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2 <br />early next year. Point sources account far 45% of the Total Nitrogen (TN) and 18% of the <br />Total Phosphorus (TP) load to the Upper New Hope Arm of the lake. Overall, it is estimated <br />that nanpoint sources contribute about 7Q% of the total nutrient load to the lake. Three major <br />publicly-owned wastewater treatment plants and several small privately owned "package" <br />plants discharge highly treated effluent just a short distance from the lake. <br />Over the past 16 months, a Jordan Lake Stakeholders Project, a joint effort of DWQ, Triangle <br />.l Council of Governments and Piedmont Triad Council of Governments, has been formed. <br />This effort was created to provide a framework to address concerns about total phosphorus <br />and total nitrogen levels in the lake. The recommendations from the stakeholder project <br />would help the N.C. Environmental Management Commission (EMC) develop a nutrient <br />management strategy for the entire watershed -especially the Upper New Hope arm. <br />Based on the modeling, it is expected that nutrient management measures to be developed <br />will need to address the non-point sources from developed land surfaces in the upstream <br />drainage area, which includes the New Hope Creek basin, Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Durham <br />and RTP. If not managed properly, population and economic growth projected to occur in <br />the watershed over the coming decades will threaten the ability of the lake to support its <br />designated uses as a major regional drinking water supply, recreational resource, and <br />aquatic habitat. These management strategies likely to emerge from the study would <br />address both point-sources and non-paint sources. This may translate into changes to local <br />stormwater programs, agricultural practices, development standards, and wastewater <br />treatment. This would be similar to new rules put in place for the Neuse River basin in 1999. <br />Discussions at recent stakeholders meetings have resulted in some disagreements between <br />and among utility providers, watershed groups and DWQ an the type and manner of nutrient <br />reduction strategies to be recommended. Several of the providers, including OWASA, have <br />cited a number of technical concerns and propose a phased, incremental approach to <br />nutrient reduction strategies. Some citizen watershed groups have expressed concerns <br />about the relatively less-stringent measures to be applied in the Haw River Arm of the lake. <br />In August, DWQ staff announced an intention to recommend a phased approach to nutrient <br />management. A copy of a memorandum from OWASA Planning and Research Director Ed <br />Holland outlining same of these issues is attached. (Note: This memo is primarily concerned <br />with point-source issues for wastewater treatment). <br />FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact involved with receipt of this status report. <br />RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board receive as this report <br />as information and provide any comments to staff. <br />