Background
Effective July 2, 2012
Both Falls Lake and Jordan Lake are considered polluted due to excessive nutrient inputs, and stormwater runoff is one of the major sources. As a result, both lakes have been designated as Nutrient Sensitive Waters (NSW) by the North Carolina Division of Water Quality (DWQ). The Falls Lake and Jordan Lake rules passed by the State require local governments to adopt stormwater standards for new development. On July 2, 2012, the Wake County Board of Commissioners approved a UDO Amendment, OA-03-12, State-mandated stormwater rules for new development in the Falls Lake and Jordan basins.
Nutrient Standards
Stormwater runoff from new development in Jordan and Falls Lake must meet both nitrogen and phosphorus limits. Nutrient reduction requirements for the Falls Lake and Jordan Lake watersheds differ slightly. Nitrogen and phosphorus limits are different depending on which watershed the development is located. The following table differentiates nutrient loading requirements by nutrient management strategy. Jordan Lake Watershed is divided into two regulatory jurisdictions – Upper New Hope (UNH) and Lower New Hope (LNH). View a map of these two jurisdictions.
Existing versus New Standards for New Development in Wake County
| Standard | Wake County | Existing Neuse NMS* | New Falls Lake NMS | New Jordan Lake NMS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Nitrogen Export Limit lbs/ac/yr |
N/A | 3.6 | 2.2 | 2.2 (UNH) 4.4 (LNH) |
|
Phosphorus Export Limit lbs/ac/yr |
N/A | N/A | .33 |
0.82 (UNH) 0.78 (LNH) |
|
Stormwater Management Land Disturbance Threshold |
Residential = All Regular Subdivisions and Minor Subdivisions>15% Impervious Nonresidential = 1/2-Acre |
Residential = 1 Acre Non-residential = 1/2-Acre |
Residential = 1/2-Acre Non-residential = 12,000 SF |
Residential = 1 Acre
Non-residential = 1/2-Acre |
* The Neuse Rules are currently applied county-wide. All developments must meet state, local and federal regulations. If these regulations are inconsistent, the more restrictive standard governs.
Nutrient Offset Process
[N.C. Dept. of Environmental Quality (NC DEQ) website]
Also visit NC DEQ's websites: