North Carolina Administrative Code › Title 15A - Environmental Quality › Chapter 02 - Environmental Management › Subchapter B - SURFACE WATER AND WETLAND STANDARDS › Section .0700 - NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT STRATEGY RULES FOR SURFACE WATERS › Section 02B .0724 - RANDLEMAN LAKE WATER SUPPLY WATERSHED: PROTECTION AND MAINTENANCE OF EXISTING RIPARIAN BUFFERS

Current through Register Vol. 39, No. 2, July 15, 2024
Protection of the pollutant removal and other water quality
					 services provided by riparian buffers throughout the watershed is an important
					 element of the overall Randleman Lake water supply pollutant strategy. The
					 following is the management strategy for maintaining and protecting riparian
					 areas in the Randleman Lake watershed:
(1) PURPOSE. The purposes of this Rule shall
				  be for the local governments listed in this Rule, and in certain cases stated
				  in this Rule the Division, to maintain and protect existing riparian buffers
				  throughout the Randleman Lake watershed as generally described in this Rule, in
				  order to maintain their nutrient removal and stream protection functions.
				  Additionally, this Rule will help protect the water supply uses of Randleman
				  Lake and of designated water supplies throughout the Randleman Lake water
				  supply watershed. Terms used in this Rule shall be as defined in Rule .0610 of
				  this Subchapter.
(2) APPLICABILITY.
				  This Rule shall apply to landowners and other persons including local
				  governments, state and federal entities conducting activities within the
				  riparian buffers as described in Item (3) of this Rule in the Randleman Lake
				  watershed.
(3) BUFFERS PROTECTED.
				  The following minimum criteria shall be used for identifying regulated riparian
				  buffers:
(a) A surface water shall be subject
				  to this Rule if the feature is approximately shown on any of the following
				  references, or if there is other site specific evidence that indicates to the
				  Authority the presence of waters not shown on any of these references:
(i) The United States Geological Survey's
				  (USGS) National Map, available online at:
https://www.usgs.gov/core-science-systems/national-geospatial-program/national-map
;
(ii) The most recent version of the published
				  manuscript of the soil survey map that shows stream layers prepared by the
				  Natural Resource Conservation Service of the United States Department of
				  Agriculture; or
(iii) Other maps
				  approved by the Environmental Management Commission as more accurate than those
				  identified in Sub-Item (3)(a)(i) and (3)(a)(ii) of this Rule. Other maps shall
				  use a hydrography dataset developed using hydrography specifications and
				  standard metadata approved by the Geographic Information Coordinating Council
				  (GICC) and maintained on a GICC list of the best available hydrography. Edits,
				  deletions and additions to the hydrography dataset shall follow GICC approved
				  standards and specifications, per stewardship governance. Other maps shall have
				  their hydrography dataset and procedures for edits, deletions and additions
				  reviewed and approved by the GICC. Other maps shall be submitted to the
				  Division for review and recommendation to the Environmental Management
				  Commission. Prior to recommendation to the Environmental Management Commission,
				  the Division shall issue a 30-day public notice through the Division's Mailing
				  List in accordance with
				  15A NCAC
				  02H .0503. Division staff shall present
				  recommendations including comments received during the public notice period to
				  the Environmental Management Commission for a final decision. Maps approved
				  under this Sub-Item shall not apply to projects that are existing and ongoing
				  within the meaning of this Rule as set out in Item (6) of this Rule;