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10 <br /> Orange Water and Sewer Authority <br /> OWASAOur community's trusted partner for dean-water and environmental protection <br /> Subject: Support for Amendment to the Eno Haw Hazard Mitigation Plan to Include Morgan <br /> Creek Flood Management Study <br /> Dear Orange County Board of Commissioners, <br /> On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Orange Water and Sewer Authority(OWASA), I am <br /> writing to express our support for the proposed amendment(attached)to the Eno Haw Hazard <br /> Mitigation Plan to include a comprehensive flood management study that potentially <br /> incorporates OWASA's University Lake Dam as part of a broader strategy. <br /> As the operator of critical water supply infrastructure, including University Lake Dam, OWASA <br /> recognizes the essential role that coordinated, data-driven flood mitigation and planning plays <br /> in protecting public safety, maintaining reliable water service, and safeguarding downstream <br /> communities, homes, and assets. Incorporating the dam, among other strategies, into a <br /> county-led flood management study represents a proactive and necessary step toward <br /> enhancing regional resilience. <br /> Aflood management study that evaluates planning, engineering, operational, and mitigation <br /> measures along Morgan Creek to reduce downstream flood risk and enhance system <br /> resilience, including exploring the potential for University Lake Dam to be utilized as part of a <br /> broader strategy while evaluating alternative approaches will provide important insights into <br /> flood risk reduction opportunities.This effort will also support coordination among local, state, <br /> and regional partners during both routine operations and emergency response situations. <br /> Our hope is that, based on the findings from this study, mitigation activities can be prioritized to <br /> strengthen the county's ability to identify and prioritize flood risk reduction strategies and <br /> support the needs of multiple jurisdictions, stakeholders and community members. <br /> We appreciate the County's leadership in advancing hazard mitigation planning and strongly <br /> encourage the formal adoption of this amendment(attached). <br /> Please feel free to contact Todd Taylor, OWASA's Executive Director, at ttaylor@owasa.org, if <br /> you have any questions or require additional information. <br /> Sincerely, <br /> Michael Hughes, PE <br /> Chair, Board of Directors <br /> Orange Water and Sewer Authority <br />