Client Type: Government
Description: Technical assessment of a 101 square mile watershed.
Services: Hydrologic, hydraulic, and water quality monitoring and modeling; population and development trending analysis; GIS development and analysis; restoration sites search and reporting; stakeholder interaction and education.
Overview
Crane's Creek has been identified as a degraded system by the NC Division of Water Quality. To address the causes of this degradation, a watershed plan is being developed. To develop this document, an assessment of the past, current, and future conditions within the watershed is required. This assessment includes monitoring, modeling, mapping, and analysis of water quality degradation causes throughout the Crane's Creek watershed. Additionally, a comprehensive search for potential stream restoration, wetland restoration, buffer preservation, and best management practice implementation project opportunities is being conducted. This assessment and planning effort is being undertaken by the NC Wetlands Restoration Program with funding allocations by the NC Department of Transportation.
We are working closely with the North Carolina Wetlands Restoration Program, North Carolina Watershed Assessment and Restoration Project Unit, North Carolina Environmental Science Branch, and Moore County Soil and Water Conservation District to identify conditions in the Crane's Creek watershed that are having or could have adverse effects on the ecosystem. We are also assisting the Watershed Education for Communities and Local Officials program with stakeholder education and interaction.
Background and Details
Part of the Cape Fear River basin, the Crane's Creek watershed is 101 square miles in extent and is located in portions of Harnett, Lee, and Moore counties of North Carolina. The towns of Cameron and Vass are located within the watershed as well as a portion of the town of Carthage. The population of the watershed is approximately 9,000, there are 35.6 homes per square mile, and 84% of the homes are use septic systems for wastewater disposal.
The watershed is located in the sandhills region of the coastal plain, and is quite rural. Only 1.3% of the watershed is developed. A significant portion of the watershed is under forest and timber management. Poultry and swine operations are also present in the watershed. Poultry operations are relatively numerous and are distributed throughout the watershed. A total of 98 active poultry houses have currently been identified in the watershed. Additonally, there are 8 swine houses in the Crane's Creek watershed. There are approximately 280 miles of streams in the watershed, and about 3.2% of the watershed area is ponds or lakes. Approximately 8.6% of the watershed is wetland.
BLUE: Land, Water, Infrastructure is utilizing multiple sources of watershed information to develop geographical information system based maps; identify wetland and stream restoration sites; conduct detailed watershed characterizations; and produce a comprehensive assessment of past, current, and projected future conditions within the watershed. The final document will also include an assessment of water quality impacts from the proposed realignment US Highway #1 (NCDOT project R-210) through the watershed; integration of all monitoring data throughout the watershed; identification of restoration, preservation, and best management practice project sites; and assessment of potential water quality degradation problems and potential solutions.
Last updated: 10/07/02 (BLUE: Land, Water, Infrastructure)
Vicinity Map
Restoration Sites Identification
Monitoring Streamflow in a Tributary to Crane’s Creek