DiscoverNorth Carolina’s

River Basins

North Carolina is a diverse land with

natural beauty that appeals to residents

and visitors alike.

It is also a land experiencing competition for its natural resources that are

already under stress and that could be lost to us in the absence of a wide spread

awareness of their existence, their significance and their value.

Natural resources are not isolated from each other or the people who use them.

Each resource is an integral part of the ecosystem. When one part of the system is

affected, other parts feel the impact. It is environmental education that provides

the knowledge, understanding and awareness of this intercon nected ness of all

things and gives us the ability to make informed environmental decisions.

The more we understand and respect our own community, the more capable we

are of being good stewards of the environment. If you have ever visited one of

North Carolina’s many Environmental Education Centers—nature centers, parks,

aquariums, museums, the zoo, public gardens, etc.—then you have already

started appreciating natural systems and had fun while learning about them.

Environmental education is not issue advocacy or a biased point of view.

Environmental education enables communities to care for their own environ -

ment. Living within the limits set by the environment depends on the beliefs

and commitment of individuals. Individuals working together as a community

have more power to promote practices that can nourish rather than cripple

their natural life-support systems.

ENVIRONMENTALEDUCATION

I N T H E 1 9 9 0 S , several crises elevated rivers in thepublic consciousness. First came Pfiesteria, a lethal organismthat killed millions of fish in coastal waters. Then a series ofhurricanes brought river and development issues to the fore -front. How we treat rivers and the land around them has adirect relation ship to our quality of life. The purpose of thisbooklet is to describe how river basins func tion and howhumans and rivers are interconnected. It demon strates howdecisions we make as home owners and citizens affect thequality of the water we drink, swim in and fish from. Withthis knowl edge, individ uals can make more informed deci -sions regarding their environment.

WHAT I S A R I V E R B A S I N ?A river basin is the land thatwater flows across or under on its

way to a river. As a bath tub catches all the water that falls within its sides, ariver basin sends all the water falling on the sur rounding land into a central

river and out to an estuary or the sea.

A river basin drains all the land around a majorriver. Basins can be divided into water sheds, orareas of land around a smaller river, stream orlake. Large river basins,such as the Neuse andCape Fear, are madeup of many smallerwater sheds. The land -scape is made up of many inter connectedwatersheds. Within each watershed, all waterruns to the lowest point—a stream, river, lake or ocean. On its way, water travels over the landsurface—across farm fields, forestland, suburbanlawns and city streets, or it seeps into the soil and travels as groundwater.

Everyone lives in a river basin. You influencewhat happens in your river basin,good or bad, by how you treat the natural resources—the soil, water, air, plants andanimals. As water moves downstream, it carries and redeposits gravel, sand and silt.Water also transfers bacteria, chemicals, excess nutrients and organic matter. Whatever

happens to the surface water or groundwater upstream will even tu ally affect downstream systems.Therefore, the health of the aquatic ecosystem is directly related to activities on land.

estuary: a semi-enclosed areawhere fresh waterfrom a river meetssalty water fromthe sea

ecosystem: a natural sys-tem linked by living (plants,animals) and nonliving (soil,air, water) things.

river basin: drain age area of a river

watershed: all the land drainedby a river, streamor lake

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groundwater: thewater found incracks and poresin sand, graveland rocks belowthe earth’s surface

North Carolina’s River Basins

KEN TAYLOR, WILDLIFE IMAGES

GRAPHIC BY ERIN HANCOCK, NCWRC

N o r t h C a r o l i n a ’ s

N a t i o n a l P a r kG r e a t S m o k y M o u n t a i n s

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M o u n t a i n s

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Mt . Mitchel l6684'

Roan Mtn.6285 '

Grandfather Mtn.5964'

ClingmansDome6643'

Mt. Sterling5835' Mt . Hardison

6134'

Cold Mtn.6030'

RichlandBalsam

6540'

WaterrockKnob6292'

Mt . Pisgah5721'

Phoenix Mtn.4690'

StandingIndian Mtn.

