Chatham County Watershed Protection Department

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08/26/2026

National Water Quality Month - Benthic Macroinvertebrates!
Benthic Macroinvertebrates are the small aquatic creatures that live on the bottom of our local rivers and streams. These animals may be the larvae of insects (dragonflies, mayflies, and many others) or the worms, snails, crayfish, mussels, beetles and leeches. They are “benthic” because they live on the stream bottom, “macro” because they are larger than 1mm and “invertebrates” because they have no backbone!
Macroinvertebrates are an integral part of the aquatic food web. They are the grazers, scavengers or filter feeders that provide for larger organisms like fish, crayfish and birds. “Macros” have been known for years by fishermen who either use them for bait or “tie” artificial flies to resemble what is commonly found hatching in the river. Biologists study the diversity and number of macros making them “bioindicators” of water quality. Greater macro number and diversity means a healthier river with cleaner water!
Go look under a river rock today to see what macros live in our local waters!
For more information about macroinvertebrates, visit these websites:
https://www.epa.gov/national-aquatic-resource-surveys/indicators-benthic-macroinvertebrates
https://extension.psu.edu/what-is-a-macro
https://www.macroinvertebrates.org/
https://stroudcenter.org/macros/
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZnCsW_NQV8Ez1-_7-1KX7H433LrPhrFD/view
https://ncdenr.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=7d4f2137e9154742bae16916e35a87a0
https://www.montanawatershed.org/aquatic-macroinvertebrates
https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/monitoring-macroinvertebrates

08/20/2026

Water Quality Month – We’re here to pump you up!
Freshwater Mussels provide a number of important benefits to stream health. Most notably, mussels filter feed on organic matter suspended in the water column and remove material from the water, including potentially harmful algae, bacteria, and chemical compounds. They also provide food for aquatic insects, fish and mammals.
Threats to freshwater mussels include degraded water quality and sedimentation. Mussels are also sensitive to the loss of host fish species required to complete their lifecycles.
With names like Rayed Pink Fatmucket, Green Lampmussel and Purple Wartyback, these freshwater versions of their coastal cousins live hidden in the bottom of our streams, rivers and lakes and are a big part of the water quality in our County.
Keep an eye out for these interesting bivalves in a stream near you!
For more information about freshwater mussels, visit:
https://www.xerces.org/blog/merit-of-mussels
https://www.americanrivers.org/freshwatermussels/
https://therevelator.org/freshwater-mussel-ecosystem-services/
https://dukeforest.duke.edu/2025/07/22/restoring-the-rainbow-a-mussel-reintroduction-story/
https://www.ncwildlife.gov/life-cycle-freshwater-mussel/download?attachment
https://www.ncwildlife.gov/wildlife-habitat/species/general-life-history-mussels
https://molluskconservation.org/MUSSELS/Lifecycle.html

08/13/2026

National Water Quality Month – Silt Fence Outlets
Earlier this week we talked of silt fences and how they trap sediments to prevent polluting waters in our County. They will hold the sediments and the water from running off site, however, what happens when there is more rain than the fence can hold? The fence fails and the sediment laden water runs downhill. To prevent the failure of the silt fence, a silt fence outlet can be placed in the lowest point along the fence to alleviate water pressure and hold the sediment on the construction site. Silt fence outlets look like piles of #57 stone held in place with metal fencing at a gap in the silt fence, which is pretty much what they are. The stone holds the larger sediments (sand, gravels and some silt and clay) but allows the turbid water to flow through the stone. Turbid water is not regulated by State laws, but the majority of sediment is retained on the construction site.
For more about Silt Fence Outlets visit:
https://www.chathamcountync.gov/government/departments-programs-i-z/watershed-protection/erosion-control/standard-details
https://www.chathamcountync.gov/government/departments-programs-i-z/watershed-protection/education-resources

