Current through Register Vol. 39, No. 6, September 16, 2024
(a) The
classifications assigned to the waters of the State of North Carolina are set
forth in river basin classification schedules provided at
https://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/water-planning/classification-standards/river-basin-classification
and in Rules .0302 to .0317 of this Section. These classifications are based
upon procedures described in Rule .0101 of this Subchapter.
(b) Classifications. The classifications
assigned to the waters of North Carolina are denoted by the letters C, B, WS-I,
WS-II, WS-III, WS-IV, WS-V, WL, SC, SB, SA, SWL, Tr, Sw, NSW, ORW, HQW, and
UWL. The "best usage", as defined in Rule .0202 of this Subchapter, for each
classification is defined in the rules as follows:
(1) Fresh Waters Classifications:
(A) Class C: Rule .0211 of this
Subchapter;
(B) Class B: Rule .0219
of this Subchapter;
(C) Class WS-I
(Water Supply): Rule .0212 of this Subchapter;
(D) Class WS-II (Water Supply): Rule .0214 of
this Subchapter;
(E) Class WS-III
(Water Supply): Rule .0215 of this Subchapter;
(F) Class WS-IV (Water Supply): Rule .0216 of
this Subchapter;
(G) Class WS-V
(Water Supply): Rule .0218 of this Subchapter; and
(H) Class WL (Wetlands): Rule .0231 of this
Subchapter.
(2) Tidal
Salt Waters Classifications:
(A) Class SC:
Rule .0220 of this Subchapter;
(B)
Class SB: Rule .0222 of this Subchapter;
(C) Class SA: Rule .0221 of this Subchapter;
and
(D) Class SWL: Rule .0231 of
this Subchapter.
(3)
Supplemental Classifications:
(A) Class Tr
(Trout Waters): Rule .0202 of this Subchapter;
(B) Class Sw (Swamp): Rule .0202 of this
Subchapter;
(C) Class NSW (Nutrient
Sensitive Waters): Rule .0223 of this Subchapter;
(D) Class ORW (Outstanding Resource Waters):
Rule .0225 of this Subchapter;
(E)
Class HQW (High Quality Waters): Rule .0224 of this Subchapter; and
(F) Class UWL (Unique Wetlands): Rule .0231
of this Subchapter.
(c) Water Quality Standards. The water
quality standards applicable to each classification assigned are those
established in the rules of Section .0200 of this Subchapter.
(d) Index Number. The index number is an
identification number assigned to each stream or segment of a stream,
indicating the specific tributary progression between the main stem stream and
tributary stream. The index number can be referenced to the Division's river
basin classification schedules (hydrologic and alphabetic) for each river
basin.
(e) Classification Date. The
classification date indicates the date on which enforcement of the provisions
of General Statutes 143-215.1 became
effective with reference to the classification assigned to the various streams
in North Carolina.
(f) Unnamed
Streams.
(1) Any stream that is not listed in
a river basin classification schedule carries the same classification as that
assigned to the stream segment to which it is tributary except:
(A) unnamed freshwaters tributary to tidal
saltwaters will be classified "C"; or
(B) after November 1, 1986, any areas of
tidal saltwater created by dredging projects approved in accordance with
15A NCAC
07H .0208 and connected to Class SA waters
shall be classified "SC" unless case-by-case reclassification proceedings are
conducted per Rule .0101 of this Subchapter.
(2) In addition to Subparagraph (1) of this
Paragraph, for unnamed streams entering other states, tribes approved for
treatment as a state and administering a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
approved water quality standards program, or for specific areas of a river
basin, the following Rules shall apply:
(A)
Hiwassee River Basin (Rule .0302 of this Section);
(B) Little Tennessee River Basin and Savannah
River Drainage Area (Rule .0303 of this Section);
(C) French Broad River Basin (Rule .0304 of
this Section);
(D) Watauga River
Basin (Rule .0305 of this Section);
(E) Broad River Basin (Rule .0306 of this
Section);
(F) New River Basin (Rule
.0307 of this Section);
(G) Catawba
River Basin (Rule .0308 of this Section);
(H) Yadkin-Pee Dee River Basin (Rule .0309 of
this Section);
(I) Lumber River
Basin (Rule .0310 of this Section);
(J) Roanoke River Basin (Rule .0313 of this
Section);
(K) Tar-Pamlico River
Basin (Rule .0316 of this Section); and
(L) Pasquotank River Basin (Rule .0317 of
this Section).
Authority
G.S.
143-214.1;
143-214.5;
143-215.1;
143-215.3(a)(1);
Eff. February 1, 1976;
Amended Eff. August 1, 1995; August 3, 1992;
August 1, 1990; October 1, 1989;
Readopted Eff. November 1,
2019;
Amended Eff. June 1, 2022.
