Classifications

With very few exceptions, all surface waters in North Carolina carry a classification.

On this page you can learn about the classification process, how classifications may affect you and look up the classification of a stream.

CLASSIFICATION PROGRAM

Surface Water Classifications are designations applied to surface water bodies, such as streams, rivers and lakes, which define the best uses to be protected within these waters (for example swimming, fishing, drinking water supply) and carry with them an associated set of water quality standards to protect those uses. Surface water classifications are one tool that state and federal agencies use to manage and protect all streams, rivers, lakes, and other surface waters in North Carolina. Classifications and their associated protection rules may be designed to protect water quality, fish and wildlife, or other special characteristics. Each classification has associated standards that are used to determine if the designated uses are being protected.

Before you buy property, plan a new development project, construct a new road or undertake other land use activities, you should check with local, state and federal agencies about the assigned surface water classification for the waterbody on your property. Many of the classifications, especially those designed to protect drinking water supplies and certain high quality waters, have protection rules which regulate activities, such as development, that may impact surface water quality. In addition, please note that depending on the classification of an adjacent water body, some types of activities may be restricted.

Many streams, rivers and lakes may have several classifications applied to the same area. This is because surface waters are classified to protect different uses or special characteristics of the waterbody. For example, a stream or specific stream segment may be classified as Class WS-III Tr HQW by the NC Division of Water Resources (DWR). This protects it as a drinking water supply (WS-III), as Trout Waters (Tr) and as High Quality Waters (HQW). The stream segments upstream or downstream may have different classifications based on other water uses or stream characteristics.

DWR classifies all surface waters. River Basin Schedules of surface water classifications identify surface water bodies by basin, name (primarily taken from U.S. Geological Survey topographic maps), and the water classification assigned to the various segments of the watercourse.

Surface water classification data is available online on the DWR Surface Water Classifications map. If you need assistance in determining the classification of a waterbody, contact the central office in Raleigh or any of the regional offices. You should also contact other agencies for any of their classifications which may apply.

They are based on the rules as defined in the NC Administrative Code. Classifications and their rules are regularly updated and revised, so check with the appropriate agencies before starting any project.

The rules are based on the minimum protection rules of state and federal agencies. Local governments, in most cases, can adopt more stringent land use or water resource protection rules. Check with the local government(s) that has jurisdiction over your land for any local rules and procedures that may apply.

A waterbody’s classification may change at the request of a local government or citizen. DWR reviews each request for a reclassification and conducts an assessment of the waterbody to determine the appropriateness of the reclassification. DWR also conducts periodic waterbody assessments which may result in a recommendation to reclassify the waterbody. In order for a waterbody to be reclassified it must proceed through the rule-making process. To initiate a reclassification, please contact DWR Classifications and Standards Rule Review Branch staff. More detailed information is available in the document entitled, Reclassification of Surface Waters in North Carolina.

More detailed information about surface freshwater classifications is available in the pamphlet entitled, A Guide to Surface Freshwater Classifications in North Carolina. This document includes a table comparing the differing regulations of classifications for these waters; the non-tabular information presented in this document is provided on this web page and additional web pages on this website. To view the pamphlet’s table, see the link at the top of this webpage. The table does not include information on classifications which are not currently assigned to any surface freshwaters. For questions about North Carolina’s Tidal Saltwater Classifications contact the Classifications and Standards/Rules Review Branch staff.

Short Descriptions

B: Primary Contact Recreation, Fresh Water
Sw: Swamp Waters

C: Aquatic Life, Secondary Contact Recreation, Fresh Water
Tr: Trout Waters

HQW: High Quality Waters
UWL: Unique Wetland

NSW: Nutrient Sensitive Waters
WS-I: Water Supply I

ORW: Outstandng Resource Waters
WS-II: Water Supply II

SA: Market Shellfishing, Tidal Salt Water
WS-III: Water Supply III

SB: Primary Contact Recreation, Tidal Salt Water
WS-IV: Water Supply IV

SC: Aquatic Life, Secondary Contact Recreation, Tidal Salt Water
WS-V: Water Supply V

+, @,#,*: Special Designations
CA: Critical Area

PA: Protected Area

Scroll further down this page for a more detailed explanation of each classification.

