north carolina’s basins
TRANSCRIPT
DiscoverNorth Carolina’s
River BasinsDi
sco
verYour EcologicalAddress
North Carolina is a diverse land with
natural beauty that appeals to residents
and visitors alike.
It is also a land experiencing competition for natural resources that are under
stress and that could be lost to us in the absence of a widespread awareness of
their existence, their significance and their value.
Natural resources are not isolated from each other or from our people; each
element is an integral part of the ecosystem. When one part of the system is
affected, other parts feel the impact. It is environmental education that provides
the knowledge, understanding and awareness of this interconnectedness of all
things and gives us the ability to make more informed environmental decisions.
The more we understand and respect our own community, the more capable we
are of being good stewards of the environment. If you have ever visited one of
North Carolina’s many Environmental Education Centers—nature centers, parks,
aquariums, museums, the zoo, public gardens—then you have already begun
appreciating natural systems. And you and your family had fun while learning.
Environmental education is not issue advocacy or a biased point of view.
Environmental education enables communities to care for their own environ-
ment. Living within the limits set by the environment depends on the beliefs
and commitment of individuals. However, as a community, individuals have
more power to promote practices that can nourish rather than cripple their
natural life-support systems.
This publication explores one element of your Ecological Address—your river
basin—and links you to educational resources about all 17 river basins in the state.
ENVIRONMENTALEDUCATION
I N T H E 1 9 9 0 S , several crises elevated rivers in thepublic consciousness. First came Pfiesteria, a lethal organismthat killed millions of fish in coastal waters. Then a batteryof hurricanes brought rivers and development issues into ourbackyards. How we treat rivers and the land around them hasa direct relationship to our quality of life. The purpose of thisbooklet is to describe how river basins function and howhumans and rivers are interconnected. It demonstrates howdecisions we make as homeowners and citizens affect thequality of the water we drink, swim in and fish from. Withthis knowledge, individuals can make more informed deci-sions regarding their environment.
W H A T I S A R I V E R B A S I N ?A river basin is the land thatwater flows across or under on its
way to a river. As a bathtub catches all the water that falls within its sides, ariver basin sends all the water falling on the surrounding land into a central
river and out to an estuary or the sea.
A river basin drains all the land around a majorriver. Basins can be divided into watersheds, orareas of land around a smaller river, stream orlake. The landscape ismade up of many inter-connected basins, orwatersheds. Withineach watershed, allwater runs to the lowest point—a stream, river,lake or ocean. On its way, water travels over thesurface and across farm fields, forestland, subur-ban lawns and city streets, or it seeps into the soiland travels as groundwater. Large river basinssuch as the Neuse and Cape Fear are made up of many smaller watersheds.
Everyone lives in a river basin. Youinfluence what happens in yourriver basin, good or bad, by how you treat the natural resources—the soil, water, air,plants and animals. As water moves downstream, it carries and redeposits gravel, sandand silt. Water also transfers bacteria, chemicals, excess nutrients and organic matter.
Whatever happens to the surface water or groundwater upstream will eventually affect downstreamsystems. Therefore, the health of the aquatic ecosystem is directly related to activities on land.
estuary: a semi-enclosed areawhere fresh waterfrom a river meetssalty water fromthe sea
ecosystem: a natural sys-tem linked by living (plants,animals) and nonliving (soil,air, water) things.
river basin: drainage area of a river
watersheds: allthe land drainedby a river, streamor lake
1
groundwater: thewater found incracks and poresin sand, graveland rocks belowthe earth’s surface
North Carolina’s River Basins
KEN TAYLOR, WILDLIFE IMAGES
GRAPHIC BY ERIN HANCOCK, NCWRC
N o r t h C a r o l i n a ’ sR i v e r B a s i n s
NO R T H CA R O L I N A H A S 17 M A J O R R I V E R B A S I N Swithin its boundaries. Five of the state’s river basins—the Hiwassee, Little Tennessee, French Broad,Watauga and New—are part of the Mississippi River Basin, which drains to the Gulf of Mexico. All theothers flow to the Atlantic Ocean. Of the 17 basins, 11 originate within North Carolina, but only four are contained entirely within the state’s borders—the Cape Fear, Neuse, White Oak and Tar-Pamlico.
