Agenda - 08-30-2011 - 1b - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: August 30, 2011 Action Agenda Item No. .~. ' b SUBJECT: Regional Nutrient Management Rules DEPARTMENT: Environment, Agriculture, PUBLfC HEARING: {Y/N) No Parks and Recreation (DEAPR), including Soi!-and Water Conservation District, Planning and Inspections ATTACHMENTS: (INFORMATION CONTACTS: 1. Falls Lake Watershed Map 2. Jordan Lake Watershed Map 3. Regional Nutrient Management Rules: Summary and Implications for Orange County 4. Estimated Costs of Stage 1 of Nutrient Management Rules -David Stancil, 245-2510 Craig Benedict, 245-2592 Thomas Davis, 245-2513 Terry Hackett, 245-2388 Gait Hughes, 245-2753 Kenny Ray, 245-2752 Todd Roberts, 245-2754 PURPOSE: To update the Board on recent developments concerning the State's Nutrient Management Rules for two regional watersheds which comprise much of Orange County's land area, including potential implications for the County. BACI4GROUND: The Falls Lake Nutrient Management Strategy (Falls Rules) became effective in January 2011. The goal of the Falls Rules is to reduce nutrient loading from the Falls Lake watershed such that Falls Lake complies with state water quality standards by 2041. The fiscal analysis prepared by the NC Division of Water Quality (DWQ) estimated the cost of compliance with these rules to be $1.5 billion, with the majority of the expense anticipated to be borne by local governments located- in the upper Falls Lake watershed. The Falls Lake watershed is primarily in the northern, central and east-central portions of Orange County and includes the Eno, Little River and Flat River watersheds in Orange County and comprises nearly half of the County land area (see Attachment 1). The Jordan Lake Nutrient Management Rules (Jordan Rules) were finalized in 2009. The total cost of complying with the Jordan Rules is estimated to be $750 million, with the majority of this cast again to be borne by local governments in the watershed. The goal of the Jordan Lake Rules is to "reduce nutrient over-enrichment in Jordan Lake and restore it to full use." The Jordan Lake watershed includes nearly half of the County land area and contains the portion of the Cape Fear River basin in southern and western Orange County, including Chapel Hill, Carrboro and the New Hope Creek, Morgan Creek (University Lake), Cane Creek, Haw Creek and Back Creek watersheds (see Attachment 2).