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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 10-17-2006-7dORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY GOMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: October 17, 2006 Action Agenda Item No. ~~_ SUBJECT• Stillhouse Creek Restoration Project DEPARTMENTS: NRCS/Soil and Water District, PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ERCD ATTACHMENT(S): 1) Future Plans /Questions and Answers INFORMATION CONTACT: 2) Project Overview Brent Bogue, 245-2750 3) Before and After Photos David Stancil, 245-2590 PURPOSE: To receive a presentation on the. Stillhouse Creek Restoration Project, a joint venture of Orange County, the N.C. Ecosystem Enhancement Program, and the U.S. Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) /Orange Soil and Water District. BACKGROUND: The Stillhouse Creek restoration project was completed in May 2006. Stillhouse Creek is a tributary of the Eno River that runs through the County governmental campus in downtown Hillsborough. The project restored a 1,000-foot section of the stream from Margaret Lane (behind the John Link Government Services Center) to the Eno River. Substantial erosion had occurred along this segment.of the stream during the past 20 years, and this project was needed to minimize future erosion and to restore streamside vegetation. The project was managed by the Orange Soil and Water Conservation District and USDA- Natural Resources Conservation Service in conjunction with the State of North Carolina. The project was funded entirely by the NC Ecosystem Enhancement Program (EEP). The restoration project was completed in May 2006. Activities to restore the stream included re-establishing a vegetated buffer comprised of over 500 native trees and shrubs. Portions of the stream were re-routed to decrease erosion and new offset "wetland pools" were created to enhance aquatic habitat. The project design was coordinated with the planned County courthouse expansion and River Park project. The project agreement will require that Orange County grant a conservation easement to State of North Carolina. The easement will ensure permanent protection for the stream corridor (± 2 acres) while allowing for maintenance of stream crossings for walking trails and utilities. ERCD staff is working with the State to prepare a draft easement agreement for the County Attorney review before bringing the agreement to the Board for consideration and action, probably in December 2006. 2 Attached is a timeline of next steps involved with the project, including information describing the future care and maintenance of the project area. ' Staffs involved in the project propose to use this project as an opportunity for environmental education, creating a signage plan to explain the nature of the project (and to discourage human activity in the sensitive areas) as well as explaining activities involved in stream restoration and habitat that has been created or restored. FINANCIAL IMPACT: There are no County funds involved RECOMMENDATION: The Manager recommends that the Board receive the information and provide any feedback as desired. 3 Stillhouse Creek Stream Restoration Project Questions and Answers /Future Plans The Orange Soil and Water Conservation District and USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, working with the Orange County Environment and Resource Conservation-Department, are working to protect and ensure the integrity of the recently completed Stillhouse Creek Stream Restoration Project area and easement in downtown Hillsborough on the Orange County Main Campus. The following provides answers to some recently asked questions, and lists planned next steps the Stillhouse Creek site. What Is the Project Designed to Do? This is a stream restoration project, funded by the North Carolina Ecosystem Enhancement Program (EEP). The purpose of the project is to address significant stream erosion along this segment of the creek by stabilizing the area with new native vegetation, which also creates an area conductive to habitat for native flora and fauna. How Can I Help Protect the Project Area? What Should County Employees Do or Not Do? As the years go by, the newly-planted trees, shrubs and vegetation will mature. There are three crossing points over the project, the Link Governmental Services Center Bridge, The Governmental Services Annex Bridge, and the Occoneechee Village Bridge. Employees and visitors will be asked to cross the stream project in these areas and leave the other portions of the project undisturbed, to optimize and protect the new plant and wildlife habitat. When Will the Construction Fencing Come Down? Will There be a New Fence? The orange construction fencing is still up to delineate the restoration area activity. As the growing~season ends and the plan and wildlife species in the area begin to move into winter, the construction fence will come down. To maintain the "natural" setting and protect the vegetation in the easement area, a permanent fence will need to be placed along the border of the easement. Staff proposes asplit-rail fence, which will preserve