Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
North Gro,,a Star UoPerr� <br /> • <br /> 9 <br /> hoz751,Jordan HZ <br /> Raleigh,North Cavils=27695-?912 <br /> 919/515-Z15 <br /> WiterRecource5RcseanthIns/u <br /> of beUith y jAbrthGa <br /> To: Brad Barker, Executive Director, TJCOG <br /> From: David H. Moreau, Director \` " <br /> Date: May 25, 1993 <br /> The purpose of this memorandum is to outline an option for <br /> continuing management of the Falls Lake watershed. <br /> Regardless of the outcome of the present local government <br /> debates over rules that are to be adopted in Falls Lake watershed, <br /> considerable uncertainty about the future quality of water in the <br /> lake will remain. Although a comprehensive watershed study might <br /> shed some light on the decision now before local governments, <br /> several factors will limit the credibility of such a study. First, <br /> there is a lack of site-specific nonpoint source load data in the <br /> Falls Lake area. Results from numerous studies in other locations <br /> are available to estimate "before" and "after" nonpoint loads that <br /> can be expected when watersheds are converted from one general <br /> class of use to another where those classes are broadly defined as <br /> "low-density residential", "high-density" residential, "central <br /> business district", "agricultural", or "industrial". However, the <br /> absence of primary data from this area will limit the credibility <br /> of such estimates. Second, the literature does not provide <br /> sufficient detail to distinguish loads from watersheds with modest <br /> differences in densities such as the difference between one house <br /> per acre and two houses per acre. Two watersheds with these <br /> densities would fall within the same general category, yet the <br /> rules under discussion are making distinctions at that level of <br /> detail. Third, even for watersheds with similar land uses and <br /> development densities there are watershed-to-watershed variations <br /> that may cause significant differences in nonpoint source loads. <br /> Finally, conditions will change over time, and estimates made today . <br /> may become obsolete within a relatively short period of time as <br /> conditions of the watershed change. <br /> One option to consider is the formation of a more-or-less <br /> permanent watershed oversight group with sufficient authority and <br /> funding to conduct continuing assessments of conditions in the lake <br /> and the watershed. Although a wide range of authorities could be <br /> delegated to such a group, it would need to perform at least four <br /> basic functions to be effective. They are: <br /> 7b y9` Cantata <br /> • <br /> scargxerl 9rthesteam pubic sznix 6r ahhats to Path Catri6s2 <br />