Watersheds are diverse landscapes, each with a unique management strategy that is most effective at preserving or restoring its healthy waters.  Watershed planning is a relatively new approach, managing land use so that water quality is a priority.  The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) supports watershed management and planning as a method of sustainable land use, and has a number of funding agencies to support such efforts.  The EPA is partly supporting the Rich Fork Creek watershed planning effort through a 205(j) grant.  Many principles of watershed planning are taken from the Center for Watershed Protection (CWP), which focuses its efforts on Maryland and the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.  Chesapeake Bay is in danger of losing its incredibly diverse biology, mainly due to the high levels of development on the US I-95 route North and South of Washington, D.C.  NC Division of Water Quality (DWQ) is a critical resource for watershed planning in NC, devoting resources to each of the four ecoregions found in our diverse state (Mountains, Piedmont, Sandhills, & Coastal Plain), and creating an infrastructure that enables communities to minimize their stormwater impacts upon water quality through Best Management Practices.

 Basic watershed management concepts were developed by CWP, and many of them inform upon the restoration efforts in Rich Fork Creek watershed.  Nonpoint source pollution and stormwater management are especially addressed by the CWP and appear to be significant water quality impacts in Rich Fork Creek watershed.  The PTCOG has expanded upon these building blocks, developing our own Stormwater SMART  program and carrying out successful water quality restoration plans throughout the Triad region.  The PTCOG intends to improve upon these efforts and successfully implement an effective watershed restoration plan for Rich Fork Creek.  Please read further for explanations of some water quality and watershed terms, as well as further references you can use to inform yourself further about these issues.  If you still have questions, please do not hesitate to contact the PTCOG. 

Stormwater

Rain is like a shower or bath for all things outdoors. All the dirt, grime, grease, oil and waste that is on our buildings, in our yards, on the streets, driveways and parking lots is washed away down a storm drain.  Storm drains and stormwater systems flow directly into our streams, lakes and rivers.  Precipitation also flows directly into water systems when it lands on paved or impervious surfaces (like roads, driveways, or rooftops).  This water flows directly into streams at high, damaging speeds, sometimes flooding them.  The stormwater flows can also carry many chemicals and debris with them, polluting catchment waters.  If rain falls on grassed areas more than 50% of the water may still runoff the surface, depending on soil and rainfall characteristics.  If rain falls on areas planted in dense shrubs and trees, very little water will have a chance to run off, and most will sink into the soil.  Applying this knowledge to communities is a way to minimize and slow stormwater flow, and ensure clean biological habitats and the safety of our own communities.

Point Source Pollution

Pollution that originates at a single output – such as industrial outflow – is called point source pollution.  In the United States, this type of pollution requires a permit, and is limited so that it will not harm the aquatic ecology of the waters receiving the pollution.  Years of unregulated point source pollution has taught us the environmental and social danger of allowing this water use to go unchecked.  Our waters are too valuable and sensitive to not monitor and protect through point source permits.  There are no known non-permitted point source polluters in the Rich Fork Creek watershed.

Nonpoint Source Pollution

Pollution that cannot be traced to a single site or source is called nonpoint source (NPS) pollution.  NPS pollution is often characterized by trash, detergents, oils, fertilizers, pesticides, or other forms of waste and debris.  Most NPS pollution occurs far from actual water, more often in our own front yards, and most people do not even know they are contributing to the pollution and damaging their own watersheds.  Streams free of pollution and debris will be better at controlling flooding events, filtering surface water flows, and providing recreation areas.  Nonpoint source pollution measures are often coupled with stormwater management, as stormwater pollution is almost always a form of NPS pollution.  Other forms of NPS pollution include over-application of fertilizers and pesticides to agricultural lands, public spaces, and especially golf courses. Education about proper household hazardous waste recycling, oil disposal, pesticide and herbicides applications, and pet waste cleanup is a very effective way to combat NPS pollution.  With improved nonpoint source pollution education and control, waters will be cleaner, aquatic ecology will be healthier, our water treatment plants will have to work less, and people will be safer. 

Habitat Degradation

Many species of plants and animals live in the Rich Fork Creek watershed; it is their habitat.  In healthy systems, many of these organisms help keep waters clean and healthy.  However, if too much pollution or uncontrolled flow affects watershed function, these plants and animals will be harmed, and die or leave the area.  In their place, animals and plants that can adapt to polluted water conditions will take residence.  The organisms in a stream at any one time can tell us how clean those waters are – these plants and animals are called bioindicators.  We can measure our success in Rich Fork Creek watershed restoration by the types of bioindicators in the Creek and its tributaries.  If a stream is in extremely poor health, animals and plants can not live in or around the waters.  Rich Fork Creek is currently habitat to a variety of species of plants and animals, but the bioindicators we see in the Creek right now indicate that water quality conditions need to improve.

Stream Restoration/Enhancement/Protection

Degraded habitat requires attention to restore it to healthier status.  Nearly all watershed planning require a combination of different projects to most effectively and efficiently restore healthy waters and lands to the species and communities occupying a watershed.  We know of some restoration, enhancement, and preservation opportunities in Rich Fork Creek, but are always need to know more – please contact us with any information!  The difference among the terms restoration, enhancement, and preservation is based on how badly a site is impaired to fulfill it hydrological and biological functions..  Please read below for further clarification.

If the waters are badly off, they require restoration, an intensive approach in which a whole stream corridor needs to be re-shaped and its plants restored.  These can be long-term, expensive projects. 

Enhancement projects are those in which a stream’s health is failing, but can get back on track with a small boost.  This can require simpler measures like reinforcing a streambank, or increasing tree cover.  Rich Fork Creek is slow moving and flat, so enhancement of some of its stretches may include planting rocks or using fallen trees in strategic areas so that the water riffles and creates more oxygen. 

 Stream protection is the best and simplest situation for healthy watershed function.  Streams or wetlands that need protection are already in good health, and just need to be saved from future development or impact.  Landowners can take the lead on these projects working with various groups to protect land and waters for tomorrow’s generations.  There are a variety of non-profit, state, and federal programs that work with landowners to protect the valuable watershed features they own, and find ways in which partner landowners can be financially compensated.  See below for some of these potential  partner organizations.