• Welcome to the Division of Water Resources Instream Flow Page
  
  
• What is instream flow?
  
  
• How do people affect instream flow?
  • Water withdrawals
  • Dams
    • General purpose impoundments
    • Hydropower
  
  
  
• How are flow recommendations determined? ( Dichotomous key or flow chart )
  • Aquatic habitat classification (NC Administrative Code, Title 15A, Subchapter 2k, Section .0500)
    • Flow chart (Figure 1) or text version
  • Required minimum flow for small streams--less than or equal to 3.0 cfs mean annual daily flow (NC Administrative Code, Title 15A, Subchapter 2k, Rule .0502(b))
    • Flow chart (Figure 2) or text version
  • Required minimum flow for large streams--greater than 3.0 cfs mean annual daily flow (NC Administrative Code, Title 15A, Subchapter 2k, Rule .0502(c))
    • Flow chart (Figure 3) or text version
  • Minimum streamflow in the length of the stream affected by a dam that is operated by a small power producer, as defined in G.S. 62-3(27a), that diverts water from 4,000 feet or less of the natural streambed and where the water is returned to the same stream ( Dam Safety Law of 1967, amended 1995, §143-215.31)
  • Required minimum flow for a small power producer that diverts water from less than 4,000 feet of the natural streambed and has a permitted discharge in the affected reach or any part of the affected reach has a State Natural and Scenic or a national Wild and Scenic designation (NC Administrative Code, Title 15A, Subchapter 2k, Section .0503)
    • Flow chart (Figure 4) or text version
  • Procedure for instream flow studies: wetted perimeter (WP) and instream flow incremental methodology (IFIM)
    • Techniques manual
    • Guidelines for consultant conducting an instream flow study using wetted perimeter
      • Wetted perimeter programs
  
  
  
• How are flows implemented and monitored?
  • Flow monitoring
    • U.S. Geological Survey Paper No. 2175
  
  
  
• Hydropower dam data sheets
  • Pictures of dams by basin
    • Broad
    • Cape Fear
    • Catawba
    • French Broad
    • Hiwassee
    • Little Tennessee
    • Neuse
    • New
    • Roanoke
    • Savannah
    • Tar
    • Watauga
    • Yadkin-Pee Dee
  
  
  
• Hydropower Relicensing
  • Walters Project (FERC Project No. 432)
    • Settlement Agreement (in .pdf format)
      • FERC order issuing new license (enter "19941104-3014" in "Accession Number" field under "Numbers" search at eLibrary)
        
        Pertinent License Articles (in .pdf format):
        • Cover, Articles 201, 202: Term of License, Project Description, Annual Charge, Amortization Reserves
        • Article 401: use and occupancy of Project lands and waters; easements; rights-of-way
        • Article 402: erosion control
        • Article 403: reservoir level
        • Article 404: Johnson valve operation
        • Article 405: dissolved oxygen monitoring
        • Article 406: instantaneous minimum flow
        • Article 407: recreational flows, toll-free number, use thresholds
        • Article 408: Brown's Bridge gage
        • Article 409: dioxin and furans monitoring in fish
        • Article 410: managing historic properties
        • Article 411: Harmon Den and powerhouse recreational facilities and trails; warning signs and sirens;
        • Article 412: White Oak portage facilities
        • Article 413: Challenge Cost-Share Agreement (horse camp funding)
        • Article 414: Pigeon River Fund
        • Article 415: monitoring recreation use
        • Appendix: water quality criteria for minimum flow
          
          
          • Instream flow study..........Pictures
            
            
    • Nantahala Project (FERC Project No. 2692)
      • Licensing..........Settlement Agreement (SA) (in .pdf format)
        • FERC order approving SA (enter "19990506-0208" in "Accession Number" field under "Numbers" search at eLibrary)
          • Instream Flow Study..........Pictures
          • Recreational Flow Study..........Pictures
      • Relicensing..........Study Requests at Duke Power - Nantahala Area
        • Instream Flow Study..........Pictures
        • Recreational Flow Study
          
          
    • West Fork Project (FERC Project No. 2686)
      • Licensing.......... Settlement Agreement (SA) (in .pdf format)
        • FERC order approving SA (enter "19990506-0208" in "Accession Number" field under "Numbers" search at eLibrary)
          • Instream Flow Study..........Pictures
      • Relicensing..........Study Requests at Duke Power - Nantahala Area
        • Instream Flow Study..........Pictures
        • Recreational Flow Study
          
          
    • East Fork Project (FERC Project No. 2698)
      • Licensing..........Settlement Agreement (SA) (in .pdf format)
        • FERC order approving SA (enter "19990506-0208" in "Accession Number" field under "Numbers" search at eLibrary)
          • Instream Flow Study..........Pictures
      • Relicensing..........Study Requests at Duke Power - Nantahala Area
        • Instream Flow Study..........Pictures
        • Recreational Flow Study
          
          
    • Queens Creek Project (FERC Project No. 2694)
      • Settlement Agreement (in .pdf format)
        • FERC order issuing license (enter "20020329-0224" in "Accession Number" field under "Numbers" search at eLibrary)
          • Instream flow study..........Pictures
            
            
    • Gaston and Roanoke Rapids Project (FERC Project No. 2009)
      • Instream flow study..........Pictures
      • Recreational flow study..........Picture
        
        
    • Tapoco Project (FERC Project No. 2169)
      • Instream flow study..........Pictures
      • Recreational flow study..........Pictures
  
  
  
• Staff contacts
  
  
• Links to other sites
  
  
• Citizen involvement
  
  
• Photo gallery
  
  
• Glossary of terms
  
  

Please send questions or comments to the Instream Flow Unit, which created and maintains this site.