The White Oak River Basin, located on the central coast of North Carolina, comprises only 1,263 square miles (0.7% of the total state area). Most of the surface water resources in the basin are saltwater, but there are limited freshwater streams. With only 277 stream miles of freshwater streams, this basin has the 2nd lowest number of stream miles in the state.
This river basin has experienced significant population growth in the past twenty years, most of it concentrated on the coast and sounds. From 1980-1990, the population grew by 35.2%, 3 times the statewide average.
Four counties, Carteret, Craven, Jones, and Onslow, comprise this river basin. Although it is a small drainage area, 2.9% of the population, or 194,802 people, live in the White Oak River Basin.
Only 4% of the freshwater streams are impaired, while 10% of the saltwater resources are impaired. Much of the impairment is caused by elevated fecal coliform bacteria levels. The fecal coliform comes from urban stormwater runoff, failing septic systems, and agricultural activities. In addition, sediment is a problem which comes from urban stormwater runoff and forestry and agricultural activities.
Although no projects are targeted specifically toward this basin, North Carolina State University researchers are conducting 17-regional projects that are directly applicable to this river basin. Some of these projects target the effects of water pollution on the aquatic resources, while other projects focus on the control of polluted runoff from agricultural land uses. There are also urban stormwater control projects.