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

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Regional Nutrient Management Rules: Summary and Implications fox Orange County August 2011 I. Executive Summary Local governments upstream of Jordan and Falls Lakes are faced with new State requirements for significan_#ly reducing nutrient loading to these important drinking-water reservoirs. As a result, activities that have been identified by the NC Division of Water Quality (DWQ) to cause nutrient-loading. are required to reduce their nutrient loading. O-range County~vill be required to achieve nutrient reductions from agricultural operations and from stormwater emanating from existing and new development. Since the County does-not open-ate a wastewater treatment plant, nutrient reduction rules related to this do not apply to the County -but will apply for the Town of Hitlsborough and OWASA, which have treatment plants in Orange County. Many uncertainties -r-emain regarding the implementation of the -adopted rules, and as a result, there are also numerous questions concerning the impacts of the rules. Despite-these unknowns, it is certain that development and agricultural practices in the County wi11 be affected by these rules. Agricultural operations will be required to create buffer zones and instal.I-exclusion fencing along streams. New development will be forced to meet strict stormwater runoff targets. Depending-on the outcome of nutrient loading calculations that cannot be completed at this time, stormwater- from existing development in both watersheds -may require the installation of retrofits. The majority of the costs for complying with these rules will be borne by local governments, with additional financial impacts to developers and the agricultural community. Loading from malfunctioning septic systems must also-be addressed-possibly impacting private homeowners. The new stormwater rules also appear to have implications for the County's Economic Development Districts, all of which are in the Falls -Lake watershed, which will be subject to the strictest runoff requirements in Orange County. Finally,the nutrient management rules discussed herein are likely to have considerable impact on the work load for County staff involved with stormwater control and soil and water conservation. 11. Introduction The recent development of nutrient management rules for two drinking water reservoirs in the Research Triangle Area is projected to have significant impacts on local governments in the region. The Jordan Water Supply Nutrient Strategy (often referred to as the "Jordan Rules") became effective August 11, 2009 as a result of repeated water quality (chlorophyll-a and pH) violations in B. Everett Jordan Reservoir (Jordan Lake). The Falls Lake Water Supply Nutrient Strategy (the "Falls Rules") became effective January 15, 2011 as a result of repeated water quality (chlorophyll-a and