5499'

WayahBald5342'

Murphy

Robbinsville

Hayesville

BrysonCity

Franklin

Sylva

Brevard

Waynesville

Marshall

Asheville

Hendersonville

Columbus

Marion

Rutherfordton

BurnsvilleBakersville

Newland

Boone

Jefferson

Wilkesboro

Lenoir Taylorsville

Statesville

Hickory

Mooresville

Newton

Morganton

Shelby Gastonia

Charlotte Mint Hill

Matthews

Monroe

R

Albemarle

Salisbury

Kannapolis

Concord

ThomasvilleLexington

Winston-SalemG

HighPoint

KernersvilleB

Sparta

Lincolnton

Mocksville

Dobson

Yadkinville

DanburyW

Wadesboro R

Hiwassee

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MITCHELL AVERY

McDOWELL

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CALDWELL

BURKE

CLEVELAND

ALLEGHANY

WILKES

ALEXANDER

CATAWBA

LINCOLN

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SURRY

YADKIN

IREDELLDAVIE

ROWAN

CABARRUS

MECKLENBURGSTANLY

UNION ANSON

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MONTGOM

NORTH CAROL INA HAS 17 MAJOR R IVER BAS INS.Five of the state’s river basins—the Hiwassee, Little Tennessee, French Broad, Watauga and New—are part of the Mississippi River Basin, which drains to the Gulf of Mexico. Allthe others flow to the Atlantic Ocean. Of the 17 basins, 11 originate in North Carolina, but only four are contained entirely within the state’s borders—the Cape Fear, Neuse, White Oak and Tar-Pamlico.

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R i v e r B a s i n s

Areasof North Carolina’s River BasinsI N S Q U A R E M I L E S

This map is provided in poster format by the Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs in the N.C.Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Map by Lee Ratcliffe, from the Nov. 1999 special issue of Wildlife in North CarolinaMagazine, “Rivers of NorthCarolina,” published by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. Base map copyright John Fels, 1997.

Sources: NCDENR Division of Water Quality; NCDENR Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs;N.C. Depart ment of Transportation; N.C. State University School of Design.

