Chapter 3 -

Section B: Chapter 3 – Little Tennessee River Subbasin 04-04-03 95

Chapter 3 -

Little Tennessee River Subbasin 04-04-03

Includes Nantahala River Watershed

3.1 Water Quality Overview

The Cherokee people called the Nantahala River gorge

Land of the Middle Sun because it is so deep and the

sides are so sheer that only the noonday sun penetrates its

depths (Sakowski, 1990). The majority of the Nantahala

River watershed, including Nantahala Lake, is contained

within this Little Tennessee River subbasin. Tributaries

include Whiteoak, Dicks, Silvermine and Queens Creeks.

There are no municipalities. A map including water

quality sampling locations is presented as Figure B-3.

Bioclassifications for sample locations are presented in

Table B-7. Use support ratings for each applicable

category in this subbasin are summarized in Tables B-8

and B-9. Refer to Appendix III for a complete listing of

monitored waters and further information about use

support ratings.

More than 96 percent of the land within this subbasin is

forested. There are approximately 1,800 acres of pastureland and 1,700 acres of surface water,

representing approximately 3.5 percent of the subbasin area. Less than 300 acres fall into the

urban land use category.

The Nantahala River watershed, from its source to the confluence with Roaring Fork, is currently

classified as Outstanding Resource Waters. The headwaters of this river system lie entirely

within the Nantahala National Forest. However, much of the land adjacent to this reach is

privately owned by the Rainbow Springs Corporation. The river and most tributaries are high

gradient systems capable of supporting wild trout populations.

Nantahala Power and Light Company (currently Duke Energy) impounded the river in 1956

creating the 1,606-acre Nantahala Lake. Flow is diverted to downstream generators at

Beechertown, bypassing a seven-mile reach of the river prior to discharging back into the

original channel above the Nantahala Gorge. The regulated reach of the river below the

powerhouse is very popular for rafting and canoeing.

There are two NPDES permitted dischargers in this subbasin: Macon County Schools-Nantahala

WWTP and the Nantahala Outdoor Center. No significant compliance problems were noted

during the most recent review period.

Subbasin 04-04-03 at a Glance

Land and Water

Land area: 155 mi

Stream miles: 257.4

Lake acres: 1,606

Population Statistics

1990 Est. pop.: 1,943 people

Pop. density: 12 persons/mi

Land Cover (%)

Forest/Wetland: 96.2

Surface Water: 1.7

Urban: 0.2

Cultivated Crop: 0.1

Pasture/

Managed Herbaceous: 1.8

Section B: Chapter 3 – Little Tennessee River Subbasin 04-04-03 97

Table B-7 DWQ Monitoring Locations and Benthic Macroinvertebrate Bioclassifications

(1999) for Little Tennessee Subbasin 04-04-03

Site Stream County Location Bioclassification

Benthic Macroinvertebrates

B-1* Nantahala River

(near Rainbow Springs)

Macon USFS 437 Excellent

B-3* Nantahala River Macon USFS 308 Excellent

B-5* Nantahala River Swain US 19/74 Good

B-6 Bryson Branch (1998) Macon USFS 437 Good

B-7 Roaring Fork (1998) Macon USFS 437 Good

Silvermine Creek (1995) Swain NC 28 near Wesser Good-Fair

B-9 Jarrett Creek (1995) Macon USFS 437 Good

B-10 Big Choga Creek (1995) Macon USFS 440 Excellent

B-11 Wine Spring Creek (1995) Macon SR 1310 Good-Fair

B-12* Dicks Creek Macon Off SR 1401 Good

B-16* Whiteoak Creek (above dam) Macon Off SR 1310 Good

B-18* Queens Creek Macon SR 1412 Excellent

Ambient Monitoring

G3510000 Nantahala River Macon Near Rainbow Springs N/A

* Historical data are available; refer to Appendix II.

