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1 <br /> ORD-2026-018 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: June 16, 2026 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 8-f <br /> SUBJECT: Approval of a Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Emergency <br /> Watershed Protection (EWP) Grant Award — Lake Orange Spillway Channel <br /> Repairs, and Approval of Budget Amendment #12-C <br /> DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> 1. Notice of Award — Natural Resources Christopher Sandt, County <br /> Conservation Service (NRCS) Emergency Engineer, 919-245-2583 <br /> Watershed Protection (EWP) Grant Cy Stober, Planning Director, 919- <br /> 2. Year-to-Date Budget Summary 245-2592 <br /> PURPOSE: To approve a Notice of Award of federal funds via a U.S. Department of Agriculture <br /> (USDA) National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Emergency Watershed Protection <br /> (EWP) grant for the design and construction of repairs to the Lake Orange emergency spillway <br /> channel (hereafter the "project"), and to approve proposed Budget Amendment #12-C. <br /> BACKGROUND: Orange County owns and operates Lake Orange. Lake Orange is a 150-acre <br /> public water supply reservoir constructed in the late 1960s with County bond funds for use as a <br /> public water supply source via the installation of a high-hazard earthen berm and concrete <br /> spillway/channel across the East Fork of the Eno River within the Falls Lake watershed (Neuse <br /> River Basin). As documented in legal agreements, the primary uses of Lake Orange are public <br /> water supply and maintenance of minimum dry weather flows in the East Fork Eno River and <br /> secondary uses include flood control and limited recreational activities. <br /> On July 6, 2025, Tropical Storm Chantal caused acute structural damage to the Lake Orange <br /> emergency spillway channel and a portion of the East Fork Eno River located immediately <br /> downstream of the emergency spillway channel. During the storm, Lake Orange Road (a North <br /> Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) public right-of-way) was completely washed out <br /> at the river crossing and Orange County residents were temporarily unable to access their <br /> properties and homes for several days. The bridge crossing was replaced by NCDOT in late <br /> 2025, but the riverbanks along approximately 200 linear feet of the East Fork Eno River located <br /> between Lake Orange Road and the emergency spillway channel remain damaged to date. <br /> Current conditions include damaged chain link security fencing along the Lake Orange emergency <br /> spillway channel, significant scouring/removal of earth and large trees along the riverbanks, and <br /> deposition of natural and manmade debris within the East Fork Eno River. The hydraulic <br /> efficiency of the emergency spillway channel is compromised, and this condition may hinder the <br /> channel's ability to safely pass the water flows generated from significant rain events. <br /> Additionally, the damaged riverbanks continue to erode during regular rain events causing local <br /> water quality degradation within the Eno River. <br />