Orange County NC Website
5 <br /> 1 and it addresses projects of statewide significance. There has been an application put in to <br /> 2 have the 1-85 widening put into the Mobility Fund. This would free up millions of dollars to allow <br /> 3 the division to pursue local projects. He asked the County staff to also request that this be put <br /> 4 into the Mobility Fund. The deadline is February 29'" <br /> 5 The Board agreed to put in an application as requested. <br /> 6 Frank Clifton said that it would be put on the next Board of County Commissioners' <br /> 7 agenda. <br /> 8 <br /> 9 2. Lake Orange <br /> 10 Lake Orange is a lake constructed in the late 1960's and owned by Orange County. <br /> 11 The purpose of the lake is a water resource for drinking water supplies for the Town of <br /> 12 Hillsborough, Orange-Alamance Water System, processing water for Piedmont Minerals and <br /> 13 environmental water releases for the Eno River. <br /> 14 <br /> 15 Recreation rights to the lake are subservient to the water resource. The lake is not a <br /> 16 reservoir, but an impoundment with Y2 mile peripheral watershed protection zones that limit <br /> 17 development through density and impervious restrictions. An aerial photo and other specifics <br /> 18 are provided as attachments. <br /> 19 <br /> 20 The lake is also subject to the Eno Capacity Use Agreement which regulates water <br /> 21 flows and drought situations. The adjacent West Fork of the Eno Reservoir owned by the Town <br /> 22 of Hillsborough is not subject to this agreement. <br /> 23 <br /> 24 In recent years the costs of maintenance for Lake Orange have been accelerating. <br /> 25 Capital improvements are becoming necessary for lake function and safety. The Town of <br /> 26 Hillsborough has contributed funding and resources in the past as noted in one of the <br /> 27 attachments. Long term responsibility for this raw water resource is still under review. <br /> 28 <br /> 29 The attached documents provide background information. Staff will provide any other <br /> 30 information at the meeting, and the Boards can discuss issues related to this item as <br /> 31 necessary. <br /> 32 <br /> 33 Attachment 2-a—Aerial Photo of Lake Orange <br /> 34 Attachment 2-b—Matrix of Enforcement/Development Issues at Lake Orange <br /> 35 Attachment 2-c— Summary of Lake Orange Repair and Maintenance Costs <br /> 36 <br /> 37 Craig Benedict said that Orange County does own the land underneath the water <br /> 38 between elevation 615 and 620. It is owned by Lake Orange, Incorporated, who is the owner of <br /> 39 a master developer of a lot of lots around the lake. Subsequent to the development of the <br /> 40 reservoir, there was an Eno Capacity Use Agreement that spoke about who needed the water, <br /> 41 and the quantities to be released. There are three user categories: Town of Hillsborough, <br /> 42 Piedmont Minerals, and Orange-Alamance Water System. The Eno River Association is also a <br /> 43 beneficiary. <br /> 44 There have been some challenges with enforcement around the lake front, but things <br /> 45 have calmed down. Over the last four or five years, the integrity of Lake Orange has been <br /> 46 evaluated and there are some deficiencies with the dam device. <br /> 47 Kevin Lindley updated the Board on the repairs that have been made to the dam. <br /> 48 Commissioner Jacobs said that there is sometimes a lack of institutional clarity about <br /> 49 what is allowed and what is not. He made reference to Attachment 2-b, #1, that the Neuse <br /> 50 River Basin has been modeled for half a decade and the Capacity Use Agreement is 25 years <br />