All surface waters in North Carolina are assigned a primary classification by the NC Division of Water Resources (DWR). The other primary classifications provide additional levels of protection for primary contact recreation (Class B) for freshwaters and for tidal salt waters (Class SB), and drinking water (Water Supply Classes I through V). Freshwaters and tidal salt waters must at least meet the standards for Class C and Class SC waters, respectively. To find the classification of a particular waterbody use the DWR Surface Water Classifications map in conjunction with the applicable River Basin Classifications Schedules and Rules. You may also view the Division of Water Quality Surface Water Freshwater Classifications Guide or contact the Classifications & Standards/Rules Review Branch for assistance.

Class C

Waters protected for uses such as aquatic life propagation, survival and maintenance of biological integrity (including fishin and fish), wildlife, secondary contact recreation, and agriculture. Secondary contact recreation means wading, boating, other uses not involving human body contact with water, and activities involving human body contact with water where such activities take place on an infrequent, unorganized, or incidental basis.

Class B

Waters protected for all Class C uses in addition to primary contact recreation. Primary contact recreation means swimming, 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 on land in public ownership and located in underdeveloped watersheds. All WS-I waters are HQW by supplemental classification. More information is available on the Water Supply Watershed Protection Program Homepage.

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. More information is available on the Water Supply Watershed Protection Program Homepage.

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. More information is available on the Water Supply Watershed Protection Program Homepage.

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. More information is available on the Water Supply Watershed Protection Program Homepage.

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. More information is available on the Water Supply Watershed Protection Program Homepage. While not a classification, the designated area of a critical area associated with a water supply watershed is 1/2 mile and draining to a riverine or normal pool elevation of a reservoir. The protected area is generally 10 miles run of river, and for a reservoir, it is 5 miles and draining to normal pool elevation of the reservoir.

Albeit not classifications, a Critical Area (CA) is a designation providing protection to waters and lands that are located in WS-II, WS-III, and WS-IV classified watersheds, and a Protected Area (PA) is a designation that provides protection to waters and lands that are located in WS-IV watersheds. The boundary of a CA is defined as extending 1/2 mile in a straight line fashion upstream from and draining to an intake located directly in a river, or extending 1/2 mile in a straight line fashion upstream from and draining to the normal pool elevation of a reservoir in which an intake is located. The boundary of a PA is defined as extending 10 miles in an as-the-river-runds manner upstream from and draining to an intake located directly in a river, or extending fiver miles in an as-the-river-runds manner upstream from and draining to the normal pool elevation of a reservoir in which the intake is located.

Critical Area (CA)

Critical Area (CA) is the area adjacent to a water supply intake or reservoir where risk associated with pollution is greater than risk associated with pollution from the remaining portion of the watershed.

Protected Area (PA)

Protected Area (PA) is the area adjoining and upstream of the critical area in a WS-IV water supply in which protection measures are required.

Class WL

Freshwater Wetlands meet the definition of wetlands, as defined in 15A NCAC 02B .0202. Wetlands generally include swamps, marshes, bogs, and similar areas. These waters are protected for storm and flood water storage, moderation of water level fluctuations, habitat for wetland-dependent aquatic organisms and wildlife species, hydrologic functions, filtration, and shoreline protection.

Class SC

All tidal salt waters protected for aquatic life propagation, survival, and maintenance of biological integrity (including fishing, fish (not to include shellfish for market purposes), and Primary Nursey Areas); wildlife; and secondary contact recreation. Secondary contact recreation means wading, boating, other uses not involving human body contact with water, and activities involving human body contact with water where such activities take place on an infrequent, unorganized, or incidental basis.

Class SB

Tidal salt waters protected for all SC uses in addition to primary contact recreation. Primary contact recreational activities include swimming, skin diving, 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 shellfishing for 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 waters 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.

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

High Quality Waters (HQW)

Supplemental classification intended to protect waters which are rated excellent based on biological and physical/chemical characteristics through 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, and
Surface waters that the Environmental Management Commission classifies as HQW upon finding that such waters are:
- rated excellent based on biological and physical/chemical characteristics through monitoring or special studies, or
- primary nursery areas (PNA) and other functional nursery areas designated by the Marine Fisheries Commission or the Wildlife Resources Commission.

