Water quality is a term that describes the condition of the water we use. The measure of water quality includes: chemical, biological and physical characteristics that can have both short term and long term effects on our communities. Having clean water and high water quality is important to our local economies and it serves an important measure for a safe environment and a thriving community in attracting new businesses, housing and recreation opportunities to our counties.

Water Quality Initiatives

We all want safe water to drink, recreate and for use to irrigate our crops. High water quality affects the entire ecosystem both economically and environmentally. Carolina Land and Lakes remains committed to proper resource development water quality and sustainability.

One example of this in how we assisted Alexander County in acquiring the property of Rocky Face Mountain Recreation area, and continue to be involved in helping develop educational outreach. CLL received a grant to reroute storm water runoff that would pool in the parking area. This project also benefited the aquatic species (amphibians, crustaceans, mollusks) as well as helping restore natural vegetation to help them become more established. The project at Rocky Face Mountain Recreation Area is funded by a grant from the North Carolina Department of Justice's Environmental Enhancement Grant.

You can find more info about Rocky Face Mountain Recreation Area Website.

Our recent success with the Shuford Dam removal is an illustration of our capacity to bring a number of interested parties to the table to accomplish a shared goal.

Other Examples:

Lake Rhodhiss nutrient study: During the 1999-2002 severe drought, Rhodhiss developed a serious taste and odor algae problem. Both Valdese and Lenoir were forced to install expensive activated carbon systems to combat the taste and odor in their potable water supply. A 319 funded project obtained by CL&L addressed this cause and source of the nutrients causing the problem. The results and conclusions of this study now reside in the DWQ data files at DENR; copies are available upon request from the NC State office of DENR or CL&L.

Lake Hickory: CL&L has a report on a five year nutrient study (N & P) in the water flowing thru Rhodhiss dam into Lake Hickory.  The study was directed by Dr. Jon Knight, former Water Quality Specialist with Duke Energy.  The City of Hickory collected bimonthly samples which were analyzed at the Duke Water Quality labs. Dr. Knight is comparing this data with Rhodhiss lake sampling for the past 30 years. This easy, cheap tailrace sampling may be a good predictor of lake eutrophic conditions such as those experienced in Lake Rhodhiss in the early 2000's. DWQ is planning a non-point study for other Catawba basin streams and is referring to this study as a point of reference.

Our Challenge

Caring for Water

Managing Resources

Contact Details

Carolina Land & Lakes
Research Conservation & Development
PO Box 2977
Lenoir, NC 28645

Call: (828) 244-8722 Email Us

 

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