Abstract:
North Carolina's rivers are troubled. In 1999, there were 54 reported fish kills in which over 1.3 million fish died. Erosion and sedimentation affect river basins; the Tar River is the most affected by these two factors. Nonpoint source water pollution, or runoff from farms, lawns, construction sites, and parking lots, underlies major pollution problems. On the positive side, mandatory and enforceable programs help curb the runoff problem.