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Smithfield accepts $783,351 state grant for College Pond retrofit to improve stormwater storage and water quality
Summary
Council accepted an NCLWF grant for the College Pond retrofit to add an adaptive riser control (CMAQ/Opti system), upgrade spillways, and install floating wetlands; the grant award was stated at $783,351 with a town match of roughly $135,000 (about 17%).
The Town of Smithfield accepted a North Carolina Land and Water Fund (NCLWF) grant to retrofit the pond near Eva Innis Park (the “College Pond”) to improve stormwater storage and water quality in the Spring Branch watershed.
Brian Roberts of McCormick Taylor described the project as installation of a forecast‑driven riser control (Opti/CMAQ) that increases pond storage during multiple storms, upgrades the emergency and principal spillways, and installs floating wetlands to capture nutrients.
Roberts said the grant award was $783,351 and that the town’s required match would be approximately 17% of the project spend (stated in the meeting as about $135,000). He noted the grant contract no longer allows crediting nutrient trading for certain activities, which reduced some monitoring expectations. Roberts estimated the system could add roughly 20 acre‑feet of storage, and that ongoing subscription/licensing for the adaptive control service could be roughly $12,000 per year depending on final selection.
Council members voted to accept the grant and authorize staff to proceed with contract execution and project procurement. Staff said design and construction procurement could take about two years to complete once the town has selected a consultant and initiated the RFP process; the grant has a three‑year expenditure window.
