LAND USE, WATER RESOURCES, AND POTENTIAL PLANNING DISCONNECTS

Like many areas with natural amenities, western North Carolina is experiencing increased development driven by permanent residents as well as second homes and tourism. Because this region averages 50-60 inches of rainfall per year and is the headwaters for five river basins, there has historically been little attention paid to water resources. But in recent years, many communities in the region have faced water shortages and/or are facing regulatory mandates regarding supply. In the non-urban areas, groundwater is the primary water supply, but the fractured bedrock system and its relationship to surface water are not well studied. As development continues, pressure on water resources will also grow. Therefore, assessing how decision makers are linking land use (development) and water resources will offer insight into future research needs as well as long-term viability for these resources. We surveyed planners, utility personnel and elected officials in a 10 county region to assess how communities are addressing land use and water resource planning. The survey asked about development patterns, water sources and sustainability, how water allocation decisions are made – including data used, and policies/regulations related to land use and water use.

Preliminary results show that almost half of respondents have seen a decrease in their water supply in the past 10 years. Many expect this trend to continue into the next decade. Respondents are most concerned about drought reducing water supply (97% are ‘somewhat’ or ‘very concerned’). Additionally, the majority are concerned about State or Federal regulations to limit water supply. Respondents were equally concerned about second home and primary residence development (59%) to reduce available water.

One third of respondents said that their community had initiated or participated in scientific studies concerning the physical characteristics of their water supply. About 10% use no data, but grant all requests for water withdrawals.

Roughly 65% of communities have water conservation measures in place. Almost 25% do not consider downstream users when making water use decisions.

These data will be further analyzed and synthesized for their relevance to future research as well as use in policy and planning efforts.