Petition for an Independent Jordan Lake Survey

To:  The NC Division of Water Quality and Durham elected officials (Board of County Commissioners and City Council)

With regard to Neal Hunter's private survey of Jordan Lake, which was accepted by the NC Division of Water Quality (DWQ) on Feb 6, 2009:

We question how DWQ can accept the inadequate data of this private, development funded survey, which will result in less protection for Jordan Lake from development runoff, while they (DWQ) are pushing the Jordan Lake Nutrient Rules.

Though from a licensed surveyor, this survey was paid for and provided by a private development team which hopes to develop the land in question. Thus, this developer-provided survey is clearly a conflict of interest.

In addition, this survey contains grossly inadequate sampling points (as evidenced by the thousands of feet between them).

Furthermore, there is a precedent set by Durham county in the Falls Lake watershed whereby a developer privately surveyed Falls Lake, and the county ruled that they should hire an independent surveyor to survey the entire shoreline that fell within Durham County. Jordan Lake should receive no worse treatment.

The Engineering Department, The County Manager, the County Planning Director and the County Attorney recommended that Durham provide its own, independent survey of the Jordan Lake normal pool boundary, and two county commissioners voted to do so (agenda item = Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 09BCC000034).

Unfortunately, the rest of the 2008 board did not see their civic duty to provide an independent and accurate survey in the interest of Durham citizens and the long-term viability of their waterways and water supply.

Jordan Lake is already critically impaired and has been in violation of the Federal Clean Water Act for years. It is estimated that Durham will already spend $300 - 600 million just to begin cleaning up Jordan Lake (Jim Wise, News and Observer, 24 Jan 2009). In addition, Durham has already appropriated $129,000 for legal fees to fight regulations to clean up Jordan Lake (same source). Yet they will not spend $90,000 to ensure that we don't further damage this important water resource.

We, the citizens of Durham and NC, petition the 2009 Board of County Commissioners, the DWQ, and all Durham elected officials to act in the interest of ALL their constituents by ensuring an independent and thorough survey for the protection of Jordan Lake.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

The Petition for an Independent Jordan Lake Survey Petition to The NC Division of Water Quality and Durham elected officials (Board of County Commissioners and City Council) was created by and written by Melissa Rooney (mmr121570@yahoo.com).  This petition is hosted here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service. There is no endorsement of this petition, express or implied, by Artifice, Inc. or our sponsors. For technical support please use our simple Petition Help form.