Aftermath of Hurricane Fran in North Carolina; preliminary data on flooding and water quality

Abstract

August 1996 rainfall amounts were above average throughout much of central North Carolina. August rainfall was 1.34 inches above average at Greensboro; 3.08 inches above average at Burlington, and 2.10 inches above average at Fayetteville. Moreover,July rainfall was above average at many reporting stations in the eastern part of the State. Immediately prior to the hurricane on September 1-4, most stations east of Greensboro reported significant rainfall, including Greensboro (5-61 inches), Burlington (0.90 inch), Siler City (3-25 inches), Fayetteville (1.94 inches), New Bern (3-76 inches), and Wilmington (2.55 inches). Consequently, soils in these areas were at or near saturation and had limited capacity for storing the rainfall that fell during the passage of Hurricane Fran. Because of this excessive rainfall, flows at most gaging stations across north central and parts of eastern North Carolina were already well above average prior to the hurricane. Flows in the Neuse F loods resulting from Hurricane Fran, which passed through North Carolina on September 5-6,1996, were some of the most severe and widespread in the State in recent memory.The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is responsible for the collection and interpretation of water-resources information, including flood data, for the Nation. As such, the USGS, in cooperation with the North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, the U.S.Army Corps of Engineers, and numerous other State and local agencies, is continuing to document the effects of Hurricane Fran on the water resources of North Carolina.The purpose of this report is to present preliminary, selected information on the flooding and associated water-quality conditions which followed Hurricane Fran in North Carolina.

Fish kills, bottom-water hypoxia, and the toxic Pfiesteria complex in the Neuse River and Estuary

“…Total water-column anoxia/hypoxia in freshwater segments of the Neuse (Figs. 1 & 5) coincided with major fish kills-a completely different situation than in the previous 2 yr. During 1996, the linkage between (complete) water-column anoxia/hypoxia and fish kills was clear (Bales et al 1996, Anonymous 1997Fig. 5).…”

Hurricane Effects on Water Quality and Benthos in the Cape Fear Watershed: Natural and Anthropogenic Impacts

“…1) peaked at 1262 m 3 /s on 13 September. 1) reported a peak flow of 393 m 3 /s for the Black River on 10 September, its highest daily peak since 495 m 3 /s was recorded in 1984 (Bales and Childress 1996). The previously recorded monthly maximum for those years was 570 m 3 /s, which occurred during February 1989.…”

“…1), the entire Cape Fear River Basin received rainfall ranging from 1 to 14 cm from a continental weather system (Bales and Childress 1996). 1), the entire Cape Fear River Basin received rainfall ranging from 1 to 14 cm from a continental weather system (Bales and Childress 1996).…”

Water Quality Trends and Management Implications From a Five-Year Study of a Eutrophic Estuary

“…Soybean production and consumption were estimated at 110 Mg and 560 Mg, respectively (Ն80% imported). Fran was the most severe of the three hurricanes in 1993-1996, in part because it passed directly through the Neuse watershed (Bales et al 1996). 4).…”

“…For example, during late summer 1996, Hurricane Fran caused loading of millions of liters of raw sewage, swine industry wastes, and swamp waters into the Neuse (NC DEHNR, unpublished report), resulting in complete water column hypoxia and fish kills in upstream freshwater segments, but not in the mesohaline estuary (Bales et al 1996; NC DENR fish kill database; Burkholder et al 1999). Exceptions occurred during July 1995, several days in early October 1995, and in localized areas for short periods following hurricanes.…”