Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
29 <br /> Orange Water and Sewer Authority <br /> Statement to Orange County Commissioners <br /> August 23, 1993 <br /> Page 2 <br /> • The Cane Creek Reservoir represents a $20 million dollar investment by nearly 60,000 <br /> Orange County customers served by OWASA. Except for University Lake, no other <br /> water supply in the County is so essential to as large a number of residents. <br /> • We acknowledge that Cane Creek still lacks a comprehensive watershed analysis such as <br /> the one conducted for University Lake, and this strongly suggests stronger interim <br /> regulations. OWASA's current timetable is to have a completed Cane Creek study by the <br /> end of calendar 1994. <br /> Especially worrisome are proposed amendments that would allow commercial activities in a <br /> watershed where no such uses are now permitted. The allowance of up to 70 percent impervious <br /> coverage for non-residential development without stortmarter controls on up to 900 acres of Cane <br /> Creek watershed land does not appear to be justifiable, even though consistent with the FMC's <br /> statewide minimum. The Authority strongly urges that, at a minimum, these non-residential <br /> allowances be eliminated from further consideration. <br /> The Authority has demonstrated a commitment to maintaining its $20 million dollar investment,at <br /> Cane Creek Reservoir through a number of strong actions including: <br /> • Investing hundreds of thousands of dollars in purchasing critical acreage around the lake, <br /> • Supplementing the North Carolina Agricultural Cost-Shale Program to help private farmers <br /> pay for conservation management practices. and <br /> • Spending thousands of dollars on special technical studies and monitoring projects. <br /> • Prohibiting the use of gasoline powered motorboats. <br /> Along with this demonstrated commitment to protecting Cane Creek Reservoir comes the <br /> expectation that Orange County's Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Regulations will provide a <br /> level of prote tfon commensurate with the reservoir's value to the community, and commensurate <br /> with the financial investment underwritten by its users. <br /> We believe that the higher level of interim protection, as outlined above, is justified both on the <br /> basis of the preliminary water quality data and the community value that Cane Creek represents to <br /> a majority of Orange County's residents. The Board of Directors of Orange Water and Sewer <br /> Authority respectfully offers these recommendations for your consideration. <br /> An II -ILL/AAA"I' IA11 1111 1 ITT IA 111 I" IA •n-n• ••• • n� In•• <br />