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37 ENOkind of request, I' d want to look at [minimum] releases, both the town's Resources and the Eno River State the details ," Jacobs said . " If it and the county's, is to try to ensure Park, Moffitt said. FROM PAGE 1 makes sense from a water-supply the health of the stream during low- Olson also said the town has other point of view, we' ll certainly try and flow periods, " said Thames, who has options besides reducing its water work with the town and the state. by necessity become well-versed on release, such as putting mandatory for such a measure in the past. " If it means compromising the water issues . "It would seem that restrictions on water use. She Actually, Peele said, the state has integrity of the Eno River and its reducing the flow would run argued that protecting the river been stepping up its efforts to make ecosystem, then I would say it's counter to that, but I can't speak should be more important than sure that water release minimums time to talk to OWASA and Durham with any authority on that. using water for things like watering are being followed. The Division of about purchasing water, he said. TFrom an environmental stand- lawns and washing cars. Water Resources is only one of sever- "We're all in this together. If we can point, I don't know," Thames said. "I "We would not support doing this, al agencies that would have to review work with [Hillsborough] and help think [Hillsborough's request] is prob- especially at this point, when there Hillsborough's request, he said. them in the time of need, I'm sure ably a pretty big thing. But what are other means to try first such as Peele talked to Phelps this week we'll do what we can. " you're trying to do is balance that with mandatory conservation mea- and asked him to put the town's Terry Rolan , environmental whether we would run out of water if sures," Olson said. request in writing to Division of resources director for the city of we don't do something like that That Currently, the town and central Water Resources Director John Durham , said he didn't think the city would be a big deal, too." and northern Orange County are in Morris . Phelps signed off on the let- would feel any impact from the kind Both Rolan and Thames men- Stage 3 water restrictions . Accord. ter Wednesday. of temporary reduction that Hills- tioned the potential for the water ing to the county's rules, the restric- It says in part that the town borough is requesting. situation to continue to worsen. tions in that stage are mandatory, "requests that the Division of Water 441 don 't think it really affects us "I don 't want to be alarmist about but they still are voluntary for Hills- Resources consider investigating one way or another, as far as our sit- all that, but everybody I talk to who borough customers. the possibility of temporarily lower- uation is concerned," Rolan said. knows anything about the Eno talks The town made its Stage 3 restric. ing the minimum flow levels in the The city of Durham is authorized about it being the driest they've lions more lenient several months Eno River. " to draw up to 5 million gallons of ever seen it," Thames said. ago, with the goal of giving its cus- The letter also mentions the Lake raw water per day from the Eno in a Olson and Moffit with the river tomers some benefit from the water Orange reservoir controlled by pinch, but the flow in the river has association both conceded that in the reservoir. Orange County, stating that adjust- to be at least 10 cubic feet per sec- water supply is an increasingly crit- The point would be moot at Stage ing the minimum flow require- ond. The flow right now is only ical issue. 4, when both the county and town ments could "greatly extend the life about a third of that rate, so Durham "The Town Board has to look out restrictions are mandatory. And the of the aforementioned reservoirs couldn't withdraw water from the for the best interests of Hillsbor- county engineer said this week that this season. " Eno even if it wanted to, Rolan said. ough, and it's certainly a difficult Stage 4 isn't far away. Phelps said he didn't have a spe- He said normal flow for the river . time for water supply in the region," cific number in mind for how much is about 30 to 40 cubic feet per sec- Moffitt said. "But we would be more water the town should be ond, so the river is only at about 10 opposed to the reduction of any allowed to store in its reservoir. As percent of that flow, and the flows in water flow down the river, because for what "temporary" would mean , the Flat and Little rivers are simi- of the potential detrimental effect Phelps also said he didn't have a spe- larly down. on several important aquatic cific timeframe in mind. Rolan made an argument similar species." But Phelps said he doesn't think to Phelps', saying that the releases He said those species include just a week or two would be suffi- from the Hillsborough reservoir about a dozen types of mussels that cient. He said that if the area gets probably were keeping the Eno rely on the fast flow of freshwater. significant rainfall, then perhaps higher than it would be otherwise. Several of those mussel species are holding . back more water in the Peele said he didn't necessarily on state and federal endangered reservoir until late summer or early agree, since the state used historical lists. fall would be sufficient. flow records to set the minimum Those types of species already Town Engineer Kenny Keel report- requirements. are suffering with the effect of the ed that as of 'ILesday, the town reser- Orange County is similarly drought on the river's flow rate, voir was about 6 feet below full. The required to release a minimum flow Moffitt said. reservoir level has been higher than from Lake Orange. The county cur- "We can't do anything about that, but it never has been completely rently has to release at least 650,000 whether it rains or not, but we can do full since water started backing up in gallons per day from that smaller something about whether water is the fall of 2000. reservoir, on the east fork of the impounded, when it should be allowed Keel also projected that the town Eno , and County Engineer Paul to flow downstream," he said. has about 153 days worth of water Thames said that minimum will The association likely will discuss remaining in the reservoir. soon drop to 450,000 gallons per day the town 's request and weigh in with Orange Commissioners Barry if the lake keeps dropping. officials at the Division of Water Jacobs said Phelps' idea is worth The two forks of the Eno come considering. together north of Hillsborough, "Assuming that there's no envi- near the bridge on Halls Mill Road. ronmental damage involved in that " One of the purposes for those THE CHAPEL HILL HERALD THURSDAY,, JUNE 27, 2002