n s

SA

ND

HI

L

LS

Cape Fear

Cape Lookout

Cape Hatteras

Ou

te

r

Ba

nk

s

Rockingham

Reidsville

WGreensboro

H

Bur l ington

Graham

Asheboro

Sanford

Fayetteville

Laurinburg

Lumber ton

Henderson

Carrboro

Chapel HillDurham

Cary Raleigh

Garner

RoanokeRapids

Smithfield

RockyMount

Tarboro

Wilson

Goldsboro

Greenville

Kinston

New Bern

Jacksonville

Wilmington

City

Havelock

S

Wentworth

Eden

Troy

W Raeford

CarthageLillington

Pittsboro

YanceyvilleRoxboro

Oxford

Louisburg

Elizabethtown

Whiteville

Clinton

Nashville

WarrentonHalifax

Snow Hill

Kenansville

Burgaw

Bolivia

Bayboro

Trenton

Washington

Williamston

Windsor

Plymouth

Edenton

Hertford

JacksonWinton

Gatesville

Currituck

Camden

Columbia Manteo

SwanQuarter

Beaufort

WakeForest

Elizabeth

H

L

B l ewet t F a l l sLake

TownsendLake

LakeBur lington Quaker

CreekReservoir

HycoLake

B. EverettJordan

Lake

Harr isReservo ir

LakeWaccamaw

Singletar yLake

WhiteLake

Bay TreeLake

Ma yoReservoir

John H. KerrReservoir

Falls Lake

LakeGaston

Roanoke RapidsLake

CatfishLake

Long

Lake

Lake Ellis Simon

GreatLake

PhelpsLake

Pungo Lake

LakeMattamuskeet

LittleLake

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Alli

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Wolf Swamp

Gum Swamp

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Ca

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Wa

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River

ROCKINGHAM

GUILFORD

RANDOLPH

M OMERY

RICHMOND

CASWELLPERSON

ALAMANCEORANGE

DURHAM

CHATHAM

LEE

MOORE

SCOTLAND

HOKE

HARNETT

WAKE

CUMBERLAND

ROBESON

GRANVILLE

VANCE

FRANKLIN

JOHNSTON

WILSON

WAYNE

GREENE

SAMPSON

LENOIR

DUPLIN

JONES

CRAVEN

BLADEN

COLUMBUS

BRUNSWICK

PENDER

NEW

HANOVER

ONSLOW

PITT

EDGECOMBE

NASH

WARREN

HALIFAX

NORTHAMPTON

HERTFORD

BERTIE

MARTIN

BEAUFORT

PAMLICO

GATES

PERQUIMANSCHOWAN

WASHINGTONTYRRELL

DARE

HYDE

CURRITUCK

CAMDEN

PASQUOTANK

CARTERET

LakeNew

*for comparison

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Cape Fear 9,164Yadkin-PeeDee 7,221Tar-Pamlico 6,148Neuse 6,062Roanoke 3,493Pasquotank 3,366Lumber 3,329Catawba 3,285French Broad 2,829Little Tennesse 1,797Broad 1,514White Oak 1,382Chowan 1,298New 754Hiwassee 644Watauga 205Savannah 171 Amazon* 2,300,000Mississippi* 1,240,000

is it headed? To answer these questions, you must know what river basin you live in—part of your “ecological address.”

The river basin you live in is one component ofyour ecological address, but even within thoseboundaries, there are subtle differences in youraddress and that of your neighbors—just as yourown house may be different from others on yourstreet. Your ecological address is made up of ninecomponents: (1) river basin, (2) topography, (3) wetlands, (4) groundwater, (5) biodiversity, (6) soil, (7) air, (8) climate and (9) energy.

Think about the following questions as you con -sider the scope of your ecological address.

Even if youdon’t live onthe water- front, the land

around your house drains to a river, estuary orlake nearby. Into what river or stream does yourland eventually drain? Does the water running offyour property enter a storm drain, a ditch or anopen field? Did you know that water flowinginto a storm drain goes directly to a river orstream, not to a waste water treatment plant?How fast does runoff enter local streams and towhat extent is it filtered and cleansed by veg -etation? How is land used alongside the neareststream? How much is paved or covered with hard surfaces such as roads or rooftops?

DISCOVER YOUR ECOLOGICAL ADDRESSMost of us are far removed from the source ofthe water we use every day. The development ofindoor plumbing and sewage systems has madeour connection to rivers and streams less obvious.When pollution closes waters to swimming orfishing, when droughts force us to curb waterconsumption, and when flooding brings riverscloser to our doorstep, we are reminded of our close relationship with rivers andstreams. But if we are to preserve this life -line, we must be aware that we make choicesevery day that affect our land, our waterand our air.

When you turn on a faucet to get a drink,where does your water come from? When

you flush a toilet or drain your bathtub or sink,where does your water go? When rain washesdown your street and into a ditch or drain, where

The same amount of water on the planettoday was present 3 billion years ago:not a drop more or less. Water on earthcircu lates continuously. It falls as rain,filters into the ground to recharge

aquifers and runs along the earth’s surface as creeks, riversand streams. That same water transpires through plants or evap -orates from the surface, re-enters the atmosphere as vapor,then falls again as rain or snow.

know?Do you

aquifer: a porousrock layer under -ground that is areservoir for water

whatriver basindo you live in?

GRAPHIC BY ERIN HANCOCK, NCWRC

4

NC AQUARIUMS

Topography describes the physical features of aplace, or the terrain—such as mountains, valleysand floodplains. Is the land around you flat orhilly? How close are you to a floodplain (a usuallydry area that becomes inundated with waterwhen streams and rivers overflow)?

A wetland is an area where the watertable is at, near or above the land surface longenough during the year to support the growth ofspecially adapted plants. Wetlands help regulatewater flow and act like a sponge, filtering pollut- ants and providing flood control. How do nearbywetlands connect to the system of streams thatdrain your river basin?

If it comes from a well, the source is ground water.The quantity and quality of groundwater are ofconcern to humans. Water that flows throughcontaminated soils can become tainted. What is the quality of groundwater where you live?

Biodiversity is the totality of genes, species and eco - systems in a region. Humans depend on biodiver -sity for food, medicine and balanced natural sys -tems. These natural systems affect the quality andquantity of water and tell us much about the healthof the whole river basin. How much land is for -ested? What species are endangered where you live?Are there any rare natural areas near your home?

