Orange County NC Website
Article 4: Overlay Zoning Districts <br /> Section 4.2: Watershed Protection <br /> <br /> <br />Orange County, North Carolina – Unified Development Ordinance Page 4-2 <br /> <br />§143-214.5. In accordance with the State Mandate, 13 Watershed Protection District <br />Overlays, as listed in the table in subsection (D), are hereby established. <br />(C) Areas designated as “Critical Area” under the Orange County designation are hereby <br />established using the following criteria: <br />(1) The land area in the Upper Eno watershed (straight line distance) within one-half <br />mile of the normal pool elevation (NPE), or nearest available contour line used <br />for the calculation, of an existing Class I or Class II reservoir or proposed water <br />supply reservoir designated for protection, or the ridgeline of the sub-watershed, <br />whichever is less; and <br />(2) The land area within one-half mile on each side for an upstream distance of 2.5 <br />miles (straight line distance) of any fifth order or higher stream flowing into a <br />Class I reservoir, or the ridgeline of the sub-watershed, whichever is less; and <br />(3) The land area within one-half mile on each side of a fourth order or higher stream <br />flowing between any Class II and Class I reservoir; and <br />(4) The land area within one-half mile on each side for an upstream distance of 1.5 <br />miles (straight line distance) of a third or fourth order stream flowing directly into <br />any Class I reservoir; and <br />(5) The land area within one-half mile on each side for an upstream distance of 1.0 <br />mile (straight line distance) of a third or fourth order stream flowing into a fourth <br />order or higher stream that is within 1.0 miles (straight line distance) of a Class I <br />reservoir; and <br />(6) Any isolated areas within the overall critical area boundary that drain into any of <br />the streams listed above. <br />(7) Areas designated as Transition Areas on the Land Use Element Map of the <br />Orange County Comprehensive Plan are excluded from designation as a Critical <br />Area, except for land areas located within one-half mile from the normal pool <br />elevation of a Class I reservoir. <br />(8) The land area north of the centerline of West Ten Road and west of the <br />centerline of the Interstate 85/U.S. 70 Connector is excluded from designation as <br />a Critical Area, except for land areas located within one-half mile from the normal <br />pool elevation of a Class I reservoir. <br />(D) The designation of “Protected” applies to areas of watersheds classified as WS-II, WSIII, <br />or WS-IV outside of areas designated as “Critical Area.” <br />(E) General Locations of Watershed Protection Overlay Districts <br />TABLE 4.2.2.E: WATERSHED PROTECTION OVERLAY DISTRICTS <br />DISTRICT GENERAL LOCATION <br />UNIV-CA University Lake Critical <br />Area <br />One-half mile from the normal pool elevation of University Lake, or to <br />the ridgeline of the watershed, whichever is less. <br />UNIV-PW <br />University Lake <br />Protected Watershed <br />Overlay District <br />The portion of the drainage basin of University Lake not covered by <br />UNIV-CA. <br />CANE-CA Cane Creek Critical Area <br />Overlay District <br />One-half mile from the normal pool elevation of Cane Creek Reservoir, <br />or to the ridgeline of the watershed, whichever is less. <br />CANE-PW <br />Cane Creek Protected <br />Watershed Overlay <br />District <br />The portion of the drainage basin of Cane Creek Reservoir not <br />covered by CANE-CA. <br />U-ENO-CA Upper Eno Critical Area <br />Overlay District <br />One-half mile from the normal pool elevation, or to the ridgeline of the <br />watershed, whichever is less, of the following Class I reservoirs: <br />Corporation Lake (538’ actual NPE, 540’ contour line used) and Lake <br />Ben Johnson (515’ NPE and contour line used). One-half mile (straight <br />line measurement) from the normal pool elevation, or to the ridgeline <br />of the watershed, whichever is less, of the following Class II <br /> 22