20190288 Ver 1_Dam Discharge Permit Notice and Questions_20200610

Strickland, Bev
From: Daniel Davis <[e-mail]>
Sent: Wednesday, June 10, 2020 12:55 PM
To: Homewood, Sue
Subject: [External] Town of Beech Mountain Dam Discharge Permit
Attachments: TOBM Dam Discharge Permit Notice and Questions.docx
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As we discussed on the phone this morning, please see the attached letter. Thank you for you help and working with us
in this.
Daniel Davis
Utilities Superintendent
510 Beech Mountain Pkwy.
Beech Mtn, NC, 28604
BMUS(@TownofBeechMountain.com
Office 828-387-9282
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MOUNTAIN
N O R T H C A R O L I N A
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RE: Buckeye Reservoir
Water Quality Certification #1756
Dear Ms. Homewood:
Thank you for taking my call today regarding the Town of Beech Mountain's present situation pertaining
to the minimum release at our Buckeye Lake impoundment. As we discussed, the USGS gage
downstream of the dam (Site #0347927164) has recently been updated to include the streamflow in
cubic feet per second (CFS). Previously the site only reported the water level. As of June 8t" the site
showed a mean discharge of 1.55 CFS. This is getting very close to the minimum release of 1.26 CFS
required by Condition #1 of the 401 Water Quality Certification. Furthermore, the trend over the last
few weeks has been a steady decline in streamflow. This is somewhat due to an increase in withdrawal
rates to meet water system demand, but it is mainly due to a decline in upstream flow. The USGS gage
upstream of the reservoir (Site #0347927162) has been trending down since late May and is now
flowing only slightly above the minimum of 1.26 CFS. Therefore, we wanted to notify the Division of
Water Resources that the impoundment may soon be out of compliance with Condition #1 of the
Certification. We are attempting to prevent non-compliance, but the circumstances indicate non-
compliance may be unavoidable.
We also wanted to get some clarification on the method of monitoring and responding to the minimum
release as indicated by the downstream gage. We are daily adjusting the water plant intake rate to
attempt to meet the minimum release. If we look back one day at the 24-hour mean flow and adjust the
intake rate accordingly, do you consider that a proper method of following Condition #1? From an
operations standpoint, it is not practical to make adjustments every hour.
As we discussed today, I understand that the Division only needs notification when major changes take
place, since we expect the minimum release to frequently cycle between compliance and non-
compliance throughout the summer. This will be affected by rainfall and water system demand. We will
also begin implementing Stage 1 water use reductions even though water is still flowing over the
spillway. Please let me know if you need to be notified when we implement further stages of our Water
Shortage Response Plan.
Please know that the Town of Beech Mountain is actively pursuing alternative water sources so that the
impact of water withdrawal from Buckeye Creek can be lessened. This includes the drilling of wells at
three sites that were recently approved by DWR. Furthermore, we are replacing old water mains and
services to reduce system losses. Approximately 2,400 linear feet of mains have been replaced so far
this year (of 16,500 feet scheduled to be replaced by July 2021).
Thank you for assisting the Town as we face the challenge of lower stream flows in Buckeye Creek. I look
forward to receiving clarifications and any guidance you can offer.
Sincerely,
Daniel Davis, Utilities Superintendent