The local soiltype deter -mines what

happens when bare soil is exposed to wind andrain, what happens to toxic material dumped onthe soil (such as oil from your car or pet andhuman wastes), how groundwater percolates, what

Learning your ecological

address will help you to

bet ter appreciate how

your lifestyle influences

your sur roundings. Con -

sider your daily habits.

• How do you maintain

your lawn and garden?

• How much do you use

your car?

• How much water do

you consume?

• What kind of deter-

gent and household

cleaners do you use?

• How do you dispose

of common and toxic

house hold wastes?

• How many pets do you

have and where is

their waste deposited?

If you were the only

per son making these

daily deci sions, then the

effects would be hardly

notice able. But you are

one of over 9 million

people in North Carolina

whose daily con tributions

—both positive and neg -

a tive—add up quickly.

Answers to questions like

the ones above help

determine your eco -

logical footprint.

kinds of plants can grow and how much rainwater isabsorbed by vegetation before it reaches a river. Is the land around you permeable (absorbent) or impermeable (water runs off readily)?

The quality of theair in a river basinalso influences its

forests, agricultural crops and surface waters.Pol lutants in the air, such as automobile exhaustand industry emissions, will eventually return tothe ground and enter the water supply.

Consider how much rain or snow is typical for agiven year and when it falls. This will give you anidea of when the ground is likely to be saturatedwith water. When no more water can seep intothe ground, runoff rushes quickly over land.

Energy is the ability to do work. Everything wedo requires energy. Our bodies get the energythey need from food. We use fossil fuels to powerour cars and provide houses with electricity. Howdoes your food get to your table? How muchwater was used to grow it? What other resourceswere involved in getting it to you? To furtherexplore your ecological address, check out theOffice of Environmental Education and PublicAffairs’ website at http://www.eenorthcarolina.org/ecoaddress.htm.

THE ECOSYSTEM CONNECTIONA river is merely the course that water takes asit flows from the highest point in a river basin to the lowest. Together, the stream and its sur -rounding land make up rich and diverse eco -ystems. These ecosystems provide habitats forliving creatures both large and small. Everycreature—whether clad in scales, feathers, fur,shells or clothing—shares a common home thatstretches from the bed of the stream to the topof the trees and to human dwellings around the flood plain. The stream plays a vital role in human lives, and our activities stronglyinfluence the condition of the stream.

what is your climate like?

biodiversity:what species share your back yard?

where are the wetlandsnear your home?

groundwater:where do you get your drink ing water?

topography:how is the land shapedaround your home?

how clean is yourair?

what kind ofsoil is beneath your feet?

how much energydo you use each day?

ecological footprint:the amount of landand water needed to support one’s life -style using currenttechnology

5

A healthy streambed teems with aquatic insectsand other organisms that crawl around or attachthemselves to the bottom. They eat decomposedtwigs and plant matter or other creatures. Manyof these small creatures are in the immature—or

larval—stages of theirlife cycle. Many even -tually emerge as terres -trial or winged creatures

and mate and lay eggs in the stream. In all theirstages, they are food for fish and larger creatures. They are the base of the aquatic food web and the foundation of the riparian ecosystem. Both a large variety and large numbers of

aquatic organisms indicate good water quality.

Plants and trees surrounding the stream—often described as a vegetative buffer—also influence

the health of the eco -system. Riparian forestsprovide shade to keep

water cool and capable of holding more oxygen.They also keep soil in place along riverbanks, filternutrients and many toxic substances from runoffand contribute organic matter (rotting leaves andother material) that feeds a stream’s smallestinhabitants.

As a stream becomespolluted, many small,juvenile organisms arethe first to perish. Large quantities of sediment,nutrients and chemicals entering the stream will smother and poison tiny aquatic creatures,wreak ing havoc throughout the food web—frominsects to fish to humans. A diverse population

of aquatic insects is essen tial for maintaining fishpopulations. A clean stream is also necessary ifhumans are to have ample food, water, recrea -tional opportunities and even jobs.

