The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutAgenda - 08-29-2005-1ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: August 29, 200.5 Action Agenda Item No. 1 SUBJECT: Stillhouse Creek Stream Restoration Project Update DEPARTMENT: NRCS/Soil & Water, ERCD PUBLIC HEARING: (YIN) No ATTAGHMENT 1. Memo re Stream Restoration Project 2. Vicinity Map 3, Map of Project Area (to be provided at meeting) 4. Picture of Stillhouse Creek INFORMATION CONTACT: Brent Bogue, 245-2750 David Stancil, 245-2590 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 968-4501 Durham 688-7331 Mebane 336-227-2031 PURPOSE: To review an upcoming stream restoration project on a segment of Stillhouse Creek in Hillsborough, to be conducted by the N,C. Ecosystem Enhancement Program and overseen by the Orange Soil and Water District/NRCS office. BACKGROUND: On September 2, 2003, the Board approved participation in a stream restoration project far a segment of Stillhouse Creek between Margaret Lane and the Eno River, on County lands behind the Government Services Center, In the last 20 years, this stream corridor has become significantly degraded by erosion to the point where the stream is approaching the Government Services Center building and the stream banks have become steep. Because of turnovers in project oversight (EEP moved from NCDOT to NCDENR in 2004), EEP staff and budgetary considerations, the project's design and construction drawings were not completed until June of this year. However, the project is now ready to be placed for construction bid by the EEP, In recent months, work on the Justice Facilities Expansion Project (JEEP) related to the planned farmer's market and RiverPark (on County lands adjoining the Stillhotse Creek project) required discussions with EEP and the JEEP design team to resolve the location of the stream crossings and the location of a possible expansion of the Farmer's Market. EEP has agreed to provide for a bridge at the desired location for farmer's market access (one of: three bridges), and will narrow the stream restoration project plantings to provide far the 2 farmer's market expanded outline, in exchange far a larger area downstream near the Eno (where no activity is planned in either project). The Stillhouse Creek Stream Restoration project, in summary, will involve the following components to address the erosion and health of the stream: 1. Planting a buffer of native vegetation incltding shrubs, bushes and trees td help protect and stabilize the streamside area, 2, The introduction of a stream "bench" to minimize erosion and provide for an overflow area, 3, Re-routing of one segment of the stream, to slaw down water velocity and create wetland pools to enhance aquatic life habitat, and 4, Environmental education signage at the stream crossings to explain the project and the stream ecosystem and habitat As with all EEP projects, once the work has been completed a conservation easement is drawn up and executed. This is done after the restoration work so as to conform to the actual boundaries of the project as constructed, EEP has already agreed to exclude several areas from the easement at the County's request, including the Government Services Center and Annex, the parking lots, and the Occoneechi Village. Bids for the project's construction and planting are imminent. FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no cost to the County for this project, estimated at $100,000, Total project cost will be paid by the NC EEP, In exchange for the project, the County will be asked to grant a conservation easement on the land covered by the stream restoration plantings, after the work is completed, RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board discuss the proposed project details and provide feedback, as desired. Staff from NCEEP plans to be present to provide more detailed information, 3 MEMORANDUM To: Jolm Link, County Manager From: Brent Bogue, MRCS District Conservationist David Stancil, E&RC Director Date: June 22, 2005 Re: Stillhouse Creek Stream Restoration The purpose of this memo is to provide a status report on this project, which has been in the works for some 30 months now. As you know, this is a project to repair and restore Stillhouse Creek using a variety of tecluiiques, from Margaret Lane to the Eno River tluough the County's downtown campus. The full cost of the project (around $100,000) will be borne by the State Ecosystem Enhancement Program (EEP). Because of the unique nature of the project, plans are also to include environmental education and interpretive signage (both by the State and the County) as part of the project, Stillhouse Creek has seen substantial erosion in the last 25 years and is now very close to the foundation of the Covenunent Services Center building. The delays in completion of the project are primarily due to tlaee factors: 1) turnover in State Wetlands Restoration Pxogrun staff; 2) physical reassigmnent of this program to the State's EEP, and 3) creation of drawings and bid documents for the project by State designers.. At this time, the Justice Facilities Expansion Project design (including the plamxed RiverPark on County lands behind the courthouse) is underway, which has focused renewed attention on the stream restoration project in recent weeks, In particular, the potential bridges/crossings of Stillhouse Creek and the location of the planting/easement boundary as it relates to the proposed Farmer's Market/slxelter have been identified as issues, nur most recent conversation-s ta~ith EEP indicate that the.fcnal project drawings have been pr°epared mul the project is ready to be bid and consb-ueted. The actual construction to prepare the stream ,for the stabilization and plantings will take appr°oximately two weeks acrd could begin as em•ly as September Plantings of a variety of native vegetation (trees, siu-ubs and other vegetative cover) to support the stream stabilization would occur following this work Over time, this will transform the area along the stream into a stable, healthy, vegetated piedmont stream segment inside the urban setting of Hillsborough. Recent conversations with EEP staff and the State designer have resulted in the inclusion of the third br°idge across the stream in the location desired by the JFEP/RiverPaxk team, to provide easy access from the Cameron Street parking lot to the proposed Farmer's Market location. This should address the issue related to the bridge/access. The other two bridges are the permanent bridge at the Govenunent Services Center and the replacement of the sturdier of tvvo Boy Scout-built bridge locations at the Occaneechee Village. ~{' Staff is also discussing with EEP staff a modification to the boundary of the planting area and conservation easement (all stream restoration projects of the State require a subsequent conservation easement) to provide additional room for the Farmer's Market expansion and provide for the "interpretive platform" to be located near the stream restoration project. Based on discussions, this modification will also be accepted to allow more room for the Farmer's Market/platform. Generally, the EEP desires 50 feet on either side of the stream to be included within the project and the eventual easement (which would be drafted and executed in the fall, following the work), and this project has already been given several variances from that for the Govenunent Services Center, Occoneechee Village and parking areas. These areas of smaller buffers and the additional modification above would be offset by additional buffer land further downstream where the stream empties into the Eno River. Please feel free to contact us if we may provide additional information. HytlrograDhy (Catldakes) This map conNins parcels prepared for the Inventory of realpropery wlNin tJ ~rnajor ftmd5 Cmnga County, and is compiletl from mcorded deed, plats, and other public Ccuoty records and dales Usam o/Nis map are hereby noMetl that the aforemenUOnetl Taxi TwmslupTexl public primary inlormagon sources should ba consulted !or verlUCagon of the Tav~N~ In/ormation wntainetl on this map. The county and its mapping companies assume ".Hydmgmptry lGQSVOams) no legal responsibility(or the lnfomiadon conNlned on Nis map. Qrange County GIS 1:3609 ~ ..}5. ~„ '~~. ..~; ,Y, E' -~. ...•J ~ r ~?„ z1 M t ~.,o °" 'sc ,.xv.- ~' ~~ ~-..~;