Benthic Macroinvertebrates

Benthic macroinvertebrate samples have been collected from the Nantahala River site near

Rainbow Springs since 1984. Excellent bioclassifications have been found during all surveys,

including the most recent collection in 1999. The portion of the Nantahala River where the

majority of streamflow is being diverted to generate power (commonly referred to as the bypass

reach) along US Forest Service Road 308 was sampled as part of a special study and also

received an Excellent bioclassification. This represented an improvement from November 1993

when DWQ sampling resulted in a Good rating. Although the minimum flow release from

Nantahala Lake and/or tributary flow in the bypass reach allowed development of a diverse and

abundant fauna, the aquatic community is not quite as good as that found in the natural section of

the Nantahala River above the lake.

A third Nantahala River site, located in the portion of the river regulated for recreational

activities and power production (off US 19/74 at a private campground just above the old gage

site), was sampled in the evening when water levels were fairly low. This site, as in 1994, was

rated Good.

Three sites were sampled by DWQ as part of a larger study to gather information from streams

that currently have or will have minimum flow releases from upstream impoundments. Dicks

Section B: Chapter 3 – Little Tennessee River Subbasin 04-04-03 98

Creek improved noticeably from a Good-Fair bioclassification in November 1993 to Good in

1999. Queens Creeks is a very small stream (two meters wide) with an impoundment that does

not yet have a minimum flow release requirement. However, with corrections for small stream

size, sampling resulted in an Excellent bioclassification for the site. Whiteoak Creek was

sampled below a large trout farm and above an old dam off SR 1310. The stream at this site is

medium size (seven meters wide) with swift flow over primarily boulder and rubble substrate.

This stream received a Good bioclassification.

A special study was conducted in 1995 and 1998 to evaluate the impact of timber harvesting on

the benthic invertebrate community in Bryson Branch. This stream is a tributary to the

Nantahala River in the river’s ORW headwaters area. Post-harvest samples collected in 1998

resulted in a decline from Excellent to Good in both the logged and reference (Roaring Fork)

streams, suggesting that observed impacts were more related to flow differences than timber

harvesting practices.

Four tributaries to the Nantahala River and Nantahala Lake were sampled in 1995 as part of the

Lower Nantahala River Watershed ORW Investigation (NCDENR-DWQ, September 1996). Big

Choga Creek received an Excellent bioclassification, and benthic macroinvertebrates in Jarrett

Creek fell right on the borderline of Good and Excellent. Wine Spring and Silvermine Creeks

both received Good-Fair bioclassifications and are discussed in further detail in Part 3.5 of this

chapter.

Ambient Monitoring

Water chemistry samples are collected monthly from the Nantahala River near Rainbow Springs

on the Macon/Clay county line. Data collected over the past five years (1995-1999) showed the

lowest variability for total suspended solids, hardness, fecal coliform and nutrients of any

ambient monitoring site in the Little Tennessee River basin. Overall, these data indicate

excellent water quality at this location.

Lake Assessment

Nantahala Lake was monitored by DWQ in 1999. As is expected for a mountain reservoir, the

lake was found to be oligotrophic, with no reported algal blooms or nuisance aquatic plants. It is

currently fully supporting all designated uses.

For more detailed information on sampling and assessment of streams and lakes in this subbasin,

refer to the Basinwide Assessment Report – Little Tennessee River Basin (NCDENR-DWQ, April

2000), available from DWQ Environmental Sciences Branch at http://www.esb.enr.state.nc.us/bar.html

or by calling (919) 733-9960.

Section B: Chapter 3 – Little Tennessee River Subbasin 04-04-03 99

Table B-8 Use Support Ratings Summary (2000) for Monitored Lakes (acres) in Little

Tennessee River Subbasin 04-04-03

Use Support

Category

FS PS NS NR Total

Aquatic Life/Secondary Recreation

183.9 1.0 0 72.5 257.4

Fish Consumption

257.4 0 0 0 257.4

Primary Recreation

36.0 0 0 0 36.0

Water Supply

00000

Total stream miles/acres assigned to each use support category in this subbasin. Column is not additive because some

stream miles are assigned to more than one category.