Streams are affected not only by what is put intothem, but also by how they are physically manip -ulated. Humans often alter the land around theriver and even change the path of the water itself—influenc ing water quality and quantity. Flood -ing from major hurricanes often is viewed as an“unnat ural” event. Yet communities are morevulnerable to flooding because humans havefilled wetlands, straightened streams and pavedand developed large areas. We have changed theway water flows and destroyed the ability of manynatural systems to absorb and detain floodwaters.A river basin that drains thousands of square mileshas many natural features—including wetlandsand woodlands—that store excess rainwater andslow its movement. Accelerated urban develop -ment and land disturbance reduce the land’sability to absorb run off. Because of this, a build -ing site that 30 years ago was designated outsidethe 100-year floodplain might be con sidered inthe middle of the floodplain today.

THE HUMAN CONNECTIONHistor ically, human development clusteredaround a good supply of water. Communitieslooked first to streams, then eventually to wellsand springs, to satisfy their thirst. As populationsincreased, people dipped into water upstreamand emptied their wastes downstream. Advancedtechnology supplied running water to individualhomes and enabled the development of mecha -nized systems to dispose of wastewater. In themid-1950s, a connection became apparent

riparian: per tain -ing to the edgesof streams orrivers

vegetative buffer: plants and treessurrounding a river or stream

sediment: erodedsoil particles thatwash or blow intorivers

KEN TAYLOR, NCWRC

DERRICK HAMRICK

6

Does the water running off your propertyenter a storm drain, a ditch or an openfield? When rain falls on your street, roofor yard, what creek or river will it even -

tually flow into? What kinds of things from your yard will therainwater carry with it on its way to that creek or river? Is yourstreet flat or hilly? How close are you to the nearest stream orriver? What kinds of things can wash from your yard during astorm? How fast does water running off your yard enter thosestreams or rivers nearby? How is the land used alongside thestream nearest your home? Is it mainly vegetation or hardsurfaces such as roads and rooftops? Explore your ecolog-ical address to find out how you affect the water quality in your river basin.

between decline in water quality and the manage -ment of waste water. By the early 1970s, the gov - ernment became involved in the construction offacilities to treat wastewater and safeguard humanhealth and aquatic ecosystems downstream.

A wide variety of pollutants— including sedi ment, nutrients and chem icals—enters our rivers

from various sources. The federalClean Water Act of 1972 established

a goal of making all the nation’s waters fish -able and swimmable. To meet that directive, NorthCaro lina surveyed and evaluated its streams andrivers and labeled most bodies of water with a“use” that each has tradi tionally supported,such as fishing, swimming and drinking.

In the late 1980s, North Carolina established a

water qual ity management program focused on

each of the state’s 17 river basins. The N.C. Depart -

ment of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) Division of Water Qua l ity

updates the management plan for each river basin every five years based on

extensive data from water quality sampling. Public input is gathered before

drafting the basinwide plan. Later, a public review period is held to obtain

comments on the draft plan. The plans contain available information on char -

acteristics of the basin, current water quality and manage ment strategies for

protecting or improv ing water quality. For more information about river basins and

nonpoint source pollution in North Carolina, explore the website of the Basin Plan -

ning Program: http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/wq/ps/bpu. For each river basin, you’ll

find a basin wide plan, river statistics, notices of upcoming events, links to contacts

for water shed groups and other helpful information.

RIVER BASIN PLANNING

know?Do you

GRAPHIC COURTESY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY, CA, STORMWATER PROGRAM

7

The state monitors and collects information onstreams to determine if they are fulfilling theirlabeled use. If not, the waters are consideredimpaired. The government has a legal obligationto protect these uses and to create and implementstrategies to reduce pollution in impaired waters.The goal is that water quality in every river willbe good enough to support its designated use.What is the quality of water in your river basin?You can find out more information about yourriver basin by referring to the individual river basin inserts available from the Office ofEnvironmental Education and Public Affairs.

