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36 <br /> .ry <br /> Environmental Quality Indicatorwit . 1 <br /> iAx <br /> � ,. 'ram•` <br /> w. <br /> Why indicator The " use support " status of a waterbody is a measure of how well that <br /> was selected resource supports its designated uses . This is a general rating system <br /> used by the State Division of Water Quality ( DWQ ) to interpret water <br /> quality data . Streams are classified as fully supporting ( excellent to <br /> good ) , support threatened ( good to fair ) , partially supporting ( fair ) , or <br /> not supporting ( poor ) . Support threatened waters fully support their <br /> designated uses at present but show indications of not fully supporting <br /> these uses in the future . <br /> How indicator DWQ used available chemical and biological ( stream life ) sampling data <br /> was measured to develop this stream rating system . The color coded stream map <br /> contained in this report was drawn from a similar map contained in <br /> DWQ 's Neuse River Basinwide Water Quality Management Plan ( 1993 ) <br /> and a similar plan for the Cape Fear River Basin ( 1996 ) . <br /> The trend Only 11 percent of the stream miles sampled in the County are rated fully <br /> in Wake County supporting . These are generally small tributary streams in less developed <br /> areas . Most of the approximately 41 percent of these streams classified as <br /> support threatened are found in rural areas . The estimated 33 percent of <br /> the County ' s stream miles that are partially supporting and the 15 percent <br /> that are not supporting are , for the most part, found in the more urban , <br /> heavily developed areas of the County. Sedimentation , habitat loss , <br /> nutrient loading , and organic enrichment are the major problems <br /> associated with urbanization . Sedimentation is the most common problem <br /> in the more rural areas with some bacterial contamination also being <br /> noted . Wake County waters are generally in poorer condition than others <br /> across the State . For example , 45 percent of the waters studied statewide <br /> are fully supporting while only 3 percent are not supporting . <br /> The Wake County Wake County stream buffer requirements in water supply watersheds have <br /> been more restrictive than State minimum requi <br /> Government response rements for some time . <br /> The County 's watershed zoning restrictions were also in place before the <br /> State required it . In a recent review of local sediment and erosion control <br /> regulation enforcement, the County 's program was found to be the most <br /> aggressive in terms of fines assessed against violators . The local farm <br /> community has worked for many years to install agricultural best <br /> management practices ( BMP ' s ) which protect water quality. Recently, the <br /> County has initiated a program to help both rural and urban landowners <br /> learn about and comply with the state 's new Neuse Basin Rules . <br /> 19 <br />