Mountain Island Lake Marine Commission Annual Report Presented to: Lincoln County Board of Commissioners Public Statement of Purpose "The following statement is for informational purposes only. The Mountain Island Lake Marine Commission was established through a Joint Resolution of Gaston, Lincoln and Mecklenburg Counties consistent with enabling legislation approved by the State in 1997. The Commission's authority includes all matters relating to or affecting the use of Mountain Island Lake and its shoreline to 1,000 feet from full pond level (which is 648 feet above sea level). The Commission's authority however is subject to all supervening provisions of law and may not conflict with or supersede provisions of general or special acts or regulations of State or higher government agencies promulgated under the authority of general law. The Commission strives to preserve and protect water quality, to preserve and protect property, to preserve and protect wildlife, and to protect and promote public safety for matters relating to, 01' affecting the use of, Mountain Island Lake in the best interest of all citizens and property owners in all three counties. The Commission will consider all matters in accordance with this purpose. (Footnote: The above statement is read prior to opening the "Public Comment Section" of every Commission meeting and prior to opening any "Pubic Hearing".) Mountain Island Lake Marine Commission Post Office Box 35008 • Charlotte, North Carolina 28235 Phone (704) 348-2736 • Fax (704) 347-4710 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.marinecommission.com Mountain Island Lake Marine Commission Approved 2010 Meeting Schedule Meetings Begin at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday January 6,2010 Lincoln County Wednesday February 3, 2010 Mecklenburg County' Wednesday March 3, 2010 Gaston County Wednesday April?,2010 Lincoln County Wednesday May 5,2010 Mecklenburg County Wednesday June 2,2010 Gaston County Wednesday JuIY?,2010 Lincoln County Wednesday August 4, 2010 Mecklenburg County Wednesday September 1, 2010 Gaston County Wednesday October 6, 2010 Lincoln County Wednesday November 3,2010 Mecklenburg County . Wednesday December 1, 2010 Gaston County All meeting dates and locations are subject to change. Questions regarding Marine Commission meeting dates and times or persons with disabilities requiring assistance should contact Annette Demeny at (704) 348-2736. Gaston County Lincoln County Mecklenburg County Cowan's Ford Charlotte-Mecklenburg Mount Holly City Hall Country Club Utilities (CMU) 400 East Central Ave 761 Club Drive 5100 Brookshire Blvd. Mount Holly, NC Stanley, NC Charlotte, NC MOUNTAIN ISLAND LAKE MARINE COMMISSION 'Veb Site: www.mal.inecommission.com Gaston County Mecklenburg County Tim Eldridge Skip Hudspeth 503 Lakehaven Drive 11130 Johnson Davis Rd Mt. Holly, NC 28120 Huntersville, NC 28078 H: (704) 827-8077 H: (704) 875-1672 B: (704) 962-8071 M: (704) 641-2118 Email: [email protected] F: (704) 973-0088 (TelmExpires: 9/30/2012) Email: [email protected] (Telm Expires: 9/30/2012) Pam Beck (Chairman) Tim R. Bishop 405 Nivens Cove Road 12462 Preservation Pointe Drive Mount Holly, NC 28120 Charlotte, NC 28216 B: (704) 827-8351 H: (704) 394-3276 F: (704) 827-4298 B: (704) 591-1335 M: (704) 674-4228 Email: [email protected] E-Mail: [email protected] (Term Expires: 9130/2010) (Term Expires: 9/30/20 II) Staff Ann Danzi Annette Demeny (SecretarylTreasurer) (Executive Administrator) 513 Stonewater Bay Lane Post Office Box 35008 Mount Holly, NC 28120 1300 Baxter Street, Ste. 450 H: (704) 820-0891 Charlotte, NC 28235-5008 E-mail: [email protected] B: (704) 348-2736 (Term Expires: 9/30/2010) F: (704) 347-4710 M: (980) 241-1759 Lincoln County E-mail: [email protected] Craig R. Wyant, RLAlSWS 1960 Chapman-Wyant Lane Chris Clark, Lincolnton, NC 28092 (Legal Counsel) B : (704) 240-0793 Tillman Wright, PLLC Email: [email protected] 11325 N. Community House Rd (Term Expires 9/30/2012) Suite 250 Charlotte, NC 28277 Mecklenburg COllnty B: (704) 837-0055 Alice Battle F: (704) 644-8967 (Vice Chairman) E-mail: [email protected] 2227 Coral Valley Road Charlotte, NC 28214 H: (704) 392-5361 M: (704) 617-7186 E-mail: [email protected] (Term Expires: 9/30/2011) Revised October 2009 { 'I Mountain Island Lake Marine Commission OPERATIONAL PLAN Submitted by: Mountain Island Lake Marine Commission Operational Plan Subcommittee • Vice-Chairman Daniel DuVall • Commissioner Ann Danzi • Commissioner Gregory L. Shelton Approved 8/13/2005 • Published 9/612005 ) INDEX PAGE HEADING BRIEF HISTORY OF THE COMMISSION 3 PUBLIC STATEMENT OF PURPOSE 7 PURPOSE I - Water Quality 8 Ii II PURPOSE II - Wildlife 9 II i ~ PURPOSE III - Property 10 li I, PURPOSE IV - Safety 12 I' I POWERS OF THE COMMISSION 13 I GENERAL BUSINESS & ADMINISTRATION 17 BUDGET & FINANCE 19 SPREADSHEET FOR ANNUAL BUDGET (Attachment A) COMMISSION OFFICIAL DUTIES (Attachment B) ONGOING PROJECTS (Attachment