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Home My WebLink AboutTom_Fransen_Basin_ManagementWater Resources 101Water Resources 101 River Basin ManagementRiver Basin Management Tom FransenTom Fransen River Basin Management SectionRiver Basin Management Section March 5, 2008March 5, 2008 Does North Carolina have an adequate water supply?Does North Carolina have an adequate water supply? Water Supply StrategyWater Supply Strategy Physical Data •Streamflow •Ground Water Levels •Weather •Reservoir Operations Physical Data •Streamflow •Ground Water Levels •Weather •Reservoir Operations Water Use Data •Public Water Systems •Industrial •Agricultural •Commercial Water Use Data •Public Water Systems •Industrial •Agricultural •Commercial Instreamflow requirements for the protection of the aquatic habitat and water quality. Instreamflow requirements for the protection of the aquatic habitat and water quality. Drought management tool. Drought management tool. Basis for regulatory and policy decisions. Basis for regulatory and policy decisions. Quantitative framework for planning water supply projects. Quantitative framework for planning water supply projects. River Basin Water Supply Plans •50-Year Water Use Projections •River Basin Water Balance Model River Basin Water Supply Plans •50-Year Water Use Projections •River Basin Water Balance Model River Basin Water Supply PlansRiver Basin Water Supply Plans ¾¾““The river basin is widely acknowledged to be the The river basin is widely acknowledged to be the most appropriate unit area for water resource most appropriate unit area for water resource planning and development because it is a natural, planning and development because it is a natural, specifically limited area that acts as a unique specifically limited area that acts as a unique hydrologic system.hydrologic system.”” Margaret S. Peterson, Margaret S. Peterson, Hydraulic Engineer, US Army, Corps of Engineers, retiredHydraulic Engineer, US Army, Corps of Engineers, retired in Water Resource Planning and Developmentin Water Resource Planning and Development Why the Basin Approach? DENR Strategic PlanDENR Strategic Plan ¾¾Strategic Direction 3 Strategic Direction 3 ––River Basin River Basin ManagementManagement In each of the stateIn each of the state ’’s 17 major river basins, s 17 major river basins, use river basin planning and management use river basin planning and management as the framework for protection of water as the framework for protection of water quality, development of safe and reliable quality, development of safe and reliable drinking water supplies, and the drinking water supplies, and the conservation and enhancement of natural conservation and enhancement of natural resources.resources. One of DENROne of DENR ’’s Strategic Objectives fors Strategic Objectives for MANAGING RIVER BASINS FOR MULTIPLE BENEFITSMANAGING RIVER BASINS FOR MULTIPLE BENEFITS One of the Objectives Develop 50-year river basin water supply plans in partnership with local governments and other water users, to guide the development of local and regional water supply projects to meet each basin’s future water supply needs. Over time, transition local water supply plans onto the same schedule as the plan for the river basin in which the water system is located. Model SchematicModel Schematic Model InputModel Input Irrigation InputIrrigation Input Model BenefitsModel Benefits ¾¾Determine the impacts of either new or Determine the impacts of either new or increases in existing water withdrawals or increases in existing water withdrawals or wastewater discharges.wastewater discharges. ¾¾Provide a scientifically defensible means of Provide a scientifically defensible means of generating daily stream flows for ungaged generating daily stream flows for ungaged stream segments.stream segments. ¾¾Develop safe yield estimates for runDevelop safe yield estimates for run--ofof--thethe-- river intakes and water supply impoundments.river intakes and water supply impoundments. ¾¾Develop and test drought management plans.Develop and test drought management plans. Basin Planning AdvantagesBasin Planning Advantages ¾¾Projections of long range water needsProjections of long range water needs ¾¾Estimates of future wastewater treatment Estimates of future wastewater treatment needsneeds ¾¾Identifies potential supply problems Identifies potential supply problems zz due to growth or droughtdue to growth or drought ¾¾Guidance for regionalization and investmentsGuidance for regionalization and investments ¾¾Ability of resource to meet future needsAbility of resource to meet future needs ¾¾Water quantity evaluated on river basin scale Water quantity evaluated on river basin scale like water qualitylike water quality River Basin CoordinationRiver Basin Coordination ¾¾LongLong--Range PlanningRange Planning ¾¾ShortShort--Term Drought ResponseTerm Drought Response Regulation of Surface Water Regulation of Surface Water TransfersTransfers What is the law and how does it What is the law and how does it impact water use?impact water use? What is an Interbasin What is an Interbasin Transfer?Transfer? An interbasin transfer is the movement of surface water from one river basin into another. The purpose of the Interbasin Transfer Law is to take a pause to be sure it is good public policy before moving water from one river basin into another. The Interbasin Transfer Law does NOT prohibit transfers. The image most people have when they think The image most people have when they think about interbasin transfer.about interbasin transfer. The NC reality.The NC reality. What is Regulation of Surface Water What is Regulation of Surface Water Transfers?Transfers? •An Environmental Permit? •Pseudo-Rule Making? •A planning process? •Pseudo-Property Right? z Effective January 1994 (Modified in 1997, 1998, & 2007) z EMC certification required for: z New transfers of 2 MGD or more (maximum daily demand) z Increase in transfer capacity of facilities that existed or under construction on 7/1/1993 z Sound basis for evaluating transfer requests z Three certifications issued since enacted z 1998 Greensboro Emergency Certification (never used) z July 2001 - Cary/Apex/Morrisville/Wake County (for RTP South) z March 2002 - Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities z January 2007 - Concord/Kannapolis North Carolina Statute G.S. 143-215.22G & G.S. 143.215.22I North Carolina Administrative Code Section T15A:02G.0400 Regulation of Surface Water TransfersRegulation of Surface Water Transfers Interbasin Transfer Basin DefinitionsInterbasin Transfer Basin Definitions ImpactsImpacts ¾¾Higher Costs Higher Costs ––How Much?How Much? zz Potentially higher cost alternatives.Potentially higher cost alternatives. ¾¾Better DocumentationBetter Documentation zz Local Water Supply PlansLocal Water Supply Plans zz Determination of grandfathered capacityDetermination of grandfathered capacity ¾¾Permit ProcessPermit Process zz Coordination with other agenciesCoordination with other agencies zz SEPASEPA zz More time and costMore time and cost ¾¾Compliance MonitoringCompliance Monitoring zz Reporting of waterReporting of water--use and wastewater informationuse and wastewater information ••Modified billing system to include basin informationModified billing system to include basin information Questions?Questions?