Agenda - 01-27-2009 - 2 - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: January 27, 2009 Action Agenda Item No. SUBJECT: Jordan Lake Partnership DEPARTMENT: ERCD PUBLIC HEARING: (YIN) No ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Staff Background and Key Issues Report David Stancil, 245-2598 Jordan Lake Partnership MOU Jordan Lake Partnership Background Materials PURPOSE: To consider joining a partnership of area local governments and water providers on Jordan Lake water supply matters, including water supply planning, joint future allocation requests and a possible future water intake and treatment facility. BACKGROUND: As a result of the drought and a subsequent staff working group, a Jordan Lake Partnership effort has been proposed with a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for consideration to formalize the effort. Background information about the actions and discussions leading up to the Partnership proposal and MOU may be found in the attached Background and Key Issues document. During these discussions, it has been noted that, due to the geographical and hydrologic nature of the region, Jordan Lake and its remaining safe yield of potential drinking water represents the last major water supply investment in the region. Orange County currently holds a Level II allocation of 1 million gallons per day for Jordan Lake for future use. Also during the discussions to date, the need to ensure long-term sustainable use of the resource and ties to sound land-use planning resulting from additional water capacity was highlighted. At the working group meetings, in a briefing for area managers in August, and at the September 25 Assembly of Governments meeting, this point was mentioned on all occasions by Orange County jurisdictions as a critical component of any collaborative effort. In fact, the original project goal itself states this principle: To create a secure and sustainable water supply while emphasizing strong conservation, growth management, and a regional water supply plan. In the fall and winter of 2008, the discussions of the working group turned to the creation of a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to be considered and executed by the partners to formalize the efforts to date.