Areasof North Carolina’s River BasinsI N S Q U A R E M I L E S
CA
PE
F E A R
N E U S E
TA R- PA M L I C O
YA
DK
I N-
PE
ED
EE
C ATA
WB
A
FRENCH
BROADLITTLE
TENNESSEE BROAD
HIWASSEE
SAVANNAH
WATAUGA NEW
LUMBER
WHITE OAK
CHOWAN
PASQUOTANK
ROANOKE
This map is provided in poster format by the Office ofEnvironmental Education in the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
Map by Lee Ratcliffe, from the Nov. 1999 special issueof Wildlife in North Carolina Magazine, “Rivers of NorthCarolina,” published by the N.C. Wildlife ResourcesCommission. Base map copyright John Fels, 1997.
Sources: NCDENR Division of Water Quality;NCDENR Office of Environmental Education; N.C.Department of Transportation; N.C. State UniversitySchool of Design.
Na t i o na l P a r kGrea t S moky Moun ta ins
Nantahala
Mountains
Ba l sam
Moun ta i n s
Sou th
M oun ta i ns
B
L
U
E
R
I
D
G
E
Brushy
Moun tai n
s
Sau ra town M o un ta ins
Uwha r r i e
Moun ta i ns
SA
ND
HI
L
LS
Cape Fear
Cape Lookout
Cape Hatteras
Ou
te
r
Ba
nk
s
Mt. Mitchell6684’
Roan Mtn.6285’
Grandfather Mtn.5964’
ClingmansDome6643’
Mt. Sterling5835’ Mt. Hardison
6134’
Cold Mtn.6030’
RichlandBalsam6540’
WaterrockKnob6292’
Mt. Pisgah5721’
Phoenix Mtn.4690’
StandingIndian Mtn.
5499’
WayahBald5342’
Mu�rp�hy�
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Lake Chatuge
Lake
Santeet lahLake
NantahalaLake
Fontana Lake
LakeJames
LakeLure
Kings MountainReservoir
Rhodhiss
Lake Hickory
LookoutShoals
Lake
LakeNorman
MountainIs land
Lake
LakeWyl ie
W. Kerr ScottReservoir
HighRock
Lake
Tucker townReservoir Badin
Lake
LakeTi l lery
Blewett Fal lsLake
BelewsLake
TownsendLake
LakeBurlington Quaker
CreekReservoir
HycoLake
B. EverettJordan
Lake
HarrisReservoir
LakeWaccamaw
SingletaryLake
WhiteLake
Bay TreeLake
MayoReservoir
John H. KerrReservoir
Falls Lake
LakeGaston
Roanoke RapidsLake
CatfishLake
Long
Lake
Lake Ellis Simon
GreatLake
PhelpsLake
Pungo Lake
NewLake
LakeMattamuskeet
LittleLake
Hiwassee
R i ve r
L i t t l e
Tenne
ss
ee
Riv
er
F r ench
Bro
ad
Ri v
er B r oad
R i ve r
No r t h
ToeR ive r
Lake
Ca tawba
Rive r
New
Riv
er
Yadk in
R iv e r
Pe
eD
ee
Riv
er
DanR i ve r
Deep
R i ve r
Ha
w
Rive r
CapeFea r
Ri ve r
Neuse
R i ve r
Ta
r
Ri ve r
Roanoke
R i ve r
Chow anRive r
PasquotankR
iver
Wh i t e
Oa
k
No
rthe
as
t
S ou th
Rive r
B l ack
Ri ve r
Currituck
Sound
A l bema r l e So und
Intracoastal
Waterw
ay
Croatan
Sound
Pam l i co R i ve r
Paml i co
Sound
Bogue Sound
Core
Sound
Alli
gato
rR
iver
Neuse
R i ve r
River
Lumber
Tuckasegee
R i ve r
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ar
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CHEROKEE
GRAHAM
SWAIN
MACONCLAY
JACKSON
HAYWOOD
TRANSYLVANIA
MADISON YANCEY
BUNCOMBE
HENDERSONPOLK
MITCHELLAVERY
McDOWELL
RUTHERFORD
WATAUGA
ASHE
CALDWELL
BURKE
CLEVELAND
ALLEGHANY
WILKES
ALEXANDER
CATAWBA
LINCOLN
GASTON
SURRY
YADKIN
IREDELL
DAVIE
ROWAN
CABARRUS
MECKLENBURG
STANLY
UNION ANSON
STOKES
FORSYTH
DAVIDSON
ROCKINGHAM
GUILFORD
RANDOLPH
MONTGOMERY
RICHMOND
CASWELL
PERSON
ALAMANCE
ORANGE
DURHAM
CHATHAM
LEE
MOORE
SCOTLAND
HOKE
HARNETT
WAKE
CUMBERLAND
ROBESON
GRANVILLE
VANCE
FRANKLIN
JOHNSTON
WILSON
WAYNE
GREENE
SAMPSON
LENOIR
DUPLIN
JONES
CRAVEN
BLADEN
COLUMBUS
BRUNSWICK
PENDER
NEW
HANOVER
ONSLOW
PITT
EDGECOMBE
NASH
WARREN
HALIFAX
NORTHAMPTON
HERTFORD
BERTIE
MARTIN
BEAUFORT
PAMLICO
GATES
PERQUIMANS
CHOWAN
WASHINGTON
