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- . <br /> ) • <br /> State of North Carolina <br /> Department of Natural Resources and Community Development <br /> Division of Water Resources <br /> 512 North Salisbury Street • Raleigh, North Carolina 27611 <br /> James C. Martin, Governor <br /> John N. M.irris <br /> 5- Thomas Rhodes, Secretary <br /> Di or <br /> May 15, 1985 <br /> . Mr. Ken R. Thompson <br /> County Manager <br /> • Orange County Courthouse <br /> Hillsborough,! NC 27278 <br /> Dear Mr. Thomson: <br /> . As promised, we have reviewed the proposed Orange County <br /> ' Ordinance,the gaging situation for measuring Eno River water flows at <br /> key locations, and elements of the instream flow needs situation on 1 <br /> the Eno. The review was based on flow data recorded from 1931 to 197 <br /> by the Eno River gage at Hillsborough, which operated from 1928 until : <br /> 1971, the most recent surveys and estimates of storage volumes <br /> (area-capacity curves) av• ilable to us, water-use data provided by <br /> three utilities, and numerous field visits and surveys by staff <br /> specialists for various purposes. Although we believe that the data <br /> base is reasonably satisfactory, there is a small range of uncertaint <br /> based primarily on estimates of volumes of Lake Ben Johnson and <br /> Corporation Lake, and dry weather functions of seepage, riparian <br /> vegetation, and groundwater infiltration. <br /> To ascertain how the ordinance would function, we developed a <br /> computer model of the existing water resources system of the Upper Eno <br /> River (the drainage area of Hillsborough and vicinity and upstream) , <br /> and related mar.-made facilities. The model operation is based on the <br /> assumption thalt land use patterns upstream of Hillsborough had not <br /> markedly changed. (The model could be changed if forecast estimates <br /> of percentages, of watershed urbanization could be developed. ) it also <br /> assumes that tee period of record of 40 years is a suitable <br /> statistical sample. Based on how we foresee that water systems will <br /> operate and hoW development will take place in the future, we believe <br /> the model provides a good range of confidence for determining the <br /> capability of the Upper Eno River water resources system. <br /> PD.Box 77687, Ra/c4,-h, North Card lox 276H-7687 larphooe 919-733-4064 <br />