include intensive monitoring to refine critical areas for BMP location, measure progress in achieving TMDLs and evaluate the effectiveness of BMPs in reducing nonpoint source pollutant loads. The project will be on a ten-year timetable: the first 2 to 3 years for monitoring, the next 3 to 4 years for BMP installation with continued monitoring, and the final 3 to 4 years for post monitoring. The monitoring will include physical, chemical, biological and habitat quality parameters. BMPs are likely to be installed include nutrient management, livestock exclusion, stormwater management, and stream and riparian restoration.

FUNDING AGENCY

COOPERATORS

• North Carolina State University
• NCSU Water Quality Group
• NC Cooperative Extension
• Chatham County
• Town of Pittsboro
• USDA-Natural Resource Conservation Service
• Chatham County Soil and Water Conservation District
• Farm Service Agency
• Chatham County Farm Bureau
• North Carolina Division of Water Quality
• Triangle J Council of Governments
• Haw River Assembly
• Townsend Foods

LAND USE

WATER QUALITY CONSIDERATIONS

FLOODING

CREEK CONDITIONS

FUNDING AGENCY

COOPERATORS

Robeson Creek flows in an easterly direction 10.9 miles from its origins southwest of Pittsboro to its mouth at the Haw River arm of Jordan Lake. Part of the upper watershed consists of residential, commercial, and industrial development surrounding the Town of Pittsboro. The area outside of the corporate limits of Pittsboro consists primarily of large lot residential development, agriculture, and forestland. The agriculture activity in this part of Chatham County is performed mostly on a small scale. Cattle production on open pastureland and a few concentrated poultry feeding operations (chicken houses) make up most of this activity. The lower watershed, from the Pittsboro WWTP (RC5), to Jordan Lake consists mostly of undeveloped forestland and some large lot residential development.

Recreation

FLOODING

Stream-flow measurements and stage recordings obtained during the DWQ assessment depict the very "flashy" nature of Robeson Creek. After periods of intense rainfall, the creek quickly rises to bank full conditions. In a matter of hours after the rain ceases, the creek returns to near the level it was prior to the rain event. The reason for this is two fold. First, Robeson Creek descends approximately 230 feet from its headwaters to Jordan Lake (10.9 miles), with approximately 100 feet of descent in the last three miles. This gradient is typical of streams in the Haw River basin. Second, large amounts of run-off enter the creek very rapidly during storm events through the stormwater collection system in Pittsboro and from surrounding roadways such as the Hwy. 64 bypass. Impervious surfaces channel water into the creek that would otherwise seep into the ground. The high rate of flow that occurs in Robeson Creek during storm events contributes greatly to bank erosion and sedimentation. This "storm surge" also causes a scouring of the streambed, which results in a loss of habitat for macroinvertibrates.

Oakwood Drive

Daycare During Flood