[Durham INC] Jordan Lake Rules impact on City

[Ken Gasch]

Jordan Lake Rules impact on CityI agree.  These rules are crazy.

That said, it seems to me like part of the solution is for folks to stop
obsessing about their yards and stop dumping tons fertilizer on them.

I refuse to water my lawn.  I see it as wasteful.  I also refuse to
fertilize my yard.

As far as my yard is concerned, I believe in survival of the fittest.  If
whatever greenery is growing in my yard can't grow naturally, then I want it
to die.  Die!

A few months back, my wife handed me a New Yorker that had an article about
how bizarre America's obsession with lush green turf actually is.  It talked
about the wasted water.  It talked about the harmful effects of run-off.
The article went on to describe what is called a "freedom lawn."  These lawn
are comprised of whatever will grow.  I was being trendy without even
knowing it.

Ken Gasch



  -----Original Message-----
  From: inc-list-bounces at rtpnet.org [mailto:inc-list-bounces at rtpnet.org]On
Behalf Of Westbrook, Vicki
  Sent: Friday, January 30, 2009 5:46 PM
  To: inc-list at rtpnet.org
  Subject: [Durham INC] Jordan Lake Rules impact on City


  Could you please post the following regarding the NC Bill to Disapprove
Jordan Nutrient Strategy Rules?


  We would encourage Durham citizens to carefully investigate all impacts on
our community before taking a position on the Jordan Lake Nutrient
Management Rules.  We in City government take our roles as responsible
environmentalists quite seriously and there are other City and County
leaders (also environmentalists) who oppose portions of these Rules, those
portions that are viewed as unnecessary, unfair, and not based on good
science.  The "existing development" rule will lead to huge stormwater rate
increases of hundreds of dollars in Durham that will hit average citizens
very hard.  Durham's leaders have carefully evaluated these Rules and are
supporting some of the rules but rejecting others.  For example,
restrictions on new development (the most expensive in the state) are
supported - but rules that could require citizens to fund hundreds of
millions of dollars of stormwater treatment devices for existing, older
development are being rejected. We also support moving the implementation
date for the rules that impact wastewater discharges by two years so that
adequate optimization and design work can be done; with construction
completed by the initially agreed upon date of 2016.   It is important to
not have a knee-jerk reaction to these rules.  All of us care about Durham
and want to improve downtown and attract good development without imposing
extremely burdensome stormwater and wastewater utility fees on our citizens.


  Vicki Westbrook, Deputy Director

  Administration & Operations

  City of Durham, Dept. of Water Management

  101 City Hall Plaza

  Phone:  (919) 560-4381, x 266

  FAX:     (919) 560-4479



  There are a number of ways to save water, and they all start with you.
Water - Use it Wisely!

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