To curb water pollution, we must know its source.Pollution entering rivers is classified as one of twotypes, depending on its origin. Point sourcepollution comes from a cen tral point or loca tion,such as a pipe. Non point source pollution comesfrom land use activities within a river basin; itresults from rainwater washing pollutants offthe land and into streams. This type of pollutionincludes pesticides and fertilizer from yards and

fields, human and animal waste, eroded sedi -ments, oil and chemicals on streets and parkinglots as well as chemicals or particles in the airthat eventually “rain down” on land. Waterrunning over and offland is a natural phe -nomenon; the problemlies in the pollutantsthat get picked up andmoved along the way.Non point source pol -lution is harmful torivers for many reasons. Large amounts ofsediment can smother stream animals and blocksunlight to aquatic plants. Excess nutrients maycause harmful algal blooms that deplete oxygenneeded by fish. Toxins have acute and chroniceffects, killing orga nisms immediately or byaccumulating in the food chain.

The kind and amount of pollution in point sourcedischarges are monitored and regulated by stateand federal governments, but nonpoint source

point source pollu -tion: dischargeenter ing a streamat a specific, detect - able point such asa pipe or outfall

algal bloom:rapid, densegrowth of algae that robs the water ofoxygen as it dies anddecomposes

nonpoint sourcepollution: diffuserunoff from largeareas of land

NC AQUARIUMS

8

natural filtration

VEGETVEGETAATIVE BUFFERTIVE BUFFER

clear water

sediment runoff

erosion

NO VEGETNO VEGETAATIVE BUFFERTIVE BUFFER

siltation

pollution, which accumulates from indi vid uals over large areas of land, is more difficult to pin -point and regulate.

To fully appreciate nonpoint source pollution where you live, examine how the land around you is used. How much land is developed in yourriver basin? How much area is paved or coveredwith hard (impervious) surfaces? This will influ-

ence the amount ofstormwater and howfast it runs off. Is landin your neighborhood

covered with natural vegetation or is it mostlylawns? Are there parks and greenways? Whattypes of pollu tion sources are immediatelyaffecting you?

THE EFFECT OF PLANTS AND TREES

WHAT CAN I DO?Citizen involvement helps determine governmentpolicy. Legislators listen to citizens, then respondby setting policies that state government mustadopt. In this manner, government plays a role inprotecting and often repairing riparian ecosystems.For example, the state now requires vegetativebuffers along many streams and rivers • to protect their banks from erosion,• to reduce the impact of nonpoint sourcepollution by trapping, filtering and convert-ing pollutants, and

• to supply food, shelter and shade to fish andother aquatic wildlife.

Other government programs promote “best man agement practices”—more environ men -tally friendly methods of agriculture, forestry and development.

Laws alone cannot completely protect river basins.Our rivers will be only as pure as our commitmentto preserving them. What we do in river basinsultimately affects striped bass, freshwater mussels,oceangoing fish and shellfish and even us.Damage done to aquatic ecosystems can be irreversible or cost millions of dollars to fix—it is easier, safer andmore econom ical to consider futureconsequences as we develop our riverbasins. Protection is much cheaper thanrestoration. Staying actively involved in thedecisions affecting your community and state isthe key to ensuring a healthy future for river basins.

stormwater: sur pluswater from rainand melted snow

AIRLIE GARDENS

GRAPHIC BY ERIN HANCOCK, NCWRC

9

● STREAM WATCHClean waterways are as important as safeneighbor hoods. The Stream Watch program isbased on the philosophy that those in the bestposition to notice the signs of a stream’s distressare its neighbors: the people who live along itsbanks or use its waters. The program is one of the best examples of citizen monitoring in NorthCarolina. With the help of the state Division ofWater Resources, Stream Watch volunteers areencouraged to take an active role in promotingthe well-being of the waterway they “adopt.”

Stewardship activitiesinclude stream andriver bank cleanups,wildlife identifica-tion and inven tories,water quality testing,

surveys of macroinvertebrates, educationalprograms and nature walks. For more informa -tion, contact the Division of Water Resources atwww.ncwater.org and click on “Stream Watch.”

