Agenda - 03-21-1990 - Laserfiche WebLink

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2 RECLASSIFICATION OF WATER SUPPLY WATERSHEDS IN THE UPPER ENO RIVER AND SEVEN MILE CREEK BASINS The Orange County Board of Commissioners and other officials have expressed an interest in investigating the process for upgrading the water supply watershed classification for the upper Eno River basin and the Seven Mile Creek basin. Unfortunately, upgrading the existing classification is going to be very difficult, if not impossible, for the next year or longer. The reason for the difficulty lies in the process, which is presently underway, by which the Division of Environmental Management (DEM) and the Environmental Management Commission (EMC) are trying to develop a new classification system for water supply watersheds. The process which is being used to develop the new classification system and the watershed protection regulations that are attached to each classification is very cumbersome and is expected to take nearly two years to finalize. The proposed new watershed classifications and standards are much more stringent than those which are existing. The final classifications and standards will be enacted by January 1990, if the process moves according to schedule. It is impossible, however, to forecast how the final standards will evolve after being taken to public hearing and being subjected to the political process at both the state and local level. In the meantime, the uncertainty regarding the outcome on the classifications and the standards will prevent the staff at DEM from reclassifying the watersheds under the old procedures. The process that DEM has traditionally used to upgrade water supply watershed classifications began with a resolution by the jurisdiction using the water from the watershed in question or by the jurisdiction having planning or zoning authority over the watershed. This resolution generally stated the concerned jurisdiction's intent and desire to seek a reclassification of the watershed and was addressed the DEM or the EMC. When the resolution was received, DEM would begin a study of the watershed with particular emphasis on its water quality, waste discharging situation, existing and allowed land use, watershed protection ordinances and measures, erosion control ordinances, etc. DEM would then use the collected information to make a judgement on the potential for the watershed and rule on the requested reclassification. The process would allow the local jurisdictions time to take steps to enhance the potential classification by passing local ordinances for watershed protection.