Photo by Jeremy Lange
“The first rule of neighborhoods is don't B.S. your neighbor,” said Jim Warren, who has lived in Orange County for three decades. “This plan would convert Orange County forests into tree farms.”
Opponents also questioned the science behind the plan, wondered how it improves water quality and asked “who determines what is ‘sound?''
“You guys know how to do it better than Mother Nature?” resident Lynne Jaffe said. “Tell me that a bunch of, forgive me, men can determine that they know how to do a forest better than a forest itself.”
Several who spoke pointed to advanced ecology and forestry degrees. Others were experts in environmental law or public policy. Activists have launched a web site seeking to curtail the plan.
“It's quite impressive what OWASA has been able to accomplish, getting so many people involved in the democratic process,” Carrboro Alderman Sammy Slade said.
“I hope OWASA is cognizant of the number of people who will bang on their doors if they don't listen. I'm quite confident OWASA will do the right thing.”
OWASA Board Chairman Gordon Merklein, who at one point signaled “time out,” agreed to extend the comment period, which was set to close on Friday, to consider appointing an advisory committee and to seek review from other state agencies, such as the N.C. Department of Natural Resources Division of Water Quality.
OWASA Board of Directors next meets on Dec. 9.