The N.C. Division of Water Resources is seeking public feedback on a proposed reclassification of Enka Lake, a portion of Bill Moore Creek in Buncombe County (French Broad River Basin). The Biltmore Lake Association has requested that Enka Lake be reclassified from Class C to Class B.
As part of the public comment period, the state will host a public hearing on the proposed reclassification at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 8 at Biltmore Lake Clubhouse, 80 Lake Drive, Biltmore Lake, N.C. Speaker registration will begin at 10:30 a.m.
The Class C classification is assigned to all North Carolina freshwater bodies. Class C waters are protected for aquatic life propagation and maintenance of biological integrity (including fishing and fish), wildlife, secondary recreation, agriculture and any other usages except for primary recreation or as a source of water supply for drinking, culinary or food processing purposes. Secondary recreation includes wading, boating, other uses not involving human body contact with water, and activities involving human body contact with water where such activities take place on an infrequent, unorganized, or incidental basis. All waters of the state are at least protected for Class C uses.
Class B waters are protected for primary recreation as well as for all Class C purposes. Primary recreation includes swimming, skin diving, water skiing, and similar uses involving human body contact with water where such activities take place in an organized or on a frequent basis.
The draft proposed rule change and related documents are available online at: https://deq.nc.gov/news/events/public-hearing-proposed-class-b-reclassification-enka-lake.
Written comments may be submitted by email to elizabeth.kountis@ncdenr.gov. Written comments may also be submitted by mail to Elizabeth Kountis at DEQ/DWR Planning Section, 1611 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, N.C., 27699-1611. All comments received by Aug. 14 will be considered in the agency’s final determination regarding the proposed reclassification.