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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: October 14, 2014 <br />SUBJECT: Upper Neuse River Basin Association Update <br />DEPARTMENT: Environment, Agriculture, <br />Parks & Recreation (DEAPR) <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />A) Falls Lake Watershed <br />B) Consensus Principles <br />C) UNRBA Surface Water Monitoring <br />Locations in the Falls Lake <br />Watershed <br />D) Falls Lake Sampling Locations <br />E) Tentative UNRBA Project Schedule <br />F) Rules Review Process Flowchart <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. 2 <br />PUBLIC HEARING: (Y /N) No <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />David Stancil, 919 - 245 -2510 <br />Tom Davis, 919 - 245 -2510 <br />James Bryan, 919 - 245 -2319 <br />1 <br />PURPOSE: To receive an update on the recent activities of the Upper Neuse River Basin <br />Association ( UNRBA). <br />BACKGROUND: The Falls Lake Nutrient Management Strategy (Falls Lake Rules) require <br />local governments, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), the agricultural <br />community, and other regulated parties located in the Falls Lake watershed (Attachment A) to <br />reduce nitrogen and phosphorus nutrient loading to the lake by 40% and 77 %, respectively, by <br />2036. Regulated parties anticipate significant financial and technical difficulties with meeting the <br />mandated nutrient reduction targets. The fiscal note prepared by the State at the time the Falls <br />Lake Rules were developed estimated the cost of compliance with the rules to be at least $1.5 <br />billion. Many affected parties believe the phosphorus reduction goal of 77% is not attainable at <br />any cost. <br />As a result of the challenges with meeting the goals of the Falls Lake Rules, the Upper Neuse <br />River Basin Association ( UNRBA), of which Orange County is a member, is working to revise <br />Stage II of the Falls Lake Rules. The activities of the UNRBA are guided by the Consensus <br />Principles, which were adopted by nearly all of the jurisdictions in the Falls Lake watershed, <br />including the Orange County Board of Commissioners on March 16, 2010 (Attachment B). The <br />Consensus Principles emphasize the protection of Falls Lake as a water supply for the City of <br />Raleigh, while also stating the need for re- examination of Stage 11 of the Falls Lake Rules. <br />