Agenda - 03-09-1992 - Laserfiche WebLink

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VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA: UNANIMOUS IV. RESOLUTIONS /PROCLAMATIONS A. DECLASSIFICATION OF HAW CREEK RESERVOIR AND WATERSHED John Link explained that this resolution asks that the North Carolina Environmental Management Commission deny the petition of the Orange/Alamance Water System to declassify the Haw Creek Watershed. In answer to a question from Commissioner Gordon, Paul Thames explained that during low flows the Eno Basin needs to keep all the water it can in the basin and the Capacity Use Agreement accomplishes that. Motion was made by Commissioner Gordon, seconded by Commissioner Insko to approve the resolution as stated below: Mebane Planning Director Joff Coe asked that the Board delay action on this resolution to allow Mebane time to write a position paper on this issue. Paul Thames noted that DEM has requested the County's position on this issue now. The Board agreed to go forward with this resolution, however, they would like to hear from Mebane on their position. RESOLUTION OPPOSING THE DECLASSIFICATION OF THE HAW CREEK WATERSHED IN ALAMANCE COUNTY WHEREAS, the Eno River is characterized by yearly low flow conditions in which the river, for extended periods, is incapable of sustaining the current water demand of the major users of Eno River waters; and WHEREAS, the NC Environmental Management Commission found the upper Eno Basin to exhibit the water usage and shortfall criteria necessary to be declared a Capacity Use Area; and WHEREAS, the NC Environmental Management Commission has elected to allow Orange County, the Town of Hillsborough, the Orange -- Alamance Water System and Piedmont Minerals Company, Inc. to address the water shortage and water use problems in the upper Eno River Basin, on a trial basis and under supervision of the Division of Water Resources, by developing an agreement and a plan which specifies varying levels of maximum individual water withdrawal allocations and minimum instream flow requirements based on stream flow conditions and water storage remaining in Lake Orange; and WHEREAS, Orange County, the Town of Hillsborough, the Orange - Alamance Water System and Piedmont Minerals Company, Inc. have called the Eno River Capacity Use Agreement, which specifies water withdrawal allocations, instream flow requirements and management responsibilities; and WHEREAS, all parties to that Capacity Use Agreement were aware that Orange - Alamance uses approximately seventy -five percent of its water withdrawals outside of the Eno Basin and within Alamance County; and WHEREAS, assurances made to Orange County by the orange - Alamance Water System as early as 1958 that orange - Alamance would obtain water from the Town of Graham to supply the Orange - Alamance customers located in Alamance County during those times when the flow in the Eno River was so low that natural stream flow had to be supplemented by releases of water impounded in Lake Orange; and