News Flash

Field Crews in Southwestern Durham Starting December 16

DURHAM, N.C. – Beginning later this month, residents in the southwestern portion of Durham may soon see field crews in their neighborhoods as the New Hope Creek and Little Creek Watershed Improvement Plan gets underway.

The City of Durham Public Works Department’s Stormwater and GIS Services Division will begin field work to collect data starting on Monday, December 16 near U.S. Highway 15-501 and Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway, which will continue through February 2020. Field workers will wear safety vests and carry identifying credentials and they will also have project information sheets available upon request.

The New Hope Creek and Little Creek Watershed Improvement Plan is needed to improve water quality and comply with regulations according to City Project Manager Lance Fontaine. “This project will first document creek conditions, such as bank stability and impacts from pollution. Field crews will also look for places to improve existing stormwater controls or build new ones.” According to Fontaine, the final phase of the project will outline stream restoration and stormwater projects that have the most potential to improve these streams.

The New Hope Creek watershed extends through the Orange County before reaching Durham and flowing into Jordan Lake. In Durham County, the New Hope Creek watershed contains three named tributaries: Mud Creek, Sandy Creek, and New Hope Creek proper. Landmarks in the watershed include Southwest Durham Regional Library, Forest View Elementary, Githens Middle, Creekside Elementary, and Jordan High schools. The watershed is home to a number of parks and forested lands, including Hollow Rock Nature Park, Old Chapel Hill Road Park, Sandy Creek Park, Cornwallis Road Park, Leigh Farm Park, and portions of Duke Forest. 

The Little Creek watershed includes portions of Chapel Hill, Carrboro, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and the City of Durham. The Little Creek watershed includes portions of Downing Creek, Falconbridge, and Woodland Acres neighborhoods within the city.

The project team plans to provide times throughout the project for residents to view field work results, ask questions, and give input. Resident input is welcome at any time, and information is currently available on the project web page, the department’s Facebook page, and its Twitter feed. For more information, contact Fontaine at (919) 560-4326, ext. 30257 or by email.

About the Public Works Department Stormwater and GIS Services Division

The Stormwater and GIS Services Division with the City of Durham Public Works Department is guided by the City’s Strategic Plan goals of sustainable, natural, and built environment and innovative and high-performing organization.  Activities include storm drainage design and plans review; inspecting and maintaining City-owned drainage systems; enforcing stormwater ordinances and regulations; education and outreach; stream monitoring, restoration, and watershed master planning; maintaining multiple layers of the City’s geographic information; and stormwater billing.  To learn more, follow on Facebook and Twitter.