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MEMORANDUM <br />TO: Board of Directors <br />THROUGH: Ed Kerwin <br />FROM: Ed Holland <br />DATE: April 22, 2005 <br />SUBJECT: Proposals for State - Controlled Hunting on OWASA Property <br />Background <br />Permission to build the Cane Creels Reservoir was obtained from the United States Army <br />Corps of Engineers through a "Section 404" Permit issued to OWASA in 1981. The 404 <br />Permit contained a number of provisions and requirements governing the reservoir's <br />construction and operation. Among these was the condition that OWASA obtain and set <br />aside 500 acres of land to mitigate the loss of wildlife habitat that the reservoir's <br />impoundment would cause, The so- called "Mitigation Tract" was obtained for that <br />purpose. <br />Although written correspondence with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources <br />Commission (WRC) in 1980 implied that the Mitigation Tract would be open for public <br />hunting, this condition was not included in the OWASA Board of Directors September 4, <br />1980 Resolution Establishing A lildlife Mitigation Program for Cane Creek J11ater <br />Supply Reservoir Under the Regulations of the 404 Permit Process of the U.S. Army Cap <br />of Engineers, nor was it specified in the 404 Permit subsequently issued by the Corps, <br />The Board's resolution did, however, state that the Cane Creek Reservoir itself be open <br />to the public for fishing and hunting. OWASA has always provided public boating and <br />fishing opportunities, but has enforced a no- hunting policy at Cane Creek and all other <br />OWASA -owned land, including the Mitigation Tract. <br />A brief summary of activities since the Board of Directors discussed these issues last <br />September is presented below: <br />• On September 23, 2004, the Board discussed a proposal to allow a limited program of <br />pennit - controlled deer hunting on the Mitigation Tract that would be administered <br />under the NC Wildlife Resources Commission's (WRC) Gamelands Program. Per <br />staff level discussions, such a program on the Mitigation Tract would serve in lieu of <br />OWASA's obligation to provide hunting on the Cane Creek Reservoir. <br />• On .January 27, 2005, the Board's Natural Resources and Technical Systems <br />Committee (NRTS) proposed further details for a hunting program on the Mitigation <br />