TYRRELLDARE
HYDE
CURRITUCK
CAM
DEN
PASQUO
TAN
K
CARTERET
Cape FearYadkin-PeeDeeNeuseTar-PamlicoPasquotankRoanokeLumberCatawbaFrench BroadLittle TennesseeBroadChowanWhite OakNewHiwasseeWataugaSavannah
9,1497,2136,1925,4403,6973,6003,3363,2742,8421,8001,5061,3151,233
765640184151
Amazon*Mississippi*
2,300,0001,240,000
*for comparison
2-3
Disco
verYour EcologicalAddress
is it headed? To answer these questions, you must know what river basin you live in—part of your “ecological address.”
The river basin you live in is one component ofyour ecological address. But even within thoseboundaries, there are subtle differences in youraddress and that of your neighbors—just as yourown house may be different from others on yourstreet. Your ecological address is made up of eightcomponents: (1) river basin, (2) topography, (3) wetlands, (4) groundwater, (5) biodiversity, (6) soil, (7) air, and (8) climate.
Think about the following questions as you con-sider the scope of your ecological address.
Even if youdon’t live onthe water-front, the land
around your house drains to a river, estuary orlake somewhere nearby. Into what river or streamdoes your land eventually drain? Does the waterrunning off your property enter a storm drain, aditch or an open field? Did you know that waterflowing into a storm drain goes directly to a riveror stream, not to a wastewater treatment plant?How fast does runoff enter local streams and towhat extent is it filtered and cleansed by veg-etation? How is land used alongside the neareststream? How much is paved or covered with hard surfaces such as roads or rooftops?
DISCOVER YOUR ECOLOGICAL ADDRESSMost of us are far removed from the source ofthe water we use every day. The development ofindoor plumbing and sewage systems has madeour connection to rivers and streams less obvious.When pollution closes waters to swimming orfishing, when droughts force us to curb waterconsumption, and when flooding brings rivers
closer to our doorstep, we are reminded of our close relationship with rivers andstreams. But if we are to preserve this life-line, we must be aware that we make choices
every day that affect our land, our waterand our air.
When you turn on a faucet to get a drink,where does your water come from? When
you flush a toilet or drain your bathtub or sink,where does your water go? When rain washesdown your street and into a ditch or drain, where
The same amount of water on the planettoday was present 3 billion years ago:not a drop more or less. Water on earthcirculates continuously. It falls as rain,filters into the ground to recharge
aquifers, and runs along the surface as creeks, rivers andstreams. That same water transpires through plants or evapo-rates from the surface, re-enters the atmosphere as vapor, then falls again as rain or snow.
know?Do you
aquifers: a porousrock layer under-ground that is areservoir for water
whatriver basin
do you live in?GRAPHIC BY ERIN HANCOCK, NCWRC
KEN TAYLOR, NCWRC
4
Aquifer
Water Table
Surface Runoff Natural Water Reservoir
PRECIPITATION
EVAPORATION & TRANSPI R
ATI
ON
CONDENSATION
Topography describes the physical features of aplace, or the terrain—such as mountains, valleysand floodplains. Is the land around you flat orhilly? How close are you to a floodplain (a usuallydry area that becomes inundated with waterwhen streams and rivers overflow)?
A wetland is an area where the watertable is at, near, or above the land surface longenough during the year to support the growth ofspecially adapted plants. Wetlands help regulatewater flow and act like a sponge, filtering pollut-ants and providing flood control. How do nearbywetlands connect to the system of streams thatdrains your river basin?
If it comes from a well, the source is groundwater.The quantity and quality of groundwater are ofconcern to humans. Water that flows throughcontaminated soils can become tainted. What is the quality of groundwater where you live?
Biodiversity is the totality of genes, species and eco-systems in a region. Humans depend on biodiver-sity for food, medicine and balanced natural sys-tems. These natural systems affect the quality andquantity of water and tell us much about the healthof the whole river basin. How much land is for-ested? What species are endangered where you live?Are there any rare natural areas near your home?
The local soiltype deter-mines what
happens when bare soil is exposed to wind andrain, what happens to toxic material dumped onthe soil (such as oil from your car or pet andhuman wastes), how groundwater percolates, whatkinds of plants can grow, and how much rainwater
5
Learning your ecological
address will help you to
better appreciate how
your lifestyle influences
your surroundings. Con-
sider your daily habits.
• How do you maintain
your lawn and garden?
• How much do you use
your car?
• How much water do
you consume?
• What kind of deter-
gent and household
cleaners do you use?
• How do you dispose
of common and toxic
household wastes?
• How many pets do you
have and where are
their wastes deposited?
If you were the only
person making these
daily decisions, then the
effects would be hardly
noticeable. But you are
one of 8 million people
in North Carolina whose
daily contributions—both
positive and negative—
add up quickly.
is absorbed by vegetation before it reaches a river. Is the land around you permeable (absorbent) or impermeable (water runs off readily)?
The quality of theair in a river basinalso influences its
forests, agricultural crops and surface waters. Pol-lutants in the air, such as automobile exhaust andindustry emissions, will eventually return to theground and enter the water supply.
Consider how much rain or snow is typical for agiven year and when it falls. This will give you anidea of when the ground is likely to be saturatedwith water. When no more water can seep intothe ground, runoff rushes quickly over land.
To find the answers to these questions check outthe “Discover Your Ecological Address” Web site athttp://www.ee.enr.state.nc.us/ecoadr/ecoadr.htm
THE ECOSYSTEM CONNECTIONA river is merely the course that water
takes as it flows from the highest point in a river basin to the
lowest. Together, the stream andits surrounding land make up
rich and diverse ecosystems.These ecosystems providehabitats for living creatures
both large and small. Everycreature—whether clad in scales,
feathers, fur, shell or clothing—shares a common home that stretches from
the bed of the stream to the top of thetrees and to human dwellings around the flood-plain. The stream plays a vital role in humanlives, and our activities strongly influence thecondition of the stream.
A healthy streambed teems with aquatic insectsand other organisms that crawl around or attachthemselves to the bottom. They eat decomposedtwigs and plant matter or other creatures. Manyof these small creatures are in the immature—orlarval—stages of their life cycle. Many eventuallyemerge as terrestrial or winged creatures and
what is your climate like?
biodiversity:what species share
your backyard?
where are the wetlandsnear your home?
groundwater:where do you get
your drinking water?
topography:how is the land shaped
around your home?
how clean is your air?
what kind of soil is beneath your feet?
Disc
ov
erYour EcologicalAddress
mate and lay eggs in the stream. In all their stages,they are food for fish and larger creatures. Theyare the base of the aquatic food web and thefoundation of the riparian ecosystem. Both a
large variety and largenumbers of aquaticorganisms indicategood water quality.
Plants and trees surrounding the stream—often described as a vegetative buffer—also influence
the health of the ecosystem. Riparian forests provide shade to keep water cool and capable
of holding more oxygen. They also keep soil inplace along riverbanks, filter nutrients and manytoxic substances from runoff, and contributeorganic matter (rotting leaves and other material)
that feeds a stream’ssmallest inhabitants.
As a stream becomes polluted, many small,juvenile organisms are the first to perish. Largequantities of sediment, nutrients and chemicalsentering the streamwill smother andpoison tiny aquaticcreatures, wreakinghavoc throughout thefood web—from insects to fish to humans. A
diverse population of aquatic insects is essen-tial for maintaining fish populations. Aclean stream is also necessary if humans
are to have ample food, water, recrea-tional opportunities—even jobs.
Streams are affected not only by what is put intothem, but also by how they are physically manip-ulated. Humans often alter the land around theriver and even change the path of the water itself—influencing water quality and quantity. Flood-ing from major hurricanes often is viewed as an“unnatural” event. Yet communities are morevulnerable to flooding because humans havefilled wetlands, straightened streams, and pavedand developed large areas. We have changed theway water flows and destroyed the ability of manynatural systems to absorb and detain floodwaters.A river basin that drains thousands of square mileshas many natural features—includingwetlands and woodlands—thatstore excess rainwater and slowits movement. Acceleratedurban development and landdisturbance reduce the land’sability to absorb runoff. Because of this, a build-ing site that 30 years ago was designated outsidethe 100-year floodplain might be considered inthe middle of the floodplain today.
THE HUMAN CONNECTIONHistorically, human development clusteredaround a good supply of water. Communitieslooked first to streams, then eventually to wellsand springs, to satisfy their thirst. As populationsincreased, people dipped into water upstreamand emptied their wastes downstream. Advancedtechnology supplied running water to individualhomes and enabled the development of mecha-nized systems to dispose of wastewater. In themid-1950s, a connection became apparent
riparian: pertain-ing to the edgesof streams orrivers
vegetative buffers: plants and treessurrounding the rivers and streams
sediment: erodedsoil particles thatwash or blow intorivers
KEN TAYLOR, NCWRC
DERRICK HAMRICK
6
Does the water running off your propertyenter a storm drain, a ditch or an openfield? When rain falls on your street, roofor yard, what creek or river will it even-
tually flow into? What kinds of things from your yard will therainwater carry with it on its way to that creek or river? Is yourstreet flat or hilly? How close are you to the nearest stream orriver? What kinds of things can wash from your yard during astorm? How fast does water running off your yard enter thosestreams or rivers nearby? How is the land used alongside thestream nearest your home? Is it mainly vegetation or hardsurfaces such as roads and rooftops? Explore your ecolog-ical address to find out how you affect the water quality in your river basin.
between decline in water quality and the manage-ment of wastewater. By the early 1970s, the gov-ernment became involved in the construction offacilities to treat wastewater and safeguard humanhealth and aquatic ecosystems downstream.
A wide variety of pollutants—including sediment, nutrients
and chemicals—enters ourrivers from various sources.
The federal Clean Water Act of1972 established a goal of making
all the nation’s waters fishable andswimmable. To meet that directive, North Caro-lina surveyed and evaluated its streams and riversand labeled most bodies of water with a “use”that each has traditionally supported, such asfishing, swimming and drinking.
7
In the late 1980s, North Carolina established a
water quality management program focused on
each of the state’s 17 river basins. The N.C.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) Division of Water Qual-
ity updates the management plan for each river basin every five years based on
extensive data from water quality sampling. Public input is gathered before
drafting the basinwide plan. Later, public meetings are held to obtain comments
on the draft plan. The plans contain available information on characteristics of the
basin, current water quality and management strategies for protecting or improv-
ing water quality. For more information about river basins and nonpoint source
pollution in North Carolina, contact the DENR Division of Water Quality at (919) 733-
5083, or explore the Web site of the Basinwide Planning Program: http://h2o.enr.
state.nc.us/basinwide. For each river basin, you’ll find a basinwide plan, river
statistics and other helpful information.
RIVER BASIN PLANNING
know?Do you
GRAPHIC COURTESY OF SAN BERNARDINOCOUNTY, CA, STORMWATER PROGRAM
The state monitors and collects information onstreams to determine if they are fulfilling theirlabeled use. If not, the waters are consideredimpaired. The government has a legal obligation toprotect these uses and to create and implementstrategies to reduce pollution in impaired waters.The goal is that water quality in every river willbe good enough to support its designated use.What is the quality of water in your river basin?You can find out more information about yourriver basin by referring to the individual river basininserts as they are published as part of this series.
