Source: NCDEQ, 10/1/20 The N.C. Department of
Environmental Quality (DEQ) Division of Water Resources is requesting public
review and input of the draft 2020 Chowan River Basinwide Water Resources Plan (Basin Plan).The Basin Plan provides a comprehensive examination and explanation of the planning process for water quality and quantity issues in the basin. It’s used to identify areas that need additional protection, restoration, or preservation to ensure waters of the state are meeting their designated use. The Chowan River basin is located in Virginia and North Carolina.
The Chowan River itself begins where the Blackwater, Nottaway and Meherrin
rivers merge near the state line. It then flows to the Albemarle Sound and
eventually the Atlantic Ocean. An estimated 95,000 people live in the North Carolina
portion of the river basin and Bertie, Chowan, Gates, Herford and Northampton
counties are either fully or partially located in the basin. Based on 2016 land use data, nearly 36 percent of land in the
North Carolina portion of the basin is identified as forest; 29 percent is
identified as agriculture; and 20 percent is comprised of wetlands. Algal
blooms have reemerged as a major water quality concern in the basin over the
past several years. Some of the blooms have been identified as potentially harmful
algal blooms (pHAB) capable of producing toxins. The Basin Plan includes
recommendations to address and identify potential pollution sources that may be
contributing to excess nutrients and the algal blooms in the basin. The public comment period is open through October 30, 2020.
Comment on the proposed plan may be emailed to forest.shepherd@ncdenr.gov.
Comments may also be mailed through the postal service to: Forest Shepherd Basin Planner Division of Water Resources Department of Environmental Quality 1611 MSC Raleigh, NC 27699 The Fact Sheet can be found here. Public comments will be reviewed and considered for incorporation
into the Basin Plan. The Basin Plan is scheduled to be presented to the
Environmental Management Commission (EMC) January 2021 for final approval. DWR
will work with local stakeholders to implement approved recommendations. Basin plans are required under General
Statute 143-215.8B and are approved by the EMC every 10 years (Session
Law 2012-200
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