Agenda - 05-05-1986 - Laserfiche WebLink

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013t DRAFT JPH MINUTES PAGE 9 Cox continued with a review of the history of the water situation. He noted that as far back as the 1930s and 1940s the Soil Conservation Service and Corp of Engineers identified a number of potential reservoir sites that were available in Orange County and in the Chapel Hill area. He noted that most of those identified were not protected or reserved and were, therefore, no longer available as reservoir sites. In the 1960s and 1970s the Soil Conservation offered Chapel H to assist 1n pill Service sedimentation control measures- for the watershediof University Lake to extend its capacity and useful life. No interest was expressed for such measures by Chapel Hill . Cox continued noting that 1977 was a minor drought year and OWASA proposed a pipeline to Hillsborough. In the summer of 1977, Hillsborough was not supplying water to Chapel Hill and the Orange-Alamance System was drawing considerably less than .6 mgd. There were approximately eight weeks of no flow over Lake Ben Johnson and the estimates were that Lake Orange was drawn down to about 509 of its capacity. Without the number of customers now served, the entire yield of the basin was being used and half of the storage capacity. Cox stated he had met twice with the OWASA Board, during the period of consideration of the decision whether or not to build the pipeline, with the intent of discussing stream flow impacts. He noted he was assured there would not be degradation of the natural stream flows and he very reluctantly agreed not to oppose the pipeline construction . In 1985 OWASA's attorney prepared a bill for introduction in the legislature which, if passed, would have given OWASA "quick-take" condemnation powers and would also have eliminated requirements that they obtain a certificate from the State to make inter-basin transfers of water. Cox continued that no certificate had been issued to permit OWASA to draw water from the Eno River. He noted that with the sewage treatment plant there has been considerable improvement in the downstream quality of the Eno. He noted that as Lake Orange, Lake Ben Johnson and Corporation Lake had been built, the Sumner and fall stream flows of the Eno have steadily become lower lower. He noted that when OWASA built the and Hillsborough, there was as much as three mont e hswith no flow around Hillsborough . He stated that Orange County had been responsive in trying to remedy the situation, but technical and management considerations have hampered this effort. The statement from the Board of Directors of the Eno Association is as follows; "lie have been patient and supportive. We have worked through the process of Boards and Commissions and Task Forces and freely given our