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Home My WebLink AboutORD-2026-018-Approval of a Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Emergency watershed protection 1 ORD-202&018 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date : June 16 , 2026 Action Agenda Item No . 84 SUBJECT : Approval of a Natural Resources Conservation Service ( NRCS ) Emergency Watershed Protection ( EWP ) Grant Award — Lake Orange Spillway Channel Repairs , and Approval of Budget Amendment # 12 - C DEPARTMENT : Planning and Inspections ATTACHMENT ( S ) : INFORMATION CONTACT . 1 . Notice of Award — Natural Resources Christopher Sandt , County Conservation Service ( NRCS ) Emergency Engineer, 919-245 -2583 Watershed Protection ( EWP ) Grant Cy Stober , Planning Director , 919 - 2 . YearAo - Date Budget Summary 245 -2592 PURPOSE : To approve a Notice of Award of federal funds via a U . S . Department of Agriculture ( USDA ) National Resources Conservation Service ( NRCS ) Emergency Watershed Protection ( EWP ) grant for the design and construction of repairs to the Lake Orange emergency spillway channel ( hereafter the " project" ) , and to approve proposed Budget Amendment # 12- C . BACKGROUND : Orange County owns and operates Lake Orange . Lake Orange is a 150 -acre public water supply reservoir constructed in the late 1960s with County bond funds for use as a public water supply source via the installation of a high - hazard earthen berm and concrete spillway/channel across the East Fork of the Eno River within the Falls Lake watershed ( Neuse River Basin ) . As documented in legal agreements , the primary uses of Lake Orange are public water supply and maintenance of minimum dry weather flows in the East Fork Eno River and secondary uses include flood control and limited recreational activities . On July 6 , 2025 , Tropical Storm Chantal caused acute structural damage to the Lake Orange emergency spillway channel and a portion of the East Fork Eno River located immediately downstream of the emergency spillway channel . During the storm , Lake Orange Road (a North Carolina Department of Transportation ( NCDOT ) public right-of-way) was completely washed out at the river crossing and Orange County residents were temporarily unable to access their properties and homes for several days . The bridge crossing was replaced by NCDOT in late 2025 , but the riverbanks along approximately 200 linear feet of the East Fork Eno River located between Lake Orange Road and the emergency spillway channel remain damaged to date . Current conditions include damaged chain link security fencing along the Lake Orange emergency spillway channel , significant scouring/removal of earth and large trees along the riverbanks , and deposition of natural and manmade debris within the East Fork Eno River . The hydraulic efficiency of the emergency spillway channel is compromised , and this condition may hinder the channel ' s ability to safely pass the water flows generated from significant rain events . Additionally , the damaged riverbanks continue to erode during regular rain events causing local water quality degradation within the Eno River. 2 The project is needed to maintain Orange County' s regulatory and legal agreements with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality ( NCDEQ ) , the Town of Hillsborough , Orange-Alamance Water , Inc . , and other parties to protect public water supply , ensure appropriate flood control and minimum water releases , and ensure the long -term protection of human life and property along the East Fork Eno River . The project is also needed to address an imminent hazard of unstable riverbanks , damaged security fencing , and hydraulic restrictions to emergency water releases from Lake Orange during heavy rain events due to accumulated debris/trees within the spillway channel . The project is located entirely within the East Fork Eno River' s 100 -year floodplain . On August 5 , 2025 , Orange County staff submitted a financial assistance request to the EWP grant program . Assistance was requested for funding the solicitation of qualified designers and contractors to repair the unstable stream banks , repair the security fencing , and remove and properly dispose of the accumulated debris/trees from the 100 -year floodplain . On December 19 , 2025 , Orange County was notified by NRCS of a preliminary award . Orange County staff subsequently submitted all of the required application paperwork to NRCS , and on April 27 , 2026 , Orange County received a formal Notice of Award for the project (see Attachment 1 ) . Orange County financial policy requires the Board to formally accept grant funds prior to expenditure . As such , staff is requesting that the Board approve the acceptance of these grant funds for the purpose of designing , permitting , and constructing the necessary repairs to the Lake Orange spillway channel . Staff anticipates that the grant funds will provide approximately two - thirds of the total project cost ; therefore the grant funds are a vital financing component . Budget Amendment # 12 -C recognizes $ 127 , 613 in grant revenue and redirects $91 , 125 of the Hillsborough National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System ( NPDES ) in matching grant funds in the Multi -Year Grant Fund to cover the cost of these services and creates the following grant project ordinance for a total appropriation of $ 218 , 738 . NRCS Grant ($218, 738) - Project # 71063 Revenues for this project : Current FY 2025-26 FY 2025-26 FY 2025-26 Amendment Revised Grant Revenue $ 0 $ 127 , 613 $ 127 , 613 NPDES Grant Match $0 $91 , 125 $ 91 , 125 Total Project Funding $0 $ 218 , 738 $ 218 , 738 Appropriated for this project : Current FY 2025-26 FY 2025-26 FY 2025-26 Amendment Revised Project Expenditures $0 $ 218 , 738 $ 2183738 Total Costs $ 0 $ 2183738 $2183738 3 NPDES Grant (-$91, 125) - Project # 71060 Revenues for this project : Current FY 2025-26 FY 2025-26 FY 2025-26 Amendment Revised Grant Revenue $488 , 150 ($ 911125 ) $397 , 025 Total Project Funding $ 488 , 150 ($ 913125) $ 397 , 025 Appropriated for this project : Current FY 2025-26 FY 2025-26 FY 2025-26 Amendment Revised Project Expenditures $488 , 150 ($911125 ) $397 , 025 Total Costs $488 , 150 ($ 91 , 125) $3977025 FINANCIAL IMPACT . The approval of Budget Amendment # 12 -C adds $ 127 , 613 in budget authority in the Multi -Year Grant Fund , outside of the General Fund . ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PLAN : This item supports : • GOAL 1 : ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND CLIMATE ACTION OBJECTIVE 6 . Protect water supply/watersheds . RECOMMENDATION (S ) : The Manager recommends that the Board accept the award of funds from the USDA NRCS , authorize the Chair to execute the related Agreement , and approve Budget Amendment # 12 -C . 1 E i t I i i i i i� I E pEI {