Agenda - 04-12-2005-10a - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: April 12, 2005 Action Agenda Item No. ~Q'Q SUBJECT: Endorsement of OWASA Position Regarding Hunting at Cane Creek Reservoir and OWASA Mitigation Tract DEPARTMENT: Environment & Resource PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No Conservation (ERCD) ATTACHMENT(S): 03/29/05 OWASA Letter to Mayors 03/24/05 OWASA Letter to Corps of Engineers Chair and INFORMATION CONTACT: Dave Stancil, 245-2598 WRC and TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 968-4501 Durham 688-7331 Mebane 336-227-2031 PURPOSE: To consider providing support for the Orange Water and Sewer Authority's position regarding requirements to allow hunting at the Gane Creek Reservoir and Mitigation Tract. BACKGROUND: Discussions have been ongoing for several years between representatives of the Orange Water and Sewer Authority (OWASA) and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Committee (WRC) regarding the interpretation of language in the 1981 Cane Creek Reservoir dam construction permits related to hunting. Prior to the construction of Cane Creek Reservoir, OWASA acquired a 490-acre Mitigation Tract that would compensate for the displacement of wildlife as the result of construction of the Gane Creek Reservoir. The BOCC and OWASA have recently discussed the County's interest in making available the Mitigation Tract for low- impact recreation opportunities that could be offered safely consistent with any hunting program that may ultimately be put in place on that property. The accompanying letters lay out OWASA's understanding of their legal requirements regarding hunting and fishing as established in the 1981 permit documents, and concerns raised by the WRC regarding their views about OWASA's perceived non-compliance with obligations under the dam permit. OWASA has suggested a process for resolving disagreement on this matter, leading up to a planned decision at the OWASA Board's April 28, 2005 meeting. The Board of Commissioners may wish to comment on the information presented in the accompanying letters and determine what feedback, if any, it may wish formally to provide to the OWASA Board of Directors for their consideration at their April 28 meeting. FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with consideration of this agenda item.