Clean Water News

As the new home of NCPIRG's environmental work, Environment North Carolina can be contacted with any questions regarding this news release. 

RALEIGH—North Carolina Public Interest Research Group (NCPIRG) has released a new report, "Our Lakes at Risk: The Impact of Growth on North Carolina's Water Quality." The report examines current growth and development in each of the state's 17 river basins and projects growth in the year 2027. The report also examines the impacts growth has had on many of North Carolina's lakes, including Falls Lake, a favorite recreation site and an important drinking water source for the citizens of Raleigh.

Last year, over 750,000 people visited Falls Lake. Falls Lake is one of North Carolina's treasured resources-a favorite place for hiking, fishing, swimming and boating. The lake also provides drinking water to thousands of residents of Raleigh and surrounding communities. Unfortunately, the exploding growth occurring in the lake's watershed and the Neuse River Basin has threatened the health of the lake, which already has several impaired tributaries, and the problem may get worse if measures aren't put in place to protect the lake in the face of future growth. Falls Lake is just one example of the effect growth can have on our lakes. Lakes statewide are also seeing pollution resulting from growth.

"It is important that we plan now so that North Carolinians will continue to have clean water along with growth and development," says Christine Wunsche, NCPIRG Environmental Attorney. "Preserving water quality is vital to our health, our communities, and North Carolina's economy—without clean water, our state will be unable to continue to support growth."

A report released by the North Carolina Public Interest Research Group (NCPIRG), examines the loss of cropland and forestland in the state's river basins as well as the increase in developed land over the past 20 years and makes projections for growth and development through the year 2027.

As North Carolina's population continues to grow, our forests, farmlands, and open spaces are disappearing. The report finds that between 1982 and 2002, North Carolina lost 2,568,700 acres of cropland and forestland, while it gained 1,849,800 acres of developed land. From 1982 to 2002, the Neuse River basin lost a total of 21.2 percent of its cropland and 8.7 percent of its forestland. The basin also saw an increase of 313,100 acres of development, a 123 percent change. As our open spaces disappear and as people move closer to our rivers, lakes and streams, water quality suffers.

"Over the past 20 years we have tried to build a business that is public worthy for the people that use Falls Lake. Unfortunately, over the years we have seen a decline in water quality and it is important that the water in the lake is clean and pristine for future generations," Amy Poole, concerned citizen and local resident. "I would like to see water quality go back to what it was 20 years ago and see the lake taken care of properly."

Rapid growth harms our lakes in two ways. More paved surfaces serve as a conduit for oil, dirt, fertilizer, and other toxins, funneling pollution straight into our waters. Additionally, more development means more people, increasing the amount of wastewater that communities must discharge into the lake. Growth in the Neuse Basin and statewide will only continue to increase.

It is predicted that by the year 2027, North Carolina's forestland will decrease by 1,157,592 acres and 1,341,790 acres of cropland will disappear. Developed land area in the state will also increase 58.3 percent or 2,177,336 acres.

In order to protect lakes in the face of projected growth, the report recommends that the state:

• Establish permanent, dedicated state and local sources of funding to preserve and restore our streams, wetlands, floodplains, greenways, and other important lands, including full funding of $100,000,000 for the Clean Water Management Trust Fund.

• Protect the tributaries to our lakes before they are degraded.

• Improve monitoring of our lakes and report the information to the public.

• Cap new discharges of wastewater into our major drinking water supply lakes such as Jordan and Falls Lakes; also, quickly clean up polluted lakes.

"As North Carolina, and particularly the Triangle, continue to grow, it is more important than ever that we protect our invaluable water resources," said Amy Pickle, water quality attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center. "To do this effectively, we must tackle pollution problems before they cause irreversible harm. This report gives us the tools to do just that. And legislation like that passed last week helps give long range protection to our region's drinking water."

Just last week, the General Assembly took steps towards protecting water quality by approving legislation aimed at protecting and cleaning up lakes that provide North Carolinians with drinking water. The "Drinking Water Reservoir Protection Act," which is awaiting the Governor's signature, examines the condition of North Carolina's lakes, and requires the clean up of lakes that are already suffering from pollution, such as Falls Lake. The legislation gets a jump start on protecting other lakes by requiring action before expensive cleanup is mandated.

"With the state growing rapidly, and with pollution from development the fastest-growing threat to our lakes, rivers, and streams, it's time to get a handle on pollution in our reservoirs and protect the waters that need it most," concludes Wunsche.