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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 05-03-2005-7cORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: May 3, 2005 Action Agenda Item No. ~- ~ SUBJECT: Presentation of Proposed Water Resources Initiative DEPARTMENT: Environment and Resource PUBLIC HEARING: (YIN) No Conservation ATTACHMENT(S): Proposed Water Resources Initiative (from the Commission far the Environment) INFORMATION CONTACT: David 5tancil, 245-2590 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 968-4501 Durham 688-7331 Mebane 336-227-2031 PURPOSE: To receive a presentation on a proposed initiative from the Commission for the Environment (CFE) entitled the "Water Resources Initiative". BACKGROUND: In April of 2001, the Orange County Water Resources Committee adopted its final report, bringing to a conclusion nine years of ground water quality and quantity analysis through the Water Resources project. The Commission for the Environment and its own Water Resources Committee was then charged to examine the report and develop a proposal for strategies to implement actions related to the report findings. In late 2003, the Commission for the Environment presented a State of the Environment Progress Report, including a proposal to create a staff Water Resources Specialist position to perform a number of duties related to the Water Resources project of 1992-2001, provide a service to County citizens related to water resources issues, as well as other related components designed to integrate the County's surface water and ground water planning (in advance of the Water Resources component of the Natural and Cultural Resources Element of the Comprehensive Plan). Over the last four months, the Commission for the Environment Water Resources Committee has attempted to repackage and clarify the concept -this time from a perspective of needed tasks and activities, as opposed to a specific position. 2 The result is the proposed "Water Resources Initiative" (attached), which was adopted by the CFE as a whole on February 14th with a request to be forwarded to the Board of Commissioners for consideration of implementation, The proposed Water Resources Initiative features the following components, in three major areas: Droughts and Floods 1, Planning and creation of an observation well network to increase available knowledge and data about the impact on ground water supplies from drought 2, Perform studies of stream base flow, which is the groundwater component of stream flow, to assist in water supply management 3. Research and analysis of new Federal Emergency Management Agency floodplain mapping to assess land use impacts created by flooding Ground-Water Contamination 4, Further research on elevated radon findings in some ground water samples from the United States Geological Survey studies of 1996/2001 5. Additional sampling for organic contamination to augment the samples of 2001 and confirm/verify the findings 6, Create an inventory of ground-water contamination incidents based on County/State/Federal reports, including site checks and evaluations of possible contaminant plume development Resource Evaluation, Public Service and Education 7. Provide a resource to assist citizens with information and assistance an well drilling and construction 8. Provide technical assistance to citizens, departments and boards regarding ground- water quality and quantity studies and issues, including assessments of recharge areas for new developments 9, Management of the existing and expanding ground-water database, including statistical analysis and mapping On February 24th, the CFE held a joint meeting with the Board of Health to discuss this topic and other matters of mutual interest, The two boards agreed that any such project would need close coordination, and that further elaboration and understanding of the proposed activities -and more specific information about the nature of existing duties and responsibilities -was desirable. FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with receipt of the information. If the Board would like to consider pursuing the findings of the proposal, this could result in either a possible new staff position and other related costs or a temporary position to begin laying the groundwork for some of the activities proposed. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board receive the presentation. CFE adopted 2/14/05 WATER RESOURCES INITIATIVE (WRI) Protection and conservation of Orange County's water resources has been a paramount concern far the County for at least a quarter of a century. In 1981, Orange County was the first County in the State to implement watershed protection zoning and was involved in watershed technical studies for the University Lake, Little River and Cane Creek watersheds. These efforts led to the County s having some of the most innovative and progressive water protection standards in the State, and this remains true today, Significant energy and resources were expended to address surface water supply and water quality issues between 1987 and 1994, In 1992, as per an adopted BOCC goal, the County undertook to explore the other "missing" piece of its water resources, namely, ground water quantity and quality. Maior Investment in Ground-Water Studies Over the Last Decade A Water Resources Committee was formed in 1992 to proactively address ground-water resources in Orange County, Between 1993 and 2001, the County entered into three joint cost-share projects with the United States Geological Survey to explore information about the County's ground water. This Water Resources Project