The North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Division of Water Quality in cooperation with the NC Center for Geographic Information and Analysis, developed the GIS data set, High Quality Water and Outstanding Resource Water Management Zones, to enhance planning, siting and impact analysis in areas directly affecting waters considered as having excellent (high) water quality or designated as an outstanding resource. Point and non-point source pollution management strategies are applicable to these waters. Zones in North Carolina were developed from NC DWQ Stream Classification Schedule, October 1, 1992. The 1:100,000-scale streams classified as "HQW" or "ORW" had a one-mile buffer generated around them. If the watershed boundary was closer than one mile, the ridge line was digitized from 1:24,000-scale topographic quads and superseded the one-mile buffer. The coastal HQW streams had a 1/2-mile buffer generated - with ridge lines added as needed. The coastal streams classified as "ORW" had a buffer generated around them of 575 feet.
This data was created to assist governmental agencies and others in making resource management decisions through the use of a Geographic Information System (GIS).
>system filename: hqorwdwq file size = 1.95 mb > >Revisions and updates to this layer include: >(NOTE: UT = unnamed tributary) > >9.) filename: hqorwdwq1001 >The October 15, 2001 update consisted of: >a.) Adding high quality water zones around waters that are considered high quality >waters by definition. These would include waters that are classified WS-I, >WS-II, and SA. High quality water zones were also added around Wild Trout streams >(as identified by the Wildlife Resources Commission office). >HQW zones in coastal counties were removed (these areas require no greater >protection than the usual rules that apply to the 20 coastal counties in the state). >These updates were statewide. >b.) Addition of Lake Waccamaw and Lake Phelps as Outstanding Resource Waters. > >8.) filename: hqorwdwq1099 >The October 1, 1999 update consisted of: >a.) HQWZ boundary added around Thorpe Lake (Glenville, Big Ridge, >Highlands 24k quads / Fontana Lake 100k quad). >b.) HQWZ boundary added around Armstrong Creek (Celo, Little Switzerland >24k quads / Asheville 100k quad). >c.) HQWZ boundary added around Toms Creek (Little Switzerland, Marion West >24k quads / Asheville 100k quad). >d.) HQWZ boundary added around Mill Creek (Montreat, Old Fort 24k quads / >Asheville 100k quad). >e.) HQWZ boundary corrected around Mackey Creek (Old Fort 24k quad / >Asheville 100k quad). >f.) ORWZ boundary added around two portions of Indian Creek (Handing Rock >24k / Winston-Salem 100k). >g.) ORWZ boundary corrected near Bunches Creek (Bunches Bald 24k >quad / Knoxville 100k quad). >h.) 575 foot HQWZ buffer added around Ut to New River (Rufus Creek) >(New River Inlet 24k quad / New River 100k quad). >i.) HQW buffer removed from around Juney Whank Branch -- this Branch >is classified WS-II Tr (Bryson City 24k quad / Fontana Lake 100k quad). >j.) HQW buffer corrected around Mackey Creek (Old Fort 24k quad / >Asheville 100k quad). > >7.) filename: hqorwdwq1298 The December 1998 update to this layer >consisted of projecting the data from NAD27 datum, State Plane >projection, units of measure feet TO: NAD83 DATUM, State Plane >PROJECTION, UNITS OF MEASURE METERS. This was done to comply with >the NC Geographic Information Coordinating Council's >"Statement of Direction for North Carolina Corporate Geographic >Database Horizontal Reference, Datum and Unit of Measure". This >reprojecting was done in various ways depending on the data type >and content. Vector data was projected using the 'project' command >in ESRI's Arc software and topology was cleaned and built based on >coverage needs. Raster data was projected using ESRI's Grid module >and various steps as applicable. > >6.) filename: dwqhqorw1296 The name of this file >was changed from hqworwz to its current name at the request of the DWQ. >The December 11, 1996 update consisted of: >a.) 575 foot ORWZ buffer added around UT to Swan Creek Lake (Engelhard >NW, Engelhard East and Engelhard West 24k quads / Manteo and Plymouth >100k quads). >b.) 575 foot ORWZ buffer added around UT to Swan Creek (Engelhard NW >and Fairfield NE 24k quads / Manteo and Plymouth 100k quads). >c.) 575 foot ORWZ buffer added around UT to Alligator River (East Lake >and Buffalo City 24k quads / Manteo 100k quad). >d.) ORWZ boundary corrected around South Fork New River (Jefferson >24k quad / Boone 100k quad). >(The name of this file was changed again 4/20/96 to hqorwdwq to put >the agency name at the end. No other changes were made on 4/20/96. >This 4/20/96 file was not archived.) > >5.) filename: hqworwz496 The April 9, 1996 update consisted of: >a.) ORWZ boundary corrected in small area near Rogers Bay (Spicer >Bay 24k quad / Wilmington 100k quad). >b.) ORWZ boundary corrected in small area