View source for Yadkin–Pee Dee River Basin

[[Image:Peedeerivermap.png|thumb|right|Yadkin–Pee Dee River Basin]]
[[File:YadkinRiver.jpg|thumb|The Yadkin River near Tobaccoville, NC]]
The '''Yadkin–Pee Dee River Basin''' (alternatively watershed or [[drainage basin]]) is a large river basin in the eastern United States, covering around 7,221 square miles, making it the second largest in the state of [[North Carolina]]. Its headwaters rise near [[Blowing Rock, North Carolina]], and the basin drains to the [[Atlantic Ocean]] in [[Winyah Bay]], east of [[Georgetown, South Carolina]].

The majority of the basin is within the [[Piedmont (United States)|Piedmont]] geographical area of the United States,  and South Carolina, and parts of the [[Appalachian Mountains]], in North Carolina.  It is part of the larger [[South Atlantic–Gulf Water Resource Region]].{{r|sariv}}

==Geography==
[[Image:WeymouthWoods.wmg.jpg|upright|thumb|[[Sandhills (Carolina)|Sandhills of North Carolina]]]]
The watershed starts in the northwestern corner of North Carolina near Blowing Rock{{r|Keeper}} (protruding only slightly into [[Carroll County, Virginia|Carroll]] and [[Patrick County, Virginia|Patrick]] counties of [[Virginia]]) and extends south by southeast, crossing the south central border into South Carolina, with slightly more than half of the watershed in North Carolina. It is the second largest in the state.{{r|Keeper}}

The [[Drainage basin|basin]] covers an area approximately 433 miles long and includes 5,862 miles of [[streams]] and [[river]]s, 22,988 acres of lakes and has an area of about 7,221 square miles.{{r|Keeper}}{{r|NC}} Over 22,988 acres of the basin is covered by lakes.{{r|NCEE}} The basin is home to 93 separate [[Municipality|municipalities]], in 21 [[County|counties]] with an estimated population of 1,463,535 (2000 [[United States Census|U.S. Census]]).{{r|NCEE}}

The basin covers a number of geographical areas, starting at the Appalachian Mountains and the [[North Carolina Foothills#Foothills|North Carolina Foothills]] continuing through the central Piedmont area, into the [[Sandhills (Carolina)|Sandhills]] region and Coastal Plains before finally exiting into the [[Atlantic Ocean]] at [[Winyah Bay]].

==Features==
The watershed is home to a number of unique geological features, such as [[Pilot Mountain (North Carolina)|Pilot Mountain]], a 2,421&nbsp;ft metamorphic [[quartzite]] [[monadnock]], which was the original inspiration for "Mount Pilot" in the 1960s television show ''[[The Andy Griffith Show]]''.{{r|book1}}  This is near [[Mount Airy, North Carolina]], the basis for the city of [[Mayberry]].{{r|mayberry}}{{r|NLN}}{{r|roadside}}
[[File:Big Pinnacle of Pilot Mountain.jpg|thumb|left|[[Pilot Mountain (North Carolina)|Pilot Mountain]]]]
Additionally, the region is home to a number of [[National park|national]] and [[state park]]s and other natural wonders including [[Blowing Rock (land feature)|Blowing Rock]], parts of the [[Blue Ridge Parkway]], [[Tanglewood Park]], the 45,000 acre [[Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge]] and the 50,000 acre [[Uwharrie National Forest]].{{r|Keeper}}
The [[Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge]], an 8,443-acre wildlife preserve for waterfowl, lies completely within the confines of the watershed.{{r|NC}} Over half of the total land area is forested, including the Uwharrie National Forest.{{r|Keeper}} There are 38 aquatic rare species within the basin, including the [[Shortnose sturgeon]] and [[Carolina heelsplitter]], which are listed as [[Endangered Species Act|federally endangered]].{{r|Keeper}} [[Bald eagles]] can be found in the locality of [[Badin Lake]].{{r|Keeper}} The bald eagle sightings were so common in the area that Alcoa's subsidiary, Yadkin, Inc., developed a Bald Eagle Management Plan. The eagles migrate through, but do not generally nest in the area.{{sfnp|Wineka|1998|p=40}}

In North Carolina, 42 percent of the state's dairy cattle are raised in the basin (half of that number in the South Yadkin Subbasin alone). Also 36 percent of the poultry population (approximately 66 million birds) in the state. Hog farming has been a contentious issue in many parts of North Carolina, but the river basin only supports 2 percent of North Carolina's swine population. Crop lands decreased by 46 percent between 1982 and 1992, while urban development increased by 38 percent.{{sfnp|Wineka|1998|p=14}}