C) • 2 Brief History of Mountain Island Lake and the Commission Mountain Island Lake was formed in 1924 with the construction of Mountain Island Dam. The Lake, which forms part of the Catawba River chain, Is located below Lake Norman and above Lake Wylie. Although it has a surface area of 3,281 acres and a shore line distance of 61 miles, less than two thirds of the Lake's acreage is usable by I power boats and most power assisted sail boats for cruising. The Lake is approximately 14 miles long. Mountain Island Lake is the third smallest lake of all of the lakes along the 200 miles of the Catawba River basin and is located just 20 minutes from 'T Square," I the center of Uptown Charlotte. The Lake has over 4,000 acres of protected land plus Latta Park Nature Preserve, a major City park, is located on the lake as well. Providing a dependable water supply for Mount Holly, Gastonia and Charlotte­ Mecklenburg, North Carolina for over forty years, Mountain Island. Lake currently provides drinking water to 800,000 water connections which serves an estimated 1,200,000 million people daily. This number is going to increase to over 1,500,000 in the near future. The Lake supports Duke Power's Rlverbend Steam Station by cooling the water that drives the turbines. While it is also a major source of recreational boating, fishing and wildlife protection, the Lake's primary value to the communities of Lincoln, Gaston and Mecklenburg counties is to provide drinking water. The Lake is the most regulated lake on the Catawba River. No commercial . services are allowed. There are as of July 15, 2005 an estimated 4,000 homes located on the lake and there are approved plans for 380 new homes. 3 IIt I II The Commission was created in 1997 pursuant to enabling legislation passed by I i the North Carolina General Assembly. The legislation enabled Mecklenburg, Gaston /'I and Lincoln Counties to create the Commission, by joint resolution, to address safety II and environmental issues on the Lake. i Counties appoint the seven marine commissioners, three each from Mecklenburg I and Gaston and one from Lincoln, who serve three year terms. Currently, the commissioners serve on a volunteer basis and receive no compensation. The II Commission employs an Executive Director to provide administrative and staff support I and Commission Counsel to provide legal advice. Currently the three counties provide most of the Marine Commission funding. The Commission's enabling legislation grants the Commission jurisdiction within 1,000 feet of the full pond elevation contour of the Lake. Commissioners may pass regulations affecting the use of the Lake that is subject to all supervening provisions of law and may not conflict with or supersede provisions of general or special acts or regulations of State or other higher governmental a.gencies promulgated under the authority of general law. The Mountain Island Lake Marine Commission is considered a unit of local government. Its monthly business meetings are open to the public. The Commission is guided by its Statement of Purpose and Basic Operating Plan. 4 Why is Mountain Island Lake So Important? Mountain Island Lake is an irreplaceable natural resource that is essential for sustaining livable communities in our region. The Lake serves as the raw drinking water supply for over 800,000 connections in both Gaston and Mecklenburg Counties, including the cities of Charlotte, Gastonia and Mount Holly, as well as the towns of Dallas, Ranlo, McAdenville, Cramerton, Lowell and Stanley, North Carolina and Clover, South Carolina. An average of 103 million gallons of water a day (mgd) is pumped from three (3) intake structures located on the lake operated by the cities of Charlotte, Gastonia and Mount Holly. Plans are to increas~ the rate of water withdrawal from the Lake in the future as the population of Gaston and Mecklenburg Counties continues to increase. In addition to its vital importance as a drinking water supply reservoir, the Lake also serves as a major recreational area for our region and provides habitat for a variety of unique and even endangered species of flora and fauna. Currently Mountain Island Lake has excellent water quality; however, as the area around the Lake continues to develop, the sources of water pollUtion will increase as will the potential for negative water quality impacts. Currently, 24% of the Lake's 69 square mile watershed has been developed and 13.4% of the land is publicly owned and will not be developed, which leaves 62.6% or approximately 43 square miles of watershed area currently open to development in Lincoln, Gaston and Mecklenburg Counties. The manner in which this land is 5 () developed and .the effectiveness of future efforts to control pollution sources will determine whether excellent water quality conditions can be maintained, which is essential for the continued use of the Lake as a drinking water supply and important recreational and wildlife area.