Water Resource Management in North Carolina September 26, 2008 Mitch Peele Sr. Director of Public Policy NC Farm Bureau

Presentation Overview  Overview of what is currently required  Statements concerning ag water use  Summary of Governor’s drought bill  Reporting of agriculture water use  What’s on the horizon

Overview of Water Regulation  Existing laws and regulations Water use act (1967) Water use registration (1968) Water transfers CCPCUA rule (2001) HB 1215 (2002) HB 820 (2007) Water Conservation Rule (2007 – “drought rule”) State Water Supply Plan Countless local ordinances Governor’s Drought Bill (2008)

Statewide Requirements  Reporting of water use for farmers using 1 mg/d  Updated annually  Permitting required for anyone who transfers 2 mg/d from one river basin to another

CCPCUA Rule  Permitting for GW users of 100,000 g/d  Requires reductions  Reporting of all users of 10,000 g/d Farmers can report to NCDA&CS Individual farm data is confidential

Water Allocation Study  Authorized by HB 820, directed by ERC  Initially just IBT’s  All water issues  Expected to include numerous recommendations More interconnections, more reporting, sharing, reuse, all water is the same, possible revisiting of riparian rights.  Study extended to 2009

Water Conservation Rule as required in H1215  Requires farmers using 1 mg/d to develop and implement water conservation plan during drought

2007/2008 Drought increases public discussion of water users

Statements Concerning Agricultural Water Use  Ag is a big water user  The state has little to no data on ag water use  We should lower the reporting threshold for ag  We should require more frequent reporting  We should require meters  Private wells should be regulated  All water is the same

Governor’s Drought Bill Initial Draft  Lower threshold for reporting ag water use  Local governments could regulate water use from private wells  Metering on private wells  Green industry not considered essential use  DENR to develop water efficiency guidelines w/o input from NCSU Prospects for a favorable outcome seemed remote!

Governor’s Drought Bill Final Version  Reporting threshold for ag remained at 1 mg/d  Green industry considered essential  Gray water allowed  No government is authorized to regulate water use from private wells  No meters required for private wells  DENR must consult with NCSU when developing water efficiency guidelines

Reporting Ag Water Use  Bill calls for annual surveys of farms conducted through NASS  Participation is voluntary  Individual farm data is confidential  Participants can use reports as evidence of historic use

Farmers Should Participate in Survey  It will prove our case  It will give the state what they need  It will provide confidential protection  It will build history of water use on your farm

What is on the Horizon  Report/recommendations in Water Allocation Study Revisiting of water rights Statewide permitting Metering Regulation of private wells Declare “public policy priorities”  More users will be subject to law suits  Water wars could result if drought continues  Continued demands on water will compound problems

Questions? Thank you!