Minutes 03-12-2013 - Laserfiche WebLink

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that it is rated "impaired" by the Division of Water Quality. For this reason, the Falls Lake Nutrient Management Strategy, or Falls Lake Rules, was adopted in 2010. Referring to slide 2, he said that the impairment of the lake is caused by too many nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) in the lake. Nutrient sources include: storm water from development, agricultural runoff, wastewater treatment plants, DOT property runoff, state and federal property runoff, forested land runoff, as well as atmospheric deposition of nitrogen. He said that the goal of the rules is to restore water quality throughout the lake and he noted that DWQ modeling indicates significant reductions in nutrient runoff are needed to restore the lake. Warmer colors on the map on slide 2 indicate greater impairment in the Upper Lake than in the Lower Lake. He said that it is anticipated to be very expensive to comply with rules as they are currently written, and it is estimated that the cost will be greater than 1.5 billion dollars. Referring to slide 3, he said that given the projected cost, as well as uncertainties with the lake modeling completed by the Department of Water Quality (DWQ), the UNRBA has embarked on a process called The Path Forward. This process will re-examine Stage II of the Falls Lake Rules while preserving the lake as a water supply for the City of Raleigh. He said Stage II of the rules will be in effect from 2021 to 2036 and Stage I is in effect currently. He said the Path Forward Process was conceived shortly after the Falls Lake Rules were finalized, and the Process is outlined in the document titled The Consensus Principles, which is included in the materials provided to the Board. He said that the UNRBA hired a consultant in 2011 to initiate the Path Forward process. He said this consultant has completed the 4 tasks outlined on slide 4 to provide information and direction to the process of re-examining Stage 11 of the rules. The collection of more data will mean fewer assumptions in the re-examination of the Lake. He said the rules stipulate that 3 years of data must be submitted by 2020 to be considered in the re- examination of the Lake. He said that UNRBA plans to begin monitoring in 2014, and dues and fees must be increased to cover the cost of this work. He referenced the outline of these fees, shown in the chart on slide 6, and noted that Orange County's share is $68,321. He said that $500,000 is designated for Lake and Watershed monitoring and related activities during the next fiscal year. He reviewed the expected achievements of the Path Forward Process, as outlined on slide 7. He noted that The Consensus Principles, adopted by the BOCC in 2010, included the following: "The affected local governments should share resources and assist with funding for the examination of the Nutrient Management Strategy." Commissioner Pelissier made reference to stage 2 in the packet, and she asked for examples of some of the current best practices in use now. Tom Davis said there are more BMPs in the urban areas than rural areas. He said the process is to get DWQ to grant credits for certain BMPs, but this has not been done yet. He gave the example of street sweeping in urban areas, and said there has been no credit established for this. He said that one other urban project underway is the Efland Sewer System, but there has been no credit established for switching a home from septic to sewer. He said there are also a couple of projects underway in the rural areas and a long list of potential agricultural BMPs. Gail Hughes said that some of the examples for agricultural communities are: fencing, livestock out of streams, additional buffer widths, and conservation tillage. She said that for agricultural farms with no livestock, the buffers must be expanded much wider and this takes up useable agricultural land. This is of great concern to the farmer or land owner. She said that some things that urban areas get credit for, such as grass swells, exist in agricultural communities as well, but are not credited.