Agenda - 06-01-1987 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Department of Water ResattrceA Orange County Board of Commissioners Page Two May 27, 1987 December 16, 1985, the City Council passed a Resolution requesting the Division of Environmental Management (DEM) to re- classify the Flat River and Little River to the highest possible level (WS I or WS II ) under the new stream classification system. ( See attachment D. ) The success of this request will depend very much on the actions of Orange County since much of these watersheds are located in the Cedar Grove and Little River town- ships of Orange County. Particularly important to this request is the development of local land management programs to control non-point sources of pollution. We would like to request that Orange County designate the Little River and Flat River Water- sheds in Orange County as "Water Supply Watersheds" and provide the same level of protection currently provided for Lake Orange, Corporate Lake, Lake Ben Johnson, Cane Creek, University Lake and Seven Mile Creek. I think this would be in the best interest of Durham and Orange County. The Durham water system already serves Orange County - citizens along U. S. 70 as well as having provided emergency water to Chapel Hill/OWASA in the past and with potential interconnection with Hillsborough in the future; the potential of Orange County citizens drinking Little River water is imminent. There may also be potential for separate water supply reservoirs on the North and South Forks of Little River to serve Orange County directly. Finally, the City of Durham is cooperating with Durham County on the development of a watershed wide study for the Lake Michie and Little River Watersheds. One of the major inputs into this study will involve collecting information on Orange County's existing conditions and long range plans for these watersheds. I would hope that Orange County would cooperate with Durham County as they move forward with this study. I am sure the information developed will be of interest to all parties concerned. Any help you can provide in protecting this outstanding resource for the future citizens of Orange and Durham Counties will be greatly appreciated.