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6 <br /> beneficial environmental resource that it is, then we should follow the North Carolina Resources <br /> Commission's lead and protect Sevenmile Creek with appropriate zoning restrictions while <br /> working towards long term protections for this priceless resource. Thank you <br /> Tim Spruill read the following statement: <br /> Hello, I am Tim Spruill and have lived in Orange County in Efland for more than 20 years. I am <br /> concerned about the disappearance of the rural countryside in Orange County east of Mebane <br /> and the degradation of Sevenmile Creek, which will receive drainage from the proposed <br /> development by Mebane. This all results in a lower quality of life for those who prefer and value <br /> rural areas, good water quality, and good biodiversity. <br /> In 2019, new rules were passed by the State Legislature governing development in critical and <br /> protected watersheds (and are shown in the table that I sent in my letter). The County <br /> governments that have land use authority within designated water supply watersheds shall <br /> adopt and enforce ordinances and watershed maps that meet or exceed the requirements of <br /> the law to protect water supply watersheds. <br /> My concern is that the planned development will negatively impact Seven Mile Creek, a High <br /> Quality Water that also contributes a major portion of water to Hillsborough's public water <br /> supply (it empties directly into Lake Ben Johnston) and provides habitat for a multitude of <br /> invertebrate and vertebrate species, several of which are considered threatened or <br /> endangered. Large areas of impervious surfaces in the form of building roofs and parking areas <br /> will ultimately cause an increase in biological impairment of the receiving streams, a decrease <br /> in water quality, an increase in flow magnitude, and an increase in sediment loads, effectively <br /> creating a lifeless and ugly urban stream as urbanization increases. I am concerned that <br /> existing laws concerning allowable buildouts with impervious surfaces are too high-up to 24% <br /> for Critical Watersheds and up to 30% for Balance of Watershed (which is a Protected <br /> Watershed in Sevenmile Creek between Buckhorn Road and Efland/Hillsborough) will cause <br /> severe water quality and biological degradation of Sevenmile Creek and significant degradation <br /> of Hillsborough's water supply from Lake Ben Johnston. Research over the past 20-30 years <br /> has shown much lower impervious surface percentages cause significant water quality and <br /> biological degradation- only 10% impervious coverage in a watershed can cause significant <br /> (25% or more) biological community degradation according to a 2012 USGS study. There are <br /> several other studies that offer similar conclusions. <br /> It is the responsibility of Orange County and Mebane to enforce existing State Laws at a <br /> minimum, and to consider and hopefully adopt, stricter rules governing critical (6 % maximum <br /> impervious) and protected (12% maximum impervious) watersheds to preserve the character of <br /> the rural environment between Mebane and Efland/Hillsborough, as well as to limit any <br /> development to north of West 10 Road only, to ensure protection of the water quality of <br /> Sevenmile Creek and Hillsborough's water supply. Thank you. <br /> b. Matters on the Printed Agenda <br /> (These matters will be considered when the Board addresses that item on the agenda below.) <br /> 3. Announcements, Petitions and Comments by Board Members <br /> Commissioner Fowler petitioned the Board to declare May Mental Health Awareness <br /> month. <br /> Commissioner Hamilton said she had no comments. <br />