Catawba and Rocky Rivers: Request for CCC rep to Serve on Charlotte Water IBT Technical Advisors Group

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Hi All,  (from Jim Mead)

I have been contacted by the consultant for the Charlotte Water Authority requesting that CCC have a representative on a Technical Advisors Group (TAG) they are forming. The TAG will evaluate a request to increase the amount of water being withdrawn from the Catawba basin and discharged as wastewater into the Rocky (Yadkin) basin. They reached out to me because I continue to represent CCC on matters relating to the FERC licensing for Duke Power’s projects in the Catawba basin.

I have included the email from their consultant below. They are requesting a response by early next week, if possible (I just got the email today). I think it would be preferrable that CCC be represented by someone living in the Charlotte area. This would make attending the meetings much easier, and also would be someone more familiar with paddling the Catawba and Rocky Rivers. The Rocky is a nice class 2 run with several sections and developed public access. The sections of the Catawba of most interest to CCC would include Great Falls and the Landsford Canal State Park (spider lily) sections.

I’m providing this to the CCC board so you can work your magic and recruit someone to fill this role, ideally two people so there is an alternate as well as primary rep. I am available to answer questions and be a resource person during the TAG process, but my location and other commitments make serving on the TAG not practical for me. Also please share with the slate of new officers that will take effect soon.

Contact me if you have any questions.

Jim Mead (jandrcanoe@mindspring.com)

 

From: Boyer, John <BoyerJD@cdmsmith.com>
Sent: Tuesday, November 12, 2024 7:44 AM
To: jandrcanoe@mindspring.com
Subject: Invitation to Serve on Charlotte Water IBT Technical Advisors Group

As you may be aware, Charlotte Water has submitted a notice of intent for a modification to their interbasin transfer (IBT) certificate to increase the maximum limit that is withdrawn in the Catawba River basin and discharged to the Rocky River basin. The IBT process is a multi-year, highly regulated process that encourages stakeholder participation and feedback. To date, seven public meetings have been held to inform, answer questions, and solicit comments.

Unique to this modification request, Charlotte Water has committed to an extended stakeholder engagement process to explore and discuss solutions through the formation of an approximately 30-member Technical Advisors Group (TAG). CDM Smith has been asked to help with the formation of the TAG and to facilitate a series of workshops. To that end, we are seeking TAG participants that represent a variety of water interest categories in the source and receiving basins. I am reaching out to inquire about your interest and availability to serve on the TAG, as a representative of the Carolina Canoe Club. As a member of the TAG, you will:

  1. Identify your IBT-related risks, concerns, and opportunities
  2. Help developing a comprehensive list of actionable alternatives and mitigation measures to the IBT
  3. Assist in screening selected alternatives to be evaluated in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process
  4. Help identify relevant data or studies that may be important to the EIS process
  5. Provide feedback on the alternatives analysis, environment consequences, summary of impacts and other elements
  6. Review and provide comments on the preliminary and revised drafts of the EIS.

As currently envisioned, the TAG will meet approximately five times over the next 12-18 months. Workshops are expected to range between 2 and 3 hours. The initial TAG workshop is planned for Monday, December 16th. A workshop time and location will be selected in the next 7-10 days. While in-person attendance is recommended, the workshops will also allow for participants to attend virtually.

By response to this e-mail or by calling me at 919-325-3509, please let me know by Monday, November 18 if you are willing to serve on the TAG, if you recommend someone else from your organization as a participant, or if you prefer not to participate. Ideally, TAG participants will have one or more designated alternates that can attend on your organization’s behalf.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to me if you have questions or need more information.

Thank you,

John Boyer <BoyerJD@cdmsmith.com>