To curb water pollution, we must know its source.Pollution entering rivers is classified as one of twotypes, depending on its origin. Point source
pollution comes from a central point or location,such as a pipe. Nonpoint source pollution comesfrom land use activities within a river basin; itresults from rainwater washing pollutants offthe land and into streams. This type of pollutionincludes pesticides and fertilizer from yards and
fields, human and animal wastes, eroded sedi-ments, oil and chemicals on streets and parkinglots, as well as chemicals or particles in the airthat eventually “rain down” on land. Waterrunning over and offland is a natural phe-nomenon; the problemlies in the pollutantsthat get picked up andmoved along the way.Nonpoint source pol-lution is harmful torivers for many reasons. Large amounts ofsediment can smother stream animals and blocksunlight to aquatic plants. Excess nutrients maycause harmful algal blooms that deplete oxygenneeded by fish. Toxins have acute and chroniceffects, killing organisms immediately or byaccumulating in the food chain.
The kind and amount of pollution in point sourcedischarges are monitored and regulated by state
8
point source pollu-tion: dischargeentering a streamat a specific, detect-able point such asa pipe or outfall
algal blooms:rapid, densegrowths of algae that rob the water ofoxygen as they die anddecompose
nonpoint sourcepollution: diffuserunoff from largeareas of land
LAWRENCE S. EARLEY, NCWRC
and federal governments. But nonpoint sourcepollution, which accumulates from individualsover large areas of land, is more difficult to pin-point and regulate.
To fully appreciate nonpoint source pollutionwhere you live, examine how the land around you is used. How much land is developed in yourriver basin? How much area is paved or coveredwith hard (impervious) surfaces? This will influ-
ence the amount ofstormwater and howfast it runs off. Is landin your neighborhood
covered with natural vegetation or is it mostlylawns? Are there parks and greenways? Whattypes of pollution sources are immediatelyaffecting you?
THE EFFECT OF PLANTS AND TREES
WHAT CAN I DO?Citizen involvement helps determine governmentpolicy. Legislators listen to citizens, then respondby setting policies that state government mustadopt. In this manner, government plays a role inprotecting and often repairing riparian ecosystems.For example, the state now requires vegetativebuffers along many streams and rivers
• to protect their banks from erosion,• to reduce the impact of nonpoint source
pollution by trapping, filtering and convert-ing pollutants, and
• to supply food, shelter and shade to fish andother aquatic wildlife.
9
Other government programs promote “best management practices”—more environmen-tally friendly methods of agriculture, forestry and development.
But laws cannot completely protect river basins.Our rivers will be only as pure as our commitmentto preserving them. What we do in river basinsultimately affects striped bass, freshwater mussels,oceangoing fish and shellfish and even us.Damage done to aquatic ecosystems can be irreversible or cost millions of dollars to fix—it is easier, safer andmore economical to consider futureconsequences as we develop our riverbasins. Protection is much cheaper thanrestoration. Staying actively involved in thedecisions affecting your community and state isthe key to ensuring a healthy future for river basins.
natural filtration
VEGETVEGETAATIVE BUFFERTIVE BUFFER
clear water
sediment runoff
erosion
NO VEGETNO VEGETAATIVE BUFFERTIVE BUFFER
siltation
stormwater: surpluswater from rainand melted snow
GRAPHIC BY ERIN HANCOCK, NCWRC
MELISSA MCGAW, NCWRC
● STREAM WATCH
Clean waterways are as important as safeneighborhoods. The Stream Watch program isbased on the philosophy that those in the bestposition to notice the signs of a stream’s distressare its neighbors: the people who live along itsbanks or use its waters. The program is one of the best examples of citizen monitoring in NorthCarolina. With the help of DENR’s Division ofWater Resources, Stream Watch volunteers areencouraged to take an active role in promotingthe well-being of the waterway they “adopt.”
Stewardship activitiesinclude stream andriverbank cleanups,wildlife identificationand inventories, waterquality testing, surveys
of macroinvertebrates, educational programsand nature walks. For more information, contactthe DENR Division of Water Resources, (919)733-4064, or visit the Web site at http://www.ncwater.org and click on “Stream Watch.”
