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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 10-04-1993 - IV-A 1 O R A N G E C O U N T Y BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: OCTOBER 4 , 1993 Action Agenda Item # 1V-4 SUBJECT: RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT A FALLS LAKE WATERSHED STUDY DEPARTMENT: COMMISSIONERS PUBLIC HEARING: Yes _X No OFFICE ATTACHMENT(S) : INFORMATION CONTACT: MOSES CAREY, JR. , EXTENSION 2130 RESOLUTION TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough - 732-8181 Durham - 688-7331 Mebane - 227-2031 Chapel Hill - 967-9251/968-4501 PURPOSE: To adopt a resolution to support a Falls Lake Watershed Study to be conducted by the North Carolina Department of Environment, Health and Natural Resources. BACKGROUND: In July the General Assembly appropriated $150, 000 to the Department of Environment, Health and Natural Resources for a Falls Lake Watershed Study and enabled the governing boards of Wake County, Durham County, Durham City and Raleigh jointly to establish the scope of work for the study by October 1, 1993 . At the September 10 meeting of the Falls Lake Working Group, Secretary Jonathan Howes said he was pleased with the progress that the local governments in the watershed had made in developing an Upper Neuse Association and with the progress a staff group has made in developing a proposed scope of work. However, he indicated that his department would be unlikely to conduct the Falls Lake Watershed Study unless local governing boards jointly agree on the following points: 1) organizational commitment; 2) a scope of work with an estimated cost and timetable; and 3) financial commitment. 2 In response, on September 10, the Falls Lake Working Group endorsed the concept of a scope of work for a Falls Lake Study which: -includes a water quality goal ; -draws from and builds upon existing studies related to Falls Lake; -develops an understanding of potential current and future pollution sources and how the lake functions; -includes best management practices to address water quality problems ; and -does not exceed the $150, 000 study fund appropriated to the Department. To demonstrate the wide support, the Falls Lake working Group has asked each of its members to endorse the scope of work by resolution. RECOMMENDATION: Adopt the attached resolution. /#0C/29-1/-2.3 RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT A FALLS LAKE WATERSHED STUDY TO BE CONDUCTED BY THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH AND NATURAL RESOURCES Whereas, Falls Lake is the primary drinking water supply for those people throughout the region who live and work in the City of Raleigh, Knightdale, Holly Springs, Wendell, Wake Forest, Fuquay-Varina and Garner; and Whereas, the State and individual local governments have completed studies that could constitute elements of a comprehensive Falls Lake Watershed Study (including Wake County ' and Raleigh' s study of Lower Barton and Honeycutt Creek' s, Durham City and County' s study of Little River and Flat River and the State' s Neuse Basin study) , but unanswered questions remain about the relationship between land use in portions of the watershed and the drinking water quality; and Whereas, in 1993 the General Assembly appropriated $150, 000 to the Department of Environment, Health and Natural Resources for a Falls Lake Watershed Study to address water quality concerns and enable the governing boards of Wake County, Durham County, Durham and Raleigh jointly to establish the scope of work for the study by October 1, 1993 ; and Whereas, the April 28th, 1993 Watershed Summit established a Falls Lake Working Group comprising the chief elected officials from jurisdictions within the Falls Lake Watershed and the Secretary of the Department of Environment, Health and Natural Resources to determine issues which need to be addressed by a Falls Lake study, as well as how the study should be financed and governed; and Whereas, Orange County is committed to working in partnership with other jurisdictions in the Falls Lake Watershed and with the state to protect this drinking water supply as evidenced by Orange County ' s participation in the Falls Lake Working Group and as evidenced by Orange County's support of an Upper Neuse Association which could be instrumental in implementing the recommendations of a Falls Lake Watershed Study; and Whereas, Orange County believes that the costs and benefits of protecting the Falls Lake Watershed should be assessed and shared equitably among the affected jurisdictions; and Whereas, the local government representatives on the Falls Lake Working Group have recommended that the new study draw from and build upon the numerous studies and models relating to the Falls Lake water quality that have been developed and not exceed the $150, 000 study fund appropriated to the Department; and Whereas, the local representatives on the Falls Lake Working Group have endorsed the concept of a scope of work for a Falls Lake Watershed Study which includes a water quality goal; develops an understanding of potential current and future pollution sources and how the lake functions ; and includes best management practices to address water quality problems and has requested that the attached scope of work be forwarded to each jurisdiction for its consideration before October 1, 1993 . Therefore, be it resolved that Orange County supports and respectfully requests the Department to conduct the attached Scope of Work for a Falls Lake Watershed Study with an amendment that would address the equity of costs and benefits for the jurisdictions who participate in protecting the watershed.