Secondary and Cumulative Impacts Master Management Plan - 2014

APPENDIX B – WAKE COUNTY PROGRAMS TO MITIGATE SECONDARY AND CUMULATIVE IMPACTS

As part of its erosion and sediment control program, the County does not allow land- disturbing activity near a lake or natural watercourse within the 50-foot-wide undisturbed buffer. In addition, all sediment and erosion control measures must be within the limits of disturbance, remaining outside the undisturbed buffer. The possibilities for phased construction are reviewed in the sediment and erosion control plan submittal process on a site-specific basis. Site conditions, topography, soils, and type of construction determine the size of the phases. Wake County requires land- disturbing activities to be planned and conducted to limit exposure consistent with the most up to date NCDENR stabilization timeframes. Soils are stabilized as rapidly as possible by establishing a grass cover or mulching and tacking. The County requires the identification of especially vulnerable areas in the development plan, and these areas receive special attention in the permit, plan approval, and inspection processes. Those projects deemed high risk for sediment and erosion control concerns, such as projects with steep slopes or water courses, receive more frequent inspections. Steep slope areas are discussed in a pre-construction conference and avoided to the maximum extent possible. The County allows steep slopes to be used as conservation areas or to meet buffer requirements. The County also encourages contractor education and training related to erosion and sediment control. The purpose of this educational program is to ensure that contractors understand the erosion and sediment control requirements and work to minimize the potential for sedimentation. B.8 Stormwater Programs and Impervious Surface Limitations Wake County is unique in that it has its own volume control SW ordinance and is subject to three state nutrient management strategies in addition to the Swift Creek Land Management Plan. Wake County administers its own stormwater ordinance for unincorporated areas of Wake County in addition to a different urban stormwater ordinance for three municipalities in eastern Wake County. For the unincorporated areas, Wake County uses a volume-control stormwater ordinance with Target Curve Number (TCN) runoff volume limits for residential development. Both residential and commercial developments adhere to The Neuse Rules stormwater requirements for peak flow, nutrient management, and riparian buffer rules. Wake County also adopted the Neuse regulations countywide (including within the Cape Fear Basin). In 2012, Article 9, Part 2 of their UDO was amended to incorporate, by reference, the State mandated stormwater rules for new development for the Falls Lake and Jordan Lake Nutrient Management Strategies. The County has developed stormwater management programs that address the adverse effects of stormwater runoff associated with new development as well as limit nutrient enrichment in the Jordan Lake and the Neuse River Nutrient Sensitive Waters (NSW) rules.

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