culminated in 2001 with the release of the Report of the Water Resources Committee, However, since then, little has been done to follow up on the important information found in these studies. Critical Issues The 2002 State of the Environment report highlights the opportunities and need to build on the work done over the past 17 years in surface and ground water protection, and notes critical issues for further consideration. These include a focus on the most important and pressing issues that have been identified, drought and ground-water contamination. An additional significant issue is that of ground-water availability. The draft 2004 State of the Environment report continues an emphasis on those critical issues. Thus the Commission for the Environment has identified, as its top priority, the need to launch a Water Resources Initiative (WRI). This is a program to tie together the many years of surface water planning and ground water planning and to build on that knowledge to address critical issues that affect all of the citizens of Orange County. This proactive program to address the County's ground water resources, before serious ground water problems arise, is another indication of Orange County's commitment to the protection of its water resources. CRITICAL AREAS TO ADDRESS Water is one of our most important resources because, without it, life could not exist. Many Orange County residents rely on ground-water as their primary source of drinking water, while others rely on public water supplies, but all County residents are linked b,y their reliance on pure, clean drinking water available in sufficient quantities for daily life. What the 17,years of ground-water and surface-water studies have demonstrated is that there are several water quality and quantity issues that are so critical that they should be followed up without further delay. There are also related and important public services that, if provided, could be very beneficial to the citizens of Orange County. Issue 1. Droughts and Floods In the past 5 years, Orange County has experienced an extended drought. This drought was just a particularly troublesome one, but it is certainly not the first. The County has periodically experienced water shortages for a number of years, and as the population increases and puts more demands on the available water resources, the problems can only increase. To be responsible stewards of those resources and to promote sustainability, the County and its citizens must address the problem of recurring droughts. The County has also experienced flooding after hurricanes or other large storms, Both of these extremes, droughts and floods, create challenges for the citizens and the County, and it is important to try and minimize adverse impacts and plan wisely for the future.. To address these challenges, the Water Resources Initiative proposes action in the following areas. Potential partners in the effort are shown in parentheses. A. Impact of Droughts on Ground and Surface Water Availability (ERCD, County Engineer, Planning, EMS, OWASA) Droughts can seriously affect ground water availability as well as surface-water supplies. At present, there is no reliable means to monitor the impact of drought on ground water, ar to alert the public to conserve ground water when conditions warrant, Providing a series of observation wells could help address this need, Observation wells would help point to emergent ground water supply problems. As there are various stages and classifications of drought conditions, same have greater or lesser effect an ground-water resources. An observation well network (patterned after the design in a USGS study of 1981 by Mike Winner) would allow the County to monitor ground water in storage, and to issue alerts for ground- water conservation if storage is reduced beyond expected levels attributable to seasonal fluctuation. B. Impacts of Ground-Water Base Flow on Water Supplies and Aquatic Life (ERCD, County Engineer, Planning, OWASA) Providing assistance to the County Engineer regarding base flow to streams, and impacts on water supply and aquatic resources, should be helpful, Base flow is the ground-water component of stream flaw, and it sustains stream flow during dry periods of the year, Base flow studies of streams in the county would assist in management of surface water based supplies (reservoirs), especially during droughts. C. Impacts of Land Use Patterns on Flooding (ERCD, Planning) Flooding and drought are both extremes, but the underlying mechanisms and the ways to address these hazards are different, In the case of floods, monitoring of changing land use patterns -- and the possible resultant effects an intensity of flooding and increase of flood-prone areas - is a priority need. This function could include review of FEMA floodplain maps and evaluation of any unmapped streams where new development may result in increased potential for floods. Following flood events, indirect measurements of peak flcod heights should be made, and related to recurrence intervals determined by the USGS, Corps of Engineers or other responsible agencies, These data need to be compared to any existing flood-prone area maps to ensure their accuracy, especially in areas undergoing development, Additional areas that may need to be mapped should also be identified. Issue 2. Ground-Water Contamination and Other Threats Along with an adequate supply of water, it is also important that water be fit to drink. The 2002 State of the Environment Report noted that only 45% of reported groundwater contamination incidents have been "closed-out,"due largely to State staffing