District Projects
In an effort to improve and protect the water quality of Durham County’s many waterways, the Durham Soil and Water Conservation District is engaging in a number of projects throughout the County with this goal in mind. A few of the District’s programs, stream restorations, erosion stabilization, and stormwater wetlands, are highlighted below…
Sandy Creek/Duke University
The District partnered with Duke University’s Wetland Center on the competition of Phase III of a multi-phase project to restore and enhance the condition of Sandy Creek in Duke Forest. Before work began, the creek was the recipient of most stormwater run off from Duke Campus and as a result the water quality was highly impaired and the streambanks were severely eroded. Completed Phase III in spring of 2007 Utilized $160,000 Division of Water Resources grant Sandy Creek dedication held May 2, 2007; completed portions named Stream & Wetland Assessment Management Park (SWAMP) and opened to the public Reach 1 of Phase IV Completed  In December 2009 the District completed restoration on Reach 1/Phase IV of Sandy Creek when plant material was planted at the site. The project’s Reach begins at HWY. 751 then runs northwest for approximately 2000 foot towards the Phase I wetland impoundment and encumbers .3 square miles of urbanized watershed. The project consisted of a Priority 1 restoration which is the highest level of restoration for incised channels. This particular restoration project reconnected the channel to the original floodplain by cutting a new channel that only carries flows less than bankfull. Trees that were removed from the new channel were used as root wads, cover logs, log vanes, and floodplain habitat. The project was funded through a Division of Water Resources (DWR) grant that the District received in the amount of $243,636. Reach II of Phase IV will begin this fall (2010) as the District has received conformation that an additional grant application ($295,000) from the DWR was funded.	Phase IV- Reach 1 after
Un-named Tributary of Lake Michie
As the drinking supply for Durham County, Lake Michie’s water quality is extremely important. After identifying a tributary of the Lake as impacted and eroded with the potential to impair water quality, the District, with permission from the landowner, will be stepping in and completing a stream restoration to elevate the problem.  Received $275,000 Clean Water Management Trust Fund grant in November of 2006 Received 15 acre easement donation from landowner Applied for USDA’s Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program funds Construction to begin in the fall of 2007   May 14, 2007– Grant execution date	before
Lick Creek
	before
Lick Creek, a tributary of Falls Lake, has been identified as severely impacted for water quality and its banks are highly eroded, resulting in high sedimentation of water flowing into Falls Lake. With the cooperation of the local landowner, the District has received funding for and plans a restoration of the most impacted portion of this creek. Received $539,000 Clean Water Management Trust Fund grant in August of 2006 Seeking 14 acre easement donation from landowners Presently working with Clean Water on revising easement language for donated land May 14, 2007– Grant execution date Conducting conditional Letter of Map Revision (CLOMR) Survey
R.N. Harris
In December 2009 the plant material was set out along the stream and within the bio retention area thus fully completing the R N Harris Elementary project. The scope of the project was to restore approximately 900 foot of an Unnamed Tributary (UT) of Rocky Creek as well as install a bioretention basin to collect and treat the roof top and parking area at the school.  A priority I stream restoration design was implemented to return the natural pattern, dimension and profile to this UT of Rocky Creek.  Prior to construction this perennial stream was contained within an urbanized concrete lined ditch (See Before/After Pictures). Due to the project’s reduction in nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorous will benefit Jordan Lake.  The project would not have been implemented had it not been for the two grants the District received. The Division of Water Resources funded the stream restoration component in the amount of $210,000. Additionally, the bioretention basin was sponsored by the Clean Water Management Trust Fund in the amount of $163,000.	before   after
last update January 29, 2010