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Z.n-Foy nnQ-i-i or, Z+em <br />~;~ _. <br />~,;,, ~.. ma"r"` ~.ti'a'''~-~~~. <br />«~ , <br />.gar~~~uar~~, ~r~ ~c ~cat=+~~~r~ <br />Memorandum <br />To: Mr. Frank Clifton, County Manager <br />From: David Stancil, DEAPR Director <br />Tom Davis, Water Resources Coordinator <br />Date: November 15, 2011 <br />RE: Surface Water Quality Monitoring <br />On August 30, 2011 the Board of Commissioners requested information regarding the <br />potential monitoring of nutrient loading in surface waters exiting the County at the <br />County line (also known as "jurisdictional loading"). That request was followed-up by a <br />letter from Chair Pelissier to the Board dated September 15, 2011 regarding direction to <br />staff. This memorandum provides background information on this topic and includes <br />discussion of various methods of estimating nutrient loading. <br />Background <br />Interest in measuring water quality and determining the concentrations of nutrients in <br />surface waters in Orange County has been growing for several years. Recent <br />enactment of the state's nutrient management rules in the Triangle Region has certainly <br />heightened interest in this issue. Nutrients, namely nitrogen and phosphorus, are <br />added to surface waters as a result of stormwater runoff from development (including <br />roadways and other impervious surfaces), agricultural activities, point source discharges <br />(including wastewater treatment plants), and atmospheric deposition. Nutrients from <br />other sources such as on-site wastewater systems can be added to groundwater, which <br />can then, in turn, impact surface waters. Finally, forested lands can also be a source of <br />'The memorandum asked DEAPR staff to "provide an update/memorandum...with background <br />information, analysis, potential monitoring location, potential costs and recommendations." Since this <br />discussion came up as part of the Nutrient Management Rules discussion on August 30, staff interpreted <br />this direction to request a program targeted to monitoring for nutrient loading, as opposed to a more <br />global water monitoring program on all streams and a wider range of water quality parameters. <br />Orange County Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks & Recreation <br />PO Box 8181, Hillsborough, NC 27278 <br />Phone: (919) 245-2510 Fax: (919) 644-3351 <br />