==Hydrology==
[[Image:High rock dam.jpg|thumb|right|[[High Rock Lake|High Rock]] Dam, built in 1927.]]
[[Image:Little pee dee river 2139.JPG|thumb|[[Little Pee Dee River]]]]
There are 22,988 [[acre]]s of lakes and 5,863 [[miles]] of [[watercourse]]s in the basin.{{r|NCEE}} Five major [[lake]]s exist within the watershed, all in North Carolina, including:

*[[W. Kerr Scott Reservoir]]
*[[High Rock Lake]]
*[[Tuckertown Reservoir]]
*[[Badin Lake]]
*[[Falls Reservoir]]

All the major lakes except the W. Kerr Scott Reservoir generate [[hydroelectric power]] for the "[[Alcoa Power Generating Inc.#Yadkin Project|Yadkin Project]]" which is under the control of the [[aluminium]] producing company [[Alcoa]],{{r|alcoa}} and licensed to operate by the [[Federal Energy Regulatory Commission]] (FERC).{{r|FERC}} The combined Yadkin Project has a total generating capacity of almost 215 [[Megawatt-hour#Multiples|megawatts]] of electricity.{{r|alcoa2}}  The [[Narrows Dam and Power Plant Complex|Narrows Dam]] and powerhouse development at [[Badin Lake]] is the only hydroelectric project in North Carolina that is listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].{{r|NCHPO}}

A number of large rivers flow within the Yadkin–Pee Dee watershed, totaling 5,946 linear river miles.{{r|Atlas}} In South Carolina, these include the [[Lynches River]], [[Pee Dee River|Great Pee Dee River]], [[Little Pee Dee River]], [[Black River (South Carolina)|Black River]] and [[Waccamaw River]],{{r|Keeper}} while in North Carolina, the major rivers include the [[Yadkin River]], [[South Yadkin River]], [[Abbotts Creek]], [[Roaring River (North Carolina)|Roaring River]], [[Uwharrie River]] and [[Rocky River (North Carolina)|Rocky River]].{{r|Keeper}}

===Water quality===
There are a number of water quality issues within the basins.  In an average water basin, between 5 and 58 tons per square mile per year (t/mi<sup>2</sup>/yr) of [[Silt|fine-grained sediment]] are removed from the surrounding land in [[surface runoff]] but the Yadkin–Pee Dee River Basin sees 300 t/mi<sup>2</sup>/yr in runoff due to rapid population growth and agricultural practices that leave bare soil exposed to erosion.{{r|NCAtlas}}

{{As of|2010|post=,}} thirty-nine percent of rivers within the North Carolina section of the basin fail to meet the state water quality standards and are listed as "impaired".{{r|Atlas}}

==See also==
*[[List of North Carolina rivers]]
*[[List of South Carolina rivers]]

==References==
'''Citations'''
{{Reflist |35em |refs=

<ref name="alcoa">
{{cite web | url=http://www.alcoa.com/yadkin/en/info_page/yadkin_project.asp | title=The Yadkin Project | publisher=Alcoa | access-date=July 25, 2012}}
</ref>

<ref name="alcoa2">
{{cite web | url=http://www.alcoa.com/yadkin/en/info_page/hydropower.asp | title=The Value of Hydropower | publisher=Alcoa | access-date=July 26, 2012}}
</ref>

<ref name="Atlas">{{cite web|url=https://www.ptrc.org/home/showdocument?id=1019 |format=PDF |title=Yadkin–Pee Dee River Basin Priority Watershed Atlas|last1=Ford |first1=Melinda |last2=Stober |first2=Cy |last3=Bennett |first3=Nadine |last4=Brannock |first4=Jessica |last5=Trew |first5=Phil |last6=Allred |first6=Marc |date=October 2010 |publisher=Piedmont Triad Council of Governments|page=1|access-date=August 31, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-date=August 31, 2019  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831044345/https://www.ptrc.org/home/showdocument?id=1019 }}
</ref>

<ref name="book1">
{{cite book | title=Place Names of the White Mountains | publisher=UPNE | year=1993 | author=Julyan, Robert Hixson and Mary | pages=121}}
</ref>

<ref name="FERC">
{{cite web | url=http://www.ferc.gov/industries/hydropower/enviro/eis/2008/04-18-08.asp | title=Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Yadkin and Yadkin–Pee Dee River Hydroelectric Projects, Nos. 2197-073 and 2206-030 | publisher=FERC (U.S. Govt.) | date=April 18, 2008 | access-date=July 25, 2012}}
</ref>

<ref name="Keeper">
{{cite web|url=http://www.yadkinriverkeeper.org/about-river|title=About the River|publisher=Yadkin Riverkeeper|access-date=July 27, 2012}}
</ref>

