Agenda 11-02-23; 4-a - Resolution Endorsing Consensus Principles II for Revised Falls Lake Rules

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3 more productive, cost-effective, collaborative and technically efficient way to address the nutrient loading issues that will be needed for Falls Lake. Commissioner Sally Greene serves as the Orange County Board of Commissioners' member on the UNRBA Board of Directors, with Commissioner Jamezetta Bedford as Alternate #1 and Orange County Water Resources Coordinator Wesley Poole as Alternate#2. At the November 15, 2023 UNRBA Board of Directors meeting, each delegate will be asked to vote to indicate support for the Upper Neuse River Basin Association (UNRBA) Consensus Principles II for the revised Falls Lake Rules. FINANCIAL IMPACT: Endorsing this resolution would provide support of an investment- based, joint compliance approach to the revised Falls Lake Nutrient Management Strategy. The current IAIA program has an initial five-year investment commitment. The program began on July 1, 2021 and is scheduled to end on June 30, 2026. Orange County's annual commitment is currently $161,943 per year. Based on the development of the IAIA, the current Capital Investment Plan (CIP) includes a Falls Lake Nutrient Management Strategy item that allocates $175,000 per year during the years of the IAIA implementation. This stands in contrast to the projected cost of Orange County's requirement to develop its own individual program for Rules implementation, that was expected to be in the millions of dollars each year, depending on the actual jurisdictional loading rate. Minimum annual investment commitments will be negotiated during the rules review process and specified in the program document for the revised strategy, but it is hoped those funding levels will be similar to that currently being allocated. The revised nutrient management strategy for Falls Lake will be a long-term plan to improve water quality and quantity in the lake. SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: The following Orange County Social Justice Goals are applicable to this item: • GOAL: ESTABLISH SUSTAINABLE AND EQUITABLE LAND USE AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of people of all races, cultures, incomes and educational levels with respect to the development and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, policies, and decisions. Fair treatment means that no group of people should bear a disproportionate share of the negative environmental consequences resulting from industrial, governmental and commercial operations or policies Endorsing this program through the attached resolution will provide a means to address required State-mandated watershed nutrient management rules through cost-sharing among the jurisdictions that will result in a significantly-reduced cost to County taxpayers and residents, while also utilizing a more efficient and innovative ecological approach to address this water quality concern. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: The following Orange County Environmental Responsibility Goal impact is applicable to this item: