In August 2009, the North Carolina General Assembly passed the Jordan Lake Nutrient Management Strategy, commonly known as the Jordan Lake Rules. The rules mandate reducing pollution from wastewater discharges, stormwater runoff, agriculture and fertilizer application in both new and existing development within the Jordan Lake watershed. New buffer (streamside vegetation) requirements will affect how property owners maintain and develop their land.

All waterways in Chapel Hill and its planning jurisdiction flow into the Upper New Hope Arm of Jordan Lake. This area of the lake experiences frequent algal blooms due to overloads of nitrogen and phosphorous. The algal blooms can cause taste and odor problems in drinking water, kill or stress aquatic life, and can release toxins into the water. Riparian buffers are important in providing vegetation to filter stormwater runoff and to stabilize streambanks. They reduce erosion and sedimentation and the corresponding pollutants that flow into streams and the lake.

NEW DEVELOPMENT REQUIREMENTS
A text amendment was approved on October 24, 2012 adding Section 5.19 - Jordan Watershed Stormwater Management for New Development to the LUMO.  The effective date is December 1, 2012.

JORDAN LAKE RIPARIAN BUFFER RULES

• Staff memo regarding adoption of LUMO amendment
• LUMO Amendment Section 5.18
• Summary: Jordan Lake Buffer Rules PowerPoint

        Development/Planning forms for Jordan Lake buffer rules:   

• Request for Stream Determination
• Jordan Watershed Riparian Buffer Authorization Application (pdf)   Application (Word)
• Jordan Watershed Riparian Buffer Notice of Exemption (Word document); PDF version
• Nutrient reporting form to Town of Chapel Hill for approval prior to payment of the nutrient offset payment

JORDAN LAKE: GENERAL INFORMATION

• Jordan Lake  (NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources) 
• "The Jordan Rules" by John Manuel (Wildlife in North Carolina Magazine, August 2010)
• Jordan Lake Watershed
• Summary of Jordan Lake Rules by Elon University

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