THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, July 16, 1996 TAG: 9607160261
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY ANNE SAITA, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 73 lines
Next to the weather, there's nothing that provides more fodder for casual conversations in coastal Carolina than the water.
The streams and rivers and sounds are a community's lifeblood. They provide food, recreation, utilities, income and inspiration - not to mention drinking water, our most vital source for sustenance.
Now the state plans to formalize those talks at the general store or tackle shop during two public workshops planned for next week.
The North Carolina Division of Water Quality wants to hear what you think of the quality of water in the area and how it can be protected from pollution or other threats, thus ensuring future generations of the same benefits that their ancestors enjoyed.
The input will be used to help form the Pasquotank River Basinwide Water Quality Management Plan, which will identify major problems and recommend solutions.
The first area workshop will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. on July 25 at College of The Albemarle's Room C-202 in Elizabeth City.
A similar session will be held from 9 a.m. to noon the following day at the Outer Banks Historical Building at the Elizabeth II Visitor Center in Manteo.
``We need to hear, from the people in the basin, what they think are the issues that are important to them,'' said Suzanne Hoover, an environmental specialist who will facilitate next week's workshops.
Agendas include information from state officials and a local consultant, followed by a question-and-answer period. After a break, small groups will discuss water quality issues and report their list of priorities.
The Pasquotank River Plan is one of 17 basinwide proposals being drawn through November 1997. Nine have been completed so far, Hoover said.
This is the first plan involving the northeastern part of the state.
``In fact, it's the only plan in the northeast,'' Hoover said Monday.
The Pasquotank River Basin includes the Albemarle and Currituck sounds, Northern Pamlico Sound and Pasquotank, Perquimans, Alligator and North rivers.
One plan with similar characteristics that's already been completed is the White Oak River Basin, which includes the Atlantic Beach and Morehead City areas.
Citizens from that area raised concerns about the impact of growth, wastewater management, shellfishing and animal operations on their water sources, Hoover said.
``In the mountains, we tend to hear more about sedimentation problems,'' she added.
Hoover is urging local governments, farmers, developers, business representatives, environmental groups and anyone else interested in water quality to attend either session.
``We want this to be a process that everyone's involved with. We don't want to be in our office cranking out plans that don't mean anything to these people.
``They are the ones that know the most, and we want to know what they think.'' ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
PASQUOTANK RIVER BASIN WORKSHOPS
Purpose: To present information on North Carolina's basinwide
planning initiative and to determine the priority water quality
concerns of the Pasquotank River Basin.
The basin includes: the Albemarle and Currituck sounds, Northern
Pamlico Sound and Pasquotank, Perquimans, Alligator and North
rivers.
When: From 3 to 6 p.m. on July 25 at Elizabeth City's College of The
Albemarle; from 9 a.m. to noon on July 26 at the Outer Banks
Historical Society Building in Manteo.
Who should attend: Local government officials, farmers, developers,
business representatives, fishermen, environmental groups and
citizens interested in water quality.
Sponsors: The N.C. Cooperative Extension Service, N.C. Division of
Water Quality and N.C. League of Municipalities by CNB