Fight to Sink Jordan Lake Rules

Efforts to clean up the Jordan Lake may stall if a bill becomes law.

North Carolina State Senate Bill 515 puts a three-year-hold on  a full-scale cleanup plan of Jordan Lake in Chatham County. The man-made reservoir covers almost 14,000 acres and has a 180 mile shore line. It also is the primary water source for 300,000 residents in Durham, Wake and Chatham Counties.

According to Federal clean water standards, the lake is impaired because it has an abundance of chlorophyll which produces algae. Pollutants and nutrients from land development and asphalt runoff are causing the chlorophyll buildup.  


In 2007, the Jordan Lake Rules were passed. This is a nutrient management strategy designed to reduce the amount of pollution entering upstream. But only some parts of the plan have been implemented.
Conservationist Brian Buzby believes delays in cleaning Jordan Lake could have a negative impact on state businesses. “There are a growing number of businesses in North Carolina where their business model is predicated on the brand of North Carolina with clean air, clean water and so business leaders realize a strong economy and a clean environment go hand in hand,” says Buzby.

But according to Tom Reeder, these rules are expensive for municipalities. “Estimates of $1 billion to $2 billion in the implementation of the total rule packet,” explains Reeder. He is director of North Carolina Division of Water Resources. Reeder agrees with state politicians in delaying the Jordan Lake Rules in order to test new technology. “Theses are devices that constantly move the water in the lake," says Reeder. "Let's see if that can reduce the development of chlorophyll in the lake along with using water shed controls listed in the Jordan Lake Rules. If it does work, we can save the state hundreds of millions of dollars and still get at the end game, no chlorophyll and less algae in Jordan Lake.” Reeder estimates this new technology would cost around a $1.5 million. He also says there is no danger to residents. According to Reeder,  water treatment plants are able to clean water taken from the Jordan Lake to make it safe for public use.

However many state conservationists are concerned. Brian Buzby is executive director of North Carolina Conservation Network. He fears delaying the full implementation of the Jordan Lake Rules may put the state at odds with the federal clean water act. “It exposes the upstream municipalities to legal challenges for failure to comply with the environmental agency's federal designations.”

But Reeder disagrees. “We've assured EPA that we intend to continue to comply with the requirements to clean the lake," says Reeder. "They also understand we're looking for a less costly way by implementing this pilot study with this in-lake technology. And they understand once we conclude this pilot study, we're either going to begin the implementation of the Jordan Rules package as it is written today or we're going to revise it to clean up Jordan Lake.”

Governor Pat McCrory has until midnight, August 25th to veto the bill, sign it into law or let it automatically become law without his signature.