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. A waterbody shall be deemed of exceptional state or national ecological or recreational significance if it exhibits one of the following outstanding resource values:

Outstanding fish or commercially important aquatic species habitat and fisheries,
Unusually high level of water-based recreation or potential for such recreation,
Some special designation such as North Carolina or National Wild and Scenic River or a National Wildlife Refuge,
Important component of a state or national park or forest, or
Special ecological or scientific significance (rare or endangered species habitat, research or educational areas).

Nutrient Sensitive Waters (NSW)

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

Swamp Waters (Sw)

Supplemental classification intended to recognize those waters that have natural characteristics due to topography, such as low velocity, dissolved oxygen, or pH, that are different from streams draining steeper topography.

Trout Waters (Tr)

Supplemental classification intended to protect freshwaters that have conditions that sustain and allow for natural trout propagation and survival and for year-round maintenance of stocked trout. 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 unique wetlands that are of exceptional state or national ecological significance which require special protection to maintain existing uses. Wetlands classified as UWL may include wetlands that have been documented as habitat essential for the conservation of state or federally listed threatened or endangered species.

Cape Fear River Basin

@ See rule 15A NCAC 2B.0311: Development is not subject to rule 15A NCAC 2H.1006, if the governing municipality has deemed that the development is covered under a “5/70 provision” as described in Rule 15A NCAC 2B.0215(3)(b)(i)(E).

* This symbol identifies waters that are within a designated Critical Supply Watershed and are subject to a special management strategy specified in 15A NCAC 2B .0248.

# Discharges of sewage are prohibited to segments classified SB or SC with a pound sign according to the provisions of 15 NCAC 2B .0203 and 2H .0404(a) in order to protect adjacent shellfishing waters.

+ This symbol identifies waters that are subject to a special management strategy specified in 15A NCAC 2B .0225 the Outstanding Resource Waters (ORW) rule.

Catawba River Basin

+ This symbol identifies waters that are subject to a special management strategy specified in 15A NCAC 2B .0225 the Outstanding Resource Waters (ORW) rule, in order to protect downstream waters designated as ORW.

Little Tennessee River Basin

@ This symbol identifies waters that are subject to the specific actions specified in 15A NCAC 2B .0224, the High Quality Waters (HQW) rule, in order to protect downstream waters designated as HQW.

# Point source discharges are prohibited to segments classified HQW with a pound sign according to the provisions of 15A NCAC 2B .0201 in order to protect the existing and anticipated usage of those waters.

Lumber River Basin

+ This symbol identifies waters that are subject to a special management strategy specified in 15A NCAC
2B .0225 the Outstanding Resource Waters (ORW) rule.

@ This symbol identifies waters that are subject to a special management strategy specified in 15A NCAC 2B .0227 WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT PLANS.

New River Basin

Savannah River Basin

@ This symbol identifies waters that are subject to the management strategy specified in 15A NCAC 2B .0201, applied to High Quality Waters (HQW), in order to protect downstream waters.

Tar-Pamlico River Basin

+ This symbol identifies waters that are subject to a special management strategy specified in 15A NCAC 2B .0225 the Outstanding Resource Waters (ORW) rule.

White Oak River Basin

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. At the present time, there are segments of four rivers and one creek in North Carolina that are components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System: Chattooga, Horsepasture, Lumber, New, and Wilson Creek. The US Forest Service is responsible for managing the Chattooga and Horsepasture rivers and Wilson Creek and the Lumber and New rivers are managed by NC Division of State Parks and Recreation.

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.

The Shellfish Sanitation and Recreational Water Quality Branch of the Division of Marine Fisheries 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, 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. More Information: Special Designations Descriptions

No-Discharge Zones

A No Discharge Zone (as defined by the EPA (https://www.epa.gov/vessels-marinas-and-ports/vessel-sewage-discharges) is an area of water where discharge of waste from marine toilets is prohibited. A state with concurrence from EPA may choose to take this action if the state determines that the protection and enhancement of the quality of the specified waters require greater environmental protection than current federal standards allow. Get more information about NC’s NDZs.