along the Intracoastal >Waterway (Sneads Ferry 24k quad / New River 100k quad). >c.) Missing 575 foot buffer added along ORW edge of Harkers Island >and Browns Island (Harkers Island 24k quad / Morehead City 100k quad). >d.) Buffer removed from around Johnson Creek -- this Creek is >classified SA only (Horsepen Point and Davis 24k quads / Morehead >City 100k quad). >e.) Buffer removed from around Great Island Creek, Horse Island >Creek, and Fortin Bay -- these are classified SA only (Davis >24k quad / Morehead City 100k quad). >f.) Buffer removed from around Gutter Creek -- this Creek is >classified SA only (Styron Bay 24k quad / Morehead City 100k quad). >g.) 575 foot buffer fixed along outer banks (Wainwright Island 24k >quad / Morehead City 100k quad). > >4.) filename: hqorwdwq396 The March 13, 1996 update consisted >of a UT pond buffer that was removed which affects the >Wilmington 100k (Scotts Hill 24k quad) area. A portion of >an ORW buffer was clipped off where Black River flows into >Cape Fear River which affects the Whiteville 100k (Leland 24k >quad) area. Buffers were added for the following small ORW >streams: Caggs Creek, Iron Creek, Willis Creek, Maria >Creek, and Oyster Creek which affects the Morehead 100k >(Horsepen Point 24k quad) area. A UT pond and a stream buffer >were removed which affects the Manteo 100k (East Lake and >Buffalo City 24k quad) area. Lastly, a UT pond and a stream >buffer were removed which affects the border of Manteo and >Plymouth 100ks (Engelhard NW, Engelhard East, Engelhard West, >and Fairfield NE 24k quad) area. > >3.) filename: hqw395 (previously called nc.hqw495) >The March 7, 1995 update consisted of >100k stream classification changes to a long strip of Black >River and South River in Bladen, Sampson, and Pender counties. >The Elizabethtown and Whiteville 1:100,000-scale quadrangles >were affected. > >2.) filename: hqw1194 (previously called nc.hqw112894) >The November 28, 1994 update consisted of new boundaries >around Six Runs Creek, Black River, and South River, located >on the Elizabethtown 1:100,000-scale quad. These edits were >necessary because of recent 100k stream classification changes. > >1.) filename: hqw494 (previously called nc.hqw494) >The April 1994 versions was the original version of this layer.
Data creation and revision dates
Acknowledgement of products derived from this data set should cite the following: The source of the High Quality Water and Outstanding Resource Water Management Zones, Division of Water Quality is the North Carolina Corporate Geographic Database. Earlier versions of this dataset may exist. The user must be sure to use the appropriate data set for the time period of interest. While efforts have been made to ensure that these data are accurate and reliable within the state of the art, CGIA cannot assume liability for any damages or misrepresentation caused by any inaccuracies in the data or as a result of changes to the data caused by system transfers.
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>NC Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources >Division of Water Quality >Water Quality Section >Water Quality Staff, Boyd Devane >512 N. Salisbury Street >Raleigh, NC 27604-1148 > >Wildlife Resources Commission >Wildlife Resources Commission staff, Jim Borawa >512 N. Salisbury Street >Raleigh, NC 27604 > >NCCGIA Acting Director, Tim Johnson >Database Administration, Zsolt Nagy >Database Management, Ken Shaffer >Project Manager, Cheryl Pearce >North Carolina Center for Geographic Information and Analysis >Governor's Office >Office of State Planning >301 North Wilmington Street, Suite 700 >Raleigh, NC 27601-2825
NC CGIA digitized the HQW boundaries from paper USGS 1:24,000 topo maps and attributed them with DWQ classifications of HQW or ORW. The digital files were plotted and overlayed to the originals label corrections were made.
Using ESRI's ARC/INFO GIS software, the data set was built for polygon topology using the "build" command. The data set was then cleaned with using the 'clean' command. Topology has not been edited since the last build or clean.
These data represent the locations of waters surrounding regions of streams or bodies of water identified as having excellent (high) water quality; or, designated as an outstanding resource in North Carolina, as mapped by the NC DWQ. Each polygon is labeled as either HQW or ORW. All boundaries are approved by DWQ, whether they are the original DWQ boundaries or changes to original boundaries submitted for revision by local or county governments.
High Quality Waters were marked on 7.5 Minute USGS paper topographic maps, and Outstanding Resource Water were generated from 30 x 60 Minute series USGS digital line graphs, both of which meet National Map Accuracy Standards, using a best estimate with reference to surrounding features. Boundaries drawn were digitized and check plots used to ensure correct boundary location within a line-width.