● URBAN STREAM RENEWALUnfortunately, most urban streams have beenstraightened, walled in concrete, diverted throughculverts and filled with trash until they seem tobarely exist as natural entities. Several pro gramsfunded by public and private partners are focus ingattention on these lost and abandoned water ways.Projects include trash cleanups, plant ings and nat -ural methods of erosion control along man-madechannels and acquisition of land for parks andgreen ways. To learn how you can work throughlocal government to acquire funding for streamrestoration, conract the N.C. Division of WaterResources at www.ncwater.org.

greenway: open space orconnector along a naturalcorridor (such as a river) used for parks and trails

macroinvertebrate:animal that lacks a backbone and is visible to thenaked eye

Here are just a few ways citizensare making a difference

in their communities:

BEWATERWISE

When you’re out walking or riding, pay attention to thecontinuing changes in the landscape. Look around at

subdivisions, shopping centers and new con struction andmake a mental checklist of the structures you see and whatthey are used for. After a heavy rain, notice how and wherethe stormwater flows. Try to follow the route of a stream as itpasses through your community or city: Where is it visibleand where does it seemingly “disappear?” What is good or bad about all of the things you see? Think about youreveryday habits and practices and how they affect yourimmediate environment and your quality of life.

NCDENR DIVISION OF WATER QUALITY

ILLUSTRA

TION B

Y ADAMBRILL

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● LAND CONSERVATIONLand conservancy groups across the state are vitalto clean water efforts because they pur chase andprotect land bordering riparian areas. Anothertrend is conservation easements on land thatborders rivers and streams; this practice givesland owners tax breaks in exchange for their prom -ise to preserve and not develop certain parts of their land. To find out how to contribute to or participate in a conservation easementprogram, contact your local soil and waterconservation district or a land conservancy or trust in your area.

● ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATIONPublic education is critical for protecting riversand streams. Through environmental education,you can learn more about the natural systemsthat support you. To encourage citizens to makeinformed environmental decisions, North Caro -lina offers many environmental education pro -grams to the public through facilities from themountains to the coast. These include parks,museums, environmental education centers,aquariums, zoos and botanical gardens.

To learn about the wealth of programs andopportunities available, please visit the Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs’website at www.eenorthcarolina.org.

OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS

RIVERWORKS AT STURGEON CITY

NC AQUARIUMS

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What’s Different?

You may have noticed some minor changes to the map and someof the river basin boundaries. Good eye! About half of the basinsexperienced small changes to their borders. These changes helpmake the basins more accurate. They now reflect the flow of thewater instead of political lines such as county and city borders. Thechanges are very minor, but the most obvious change came to theWhite Oak and Cape Fear basins. The White Oak River Basin nowextends south to near Wilmington. This change better demonstrateshow the water flows.

The map above illustrates the changes to the basins. The black lines represent the former boundaries. The different colors representthe new boundaries.

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Original map courtesy of

Every decision we make changes North Caro lina—for better or worse. Often we blame agriculture, industries and munic -ipalities as the source of environmental problems, but we allplay a role. It isn’t always obvious how our daily actions affectthe environment, but our personal choices have con se -quences. Responsibility for the care of North Carolina’s naturalsystems rests in our hands. It is essential to stay informed andmake decisions about the environ ment—whether it’s bychanging daily habits or partici pating in government. Start bylooking at the small com mit ments you can make, then con -tinue to learn more about your connections to the naturalsystems that sustain us.

CARL V. GALIE JR.

State of North CarolinaGovernor: Bev Perdue

North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural ResourcesSecretary: Dee Freeman

Office of Environmental Education and Public AffairsProgram Manager: Lisa Tolley

The Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs is part of the N.C. Departmentof Environment and Natural Resources. The office helps coordinate many environmentaleducation programs and resources offered by the department and throughout North

Carolina, and offers several related publications and services.

To learn more contact:Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs

http://www.eenorthcarolina.org or

N.C. Basinwide Planning Programhttp://portal.ncdenr.org/web/wq/ps/bpu

Project Manager: Tracey RitchieEditor:Carla Burgess

Designer: Kimberly Schott, Red Gate DesignSpecial Thanks:North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, North Carolina

Division of Water Quality and North Carolina Natural Heritage Program

Front cover photos, clockwise from center: Melissa McGaw; Melissa McGaw; N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission; Ken Taylor; Derrick Hamrick; background photo:

N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. Back cover photo: Harry Ellis.

5,000 copies of this document were printed at a cost of $3,964.23 or $0.793 per copy.This publication was funded through a Walmart Stormwater Compliance Grant.

Printed on recycled paper Revised: 2012