Orange County NC Website
04 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY WATERSHEDS REQUIRED TO BE PROTECTED <br /> Orange County contains all or part of ten watersupply watersheds. These <br /> watersheds received the following classification from the EMC: <br /> STATE CLASSIFICATION OF ORANGE COUNTY WATERSHEDS <br /> WS-II WS-III WS-IV <br /> University Lake Flat River Lower Eno <br /> Cane Creek Jordan Lake <br /> Upper Eno Haw River <br /> Little River <br /> Back Creek <br /> South Hyco <br /> OVERVIEW OF PROPOSED WATERSHED REGULATIONS <br /> University Lake and Cane Creek Watersheds, and the portions of Upper Eno, Back <br /> Creek and Little River Watersheds outside of Little River and Cedar Grove <br /> Townships, are now subject to Protected Watershed (PW-II), Water Quality <br /> Critical Area (WQCA) or University Lake Watershed (ULW) overlays. The <br /> Planning Staff proposes to eliminate these existing watershed overlay districts and <br /> create 13 new overlay districts which correspond to the ten watersheds which must <br /> be protected, including separate overlays for the Critical Areas for the University <br /> Lake, Cane Creek and Upper Eno Watersheds. <br /> Generally, where existing Orange County watershed protection standards are more <br /> stringent than the mandated standards, it is proposed that the existing standards <br /> continue to apply. Existing standards which are less restrictive than the mandated <br /> standards are proposed to be modified to reflect the minimum mandated standards. <br /> However, where technical studies have been prepared which recommend protection <br /> measures more stringent than the State Mandate or existing standards, the study <br /> recommendations are generally recommended. <br /> Where standards of the underlying zoning district differs from the watershed <br /> protection standards, the more stringent standard applies. <br /> University Lake <br /> The existing standards applicable to the University Lake Watershed are more <br /> stringent than the State Mandate. Existing standards allow up to five lots as small <br /> as two acres to be created from a lot of record as of October 2, 1989. <br /> Thereafter, the average lot size is five acres. No substantive change to the existing <br /> standards are proposed. The Critical Area will be extended where necessary to <br /> cover the area within 1/2 mile of the reservoir. <br /> i <br /> 17 <br />