Agenda - 01-27-2009 - 3 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: January 27, 2009 Action Agenda Item No. SUBJECT: Jordan Lake Nutrient Management Rules — Update DEPARTMENT: ERCD, Planning PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Jordan Lake Rules Staff Report David Stancil, 245-2598 July 2008 Public Hearing Comment Tom Davis, 960-3878 Terry Hackett, 245-2588 PURPOSE: To receive an update from staff on the Jordan Lake Nutrient Management Rules, which were approved by the N.C. Environmental Management Commission (EMC) in 2008 and will soon be taken up by the N.C. General Assembly. BACKGROUND: Over the past several years the State Division of Water Quality (DWQ) has worked to meet mandated provisions of the Clean Water Act that address the water quality issues in Jordan Lake. Over a period of three years, and through a series of stakeholders groups and DWQ-led meetings, a set of nutrient management rules to address the nitrogen and phosphorus levels in Jordan Lake were eventually propagated by DWQ in early 2008. The rules went to public hearing in the summer of 2008 (the County submitted comments at the public hearing, which are attached), and were adopted by the EMC in the fall. While it is not certain what final form the rules will take (as there appears to be considerable opposition in some areas of the state and the region), staff has periodically reported to the Board on the status of the rules and the implications of these rules on the County. The attached report provides an updated synopsis of the rules and the areas of emphasis, from agriculture to new development to existing development. It is existing development which may pose the greatest challenge to local governments, as addressing existing development to meet the nutrient reduction measures may require retrofits to existing stormwater controls and new measures in some cases. It should be noted Orange County currently implements a similar type of nutrient reduction rule in the Neuse River basin. However, the proposed Jordan Lake rules have more substantial reductions and differ in some key ways. Most of the nutrient reductions proposed to address Jordan Lake are targeted to two sub-basins (or "arms") of the lake. The Upper New Hope Arm includes all of Chapel Hill and Carrboro and the surrounding Rural Buffer. This area is proposed for a 35% reduction in nitrogen and a 5% reduction in phosphorus loading. The remainder of southwestern Orange and the western edge