-Nicole Eastman, Riverkeeper Assistant/Watershed Protection Specialist
On October 10th, Yadkin Riverkeeper Assistant, Nicole Eastman spoke at a public hearing held by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resources (NCDEQ, DWR) as part of a comment period for a proposed reclassification of specific waters in the Yadkin-Pee Dee River Basin. The waters that would be reclassified include portions of the Yadkin River, South Yadkin River, Deals Creek, Second Creek, Beaverdam Creek, Walnut Branch, Setman Branch, Fourth Creek, Peeler Creek, Cody Creek, Dutchman Creek, and Humpy Creek as seen in the map below created by NCDEQ.
These waters would be reclassified as Water Supply-IV (WS-IV) Critical or Protected Area or WS-V waters. Specifically, the restrictions applied to the Critical Area will protect the River a half-mile upstream of the new drinking water intake, therefore improving the resilience of the Yadkin River as a drinking water source. The critical and protected area will apply restrictions to developed areas, sludge and residual land application sites, new landfills, and wastewater discharges from industries which provides the opportunity to improve water quality in this part of the watershed.
Salisbury-Rowan Utilities requested this reclassification in relation to their plan to move their current pump station and raw water intake, located near the Hannah Ferry boat ramp, downstream 2,100 feet in the Yadkin River. Nicole expressed YRK’s support for the reclassification because it will provide more protections to the areas upstream of the intake to safeguard this part of the watershed as a valuable drinking water source for Salisbury and Rowan County.
Moving the water intake from its original, flood-prone location downstream 2,100 feet will avoid compromising the pump station in the future as these large rain events become more frequent and severe. Additionally, the reclassification will encourage protection of the South Yadkin River, a major tributary to the Yadkin River. There are TMDLs already in place for the South Yadkin River and its tributaries such as Second Creek and Fourth Creek, indicating a need for reduced erosion and sedimentation in the watershed. Fourth Creek also has a TMDL for fecal coliform after being identified as a hotspot for high bacteria levels by NCDEQ. These impairments motivated Yadkin Riverkeeper to develop the South Yadkin River watershed restoration plan with the goals of identifying pollution sources, improving water quality, and promoting the use of the South Yadkin for drinking water and recreational use.
Overall, Yadkin Riverkeeper believes this reclassification can contribute to positive improvements in the water quality of the Yadkin River and some of its tributaries and protect the significant investments being made by communities along the River in drinking water infrastructure and recreational facilities, including the Yadkin River State Trail blueway.