Roanoke River Basin Association Board Meeting
Water Supply Planning Tom Fransen North Carolina Division of Water Resources
Troubled Waters: The Illusion of Abundance UNC-TV A New Frontier in Water Wars Emerges in East NY Times, 3/3/2003 Water Wars: A future problem for Western Wake? Wake Up Forum, 1/6/2007 S.C. Ready for Water War With N.C.: State Will File Lawsuit If N.C. Cities Win Permission This Week to Draw Water From Catawba Columbia, SC 1/8/2007 ‘Water war' moved to Florida court Atlanta Business Chronicle - 3/21/2007 Bills would tighten requirements for water transfers Legislation, along with appeals, at forefront in Catawba River fight The war for Catawba River water will be fought on two fronts, by lawmakers and attorneys HICKORY 3/27/2007
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We expect a lot from our river basins. Aquatic Habitat Riparian Habitat Pollution Dilution Water Supply Power Generation Recreation
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Critical Questions How much water is available in the river system? How much, where and when is water needed for the various services we expect the river to provide? 9/12/2009
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14,000
4,000
12,000
3,500 3,000
10,000
2,500 8,000 2,000 6,000 1,500 4,000
1,000
2,000
500
0
0 1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
2020
2030
NC water use excluding power generation 9/12/2009
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MGD
Population / 1,000
Will we have enough water to meet the needs of a growing population?
Roanoke Basin Water Withdrawals
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Summer of 2002
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Current Drought Status
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Drought History
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What North Carolina Needs to Do to Provide Water Supplies for Future Needs. ¾ Focus
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3 Major Areas
z
Data for Water Management
z
Water Supply Planning
z
Regulation Slide - 10
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Water Resources Information, Storage, Analysis, & Retrieval System (http://www.ncwater.org/wrisars/)
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What North Carolina Needs to Do to Provide Water Supplies for Future Needs. ¾ Focus
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3 Major Areas
z
Data for Water Management
z
Water Supply Planning
z
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Local Water Supply Plans z
Local Water Supply Plans z
z z z
Updated every 5 Years
Includes units of local government Includes some federal water systems Self-reported data
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Local Water Supply Plans
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River Basin Water Supply Planning is a tool to: ¾
Support long range, sustainable management of North Carolina’s river basins
¾
Provide a reliable, quantitative method to plan for sustainable water use
¾
Provide an objective basis for management and regulatory decisions
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One of DENR’s Strategic Objectives for MANAGING RIVER BASINS FOR MULTIPLE BENEFITS
In each of the state’s 17 major river basins, use river basin planning and management as the framework for protection of water quality, development of safe and reliable drinking water supplies, and the conservation and enhancement of natural resources. One of the Objectives
Develop 50-year river basin water supply plans in partnership with local governments and other water users, to guide the development of local and regional water supply projects to meet each basin’s future water supply needs. Over time, transition local water supply plans onto the same schedule as the basinwide water quality plans for the river basin in which the water system is located. 9/12/2009
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River Basin Modeling
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What North Carolina Needs to Do to Provide Water Supplies for Future Needs. ¾ Focus
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3 Major Areas
z
Data for Water Management
z
Water Supply Planning
z
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Water Allocation Regulations ¾ Riparian ¾ Water
Rights
Use Act
¾ Interbasin ¾ FERC
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Transfer
Licensed Hydroelectric Projects
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NC Riparian Rights ¾ Riparian
property owners have right to “reasonable use” of water. ¾ Can not adversely affect quantity or quality. ¾ Maintain instream flow at “reasonable” level. ¾ Impairment often a water quality issue.
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The Water Use Act of 1967 G.S. 143-215.11 to .22
¾ Phosphate
mining in Beaufort County led to creation of the Water Use Act z
Reasonable regulation to conserve and maintain water resources so they can be used to the fullest extent possible
¾ Central
Coastal Plain Capacity Use Area – The only CUA in the State.
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Central Coastal Plain Capacity Use Area ¾ 15
counties in the central portion of the Coastal Plain ¾ Currently 218 permit holders and 72 registrations
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What is an Interbasin Transfer? An interbasin transfer is the movement of surface water from one river basin into another. The purpose of the Interbasin Transfer Law is to take a pause to be sure it is good public policy before moving water from one river basin into another. The Interbasin Transfer Law does NOT prohibit transfers.
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The image most people have when they think about interbasin transfer.
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The NC reality.
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The NC reality.
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Final Determination ¾ The
benefits outweigh the detriments. ¾ The detriments are or will be mitigated. ¾ Transfer not exceed the amount of the projected shortfall. ¾ No reasonable alternatives.
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Certificate Conditions ¾7
required conditions ¾ Water Conservation Plan – equal or exceed most stringent in the source basin ¾ Drought Management Plan – equal or exceed most stringent in the source basin ¾ Quarterly reporting within 30 days of the end of the quarter 9/12/2009
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Kerr Lake Regional Water System Interbasin Transfer Status
¾
10 MGD Grandfathered Capacity z From Roanoke River to Tar/Neuse River Basins
¾
2040 projected interbasin transfer is estimated to be 24 MGD. Updates -
¾
http://www.ncwater.org/Permits_and_Registration/Interbasin_Transfer/ 9/12/2009
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Summary ¾ ¾ ¾
No comprehensive plan for water quantity management in NC. No federal oversight of / requirements for water quantity management. Pro z z
¾
Less government regulation & permitting. Equal right to the water for all.
Con z
No plan to ensure availability of water for future water supply, industry, continued economic growth, & ecological health on NC’s water bodies.
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River Basin Commissions ¾ Roanoke z
River Basin Commission
Ad Hoc Water Allocation Committee
¾ Catawba-Wateree
River Basin
Commission ¾ Yadkin-PeeDee River Basin Commission ¾
Proposed Little Tennessee River Basin Commission
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Questions Contact Information Tom Fransen 919-715-0381
[email protected] www.ncwater.org
Copy of presentation online at - http://www.ncwater.org/basins
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