Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
<br /> <br /> 2 <br /> <br />Davis reported hydrilla has been treated effectively while native plants appear healthy. <br />He noted, however, there are several ponds and tributary streams that feed into the Eno <br />River that need to be treated for hydrilla. He said those upstream areas need to be <br />surveyed in order to develop an effective treatment plan. Davis said the Eno River <br />Hydrilla Management Task Force is working on a five-year management plan, and he <br />expects the State of NC will provide funding assistance for the project. <br /> <br />Davis answered questions from CFE members: <br /> Becker asked how native plants were doing. Davis said pre- and post-treatment <br />surveys of native plants show no evidence of problems thus far. <br /> Newby asked if any other counties had similar experience with treating hydrilla in <br />a river system. Davis said Orange and Durham are the first to try this. <br /> Kaiser asked what about in other areas of the country. Davis said many other <br />regions are battling hydrilla and other invasive aquatic plants, including Florida <br />with an annual budget of about $25 million. <br /> Cada asked if the State would use Fluridone in a water-supply reservoir, such as <br />Lake Orange. Davis said the EPA has approved it for use in drinking water. <br /> Thomas-Ambat wondered if hydrilla might develop immunity to the chemical. <br /> Becker asked if there was sampling occurring downstream of the study area. <br />Davis said the sampling occurs all the way to Falls Lake, and after entering the <br />lake the chemical is diluted well upstream of the City of Raleigh water intake. <br /> <br />Wegman thanked Davis and asked that he continue to keep the CFE apprised of further <br />developments, including the five-year plan for treating upstream areas. <br /> <br />VI. Inter-Local Clean Energy Working Group – Shaw updated the CFE on recent <br />discussions by the Inter-Local Clean Energy Working Group about the County’s potential <br />participation in a Phase I Solar Feasibility Study. He said the work group had developed <br />a draft scope of work for a study that would provide Orange County and its partners with <br />a prioritized list of possible renewable energy deployment sites and help the group <br />prepare for a potential joint procurement of solar photovoltaics (PV) in the future. <br /> <br />Shaw said Bouma was participating in the group and would provide future updates. <br /> <br />VII. The Nature of Orange Contest Winners 2016 – Shaw presented the winning <br />photographs from this year’s contest, The Nature of Orange. He reminded CFE <br />members the goal of the contest is to encourage residents to help document the beauty <br />and diversity of our natural resources and our people connecting to their environment. <br /> <br /> Shaw reported there were 89 entries by adults and youth (under 18 years old), and the <br />three volunteer judges evaluated photos based on, relevancy, composition/arrangement, <br />focus/sharpness, lighting, and creativity. <br /> <br />Winners received a congratulatory letter, certificate, and a small monetary award. During <br />the month of August the photographs were displayed at the Orange County Library and <br />the Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Center. They will also be on display at the Cedar <br />Grove Community Center and the new Cup-A-Joe on King Street in Hillsborough. <br /> <br />VIII. Updates and Information Items – Information on the following subjects was provided in <br />the meeting package; selected items were discussed: a) overview of 2016 environmental <br />legislation by NC General Assembly, b) State’s rejection of plans to preserve land in <br />Falls Lake watershed, c) County to fund study to justify wider stream buffers,