HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES-2009-027 Support of Proposed Jordan Reservoir Water Supply Nutrient Strategy RulesDy..~~- 09
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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSED
JORDAN RESERVOIR WATER SUPPLY NUTRIENT STRATEGY RULES
15A NCA 02B .0262-.0273 & .0311
WHEREAS, House Bill 3 has been introduced for consideration by the General
Assembly; and
WHEREAS, the proposed legislation would disapprove Jordan Lake Management rules
as promulgated and approved by the Environmental Management Commission and the
Rules Review Commission; and
WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina first directed local governments to reduce
nitrogen in waters that flow to the Jordan Lake Reservoir in 1997 under the Clean Water
Responsibility Act; and
WHEREAS, the Jordan Lake Reservoir is on the EPA 303(d) list of impaired waters due
to the excessive nutrients from point and non-point sources,. and has been since 2002;
and
WHEREAS, the Jordan Lake Reservoir Nutrient Strategy rules were developed by the
NC Division of Water Quality through a lengthy stakeholder process and were adopted
by the NC Environmental Management Commission (EMC) on May 8, 2008 and
approved by the Rules Review Commission on November 11, 2008; and
WHEREAS, the Jordan Lake Reservoir Nutrient Strategy rules are based on sound
scientific monitoring and modeling to apportion decreases in the nutrient load from all
point and non-point sources in the Jordan Lake watershed in order to improve water
quality; and
WHEREAS, the Jordan Lake Reservoir cannot meet water quality standards unless
nutrient loads form all current and future. sources are reduced, including those from
wastewater, and from stormwater from existing and new development;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF
COMMISSIONERS that members of the North Carolina General Assembly are hereby
requested to approve the Jordan lake Reservoir Nutrient Strategy rules in order to
protect the public health and welfare of the citizens of Orange County and other
residents of North Carolina.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT Orange County .believes the rules should
recognize Orange County's watershed protection efforts prior to the baseline year of
2001, lest the new regulations fail to recognize good stewards such as Orange County,
and that the State provide funding to retrofit existing development to the extent it will
require local governments to become the designer, builder and manager of watershed
protection measures required by the Jordan Lake rules.
Adopted, this the 7th day of April, 2009.
Valerie Foushee, C air
Orange County Board of Commissioners
ATTEST:
Donna Baker, Clerk to the Board
Orange County Board of Commissioners