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Other issues that were mentioned or discussed during the meeting included: <br />a) increasing the level of watershed protection within the Chatham County portion <br />of the University Lake watershed using some manner of land use based density and <br />impervious surface restrictions; b) additional watershed protection measures for the <br />Jordan Lake watershed; and c) developing interconnections of the Chatham County <br />and OWASA water systems with attendant contractual agreements necessary for <br />Chatham County and OWASA to aid one another by sharing water supplies during <br />water shortage emergencies. <br />The meeting concluded with the understanding that each of the jurisdictions <br />represented on the OWASA board would provide some level of guidance or input <br />to OWASA relative to the policy issues discussed. By way of a letter from the <br />mayor to the OWASA chair, the Carrboro Board of Aldermen indicated to <br />OWASA that it could support developing: 1) an emergency water sharing <br />arrangement between OWASA and Chatham County; and 2) a policy whereby <br />OWASA would allow Chatham County to access Jordan Lake by way of <br />OWASA's intake rights. The Carrboro board also went on record as not <br />supporting the use of Jordan Lake water supplies for consumption by OWASA <br />customers. Insofar as Chatham's use of OWASA's Jordan Lake intake rights were <br />concerned, the Carrboro board acknowledged that there were a number of <br />considerations to be evaluated to insure the protection of the interests of all parties. <br />The Chapel Hill Town Council considered a resolution at its 1/25/99 meeting <br />encouraging additional work by Chatham County and OWASA to explore joint <br />development of OWASA's Jordan Lake intake site for immediate use by Chatham <br />County and future use by OWASA. Furthermore, the Chapel Hill resolution <br />proposed that Chatham and Orange Counties, the Towns of Carrboro and Chapel <br />Hill and OWASA to work jointly to encourage that a study and long term plan be <br />initiated to protect and preserve Jordan Lake water quality. <br />Orange County staff has created a draft letter from the BOCC to the OWASA <br />Board of Directors recommending that OWASA: 1) develop emergency water <br />supply agreements and infrastructure interconnections; 2) explore the use of <br />OWASA's intake site to provide immediate access to Jordan Lake for Chatham <br />County while preserving future access for OWASA; 3) work with potential <br />Jordan Lake water users to explore watershed and water quality protection <br />strategies; and 4) work with Chatham County to develop enhanced watershed and <br />water quality protection strategies for University Lake. <br />RECOMMENDATION: The Administration recommends that the BOCC: <br />• receive and review the attached material including the draft of the letter <br />providing input to OWASA <br />• identify the major issues the BOCC wishes to address <br />• direct staff to revise the letter as necessary to accurately reflect BOCC <br />intentions <br />• direct staff to bring the revised letter back for BOCC review and <br />approval at a future meeting <br />