CSU :: Surface Water Classification

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DWQ Primary Classifications:
C -B - WS-I - WS-II - WS-III - WS-IV - WS-V - WL - SC - SB - SA - SWL

DWQ Supplemental Classifications:
FWS - HQW - NSW - ORW - Sw - Tr - UWL

Additional Stream Classifications Determined by Other Agencies:
Federal Wild and Scenic Rivers - NC Natural and Scenic Rivers -Designated Public Mountain Trout Waters - Areas of Environmental Concern - Designated Shellfish Harvesting Areas - Primary Nursery Areas

DWQ PRIMARY SURFACE WATER CLASSIFICATIONS

All surface waters in North Carolina are assigned a primary classification by the NC Division of Water Quality (DWQ). All waters must at least meet the standards for Class C (fishable / swimmable) waters. The other primary classifications provide additional levels of protection for primary water contact recreation (Class B) and drinking water (Water Supply Classes I through V). To find the classification of a particular water body you can either use the BIMS database or contact Adriene Weaver of the Classifications and Standards Unit. To view the regulatory differences between the currently implemented classifications for freshwaters, click here for the freshwater classifications table. To view the regulatory differences between the currently implemented classifications for tidal saltwaters, click here for the tidal saltwaters classifications table.

Class C

Waters protected for uses such as secondary recreation, fishing, wildlife, fish consumption, aquatic life including propagation, survival and maintenance of biological integrity, and agriculture. Secondary recreation includes wading, boating, and other uses involving human body contact with water where such activities take place in an infrequent, unorganized, or incidental manner.

Class B

Waters protected for all Class C uses in addition to primary recreation. Primary recreational activities include swimming, skin diving, water skiing, and similar uses involving human body contact with water where such activities take place in an organized manner or on a frequent basis.

Water Supply I (WS-I)

Waters protected for all Class C uses plus waters used as sources of water supply for drinking, culinary, or food processing purposes for those users desiring maximum protection for their water supplies. WS-I waters are those within natural and undeveloped watersheds in public ownership. All WS-I waters are HQW by supplemental classification.

Water Supply II (WS-II)

Waters used as sources of water supply for drinking, culinary, or food processing purposes where a WS-I classification is not feasible. These waters are also protected for Class C uses. WS-II waters are generally in predominantly undeveloped watersheds. All WS-II waters are HQW by supplemental classification.

Water Supply III (WS-III)

Waters used as sources of water supply for drinking, culinary, or food processing purposes where a more protective WS-I or II classification is not feasible. These waters are also protected for Class C uses. WS-III waters are generally in low to moderately developed watersheds.

Water Supply IV (WS-IV)

Waters used as sources of water supply for drinking, culinary, or food processing purposes where a WS-I, II or III classification is not feasible. These waters are also protected for Class C uses. WS-IV waters are generally in moderately to highly developed watersheds or Protected Areas.

Water Supply V (WS-V)

Waters protected as water supplies which are generally upstream and draining to Class WS-IV waters or waters used by industry to supply their employees with drinking water or as waters formerly used as water supply. These waters are also protected for Class C uses.

Click here to see the Water Supply Watershed Protection home page for more information regarding waters classified as water supply.

Class WL

Freshwater Wetlands are a subset of all wetlands, which in turn are waters that support vegetation that is adapted to life in saturated soil conditions. Wetlands generally include swamps, marshes, bogs, and similar areas. These waters are protected for storm and flood water storage, aquatic life, wildlife, hydrologic functions, filtration and shoreline protection.

Class SC

All tidal salt waters protected for secondary recreation such as fishing, boating, and other activities involving minimal skin contact; fish and noncommercial shellfish consumption; aquatic life propagation and survival; and wildlife.

Class SB

Tidal salt waters protected for all SC uses in addition to primary recreation. Primary recreational activities include swimming, skin diving, water skiing, and similar uses involving human body contact with water where such activities take place in an organized manner or on a frequent basis.

Class SA

Tidal salt waters that are used for commercial shellfishing or marketing purposes and are also protected for all Class SC and Class SB uses. All SA waters are also HQW by supplemental classification.

Class SWL

These are saltwaters that meet the definition of coastal wetlands as defined by the Division of Coastal Management and which are located landward of the mean high water line or wetlands contiguous to estuarine waters as defined by the Division of Coastal Management.

