The Black Creek Watershed Association (BCWA), a partnership working together since 2006, has assessed the causes of Black Creek's impairment and developed an action plan to improve the stream system's health. Spurred by a development that impinged on the popular Black Creek Greenway in the Town of Cary, citizens in neighboring communities banded together to oppose the impacts. Out of this protest grew a collaborative group facilitated by WECO and funded by EPA grants and cost sharing from Cary & NC State University.

The Black Creek watershed is 3.3 square miles in area and is located in north Cary, NC.  The watershed stretches from downtown Cary to Crabtree County Park near I- 40.  The creek discharges to Lake Crabtree, a flood control reservoir on Crabtree Creek. Highly urbanized, the watershed is nearing build-out with a combination of high density residential, commercial, and institutional development. Classified C, Nutrient Sensitive Waters (NSW), Black Creek is on the 2004 NC 303d list with impairment for aquatic life and potential sources listed as urban runoff/storm sewers.

Partners
Citizens; Beechtree HOA; Wessex HOA; Silverton HOA, several other neighborhoods and HOAs; Lake Crabtree County Park, Cary Academy; Cary Rotary; Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources Advisory Board and Greenway Committee; Town of Cary; NC Division of Water Quality; Wake County Extension; and Wake Soil and Water Conservation District.

The Project
Black Creek is on the EPA 303(d) list for biological impairment due to stormwater runoff in an urbanizing environment.  The BCWA, assisted by NCSU and Cary, completed a watershed assessment and management plan in 2009, and will begin implementing stormwater runoff reduction strategies with a new EPA grant in 2010.   In late 2009, the EPA approved the management plan as proper evidence that the State of NC and Town of Cary are working to remove Black Creek from the 303(d) list.

BCWA goals include:

A. Educational Opportunities

Increase understanding about and exercise stewardship of Black Creek.

B. Health/Welfare
Provide clean water for safe physical contact with creek (secondary recreation)
Provide aesthetically pleasing, natural green space for emotional/spiritual experiences

C. Local Economy
Maintain high property resale value

D. Recreation
Maintain pleasant pedestrian and bicycle recreation and travel
Improve recreation at Lake Crabtree
Maintain or improve bird watching opportunities

E. Wildlife
Maintain and increase diversity and abundance of terrestrial and avian wildlife in watershed
Increase diversity and abundance of aquatic animals in Black Creek