Background
Restoration efforts are multiplying in the polluted Burnt Mill Creek (BMC) Watershed as a result of passionate involvement from citizens, businesses, local community leaders and state agencies. A 3-year USEPA (Environmental Protection Agency) grant obtained by NCSU with the City of Wilmington, NC, is funding the work to reduce stormwater pollution in the watershed by installing Best Management Practices (BMPs) and educating watershed residents.
A major goal is to provide educational presentations to community groups and businesses and engage them in installing BMPs. To date, BMPs sponsored by the grant have been installed at the Wilmington Family YMCA (pervious pavement, rain gardens), Stonesthrow Condominiums (stormwater wetland), and Port City Java’s corporate headquarters on Market Street (parking lot rain garden retro-fit).
A partnership was also formed with The Bottom Empowerment Group, a community advocacy group in the oldest part of the BMC watershed and Wilmington. At community workshops, citizens learned how to help beautify their neighborhood and reduce stormwater runoff pollution through the installation of backyard rain gardens and rain barrels. On the BEG’s advice, the project team installed two rain gardens in public spaces- a large rain garden was installed at Gregory Elementary School of Science and Math with the help of 5th grade students, and a rain garden was installed at a local church. Community members have agreed to participate in installing 10 rain barrels and 10-12 rain gardens throughout the neighborhood.
Restoration takes time, but momentum continues to build in the Burnt Mill Creek Watershed as more citizens and business owners enthusiastically step up to the plate to participate.
