Orange County NC Website
3 <br /> Lake Rules. This is sometimes referred to as increasing the number of nutrient reduction <br /> measures available in the "BMP tool box". Subject matter experts are developing nutrient credit <br /> values and practice standards for three "batches" of BMPs: <br /> BMP Batch 1: Infiltration Devices <br /> Filter Strips <br /> Soil Amendment <br /> BMP Batch 2: Bioretention Devices <br /> Land Conservation <br /> Pervious Area Nutrient Management <br /> Batch 3: Livestock Exclusion <br /> Riparian Buffers <br /> Elimination of Illicit Discharges <br /> After CardnoEntrix develops draft nutrient credits and practice standards for each of these <br /> BMPs, the NC Division of Water Resources (DWR) will evaluate this information and determine <br /> what nutrient reduction credit is appropriate for each BMP. Once this process is completed, <br /> affected parties, including local governments, will be able to utilize these BMPs to meet required <br /> nutrient reduction targets. <br /> 3. Development of Nutrient Credit Calculation Tool <br /> Also ongoing is the development of a spreadsheet-based tool for local governments to calculate <br /> nutrient reduction credits for specific on-site nutrient reduction measures, as well as for more <br /> regional programmatic practices such as street sweeping or fertilizer management. This tool will <br /> allow municipalities in the watershed to evaluate the impact of various nutrient reduction devices <br /> and practices at different locations in the watershed, allowing local governments to determine <br /> the most cost-effective means of meeting required nutrient reductions. <br /> 4. Falls Lake Rules Review <br /> The Regulatory Reform Act of 2013 (HB74) mandated that all State rules expire within ten years <br /> of their effective dates, unless readopted. Currently, DWR is concluding an informal comment <br /> period for the Falls Lake Rules, which will be followed in 2016 by a public comment period. <br /> UNRBA is working to develop comments on the Falls Lake Rules that all UNRBA members can <br /> agree on. Several UNRBA local governments, including Orange County, have already <br /> submitted informal comments concerning these rules. <br /> A tentative schedule for ongoing UNRBA tasks is included as Attachment E. As can be seen <br /> from this schedule, the UNRBA anticipates continuing the studies discussed herein for the next <br /> several years. Stage II of the Falls Rules is the period extending from 2021 to 2036, with the <br /> overall goal of meeting nutrient related water quality standards throughout Falls Lake by 2041. <br /> This schedule may change as a result of the Rules Review process that is underway. <br /> FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact to the County at this time. Given the <br /> extensive process underway concerning the re-examination of Stage II of the Falls Lake Rules <br /> and the water quality analysis included in this process, it is expected that UNRBA dues will <br /> remain elevated for several years. <br />