DWQ SUPPLEMENTAL CLASSIFICATIONS

Supplemental classifications are sometimes added by DWQ to the primary classifications to provide additional protection to waters with special uses or values.

Future Water Supply (FWS)

Supplemental classification for waters intended as a future source of drinking, culinary, or food processing purposes. FWS would be applied to one of the primary water supply classifications (WS-I, WS-II, WS-III, or WS-IV). Currently no water bodies in the state carry this designation.

High Quality Waters (HQW)

Supplemental classification intended to protect waters which are rated excellent based on biological and physical/chemical characteristics through Division monitoring or special studies, primary nursery areas designated by the Marine Fisheries Commission, and other functional nursery areas designated by the Marine Fisheries Commission. The following waters are HQW by definition:

WS-I,

WS-II,

SA (commercial shellfishing),

ORW,

primary nursery areas (PNA) designated by the Marine Fisheries Commission, and

Waters for which DWQ has received a petition for reclassification to either WS-I or WS-II.

Outstanding Resource Waters (ORW)

All outstanding resource waters are a subset of High Quality Waters. This supplemental classification is intended to protect unique and special waters having excellent water quality and being of exceptional state or national ecological or recreational significance. To qualify, waters must be rated Excellent by DWQ and have one of the following outstanding resource values:

Outstanding fish habitat and fisheries,

Unusually high level of waterbased recreation or potential for such kind of recreation,

Some special designation such as North Carolina Natural and Scenic River or National Wildlife Refuge,

Important component of state or national park or forest, or

Special ecological or scientific significance (rare or endangered species habitat, research or educational areas).

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Nutrient Sensitive Waters (NSW)

Supplemental classification intended for waters needing additional nutrient management due to being subject to excessive growth of microscopic or macroscopic vegetation.

Swamp Waters (Sw)

Supplemental classification intended to recognize those waters which have low velocities and other natural characteristics which are different from adjacent streams.

Trout Waters (Tr)

Supplemental classification intended to protect freshwaters which have conditions which shall sustain and allow for trout propagation and survival of stocked trout on a year-round basis. This classification is not the same as the NC Wildlife Resources Commission's Designated Public Mountain Trout Waters designation.

Unique Wetland (UWL)

Supplemental classification for wetlands of exceptional state or national ecological significance. These wetlands may include wetlands that have been documented to the satisfaction of the Environmental Management Commission as habitat essential for the conservation of state or federally listed threatened or endangered species.

ADDITIONAL SURFACE WATER DESIGNATIONS DETERMINED BY OTHER AGENCIES

NC Natural and Scenic Rivers

A state government river designation intended to protect certain free flowing rivers or segments with outstanding natural, scenic, educational, recreational, geologic, fish and wildlife, historic, scientific or other cultural values. There are three river classifications: Natural, Scenic, and Recreational river areas. This classification is administered by the NC Division of Parks and Recreation.

Federal Wild and Scenic Rivers

A federal government river designation intended to protect certain free flowing rivers or segments with outstanding scenic, recreational, geologic, fish and wildlife, historic, archaeologic or other values. There are three river classifications: Wild, Scenic, and Recreational.

Designated Public Mountain Trout Waters

A state fishery management designation administered by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission which provides for public access to streams for fishing on private and public lands. It regulates fishing activities only (seasons, size limits, creel limits, and bait and lure restrictions) and is not the same classification as the DWQ Tr classification which protects water quality.

Areas of Environmental Concern

The Division of Coastal Management is responsible for maintaining estuarine Areas of Environmental Concern (AECs) and establishing Specific Use Standards that specify the types of projects and construction methods that may be located/used in AECs.

Designated Shellfish Harvesting Areas

The Shellfish Sanitation and Recreational Water Quality Branch of the Division of Environmental Health monitors saltwaters for their quality and public safety relative to the harvesting of shellfish. They are responsible for monitoring shellfish harvesting areas and closing them if there is danger to the public from consumption of shellfish from a particular area.

Primary Nursery Areas

Primary Nursery Areas, as defined by the Marine Fisheries Commission, are those areas in the estuarine system where initial post-larval development takes place. These areas are usually located in the uppermost sections of a system where populations are uniformly very early juveniles. The Division of Marine Fisheries is responsible for preserving, protecting and developing Primary Nursery Areas for commercially important finfish and shellfish.

For comments or suggestions about this page, contact Adriene Weaver .

Last updated on September 21, 2007