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<br /> <br /> 2 <br />V. Falls Lake Rules – Davis reported on the Upper Neuse River Basin Association’s <br />(UNRBA) ongoing efforts to improve the Falls Lake Nutrient Management Strategy (Falls <br />Lake Rules). He showed a preview of a presentation he planned to make to the BOCC <br />at an upcoming work session. <br /> <br />Davis said stage two of the Falls Lake Rules require local governments, the NCDOT, the <br />agricultural community, and other regulated parties located in the Falls Lake watershed <br />to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus nutrient loading to Falls Lake by 40% and 77%, <br />respectively. He said the UNRBA is working on several projects to address serious <br />technical and financial impediments to meeting these nutrient reduction goals. <br /> <br />Davis provided an overview of the following projects by the UNRBA: <br />1. Lake and Watershed Water Quality Monitoring <br />2. BMP Nutrient Credit Development <br />3. Development of Nutrient Credit Calculation Tool <br />4. Falls Lake Rules Review <br /> <br />CFE members asked several questions about the projects and the overall objectives of <br />improving the water quality in Falls Lake, which provides drinking water for Raleigh. <br /> <br /> Hintz asked why the nutrient reduction goals were chosen if they are <br />unattainable. Davis said Division of Water Resources staff was rushed to come <br />up with goals, but data was lacking and model assumptions were inappropriate. <br /> <br /> Becker asked if the UNRBA would use a difference model than the one used by <br />the State. Davis said they will use same model, but with more and better data. <br /> <br /> Sassaman asked whether there had been stream sampling performed in <br />advance of enacting the current rules. Davis said DWR relied on whatever data <br />existed previously and on sampling from five gages in western end of Falls Lake. <br /> <br /> Shaw asked if DWR is receptive to getting these data from UNRBA. Davis said <br />they are because they know their initial model was flawed. <br /> <br /> Hintz asked if the CFE inform landowners of the importance of minimizing their <br />use of fertilizers is that helpful to Falls Lake? Davis said it would be helpful to the <br />lake, but local governments would not likely receive credits. <br /> <br /> Davis noted atmospheric deposition is a significant source of nutrients that was <br />not factored into the model or the rules. He said up to 50 percent of the nitrogen <br />entering Chesapeake Bay is from the atmosphere. <br /> <br />Sassaman thanked Davis for sharing this information. There no action required. <br /> <br />VI. Annual Report and Work Plan (2015-16) – Sassaman reminded CFE members that <br />each year the BOCC asks its advisory boards to prepare a report of their activities, <br />accomplishments, new issues, and concerns. He asked Shaw to present the draft report <br />and work plan for 2015-16. <br /> <br />Shaw reviewed the draft report, highlighting the changes from the previous report. He <br />identified several additions to the important accomplishments section and the activities <br />the CFE expects to carry out in 2016. Shaw asked for comments from the members. <br /> <br /> O’Connor suggested adding the CFE’s recommendation of developing incentives <br />for energy-efficient construction to the list of accomplishments. <br /> <br /> Hintz suggested adding language to link the news articles to the SOE report