Catawba River deemed healthier

But increasing acidity, coal ash ponds appear on state's radar as it updates condition.

The draft 2010 Catawba Basin Plan indicates that the Catawba River faces old problems of bacteria and muddy water, and some emerging ones, a new state report says.  The river's condition is important because the 225-mile river is the water supply and energy producer for 2 million people in the Carolinas. The draft plan presented to a state environmental panel Wednesday addresses the N.C. sections.

Between 2002 and 2007, it says, 36 percent of the river sites sampled grew healthier for fish and bottom-dwellers such as insect larvae. Water that's good for those animals is also better for people.

Forty-three percent of the sites stayed the same and ratings worsened for 21 percent.

Other problems appeared in the densely populated basin.

"We're definitely seeing some emerging issues, and we're working more on planning ahead for those that are causing problems," she said. "But also a lot of watershed groups and municipalities have really stepped up and started their own projects" to protect or restore local waters.

Water has grown increasingly acidic since 2003, for reasons state officials have not been able to explain. The state earlier this year declared lower Mountain Island Lake, Charlotte's water source, impaired for acidity. Mecklenburg County officials, however, say they've seen no such problem.