<ref name="mayberry">
{{cite web | url=http://mountairydowntown.org/FAMOUS_CITIZENS.html | title=FAMOUS CITIZENS/HISTORY | publisher=mountairydowntown.org | access-date=August 13, 2012}}
</ref>

<ref name="NLN">
{{cite web | url=http://www.hlntv.com/article/2012/07/03/tv-icon-andy-griffith-dead-dies-86 | title=Mayberry in mourning: Andy Griffith dies | publisher=NLN | date=July 16, 2012 | access-date=August 13, 2012}}
</ref>

<ref name="NC">
{{cite web | url=http://www.ee.enr.state.nc.us/images/River%20Basin%20Images/yadkin.150dpi.pdf | title=Yadkin–Pee Dee River Basin | publisher=North Carolina Environmental Education | access-date=July 25, 2012}}
</ref>

<ref name="NCAtlas">
{{cite book|title=North Carolina Atlas|year=2000|publisher=University of North Carolina Press|location=Chapel Hill, North Carolina|isbn=0-8078-2507-7|last1=Orr |first1=Douglas M. Jr.  |last2=Stuart |first2=Alfred W |name-list-style=amp |page=319}}
</ref>

<ref name="NCEE">
{{cite web|url=http://www.eenorthcarolina.org/images/River%20Basin%20Images/final_web_yadkinpeedee.pdf|title=Yadkin–Pee Dee River Basin|publisher=Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs|access-date=January 9, 2013}}
</ref>

<ref name="NCHPO">
{{cite web | url=http://www.hpo.ncdcr.gov/facts/Stanly.htm | title=Assistance to Stanley County | publisher=NC State Historic Preservation Office | date=December 31, 1999 | access-date=July 26, 2012}}
</ref>

<ref name="roadside">
{{cite web | url=http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/14981 | title=Mount Airy, North Carolina: Andy Griffith TV Town of Mayberry | publisher=Roadside America | access-date=August 13, 2012}}
</ref>

<ref name="sariv">
{{cite web | url=http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/temp-and-precip/us-river-basins.php | title=U.S. River Basins | publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Climatic Data Center | access-date=January 5, 2013}}
</ref>

}}<!-- end reflist -->
'''Bibliography'''
{{Refbegin}}
*{{cite book|last=Wineka|first=Mark|title=A River Runs Through Us|year=1998|publisher=The Salisbury Post|location=Salisbury, North Carolina|oclc=794529392|others=Photography by Wayne Hinshaw}}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
*[http://www.yadkinpeedee.org Yadkin–Pee Dee River Basin Association]
*[http://www.ncwater.org/basins/Yadkin-PeeDee/ Yadkin–Pee Dee River Basin Water Supply Planning] – N. C. Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources
*[http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/current?huc_cd=0304&index_pmcode_STATION_NM=1&index_pmcode_DATETIME=2&index_pmcode_00065=3&index_pmcode_00060=4&index_pmcode_MEAN=5&index_pmcode_00003=&index_pmcode_00010=&index_pmcode_00020=&index_pmcode_00035=&index_pmcode_00036=&index_pmcode_00076=&index_pmcode_00095=8&index_pmcode_00300=&index_pmcode_00301=10&index_pmcode_00400=11&index_pmcode_00480=9&index_pmcode_00630=&index_pmcode_61035=&index_pmcode_70969=&index_pmcode_72019=&index_pmcode_72020=&index_pmcode_72114=&index_pmcode_72115=&index_pmcode_72117=&index_pmcode_99909=&index_pmcode_00045=7&precipitation_interval=precip24h_va&sort_key=site_no&group_key=NONE&sitefile_output_format=html_table&column_name=agency_cd&column_name=site_no&column_name=station_nm&column_name=lat_va&column_name=long_va&column_name=state_cd&column_name=county_cd&column_name=alt_va&column_name=huc_cd&format=html_table&html_table_sort_key=site_no&html_table_group_key=huc_cd&list_of_search_criteria=huc_cd,realtime_parameter_selection River flow for watershed's rivers]  United States Geological Survey ([[United States Geological Survey|USGS]])
*[http://www.ptcog.org/planning_services/environmental_planning/water_resources/water_quality/Yadkin-Pee_Dee_River_Basin_Priority_Watershed_Atlas.php Yadkin–Pee Dee River Basin Priority Watershed Atlas] - Piedmont Triad Council of Governments

{{North Carolina}}
{{South Carolina}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Coord missing|North Carolina}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Yadkin-Pee Dee River Basin}}
[[Category:Geography of North Carolina]]
[[Category:Watersheds of the United States]]
[[Category:Drainage basins of the Atlantic Ocean]]
[[Category:Geography of South Carolina]]
[[Category:Yadkin-Pee Dee River Basin| ]]
[[Category:Geography of the United States]]