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if 1 <br /> pollutants from going into the Seven Mile Creek Reservoir. If DOT wauL ., <br /> put some Best Management Practices ( BMP) along the highway to do some <br /> preliminary settling and BMP' s were also put further down the channels . <br /> leading into Seven Mile Creek it would have a buffer effect. The • <br /> reservoir could be used as buffer for Lake Ben Johnston . <br /> Commissioner Rose mentioned that the present Fire Chief reported to <br /> him that DOT took no action on a spill that was reported to them on I- <br /> 85 . More recently a small spill was reported to DOT that occurred in <br /> downtown Hillsborough. Again , DOT took no action . He stated that he <br /> has no faith that DOT would respond to a spill at Seven Mile Creek since <br /> they did not respond to spills in downtown Hillsborough. He suggested <br /> looking at other options . Building a smaller reservoir above McGowan <br /> Creek while not flooding the historic section is an option. <br /> Commissioner Halkiotis indicated that the County has been trying to <br /> develop a working relationship with D.O.T. He suggested that the <br /> Hillsborough Board could join the Orange County Board in sending D.O.T. <br /> a joint resolution encouraging them to establish the BMP' s. Regardless <br /> of what happens with the reservoir the water in Seven Mile Creek needs <br /> to be protected. <br /> Chairman Carey concurred with this suggestion to join hands in an <br /> attempt to get a response from D.O.T. He pointed out that one of the <br /> reasons that the Environmental Impact Statement indicated no significar <br /> impact was because of the current level of classification of the Seven <br /> Mile Creek Watershed . When there is a low classification , which this <br /> watershed does have , DEM doesn' t think anything will make it any worse. <br /> In actuality Seven Mill Creek is one of the few that does not have any <br /> point source discharges and it has potential to be better water quality <br /> than the State has it classified . The Orange County Board decided to <br /> seek an upgrade in the classification. Chairman Carey invited <br /> Hillsborough to join with Orange County in pursuing that upgrade in <br /> classification. He pointed out that the potential impact of road <br /> construction on the watershed might have been different if the <br /> classification had been higher. <br /> The consensus of the Hillsborough Board was that they were in <br /> agreement with this suggestion . It was agreed that both Boards will <br /> send a resolution to D.O.T. requesting that they implement BMP' s. Also, <br /> they will send a letter to D. E.M. requesting a reclassification of the <br /> watershed. <br /> Link suggested requesting another planning meeting with D.O.T. <br /> officials after Hillsborough sends them their resolution . This would be <br /> an appropriate time to discuss this issue with D.O.T. as they want the <br /> County to react favorably to the Chapel Hill/Carrboro Thorough Fare <br /> Plan . <br /> Thames indicated that Seven Mile Creek was classified as WS-III in <br /> 1983 partially because the County did not have watershed protection <br /> measures in place . They had not defined a water quality critical area. <br /> At the same time the two rest areas on 1-85 had discharge treatment <br /> plants which discharged into Seven Mile Creek. At the present time the <br />