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City outlines NRCS Emergency Watershed Protection work, identifies priority creek sites
Summary
City staff detailed an NRCS Emergency Watershed Protection grant program to remove trees, debris and sediment and stabilize creek banks after Hurricane Helene; staff highlighted priority sites including Willowwick/Pole Branch Creek and Walnut Lane, said plans are ~90% complete, and reported an extension to March 26, 2026 and a separate $1.3 million application pending.
Public Works staff presented details of an Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) at the Oct. 13 study session, outlining sites and logistics for removing storm debris and stabilizing creek banks damaged by Hurricane Helene.
The presentation described the EWP program’s purpose as removing obstructions and correcting impacts to waterways that pose a risk to life or property. Staff identified multiple priority locations: the Willowwick (Pole Branch Creek) site where erosion exposed a sewer line and damaged an emergency access road, Pretty Run Creek near Knollwood, the Carolina Bay/Walnut Lane boardwalk area, Waterworks Creek flowing through several parks and private parcels, and multiple parcels in the Crystal Lake basin.
Staff said engineering designs for the highest-priority site are about 90% complete and have been submitted to NRCS for review. Because the NRCS agreement was executed later than expected, staff obtained a grant-period extension that sets the completion date at March 26, 2026. Staff cautioned that remaining sites require property-owner easements or rights of access (for some sites that are privately owned), and that the grant primarily funds removal of material obstructing waterways rather than whole-property cleanups.
Contracting and procurement steps are under way: staff is assembling bid documents for debris-removal contracts and said they may pursue multiple contracts to speed work. For some sites the contractor will be allowed to reduce woody material in place (chipping or grinding) where appropriate; where necessary, the contractor will remove and dispose of material. Staff also reported they have submitted an additional NRCS application seeking about $1,300,000 in EWP funding for a further batch of removal sites.
Council members asked about disposal plans and potential pest issues from long-down timber; staff replied the contractor will be responsible for removal and disposal and that specifications will address whether material may be ground and left on site. Staff asked council for patience while NRCS completes its review and to authorize follow-up contracting once final NRCS approvals and budget calculations are complete.
Next steps: 1) obtain NRCS final review and any additional extension; 2) finalize bid documents and procurement strategy (possibly multiple contracts); 3) secure property easements where needed; and 4) begin construction work once NRCS and procurement milestones are met.