High Quality Water Zones and stream classification schedules
Outstanding Resource Water Zones and stream classification schedules
Paper maps used to delineate the high quality water zones
Paper maps used to delineate the outstanding resources water zones
HQWORWMZ boundaries were generated from stream classifications given by DENR-DWQ to the USGS 1:100,000-scale hydrography in North Carolina's Corporate Geographic Database. DWQ supplied CGIA with information on the individual streams and what their water quality classifications should be. If a stream was classified as being HQW or ORWMZ, then a boundary was created to encase that particular stream. Once CGIA was finished in creating this data layer, DWQ reviewed the work for accuracy and recommended and identified any needed edits.
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The USGS 1:100,000-scale hydrography which was classified as being of HQW or ORWMZ value were selected to have their boundaries generated. Those streams classified as being HQW, or any part of an HQW designation, had their watershed boundaries digitized if they fell to within one mile of the stream. If the boundary was further that one mile, the stream was buffered one mile and the resulting buffered polygon was integrated with any part of a digitized boundary that may have existed. Boundaries were digitized from contour lines on USGS 1:24,000-scale paper topo maps. Those streams classified as being ORWMZ, or any part of an ORW designation, were buffered 575 feet.
301 North Wilmington Street, Suite 700
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Metadata imported.
Internal feature number.
ESRI
Feature geometry.
ESRI
Polygon internal identification number
Software computed
Polygon internal identification number
Software computed
Identifier of Zone Type
NC DENR-Division of Water Quality
HQW (High Quality Waters) is a supplemental classification intended to protect waters with quality higher than the minimum state water quality standards. These waters are rated as excellent based on biological and physical/chemical characteristics through Division monitoring or special studies. Waters which have the "HQW" supplemental classification have HQW specific requirements. (NOTE: Class items that have a '/' and a second or third class indicate areas with multiple classifications or areas where the zones for different classifications overlapped.)
NC DENR-Division of Water Quality
Waters with at least as stringent protection requirements as HQW, and therefore are considered to be HQW by definition. These waters include those classified as WSW (WS-I or WS-II water supply watersheds), SA (Shellfishing Areas), and WTR (Wild Trout Waters).
NC DENR-Division of Water Quality
ORW (Outstanding Resource Waters) is a supplemental classification intended to protect unique and special waters having exceptional state or national recreational or ecological significance.
NC DENR-Division of Water Quality
Total acres
software computed
From-node identifier of linear feature
Software computed
To-node identifier of linear feature
Software computed
Internal number of poly to left of arc
Software computed
Internal number of poly to right of arc
Software computed
Length of arc in coverage units
Software computed
Internal feature number
Software computed
Internal identification number
User defined
A polygon coverage depicting waters surrounding regions of streams or bodies of water identified as having excellent water quality in association with an outstanding resource, as classified by the Division of Environmental Management. The polygon attribute table (PAT) has attribute data including total area in coverage units (square meters), total perimeter (linear meters), acres, polygon internal identification number, polygon user identification number, classification identifier, and acres. All designations are classified by DWQ. The arc attribute table contains default items only. >HQORWDWQ.PAT Polygon Attribute Table >COLUMN ITEM NAME WIDTH OUTPUT TYPE DEC DESCRIPTION >1 AREA 4 12 F 3 Total area in meters >5 PERIMETER 4 12 F 3 Total perimeter in meters >9 HQORWDWQ# 4 5 B - Poly internal id number >13 HQORWDWQ-ID 4 5 B - Poly user id number >17 CLASS 14 14 C - Identifier zone type >20 ACRES 4 12 F 2 Acres per polygon >Note: polygons with no labels indicate 'holes'. >HQORWDWQ.AAT Arc Attribute Table >COLUMN ITEM NAME WIDTH OUTPUT TYPE DEC DESCRIPTION >1 FNODE# 4 5 B - From-node id of linear feature >5 TNODE# 4 5 B - To-node id of linear feature >9 LPOLY# 4 5 B - Left-side polygon id of linear >feature >13 RPOLY# 4 5 B - Right-side polygon id of linear >feature >17 LENGTH 4 12 F 3 Length of linear feature in meters >21 HQORWDWQ# 4 5 B - Internal id number >25 HQORWDWQ-ID 4 5 B - Internal id number
None
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NCCGIA is charged with the development and maintenance of the State's corporate geographic database and, in cooperation with other mapping organizations, is committed to offering its users accurate, useful, and current information about the state. Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information, errors and conditions originating from physical sources used to develop the corporate database may be reflected in the data supplied. The client must be aware of data conditions and bear responsibility for the appropriate use of the information with respect to possible errors, original map scale, collection methodology, currency of data, and other conditions specific to certain data. NCCGIA does not support secondary distribution of this data. The use of trade names or commercial products does not constitute their endorsement by the NCCGIA or North Carolina State Government.
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