● URBAN STREAM RENEWAL
Unfortunately, most urban streams have beenstraightened, walled in concrete, diverted throughculverts, and filled with trash until they seem tobarely exist as natural entities. Several programsfunded by public and private partners are focus-ing attention on these lost and abandoned water-ways. Projects include trash cleanups, plantingsand natural methods of erosion control alongman-made channels, and acquisition of land forparks and greenways. To learn how you can workthrough local government to acquire funding forstream restoration, call the DENR Division ofWater Resources at (919) 733-4064 (http://www.ncwater.org) or the DENR Division of WaterQuality: Wetlands Restoration Program at (919) 733-5208 (http://h2o.enr.state.nc.us).
greenways: open space or connectorsalong a natural corridor (such as a river)used for parks and trails
macroinvertebrates:animals that lack a backbone andare visible to thenaked eye
Here are just a few ways citizensare making a difference
in their communities:
BE WATERWISE
When you’re out walking or riding, pay attention to thecontinuing changes in the landscape. Look around at
subdivisions, shopping centers and new construction andmake a mental checklist of the structures you see and whatthey are used for. After a heavy rain, notice how and wherethe stormwater flows. Try to follow the route of a stream as itpasses through your community or city: Where is it visibleand where does it seemingly “disappear?” What is goodand bad about all the things you see? Think about youreveryday habits and practices and how they affect yourimmediate environment and your quality of life.
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KEN TAYLOR, NCWRC
ILLUSTRATION BY ADAMBRILL
KEEP CLEANFLOWS TOPAMLICO SOUND
● LAND CONSERVATION
Land conservancy groups across the state are vitalto clean water efforts because they purchase andprotect land bordering riparian areas. Anothertrend is conservation easements on land thatborders rivers and streams; this practice giveslandowners tax breaks in exchange for a promisethey will preserve and not develop certain partsof their land. To find out how to contribute orparticipate in a conservation easement program,contact the N.C. Conservation Tax Credit Pro-gram at (919) 715-4191, the DENR Division of Soil and Water Conservation at (919) 733-2302(http://www.enr.state.nc.us/ DSWC), your local Soil and Water Conservation District, or a land conservancy or trust in your area.
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● ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
Public education is critical for protecting riversand streams. Through environmental education,you can learn more about the natural systemsthat support you. To encourage citizens to makeinformed environmental decisions, North Caro-lina offers many environmental education pro-grams to the public through facilities from themountains to the coast. These include parks,museums, Environmental Education Centers,aquariums, zoos and botanical gardens.
To learn about the wealth of programs and oppor-tunities available, call the DENR Office of Envi-ronmental Education at (800) 482-8724, or visitthe Web site at http://www.ee.enr.state.nc.us.
KEN TAYLOR, NCWRC
JIM PAGE, NCDENR
JIM PAGE, NCDENR
Every decision we make changes North Carolina—for better or worse. Often we blame agriculture, industries and municipalities as the source of environmental problems. Butwe all play a role. It isn’t always obvious how our daily actionsaffect the environment, but our personal choices have con-sequences. Responsibility for the care of North Carolina’snatural systems rests in our hands. It is essential to stay informedand make decisions about the environment—whether it’s bychanging daily habits or participating in government. Start bylooking at the small commitments you can make, thencontinue to learn more about your connections to the naturalsystems that sustain us.
CARL V. GALIE JR.
State of North CarolinaGovernor: Michael F. Easley
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural ResourcesSecretary: William G. Ross Jr.
Office of Environmental EducationDirector: Anne Taylor
The Office of Environmental Education is part of the N.C. Department of Environmentand Natural Resources. The Office helps coordinate many environmental educationprograms and resources offered by the Department and throughout North Carolina,
and offers several related publications and services.
To learn more contact:Office of Environmental Education(800) 482-8724 or (919) 733-0711
http://www.ee.enr.state.nc.usor
N.C. Basinwide Planning Program(919) 733-5083
http://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/basinwide
This publication was funded through the Clean Water Act’s Section 319 Grant Program.Project Manager: Lisa Tolley
Editor: Carla BurgessDesigner: Kimberly Schott, Red Gate Design
Special Thanks: North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
Front cover photos, clockwise from center: Melissa McGaw; Melissa McGaw; N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission; Ken Taylor; Derrick Hamrick; background photo:
N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. Back cover photo: Harry Ellis.
Printed on recycled paper
No state funds were used to print this public document.