Hello High Rock Lake Watershed stakeholders!

The Division of Water Resources is pleased to announce the first stakeholder meeting for the High Rock Lake nutrient management strategy rulemaking process.  Given ongoing nutrient over-enrichment of High Rock Lake by its watershed tributaries, DWR is beginning a several-year process to adopt necessary and reasonable regulations that control nutrient inputs to streams and rivers in the watershed.  A map of the lake and its watershed area is shown below:

The Division plans the first stage of this process to last approximately 18 months and involve informal, participatory meetings from large, all-parties sessions to smaller, technically-oriented workgroup discussions. The intended product of the first stage is a draft set of rules that DWR can then take through formal rulemaking steps, which will include more traditional, structured opportunities for public input before final state adoption. Interested parties from all parts of the watershed and all kinds of land uses are encouraged to join us to discuss the future of nutrient management in the High Rock Lake watershed.  Participation in the process is voluntary. Given the potential impact of these regulations on citizens in the watershed, we encourage anyone who is interested to attend and hear more about the issues and how they may want to be involved. 

In-Person Meetings: Two in-person kickoff meetings will take place on September 29, 2022 at 2025 Agricultural Way in Yadkinville, NC from 1:00 – 3:00 pm and then from 6:00 – 8:00 pm.  The content of these first two meetings will be the SAME, while the split format is intended to accommodate all schedules.  During the meeting stakeholders will be offered a chance to discuss the issues facing High Rock Lake Watershed and also sign up for technical workgroups.  We will make an audio recording and powerpoint presentation available on our website for anyone who cannot attend this meeting in person.

RSVP is not required, but we encourage attendees to RSVP via the following link to ensure that we will have enough chairs and tables.

RSVP for the In-Person Meetings here: https://forms.office.com/g/FrekYXiMWj

Virtual Meeting: We intend to make this information available and accessible for Spanish-speaking residents of the watershed as well. In order to gauge the level of interest and minimize costs, we are offering advanced registration (RSVP) for a virtual information session where Spanish interpretation will be made available if community members register. The virtual meeting with Spanish interpretation will be held on October 11, 2022 from 6:00-8:00pm, and the deadline to register is September 27, 2022.  If you would like to learn more about water quality problems in High Rock Lake and steps the State of North Carolina will be taking to try to control nutrient pollution, please register for this virtual information session at the following link: https://forms.office.com/g/yuUzNRHCxE

Sesión Virtual: También tenemos la intención de hacer esta información disponible y accesible para los residentes que hablan español en el área de la cuenca. Con el fin de medir el nivel de interés y minimizar los costos, estamos ofreciendo registro avanzado para una sesión de información virtual donde habrá interpretación en español disponible. La reunión virtual con interpretación en español se llevará a cabo el 11 de octubre de 2022 de 6:00 a 8:00 p. m. Por favor de confirmar su asistencia antes del 27 de septiembre de 2022. Si desea obtener más información sobre los problemas de calidad del agua en el lago de High Rock y los pasos que el Estado de Carolina del Norte tomará para tratar de controlar la contaminación por nutrientes, regístrese para esta sesión de información virtual en el siguiente enlace: https://forms.office.com/g/yuUzNRHCxE

Meeting Goals:

1. Inform stakeholders about ongoing nutrient issues that impact the water quality and ecological health of High Rock Lake and limit the lake’s use by the surrounding population and citizens of the state.
2. Solicit input from anyone who will potentially be impacted by regulations to control nutrient sources such as stormwater runoff and wastewater.
3. Describe statutory obligations to address the water quality impairment and outline the plan for developing a reasonable and effective regulatory strategy that will help achieve long-term water quality improvement in High Rock Lake for all users.
4. Offer sign-ups for technical workgroups and steering committee

These meetings will be open to the public, and no prior knowledge of water quality issues in the watershed is necessary.  Parking is on-site and signs will be posted directing participants to the banquet hall.  Refreshments will NOT be provided.

Thank you and please feel free to forward this announcement to anyone who you believe should participate. 

Click the following link to be added to our High Rock Lake nutrient strategy rulemaking listserv: https://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/water-planning/nonpoint-source-planning/high-rock-lake-nutrient-management-strategy#overview