the riparian buffer while allowing for a maintenance boundary. Access points will be designated to allow access for educational opportunities and stream monitoring. Staff members are currently working on grant applications for funds to buy materials and install a fence. What Other Activities Are Planned? Environmental Education as Part of the Future River Park: An educational platform with signs and information about the stream restoration project to be sited. This would be accessible by visitors to the future RiverPark (between the project area and Churton Street) Coordinate a "Friends of Stillhouse Creek" Group: This proposed group will help monitor the water quality, pickup litter, and participate in 'stream watch' activities, to ensure the health of the stream and report any changes to that may need addressing (tree survival, vandalism, etc.). County employees would be welcome to be a part of this group. Incorporate the Project into the Orange County and Chapel Hill/Carrboro Schools Science Programs: Work with the Science Coordinator for the School systems to develop a plan where students come to the River Park to participate in water quality monitoring and wetland education projects. The site could also be made available to students from UNC and Duke environmental programs. Staff is currently developing plans for an outdoor educational area that will provide information about the stream restoration project and its benefits. Use as a Demonstration Site: To encourage public and private landowners to participate in the stream restoration project, this site can be used as a demonstration to show changes that would be made to reduce erosion, to meet urban storm water regulations, and reestablish riparian-forested areas along the County's streams. Conservation Easement to the State EEP: In exchange for the State's funding of the stream restoration project (in excess of $270,000), a conservation easement will be granted by the County to the State EEP for the area inside the project boundaries. This will exclude the buildings, parking lots and future facilities (such as the Public Market), and will assure that the area will be protected consistent with the intent of the restoration work. County staff and the State are refining the easement boundary to accommodate the River Park and Market House areas. Easement language is expected to be presented for approval by the Board of Commissioners in November / December of this year. 5 Stillhouse Creek Restoration Project In early 2001, the local Orange County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) and the USDA-Natural Resource Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) recommended repairing the stream located behind the County governmental campus in downtown Hillsborough. Stillhouse Creek, an Eno River tributary stream, had severe. erosion problems caused by the increase in storm water runoff from the downtown watershed. Two of the primary concerns were the erosion occurring at the culvert pipes that allow the stream to pass under Margaret Lane and the severe erosion that was washing the stream bank soil away and eventually would threaten the foundation of the Government Services Center building. These concerns were brought to the attention of the County Commissioners, and with their approval, the Stillhouse Creek Restoration Project was underway. After discussions with county and MRCS engineers, "bioengineering' methods were determined to be the best way to stabilize the stream and stream banks, and maintain a natural stream setting. Bioengineering is the practice of using natural plants and vegetation along the stream banks to stabilize areas. Large rocks or log weirs (small dams) were placed in the stream at critical points, allowing the water to concentrate in the center of the creek, reducing the erosion along the banks. Native trees and shrubs are planted along the restored stream to help stabilize the stream banks and to filter out pollutants from the storm water runoff and shallow groundwater before they reach the Eno River. Small vernal pools were created along the stream to promote aquatic habitat and to help filter out storm water runoff. The restoration proj ect was completed in May 2006, and will be protected in perpetuity through a conservation easement agreement between Orange County and the State of North Carolina. The project was funded entirely by the State's Ecosystem Enhancement Program, part of the NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The design, construction, and implementation were competed by the Orange Soil and Water Conservation District, the NC Division of Soil and Water Conservation, and the USDA-Natural Resource Conservation Service. The conservation easement agreement will be administered by the Orange County Environment and Resource Conservation Department. Over 500 plant species were planted along the restored creek, including the following: Swamp Sunflower Black-eyed Susan Purple love grass Spicebush Silky dogwood Winterberry Blue False Indigo Arrow arum Duck Potato Sycamore Tulip Poplar River Burch 0 N bA P-~ 0 0 N ~.. 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