Overview

The Haw River Watershed has faced extreme growth rates over the past ten years. In Alamance and Chatham counties growth rates have been in the upper 20th percentile in the state and are increasing
still.As a result between 1995 and 2005 there have been six Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) completed for waters on or draining into the Haw River. Four of these were for fecal coliform counts and two for total suspended solids. These impairments were all a result of human activities. Furthermore there have been 19 sections of the Haw River and the Haw River tributaries that have water qualities not declared safe.

B. Everett Jordan Lake

All water from the Haw River and its tributaries flows directly into Jordan Lake. The lake covers an area of 13,940 acres with roughly 200 miles of shoreline. The lake serves as:

• flood control
• water quality management
• fish and wildlife conservation
• recreation
• water supply for the region

Currently the lake provides 100 million gallons of drinking water a day to:

• Cary
• Apex
• Morrisville
• northern Chatham county
• Wake County portion of Research Triangle Park

The Haw River Basin’s Impact on Jordan Lake

The Haw River, New Hope and Morgan Creek all drain into Jordan Lake. Of the total flow, 70 to 90 percent is accountable to Haw River flow. Furthermore the Haw River Basin makes up 79.65% of the Jordan Lake watershed.Therefore all pollutants, sediment, and human disturbances in the Haw River Basin affect the water that flows to Jordan Lake and in return becomes drinking water for designated North Carolina residents.

Pollution from the Haw River Entering Jordan Lake
• 2,790,217 pounds of nitrogen enters Jordan Lake annually by way of the Haw River; 32 percent of which is from point source pollution and 68 percent from nonpoint source pollution.
• 378,569 pounds of phosphorus enters Jordan Lake annually by means of the Haw River; 18 percent from point source pollution and an alarming 82 percent from nonpoint source pollution.