In an effort to protect the quality of the County's streams and rivers, Wake County and its local governments should require larger stream buffers in priority watershed areas, prohibit development in the 100-year floodplain, and encourage preservation of open space in subdivision developments, a Countywide task force recommended today.
The Watershed Management Task Force presented its draft recommendations to the Board of Commissioners for comment, but no action was taken on the report today. The Board is expected to consider the recommendations at a January meeting.
The Board of Commissioners created the task force in May 2001 to study protection strategies and recommend a plan that can be implemented countywide to protect and preserve sensitive stream and watershed areas. Kenn Gardner, Wake County Commissioner and Chairman of the task force, praised the group – which included developers, environmental groups, elected officials and other stakeholders – for working together to reach consensus on the recommendations.
"As a task force, we knew that our mission was to outline the steps Wake County needs to take now to protect our sensitive watershed areas to ensure clean drinking water for the future, reduce flooding and erosion, preserve wildlife habitats, and improve and expand swimming, hiking, fishing and other recreational opportunities for the community," Gardner said.
However, Gardner said, the report also recognizes that economic development needs to continue in the County, and should in no way be viewed as a plan to slow or halt growth.
"It is important that we balance environmental protection and natural resource conservation with our need for continued economic development to meet the demands of growth and maintain our economic vitality in the region," he said. "These recommendations are solid and well-researched, and I believe they will help us accomplish all of our goals."
Working with the consulting firm CH2MHILL, the task force first completed an in-depth assessment of current conditions of the County's 81 watersheds, rating them as healthy (30); impacted (38), meaning that sediment or other runoff is threatening the stream's health; and degraded (13). The report concludes that sediment is the primary cause of degradation in most Wake County streams. The sediment comes from construction site runoff and streambank erosion caused by larger volumes of water running off developing areas.
Watersheds are areas that drain to a body of water, such as a stream, river or lake. They serve as drinking water supplies, recreation sites and habitat for wildlife.
The task force reached consensus on 23 recommendations in several categories, including buffers, floodplain protection, conservation subdivisions and open space conservation. Some highlights of those recommendations are:
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Require 100-foot stream buffers on perennial streams within priority watersheds, and 50-foot buffers in other watersheds. These are strips of trees, grass or shrubs along river and stream banks. Buffers help protect streams from runoff and temperature changes, and provide a source of organic material for stream aquatic life.
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Allow no development or filling in the 100-year floodplain with the exception of utilities and infrastructure.
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Allow and encourage conservation subdivisions, which preserve large tracts of open space within new subdivisions.
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If municipal water and sewer are available to a site, a minimum of 30 percent open space should be preserved to qualify as a conservation subdivision.
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Use incentives to help meet targets for less impervious surfaces in priority watersheds. Impervious surfaces, such as pavement and rooftops, keep water from soaking into the soil, creating more stornwater runoff.
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Better educate homeowners about well and septic system maintenance.
"It is apparent that growth and development will continue to drive land use changes in Wake County," Gardner said. "I hope that we are able to move forward with this plan, which allow us to take positive steps to protect one of the most critical aspects of our environment. I appreciate the time and energy of the task force members, and their commitment to this important issue."
The Task Force: The 24-member task force includes representatives from the County's 12 municipalities, the Open Space Advisory Committee, the Human Services Board and the Soil and Water Conservation District Board, along with eight members appointed at large.
In addition to Gardner, the Watershed Management Task Force members are: