Minutes - 19851218 - Laserfiche WebLink

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aoo~~~ amount which is the amount stored in the lake which has sufficient volume to offset. Mayor Sheffield pointed out that a problem exists with Corporation Lake in that it must overflow in order for water to get into Lake Ben Johnson. Ken Thompson reported that corrective measures are outlined which would give access to the increased volume of storage in Lake Ben Johnson. Chair Willhoit noted that if the modifications were made to the three reservoirs, the safe yield could increase water availability to 4MGD. Mayor Sheffield noted that the study was based on 1983 levels of consumption and that since that time projects have been either proposed or approved totaling 800,000 to 1,000,000 MGD and adding this to the 1.3MGD totals 2.3MGD. Chair Willhoit noted OWASA has a temporary impoundment at Cane Greek and it would be unreasonable for Hillsborough to put limits on its own growth by selling water to OWASA. The Orange County Board of Commissioners-~ras-.unanimous in not supporting such a move. He noted it would seem appropriate to continue selling water to OWASA as long as water is running over the dam at Lake Ben Johnson. Long term would be to allocate water from Jordan Lake for the northern part of Orange County. Once Cane Creek comes on line, it would be a potential water supply for northern Orange County. Chair Willhoit pointed out that the County's responsibility in providing water resources needs to be defined. The County has taken the responsibility of identifying reservoir sites and instituting watershed protective measures for the reservoirs. While the County can do the planning, the revenues to pay for the reservoir should come from those who benefit mast. Commissioner Walker indicated he felt the County should cooperate wdth the Town and help provide for the extension of water and sewer. He disagreed with spending the clean-water bond money for the expansion of the system but would agree to spend the money to increase water supply. Mayor Sheffield noted that the Town raised the water rates by 7$ and the tap fee by $200 for water reservoir improvements to Lake Ben Johnson and not for system improvements. Horace Johnson noted that half of the 3500 water customers are in the County. Chair Willhoit pointed out that it would be inappropriate for the County to raise the tax rate to fund a reservoir and that several other approaches are available. The County would not have a revenue source to pay back the money borrowed to build the reservoir. PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS Don Cordell referred to the list of things that could be done to get more out of the existing water supply. He prioritized those items: 1. LAKE ORANGE - Raise the present normal lake level 2 feet by installing a rigid flashboard system across the present spillway crest. 2. STORAGE AT CORPORATION LAIC -- Provide gravity bypass around existing dam at Corporation Lake to allow for normal operation of lake at water levels less than full, thereby increasing the safe yield available from the upstream drainage area. 3. FLASHBOARD8 AT CORPORATION LAKE - Add flashboards to raise the normal lake levels.