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

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1 after this point in time, Local Action Committees will be established, if needed, to help promote Best Management Practices (BMPs) designed to reduce the impact of agricultural runoff and track the progress of the program in each County and watershed. If, after six years, the watershed has not met its nutrient goal, the EMC can require individual compliance to meet the target. In Orange County's jurisdiction, there is little agriculture in the Upper New Hope Arm. Almost 60% of this sub-basin is forested, with most of this in Orange County. Hay and pasture land is the primary agricultural activity in the upper reaches of the New Hope, and this on a limited basis. A few dairy operations remain in the Morgan Creek basin, upstream of University Lake, and there are also hay and pasture lands located in the vicinity. However, the Haw River Arm includes more agricultural activity, more active dairy and animal operations, and more diversity in farming. Dairies are located at several locations in southwestern Orange County, which is one of the state's historical bastions of dairy farming. Eventually, once the nutrient reductions have been met, there may exist a real possibility for nutrient credit generation from agriculture. For example, a pasture- based livestock operation that implements an excluded buffer BMP on part or all of its operation may sell nitrogen reduction credits attributed to the restoration. In other words, if a farmer excludes cattle from the buffer and implements a restoration plan, the nitrogen credit from the restoration can be sold at any time (see page 10). In summary, there are few agricultural operations in the Orange County portion of the Upper New Hope Arm, but those present will have substantial nitrogen reductions (35%) to address. There is much more agriculture in the Haw Arm within the County, but the reduction levels in this sub-area are less-prescriptive (8% N and 5% P). However, in the long-term, some farmers may be able to take advantage of nutrient credits from their operations. Stormwater— New Development The County will be required to develop and implement programs or require stormwater controls on new development activities to meet the nutrient reductions (35% N / 5% P in the Upper New Hope Arm/Rural Buffer, 8% N / 5% P in the Haw Arm —which includes southwestern and western Orange). Residential, commercial and industrial land uses account for 28% of the land cover in the entire Upper New Hope arm, and 17% in the entire Haw River Arm (which reaches west through Alamance and Guilford counties). A baseline year of 2001 is assumed for reductions. The overall nutrient reductions established by NCDWQ equate to nutrient loading rates for new development of 2.2 lbs/acre for Nitrogen, and 0.82 lbs/acre for 5