limitations. The 2001 USGS Study also found elevated radon in ground wafer samples that may warrant further study, along with more detailed sampling for organic contamination to more accurately assess the status of our ground water quality. To the extent that these hazards exist, it is urgent that the County ensure that its citizens are protected, Therefore, the Water Resources Initiative proposed the following actions: A. Further Research on Elevated Radon Findings (ERCD, Health) One of the findings of the 20Q1 USGS cooperative study ("Investigation of Ground-Water Availability and Quality in Orange County, NC") was that in some areas of the County there were elevated levels of radon, a situation that could put residents of those areas at great risk, Of the total wells sampled, 67% of the radon analyses in the study exceeded the USEPA proposed maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 30Q pCi/L (picocuries per liter), In addition, the median activities of groundwater exceeded 300 pCi/L in 5 of the 7 hydrogeologic units that were sampled, and two other units of limited extent in the county were not sampled. Additional research and follow-up on these findings are of immediate and critical importance to citizens who live in the parts of the County most affected, and this action should not be delayed any longer„ B. Increased Sampling for Organic Contamination (ERCD, Health) In the aforementioned USGS Study of 2001, no organic contamination was found in the .51 well samples examined, But USGS also concluded that the sample size was small and findings were primarily from recently drilled wells, A larger sample may enable this to be explored to determine whether the study findings are validated in this area, Organic contamination such as BTEX (components of gasoline), herbicides and pesticides can pose health risks to citizens who ingest water contaminated with these and other compounds. C. Inventory Ground-Water Contamination Incidents (ERCD, Health) Orange County should develop an inventory of ground-water contamination incidents based on county/state/federal reports (NC DENR, USGS, EPA), A site check could be conducted to verify locations and potential impacts on ground- water resources and nearby water sources (wells, springs) and surface waters (streams, rivers). This could also include evaluations of topography, bedrock structure with regard to contaminant migration, and ground•~water contamination plume development, A person performing this function could work with State and County Environmental Health staff on follow-up and review of remediation planning and site remediation, This function could also provide information to residents/developers, county departments and other county officials about potential for contamination of existing wells or planned wells. Issue 3. Resource Evaluation. Public Service and Education There have been a number of occasions over fhe past decades when additional information provided b,y a County water resources expert would have provided useful data on water supplies, both for local decisions-making and as a resource for the public. Thus, the Water Resources Initiative proposes that the County provide a valuable service to its citizens to fulfill a need that is currently unmet, as outlined below. A. Well Siting and Construction (ERCD, Health, Planning, Engineer) Over the years, many questions have arisen about the best place to drill wells and about methods to maximize ground-water yield. While many of these questions are only answerable on a case-by-case basis due to the County's underlying geology, there is some information that can be made available to assist citizens in planning for new wells.. A resource person to inform/assist 7 citizens about sites and areas to drill wells could provide an important service to County citizens, B. Technical Assistance to Citizens, Departments and Boards (ERCD, Planning, Health, County Engineer, others) In addition to citizens, staff and boards have occasionally needed advice and assistance on groundwater quality and quantity questions for new development proposals. A mechanism to provide for expert review of plans for proposed public water supplies that will be ground water based would be helpful. This function could provide support to the Planning Department regarding the adequacy of recharge areas/lot sizes to support ground-water based supply in new developments. The basis for this evaluation would be the recharge analysis performed in the 1996 USGS report. To foster sustainable development, it is important that adequate recharge areas are available, because otherwise wells could ultimately fail. C. Ground-water Database Management and Analysis (ERCD, Health) The County has built a large database of information about wells constructed since 1996. However, information management and quality control/review of the ground water/well construction database is needed, This function could include site visits, if necessary, and periodical performance of statistical analyses and map distribution of well yields as the size and quality of the database increases. The USGS (2001) study analyzed data from 649 wells. The County could use new data and a larger data set to further refine its estimates and maps. These new products would enhance the ability to perform item B (technical assistance) above, as well, and would be beneficial to both the public and to County departments. RECOMMENDATIONS The Commission for the Environment recommends that the Board of Commissioners consider and adapt the proposed Water Resources Initiative, and provide the support to implement the Initiative effectively,