Broad , Cape Fear , Catawba , Chowan , French Broad , Hiwassee , Little Tennessee , Lumber , Neuse , New , Pasquotank , Roanoke , Savannah, Tar-Pamlico , Watauga , White Oak and Yadkin-Pee Dee. These are the "major" river basins. In contrast, the NC General Assembly indentified 38