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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: September 15, 2009 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. (p ' Q <br />SUBJECT: Groundwater Observation Well Network <br />DEPARTMENT: PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />1. Draft Duke MOA <br />2. Draft UNC-CH MOA <br />3. Draft Eno River Association MOA <br />4. Proposed Timeline and Action Steps <br />5. 2009-10 Well Network Budget <br />Estimate <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Tom Davis 960-3878 <br />David Stancil 245-2590 <br />PURPOSE: To receive an update regarding the establishment of the Groundwater Observation <br />Well Network (Orange Well Net) authorize execution of Memoranda of Agreement with three <br />entities, and receive feedback from the Board on the project. <br />BACKGROUND: In May 2005, the adopted Water Resources Initiative proposed the creation of <br />a groundwater observation well network to continue the work of the previous decade of <br />groundwater research, and provide a network of future information on groundwater quality and <br />quantity. This network will help inform the public and future decision-making on groundwater <br />issues including the impact of natural phenomena (such as drought) on our groundwater <br />resources. The Water Resources Program of 2007 also included this concept, and the Water <br />Resources Coordinator (hired June 2008) was charged to develop a program plan. <br />On January 27, the Board received an initial presentation on the proposed network. While <br />funding for the start-up of the network was pared back during the CIP and budget deliberations <br />of spring 2009, funding to begin the program on a small-scale was retained. <br />As discussed in January, the bedrock well component of the network would be comprised of a <br />combination of bedrock wells spread across the main types of bedrock geology present in <br />Orange County. Regolith wells, completed in the unconsolidated material present above <br />bedrock in the subsurface, will be utilized to monitor natural stresses on the quantity of <br />groundwater available in storage which are caused by variations in climatic conditions, while <br />bedrock wells will be used to monitor changes in groundwater levels in the bedrock across the <br />County. <br />In order to efficiently use the available resources for establishment of the network, initial efforts <br />have been oriented towards using existing wells and working with institutions and agencies that <br />share water resources interests. This included identifying, evaluating and securing permission to <br />utilize existing bedrock wells which are present in the County, but are no longer in active use as <br />