Below is information on the new Jordan Lake Rules from the State of North Carolina Department of Environment' and Natural Resources (NCDENR) and its Division of Water Quality (DWQ), including actions that Chatham County is undertaking to comply with the rules. The state rules are intended to protect the quality of water in the lake. 

• Click here to view the Session Laws, Rules and other information adopted by the State of North Carolina.
• Click here for frequently asked questions and answers

STAGE 1

Stage 1 requires local governments in the Jordan Lake Watershed to implement a stormwater program with the following minimum elements:

1. Program to identify opportunities for retrofitting with BMPs (best management practices) Click here to view BMP Opportunities Table 
2. Program to identify and remove illegal discharges 
3. Program to provide public education 
4. Program to inspect and maintain structural BMPs

INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT:  Click here to view the signed interlocal agreement.For both program and cost efficiencies, Chatham County and the Town of Pittsboro signed an interlocal agreement to jointly meet the minimum requirements of the Jordan Lake Rules.  The plan has been approved by DWQ.

• Click here to view Table 1: Illicit Discharge and Elimination
• Click here to view Table 2: Best Management Practice (BMP) Inspection and Maintenance
• Click here to view Table 3: List of streams in the Jordan Lake Watershed
• Click here to review the plan components in more detail . 
• Click here to view the cover letter from Chatham County. 
• Click here to view Chatham County’s application form submitted to the state. 
• Click here to view the Town of Pittsboro’s application form submitted to the state

RIPARIAN BUFFER (WATERSHED) RULES 

The county’s Watershed Protection Ordinance and Watershed Protection Map was amended, approved by DWQ and the N.C. Environmental Management Commission (EMC), and adopted by the Chatham County Board of Commissioner’s on Nov. 15, 2010 to meet new state regulations to protect Jordan Lake.  

• Watershed Protection Ordinance (includes stream buffer rules)
• Click here to view watershed protection map for Chatham County

• Several streams in Chatham County and Pittsboro are subject to the new state rules. Click here to view the list of streams.

STORMWATER PROGRAM

The Jordan Lake Rules requires local government to establish a Stormwater Program and Ordinance that at least meets the minimum rules. Chatham County has an effective countywide Stormwater Ordinance (adopted in 2008) that will have to be amended and submitted to DWQ by June, 2011 for review. Click here to view the existing ordinance, revised in 2009.  DWQ has provided local government with a model program and model ordinance for use in establishing the minimum rules for stormwater requirements in the Jordan Lake Watershed.

Click here to review an update on the stormwater ordinance amendment process, including key issues that must be addressed to meet requirements of the Jordan Lake Rules.

STAGE 2

The N.C. Division of Water Quality will monitor water quality over the next several years and make recommendations to the Environmental Management Commission, as dictated by the monitoring results. In addition, DWQ's appointed Scientific Advisory Board will be developing recommendations for DWQ related to nutrient loading allocations to local governments related to existing development and will provide other recommendations as required by the rules. Chatham County’s Environmental Resources Director serves as a member of this board.

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