Orange County NC Website
15 <br /> Attachment 4 <br /> To be printed on BOCC letterhead <br /> March 10, 2020 <br /> Donald F. Greeley, Director <br /> Department of Water Management <br /> City of Durham <br /> 101 City Hall Plaza <br /> Durham, NC 27707 <br /> RE:Teer Quarry Operation and Eno River Capacity Use Area <br /> Dear Mr. Greeley, <br /> This letter is to confirm that Orange County has no objection to the City of Durham's proposed withdrawal of <br /> water from the Eno River under the conditions specified by the NC Department of Environmental Quality <br /> Division of Water Resources (DWR).The City of Durham, referred to as the Durham Water System in the WMOP, <br /> is subject to the Voluntary Eno River Capacity Use Area Water Management Operations Plan (WMOP), as are the <br /> Hillsborough Water System (Town of Hillsborough), Orange County,the Orange-Alamance Water System, and <br /> Piedmont Minerals (now Resco Products). <br /> The City of Durham (City) owns the Teer Quarry Reservoir located adjacent to the Eno River and needs to <br /> operate the facility under broader parameters than those currently permitted under the Finding of No <br /> Significant Impact(FONSI)for the Phase I Teer Quarry Supplemental Storage Project (2010) in order to meet the <br /> City's water supply needs.The City of Durham Department of Water Management developed a broader set of <br /> water withdrawal and water supply access conditions in collaboration with DWR,the NC Wildlife Resources <br /> Commission (WRC) and the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and discussed those conditions with the Eno <br /> River Water Users at their annual meeting on August 30, 2019. <br /> The essence of the agreed-upon conditions for withdrawal from the Eno River is: <br /> 1. A withdrawal rate of 5 mgd is currently allowable under the Voluntary Eno River Capacity Use Area <br /> (CUA) Water Management Operations Plan. <br /> 2. Withdrawal rates exceeding 5 mgd may only occur when Eno River flows as measured at the USGS Eno <br /> River Gage near Durham (US-501) exceed the annual median flow of 49 cfs, i.e.,flows well above the <br /> low flow conditions of concern in the WMOP. <br /> 3. Withdrawal rates exceeding 5 mgd require a flowby rate downstream of the point of withdrawal <br /> measured at the USGS Eno River Gage Near Durham. <br /> a. The total flowby requirement in the Eno River downstream of the point of withdrawal will be <br /> 90%of flow above 49 cfs when Teer Quarry is above 254' MSL. <br /> b. The total flowby requirement in the Eno River downstream of the point of withdrawal will be <br /> 80%of flow above 49 cfs when Teer Quarry is below 254' MSL. <br /> 4. Withdrawal rates exceeding 5 mgd may only occur when Falls Lake is at or above guide curve (251.5' <br /> MSL). <br /> Orange County understands that the City is proposing a new water intake location on the Eno River <br /> (approximately% mile upstream of the City's current water intake location)for use in filling the Teer Quarry <br /> reservoir. This letter of no objection to the City's proposed withdrawal of water from the Eno River does not <br /> represent Orange County's approval or resolution of support for the City's proposed new water intake location. <br /> Sincerely, <br /> Penny Rich <br /> Chair, Orange County Board of County Commissioners <br />