08/10/2026

National Water Quality Month - Silt Fence
In Chatham County, silt fencing is required on sites permitted by the County. This temporary fence is a geotextile that is designed to trap the majority of sediments that may wash off a construction site. Silt fence is designed to prevent sediments from leaving the job site and get in our local waterways and affecting the water quality, wildlife and flow of the stream. The silt fence must be tucked at least 6” into the ground so that runoff from the site does not flow under the fence and escape the site. As one local erosion control specialist stated, “if it’s flapping, it’s not trapping!”
For more information about silt fences, look at these sites:
https://www.epa.gov/npdes/national-menu-best-management-practices-bmps-stormwater-construction
https://www.familyhandyman.com/article/what-is-a-silt-fence/
https://www.chathamcountync.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/61105/637939923095400000
https://www.chathamcountync.gov/government/departments-programs-i-z/watershed-protection/education-resources

08/03/2026

August is National Water Quality Month
Clean water is important to everything on Earth. People use it for drinking, cooking, washing, creating materials we need each day and for recreation. Plants and animals use it for drinking (and washing too in some cases), and some depend on water as a daily habitat.
National Water Quality Month began in the early 1970s when the Clean Water Act was passed in 1972, marking the start of the federal government’s involvement in curbing water pollution. The Clean Water Act made it illegal to dump excessive amounts of toxic materials into water bodies. In 1974 the Safe Drinking Water Act was passed to add further protection to the quality of streams and well water.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the United Nations proclaimed August as National Water Quality Month in 2005 to promote civic engagement in conserving water resources. The key component of this movement was to begin conversations in our own households and communities to ensure that we all have access to clean, safe water today and for the future.
For more information about national Water Quality Month, check out the following websites:
https://nationalwaterqualitymonth.org/
https://triangleland.org/blog/august-is-national-water-quality-month
https://www.americanrivers.org/2025/01/keeping-pollution-out-of-your-water-the-epa/
https://www.chathamcountync.gov/government/departments-programs-i-z/watershed-protection/education-resources/-fsiteid-1 #!/

07/30/2026

Water Scorpions?
Lakes and ponds are good places to catch fish. They can be seen swimming around the shallows, hitting the surface to feed or maybe even jumping out of the water. However, you might never have seen a common, but rarely observed, arthropod called a Water Scorpion.
Distantly related to the scorpions in the Arachnida class, our local Water Scorpion (Ranatra linearis) is a stick-like insect that lives in the shallows of our local ponds and lakes. It is related to the genus Nepa water scorpions that are much stockier and look like giant water bugs. Today though, the stick-like Ranatra water scorpion gets the spotlight.
Water Scorpions like slow moving waters with some vegetation to hide in because they are awkward swimmers, rarely fly and are active predators of smaller pond life like macroinvertebrates and tadpoles.
They appear as sticks when resting or waiting for prey, but they have two long grasping legs in front to grab their prey when the opportunity arises. They also have a long tube-like tail that they use as a snorkel to stay submerged, yet breathe. Do they look like scorpions? Somewhat, but they don’t have the numerous segments or a stinging spine on their tail.
So next time you are on the edge of a pond or lake, look in the shallows for a small stick that is trying to swim, you might see a water scorpion!
For more information about water scorpions, visit the websites below:
https://www.whatsthatbug.com/water-scorpion-all-you-need-to-know/
https://uwm.edu/field-station/bug-of-the-week/water-scorpion/
https://thedragonflywoman.com/2011/05/16/my-favorite-aquatic-insect/
https://pondinformer.com/water-scorpion-nepidae/
https://genent.cals.ncsu.edu/insect-identification/order-hemiptera-suborder-heteroptera/family-nepidae/

