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Consultant outlines Spring Branch resiliency plan; town and state funds matched for study
Summary
A consultant briefed the Smithfield Town Council on a grant-funded resiliency plan for the Spring Branch watershed, describing culvert replacements, pond retrofits and a greenway alignment; staff and developers said monitoring and permits are required before construction.
Brian (B.) Roberts, the consultant on the Spring Branch Resiliency Planning Project, presented the study to the Smithfield Town Council on Feb. 19, describing proposed stormwater and stream-restoration projects that aim to reduce flooding in a 1.53-square-mile watershed and to create a greenway connection through the corridor.
Why it matters: The Spring Branch watershed includes FEMA-designated floodplain that extends into adjacent residential areas. The study identifies a sequence of projects and funding options intended to reduce bottlenecks, increase local stormwater storage and restore stream channels; several projects will require state and federal permits and future grant applications.
Key findings and proposed projects - Watershed size and drivers: Roberts said the Spring Branch watershed covers about 1.53 square miles, noting the FEMA floodplain as the major driver of project prioritization. The study was funded 50/50 by the Town of Smithfield and the North Carolina Land and Water Fund.
- Priority projects and sequencing: The plan identifies multiple projects sequenced to avoid downstream impacts. Roberts highlighted the Second Street culvert replacement (fully funded by the state and under design) and the Fifth Street culvert replacement (sequenced later to avoid creating downstream flooding during interim stages).
- Storage and retrofits: The study calls for a College Pond retrofit, an I-95 pond dredge (estimated to store roughly 9 acre-feet) and a proposed underground flood-attenuation facility (estimated 21'25 acre-feet). Combined, the three storage projects in one phase would add roughly 54 acre-feet of storage in the immediate area, according to the presentation.
- Stream restoration completed and monitoring: Roberts described a completed restoration between Fifth and Sixth streets that restored 434 linear feet of Spring Branch and opened about 100 feet of a tributary. The town will require annual monitoring for five years; newly planted trees carry a one-year warranty and will be replaced if they fail the first-year inspection.
- Greenway alignment: The study proposes a greenway connection from J.C. Kiddie Park to Smith Collins Park, including a midblock HAWK crossing and signage/bike-ped markings on adjacent streets. Steven (planning director) said the full report will be posted on the town website for public review.
Questions from council and staff Council members asked about long-term maintenance and whether vegetation growth would hinder access or function. Roberts said invasive-plant spot-weeding and routine annual monitoring will be part of the maintenance plan and that public-works staff or volunteers could help with spot maintenance. He also said the design intentionally chose culvert crossing points where wetlands narrow to minimize wetland impacts and that project permitting will include coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and state agencies.
What remains: The consultant said some grant applications have been unsuccessful (a LASSIE application was not funded), but a North Carolina Land and Water Fund application is a near-term opportunity. Each identified project will require detailed design, final cost estimates and permitting before construction.
Ending: Councilmembers thanked the consultant and staff; Steven said the full report will be posted on the town website and staff will continue to pursue funding and regulatory approvals.
