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2 <br /> undertake an array of different measures from within a "toolbox" of reduction techniques <br /> each year to decrease the loading of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in Falls Lake as <br /> required. Orange County is using a mix of stormwater improvements, installation of <br /> floating wetlands, and watershed buffer lands conservation as the core of its package. <br /> At its November 5, 2020 meeting, the BOCC agreed to participate in the IAIA strategy <br /> and plan with other member local governments, effective with the 2021-22 fiscal year. <br /> Orange County's funding share of the annual projects to reduce nutrient loading is <br /> $161,943. State Division of Water Resources staff participated with the UNRBA staff to <br /> develop the IAIA proposal and supported the approach. <br /> The EMC approval of the IAIA last week is the final regulatory decision for approving the <br /> program, and officially sanctions this process for the foreseeable future. In addition to <br /> using nutrient reduction measures that are proven and likely to support reduction, this <br /> approach is also a much less costly method to addressing the needed actions to the <br /> local governments in the region. UNRBA staff and member governments have proposed <br /> this as a better alternative, and this action by the EMC validates that concept. <br /> Program Progress <br /> The IAIA program is a 5-year program and Orange County staff recently finished up the <br /> Year One efforts and projects. Those projects included a stormwater retrofit at Cedar <br /> Grove Park, installation of floating treatment wetlands and educational signage at <br /> Gravelly Hill Middle School and the Orange County Sportsplex, expanded hydrilla <br /> removal efforts throughout Orange County, and engineering and design work for a new <br /> stormwater wetland coming soon out at Gravelly Hill Middle School. On the watershed <br /> buffer conservation front, funds for the purchase of a conservation easement on Draper- <br /> Savage Memorial Foundation lands with over 1,900 linear feet of stream frontage on a <br /> major tributary of the Eno River are part of the investment in nutrient reduction. <br /> Projected projects for Year Two include the actual construction of the Gravelly Hill <br /> stormwater wetland with educational signage and outdoor classroom areas, along with <br /> engineering and design work for another upcoming stormwater retrofit project here in <br /> Orange County and conservation of other stream buffer lands in the Upper Eno basin. <br /> Please let me know if I may provide additional information. <br /> Copies: Bonnie Hammersley, County Manager <br /> Travis Myren, Deputy County Manager <br /> Cy Stober, Planning Director <br /> Christopher Sandt, County Engineer <br /> Orange County Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks & Recreation <br /> PO Box 8181 <br /> Hillsborough, NC 27278 <br /> Phone: (919) 245-2510 <br /> Fax: (919) 644-3351 <br />