07/28/2026

Lakes Appreciation Month – Harris Lake
The second lake in the County is Harris Lake tucked down in the southeast corner of the County. This lake is smaller than Jordan at “just” 4,100 acres in size and was built to provide cooling for Shearon Harris nuclear power plant. Harris Lake was created in 1983 by damming Buckhorn Creek just east of Corinth, NC just off Highway 42.
There is boating access to Harris Lake at the Cross Point Boat Access which allows people to access the lake in order to boat, fish and paddleboard. Harris Lake is consistently praised by anglers for the quality and quantity of fish in the lake.
Harris Lake sits in one of the State’s Triassic Basins and if you visit the Cross Point Boat Access you will be able to see some of the sedimentary rock that underlies the lake. The outcrop of conglomerate is exposed at the edge of the lake to the left of the boat ramp. This rock formed about 230 million years ago when the Triassic Basin formed in NC and rocks, sand and silt filled in the slowly sinking basin.
For more information about this lake visit the sites below:
https://lakelubbers.com/lake/harris-lake-north-carolina-usa/
https://harris-lake-boat-ramp.wheree.com/
https://www.ncpaws.org/ncwrcmaps/BoatingAccessAreas
https://www.wake.gov/departments-government/parks-recreation-open-space/all-parks-trails/harris-lake-county-park/harris-lake-visitor-information
https://nuclear.duke-energy.com/2013/01/01/prime-fishing-at-harris-lake
https://www.carolinasportsman.com/content/slab-have-shearon-harris-lake-moves-to-top-of-crappie-fishing-reservoirs/
https://www.deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/energy-mineral-and-land-resources/geoscience-education/geology-north-carolina-state-parks-and-other-protected-areas/triassic-conglomerates-deep-river-triassic-basin-morrisville-nc

07/23/2026

Lakes Appreciation Month - Limnology
Limnology is the study of inland waters. Lakes, ponds, rivers, streams and springs are all parts of this branch of science. There are two types of inland waters, lentic and lotic waters. Lentic waters are slow to non-moving waters like lakes, ponds and wetlands. Lotic waters are flowing waters like streams and rivers.
This month we are emphasizing the lentic waters, specifically lakes! Limnologists research the biology, chemistry, geology and physics of lakes and integrate the data to understand how lakes work within their environment. Think of it as a branch of ecology focusing on inland waters!
For more information on limnology, check out these links:
https://cfpub.epa.gov/watertrain/pdf/limnology.pdf
https://www.nalms.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/40-2-3.pdf
https://northeastaquaticresearch.net/education/the-basics-of-lake-monitoring/
https://www.iisd.org/ela/blog/back-to-basics-what-is-a-limnologist/

07/20/2026

Lakes Appreciation Month - History of Jordan Lake
Join us this Saturday morning, July 25th at the Jordan Dam Visitor Center for a History of Jordan Lake. This hour long program begins at 9am and will start at the Visitor Center and meander down to the dam itself.
Join us to find out more about the land, the lake and the dam itself!
Register for this free program using this link, https://forms.osi.apps.mil/r/NyurxpzsPn or see the flyer below for more information.

07/15/2026

Lakes Appreciation Month - The Great North American Secchi Dip-In
Today we participated in the Great North American Secchi Dip-In at Jordan Lake. Standing on the dock at the Bells' Public Fishing Area, the Secchi Dip-In was measured at 1.65 meters. This meant that the secchi disk disappeared at 1.7 m and reappeared at 1.6 m. Was the water clear? Not as clear as it could be, but it is mid-July and the warmth of the water and the nutrient load is providing the algae with plenty to grow on.
We also measured the transparency of the waters using a turbidity tube and found that the secci disk disappeared at 42cm.
Data that is useful? Maybe not right now, but over time, trends in the water can be determined with continued testing.
Hope to see you next year at the Great Secchi Dip-In!
For some interesting articles on the Dip-In, check out the websites below:
https://wrri.ncsu.edu/coastwatch-behind-the-research-repairing-jordan-lakes-ecosystem-with-zooplankton/
https://archive.epa.gov/water/archive/web/html/155.html
https://www.lakescientist.com/taking-a-dip-one-professors-nationwide-secchi-disk-program-tracks-lake-data/
https://waterkeeperscarolina.org/harmful-algal-blooms/

Address

80 East Street
Pittsboro, NC
27312

Website

https://www.chathamcountync.gov/government/departments-programs-i-z/watershed-protection

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