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} <br /> 2 <br /> of the sediment is) as is done with conventional basins. <br /> An engineer and developer were persuaded to install an <br /> example of this floating skimmer, and staff was allowed to <br /> use the basin as a laboratory to experiment with different <br /> outlet configurations and to observe the performance of <br /> the basin. This basin demonstrated a dramatic increase in <br /> sediment trapping efficiency compared to conventional <br /> basins and resulted in practical refinements to the <br /> floating skimmer and other basin components. <br /> Staff requested funds from the Education Committee of the <br /> North Carolina Sedimentation Control Commission to conduct <br /> experiments using this type of sediment basin and was <br /> given a grant of $10, 000. Later the Commission was <br /> persuaded to allow the County to fund experiments at Penn <br /> State using their sediment basin testing facility. Dr. <br /> Albert Jarrett of the Department of Agricultural and <br /> Biological Engineering and one of his graduate students <br /> have conducted experiments to improve basin performance, <br /> and he is very interested in the concepts and work done in <br /> Orange County. His basin testing facility uses water from <br /> a pond to simulate stormwater runoff and soil is added to <br /> create sediment. This unique facility allows testing in a <br /> much shorter time (waiting for rain is eliminated) and at <br /> a fraction of the cost of waiting for rainfall and <br /> erosion. $8 , 000. 00 of the Commission's grant will be used <br /> to fund these experiments. <br /> Briefly, the research proposal is to measure the sediment <br /> trapping efficiency of both conventional sediment basins <br /> and the basin devised by Erosion Control staff. <br /> Comparisons of the efficiency of the basins will be <br /> compared and recommendations made. <br /> RECOMMENDATION: The Administration recommends approval of this agreement <br /> with The Pennsylvania State University to conduct the <br /> research according to the research proposal and signing <br /> the Memorandum of Agreement by the Chair of the Board of <br /> Commissioners. <br />