Agenda - 10-19-1993 - IV-B - Laserfiche WebLink

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• . . • . •. •• . . „ „.. GOAL: Restore, maintain or enhance water quality in the Albemarle- Pamlico region so that it is fit for fish, wildlife and recreation. HERE ARE 9,299 MILES OF FRESHWATER RIVERS AND STREAMS AND 1.8 MILLION ACRES OF BRACKISH,ESTUARINE . 'WATERS IN THE ALBEMARLE-PAMLICO REGION.BY FAR,THE REGION'S FRESH WATERS ARE THE MOST IMPAIRED.THE GREAT- EST CAUSE OF IMPAIRMENT IS HIGH SEDIMENT LEVET-S FROM NONPOINT SOURCES, AND THE GREATEST SOURCE OF SEDI- MENT IS AGRICULTURAL RUNOFF. OTHER SOURCES OF SEDI- MENT INCLUDE FORESIRY, CONSTRUCTION, URBAN RUNOFF AND LAND DISPOSAL OF WASTES. ONE WAY TO EVALUATE WATER QUALITY IS BY DETERMINING . • HOW WELL IT SUPPORTS THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE AND ••• AQUATIC ORGANISMS WHO USE IT AND DEPEND ON IT FOR LIFE FOR FRESHWATER RIVERS AND STREA.MS, THESE USES INCLUDE RECREATION AND FISH PROPAGATION, AND WATER SUPPLY IN SOME INSTANCES. SALT WATER USES INCLUDE RECREATION AND FISH PROPAGATION,AS WELL AS SHELLFISH HARVESTING. EIGHT PERCENT - OR 744 Mn I FS - OF FRESHWATER RIVERS AND STREAMS IN THE REGION ARE CONSIDERED NOT SUPPORTING THEIR USES. AN ADDITIONAL M PERCENT ARE PARTIALLY SUP- PORTING AND 32 PERCENT ARE SUPPORT-THREATENED. (EIGHT- EEN PERCENT ARE FULLY SUPPORTING; 8 PERCENT WERE NOT EVALUATED.) THE REGION'S SALT AND ESTUARINE WATERS HAVE FARED BET- TER SO FAR OF THE 1.8 MILLION ESTUARINE ACRES 7.8 PERCENT •••••:: ARE UNABLE TO FULLY SUPPORT THEIR DESIGNATED USES; 4.4 •-•.'"' PERCENT ARE SUPPORT THREATENED. THE GREATEST CAUSE OF IMPAIRMENT IN SALT WATER IS CHLOROPHYLL A, OR ALGAL •. .,..... • --- GROWTH. OTHER CAUSES ARE FECAL COLIFORM (AN INDICATOR OF BACI.ERIAL CONTAMINATION IN SHELLFISH), DIOXIN AND DISSOLVED OXYGEN. :.•.. 7