HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda -11-06-2008 - 3cORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: November 6, 2008
Action Agenda
Item No. ~ -C
SUBJECT: Stillhouse Creek Water Quality Grant Project
DEPARTMENT: Soil and Water Conservation PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENTS: INFORMATION CONTACT:
Water Quality Grant Overview and Final Gail M. Hughes, 919-245-2753
Report
Location Map with Practices
PURPOSE: To update Commissioners on the progress and success of the Stillhouse Creek
Water Quality Grant demonstration projects.
BACKGROUND: In February of 2006, the Orange Soil and Water Conservation District and the
USDA-NRCS office began work on a stream restoration project along Stillhouse Creek. The
Creek had severe soil erosion occurring along the banks due to heavy stormwater that flows
from parking lots, roofs, and other impervious surfaces in the watershed. The most severe
erosion was occurring at the road pipes under Margaret Lane and behind the Link Government
Services Center building. Soil. and Water developed a plan to restore the stream to "a natural
channel" with vegetative buffers instead of using large pipe or rip rap stone along the banks.
Upon approval from the Board of Commissioners, Soil and Water requested and received grant
funding from NC Ecosystem Enhancement Program (NC EEP) for the project (approximately
$260,000). In return for funding the project, the NC EEP required a conservation easement be
placed along the stream. The easement area would be planted in trees and other native
vegetation to act as a vegetative filter or buffer for storm water run off, prevent erosion, and
improve the water quality entering the Eno River from Stillhouse Creek. Soil and Water staff
helped administer the grant locally, assisted with design surveys, and supervised construction.
The project was completed in May of 2006.
In May 2008, the Orange Soil and Water Conservation District was offered an opportunity to
apply for 319 Water Quality Grant funds through the NC Division of Soil and Water
Conservation. Gail Hughes, Soil Conservationist, applied for the grant to install water quality
and stormwater management practices at Stillhouse Creek and the Public Market House to
serve as an education and demonstration site for the public. Having received the $7,010 grant
in July, Gail worked with Terry Hackett, stormwater Resource Officer with the Planning
Department, to determine the exact location and design the best management practices to be
installed.
These practices include:
• A rain garden and rain barrels to demonstrate to the public how to reduce, collect, and
treat storm water run off before entering the stream;
• An educational sign to provide information about the rain garden, storm water run off, and
the reason for the stream restoration work that was completed along Stillhouse Creek in
May of 2006;
• A pet waste receptacle placed near the walking trails for the public to use if they have
dogs along the trail; and
A split rail fence to delineate the stream
Stillhouse Creek at the Public Market House.
buffer and conservation easement around
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The grant was provided as a 60-40 match. The $7,010 in State grant
funds was planned to cover the purchase of materials and installation (60% of the total cost),
and staff time and any other in-kind services were planned to serve as the 40% match. Initially,
the County had to purchase the materials. With completion of the project, all bills, in-kind
donations, and staff time records (for matching portion of the grant) are being submitted to the
Division of Soil and Water and the 319 Water Quality Grant program for full reimbursement of
the funds expended.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board receive the presentation
on the Stillhouse Creek Water Quality Grant Project and provide any comments or questions.
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Public Market House and Stillhouse Creek
319-Water Quality Grant:
Storm Water Best Management Practices ~ Public Education Site
The Public Market House is now open to public use, making it an ideal location to educate the
public on the benefits of the stream restoration project, Stillhouse Creek, completed in May of
2006. The stream restoration project has been very successful; eliminating the erosion, filtering
the storm water flowing through the creek, increasing the aquatic and wildlife habitat and
improving water quality before it reaches the Eno River. Gail Hughes, Soil Conservationist, with
the Soil and Water Conservation District applied for and received a 319 Water Quality Grant to
plan, install, and demonstrate best management practices used to reduce and slow storm water
run off from impervious surfaces, improve water quality, and educate the public on the benefits of
these practices.
The Orange Soil and Water Conservation District planned, designed and installed the following
best management practices at the Public Market House and Stillhouse Creek;
• Rain barrels to collect the "first flush" of storm water from the roof of the Public Market,
then to be used to irrigate the landscape plants around the Market perimeter;
• A rain garden to collect and treat run off water from the roof, the overflow from the rain
barrels, and parking lot area of the Public Market before it enters the conservation
easement and stream restoration site;
• Fence around the stream restoration site, to protect the vegetated stream buffer, from
heavy pedestrian traffic and mowers;
• A Pet waste receptacle provides citizens with a location to deposit pet waste at the
Public Market and along the walking trail that borders the Eno River and crosses
Stillhouse Creek;
• An educational kiosk to provide educational information about the storm water
management practices that are on site and the benefits of a stream restoration project.
(An aerial image is attached with all of the practices marked.)
The Orange Soil and Water Conservation District staff partnered with several agencies and
groups to accomplish this project. These partners include:
• Terry Hackett, Orange County Planning Dept., Storm water Resource officer: assisted
with design and installation of the rain garden, rain barrels, and educational sign
information;
• Town of Hillsborough, Planning Dept: permits and Hillsborough Historic District
Commission presentations;
• Town of Hillsborough, Public Works Dept.: use of backhoe and staff to excavate and
help with installation of the rain garden, provided gravel for back fill, and removal of spoil
material (in-kind donation);
• Orange High School FFA club: youth built the educational kiosk as a community
service project and assisted with educational information (in-kind donation);
• Orange County Recreation and Parks Dept.: provided information about future park
and trails, design/plans for educational sign and fencing;
• Orange County Environment and Resource Conservation Dept: provided assistance
with location of conservation easement property boundaries (in kind service)
• Boy Scout troupe #438: local boy scout group has "adopted the stream", picking up
trash, identifying wildlife and aquatic monitoring, identifying wildlife plants and invasive
species to target for eradication, and provide information for the educational sign.
The grant funding has made it possible for the Orange Soil and Water Conservation District to
provide the public with:
• a demonstration site for the public to see and understand how and why rain barrels, rain
gardens, and pet waste receptacles are important to the environment in urban sites;
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• educational information about storm water run off, stream restoration, wildlife and aquatic
habitat, and improved water quality through the best management practice;
• protection of a conservation easement vegetated buffer by fencing that is aesthetically
pleasing, yet protects the vegetation from mowing or foot traffic
For more information:
Contact Orange Soil and Water Conservation District
Gail Hughes, Soil Conservationist
ghughes(a~co.oran e.nc.us
919-245-2753
Orange County Market House
Stormwater "Best Management Practices" Demonstration Project
1. Split rail fence to protect riparian area 1. Restored creek channel, Stillhouse
2. Rain garden (1) Creek
3. Rain barrels (4) 2. Restored riparian buffer
4. Pet waste receptacle 3. Stormwater pocket wetlands
5. Educational kiosk 4. Permanent conservation easement
~I I~N'il ~''
A collaborative effort between Orange County Soil and Water Conservation District,
Orange County Erosion Control Division and the Town of Hillsborough's Stormwater "~
II Program to show various "best management practices" for stormwater control and -I}~!)~ U ~Il
water quality improvement.
New Best Management Practices Existing Best Management Practices