3.2 Status and Recommendations for Previously Impaired Waters

This section reviews use support and recommendations detailed in the 1997 basinwide plan,

reports status of progress, gives recommendations for the next five-year cycle, and outlines

current projects aimed at improving water quality for each water. The 1997 Little Tennessee

River Basinwide Plan identified one impaired water in this subbasin: Whiteoak Creek.

3.2.1 Whiteoak Creek (1.0 mile from SR 1397 to SR 1423)

1997 Recommendations

Whiteoak Creek was sampled upstream and downstream of a large trout farm operation in 1990.

The stream received an Excellent benthic macroinvertebrate bioclassification above the operation

and a Fair bioclassification below it. The stream was rated partially supporting, and the

recommendation was for DWQ to monitor the stream again to evaluate the implementation of

best management practices by the trout farm operator.

Status of Progress

Although DWQ did sample Whiteoak Creek in 1999, the collection occurred much further

downstream of the trout farm in a location that has historically received Good bioclassifications

and does not accurately represent the impaired reach of stream. Therefore, this portion of

Whiteoak Creek remains partially supporting the aquatic life/secondary recreation use category.

Section B: Chapter 3 – Little Tennessee River Subbasin 04-04-03 100

2002 Recommendations

DWQ will sample benthic macroinvertebrates at the SR 1397 location below the trout farm on

Whiteoak Creek during the next basinwide cycle.

3.3 Status and Recommendations for Newly Impaired Waters

No stream segments in this subbasin were rated as impaired based on recent DWQ monitoring

(1994-1999). However, impacts to many streams from narrow riparian buffer zones,

sedimentation and moderate to severe bank erosion were documented. Part 1.5 below discusses

specific streams where these impacts were observed.

3.4 303(d) Listed Waters

Whiteoak Creek (discussed above) is the only water listed on the state’s year 2000 303(d) list.

Refer to Appendix IV for more information on the state’s 303(d) list and listing requirements.

3.5 Other Water Quality Impacts and Recommendations

Based on DWQ’s most recent use support assessment, the surface waters discussed in this

section are not impaired. However, notable water quality impacts were documented during this

process. While these waters are not considered impaired, attention and resources should be

focused on them over the next basinwide planning cycle to prevent additional degradation or

facilitate water quality improvement. A discussion of how impairment is determined can be

found on page 51.

Although no action is required for these streams, voluntary implementation of BMPs is

encouraged and continued monitoring is recommended. DWQ will notify local agencies and

others of water quality concerns discussed below and work with them to conduct further

monitoring and to locate sources of water quality protection funding. Additionally, education on

local water quality issues is always a useful tool to prevent water quality problems and to

promote restoration efforts. Nonpoint source agency contacts are listed in Appendix VI.

3.5.1 Silvermine Creek

Silvermine Creek flows north and east into the Nantahala River in Swain County. At the time of

the 1997 basinwide plan, Silvermine Creek was rated support threatened based on a Good-Fair

benthic macroinvertebrate bioclassification when the stream was sampled in 1993. Silvermine

Creek also received a Good-Fair when the stream was sampled in 1995 during the Lower

Nantahala River Watershed ORW Investigation. Biologists felt that the majority of the impacts

to water quality in this watershed were due to runoff from SR 1103 which follows the stream for

most of its length (NCDENR-DWQ, September 1996). The NC Department of Transportation

should evaluate drainage from this road and make improvements to prevent further habitat

degradation. DWQ will plan, resources permitting, to sample this stream during the next

basinwide cycle.

Section B: Chapter 3 – Little Tennessee River Subbasin 04-04-03 101

3.5.2 Wine Spring Creek

Wine Spring Creek flows east into Nantahala Lake in Macon County. As was mentioned

previously, this stream was sampled in 1995 during the Lower Nantahala River Watershed ORW

Investigation. Biologists could not determine impacts to water quality at that time. Precipitation

data indicated heavy rain events in several months prior to sampling that might have led to

scouring of the stream channel (NCDENR-DWQ, September 1996). More investigation is

needed to determine potential impacts to water quality from nonpoint source pollution in the

watershed. DWQ will plan, resources permitting, to sample this stream during the next

basinwide cycle.