Jordan Lake
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B. Everett Jordan Lake is a reservoir in New Hope Valley, west of Cary and south of Durham in Chatham County, North Carolina, in the United States; the northernmost end of the lake extends into southwestern Durham County.
Part of the Jordan Lake State Recreation Area,<ref name="UACE brochure"/> the reservoir covers Template:Convert with a shoreline of Template:Convert at its standard water level of Template:Convert above sea level. Empounded in 1974, it was developed as part of a flood control project prompted by a particularly damaging tropical storm that hit the region downstream in September 1945. Constructed at an original cost of US$146,300,000, it is owned and operated by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, which dammed and flooded the Haw River and New Hope River between 1973 and 1983.
Construction
The Jordan Lake Dam (also known as the B. Everett Jordan Project and the New Hope Dam) is located at Template:Coord Template:Convert upstream from the mouth of the Haw River in the upper Cape Fear River drainage basin. Completed in 1974 by the Nello L. Teer Company, it is Template:Convert in length and has a top elevation of Template:Convert above mean sea level.<ref name="UACE brochure"/>
During the construction of the reservoir, much of the area was permanently changed. The Durham and South Carolina Railroad was relocated from the New Hope basin to higher ground but its stations were not rebuilt, and the line itself was soon abandoned.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Many farming families were relocated as the project was developed and several roads in eastern Chatham County were either rerouted or taken out of commission completely. Some of the roads were never demolished, but simply allowed to flood over. When the lake is at low water volume, many of these roads can still be seen and some have even been utilized for makeshift boat ramps.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Originally authorized in 1963 as the New Hope Lake Project, the reservoir was renamed in 1974 in memory of B. Everett Jordan, former US Senator from North Carolina.
Water supply
Jordan Lake serves as a major water supply for central North Carolina. Allocations made in Round 4 total 95.9% of the water supply pool. Governmental units allocated water from Jordan Lake in Round 4 (approved by the NC EMC on March 9, 2017) include the system jointly operated by Towns of Cary and Apex, which also serves Morrisville and the Wake County portion of Research Triangle Park (46.2%); Chatham County North (13%); City of Durham (16.5%); Town of Holly Springs (2%); Orange County (1.5%); Orange Water & Sewer Authority (5%); City of Raleigh (4.7%); Town of Pittsboro (6%).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> However, in 2019, following the fourth round of allocations the City of Raleigh relinquished its 4.7% water supply pool allocation. As such it is expected that the remaining unallocated portion of the water supply pool is 8.8%.
Previously, allocations made in 2002 totalled 63 mgd (1% is often assumed to be equal to 1 mgd, but allocations are officially by percentage of the total water supply pool). Governmental units allocated water from Jordan Lake at that time were the Towns of Cary and Apex (32 mgd), Chatham County (6 mgd), City of Durham (10 mgd), Town of Holly Springs (2 mgd), Town of Morrisville (3.5 mgd), Orange County (1 mgd), Orange Water & Sewer Authority (5 mgd), and Wake County - RTP South (3.5 mgd).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>NCDENR DWR Current Allocations</ref>
Water quality
Jordan Lake was declared as nutrient-sensitive waters (NSW) by the North Carolina Environmental Management Commission from 1983, the year it was impounded. The lake is eutrophic or hyper-eutrophic owing to excessive nutrient levels.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Requirements of the federal Clean Water Act were triggered when the lake became impaired, including the need to set load reduction limits for point and nonpoint sources and enforce discharge limits.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The Jordan Lake Rules are designed to improve water quality in the lake. The rules were developed with extensive meetings, public hearings and negotiations between residents, environmental groups, local and state government agencies and other stakeholders. The rules mandate reducing pollution from wastewater discharges, stormwater runoff from new and existing development, agriculture and fertilizer application.<ref>NCDENR DWR Jordan Lake Rules</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
From July 2011 several NC laws have been passed delaying and weakening the rules, culminating in a plan to deploy floating arrays of in-lake circulators intended to reduce harmful algae and excessive chlorophyll.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Using Circulators to Control Wastewater Pond Odors</ref> However, they proved ineffective in a testing program and were removed in 2016.
On December 21, 2017, researchers at Duke University have discovered elevated levels of several perfluorinated compounds an unregulated family of industrial chemicals including some that can raise cancer risks in Jordan Lake and drinking water treated by the town of Cary. Cary water treatment officials, who have independently confirmed the findings of Duke researchers, say the town's water is safe to drink. They also point out that the compounds detected are still below health advisory levels set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Testing still continues as of March 8, 2018.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Recreational use
Swimming and boating are permitted in the lake. Fishing is also permitted in certain spots. Template:-
Shoreline trash cleanup
Bald eagle habitat being endangered by trash submerged by the lake's creation spurred volunteer efforts to clean up the shoreline and other sensitive areas.<ref>News & Observer: Debris clogs Jordan Lake's coves Template:Webarchive</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2009 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers worked with local activists to establish Clean Jordan Lake, a nonprofit "friends of the lake" group.<ref>cleanjordanlake.org</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Volunteer cleanups aided by the Corps of Engineers began in 2010.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>NBC 17: Volunteers Wanted To Clean Up Jordan Lake</ref> Since then, Clean Jordan Lake has organized over 300 community service cleanups, formed the Adopt-A-Shoreline Program that comprises 19 groups that clean habitually littered areas three times per year, and formed the Adopt-A-Feeder Stream Program with semi-annual cleanups to prevent trash from reaching the lake. As of late 2017, 5,600 volunteers have removed 13,500 bags of trash (enough to fill 40 large dumpsters) and 4,300 tires. Clean Jordan Lake estimates that 80% of the trash is from stormwater runoff and 20% from recreational use of the lake.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
References
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External links
- B. Everett Jordan Dam and Lake Corps of Engineers
- Jordan Lake project - U.S. Corps of Engineers
- Permits & Registration » Jordan Lake Water Supply Allocation
- Jordan Lake Dam - Lakes Online
- US Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District, Water Management Unit, Project Information
- Jordan Lake water level graph (1983-present)
- Pages with broken file links
- Protected areas of Chatham County, North Carolina
- Protected areas of Durham County, North Carolina
- Reservoirs in North Carolina
- Dams in North Carolina
- United States Army Corps of Engineers dams
- Dams completed in 1974
- Bodies of water of Chatham County, North Carolina
- Bodies of water of Durham County, North Carolina
- 1974 establishments in North Carolina