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 facilitated by WECO - Watershed Education for
Communities and Officials at NC State University.
The Black Creek watershed is about 3.3 square miles in area and is located in the northern end of Cary, NC. The watershed stretches from downtown Cary to Crabtree County Park near Rt 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, NSW, Black Creek is on the Draft 2004 NC 303d list with impairment for aquatic life and potential sources listed as urban runoff/storm sewer.
Partners
citizens; Beechtree HOA; Wessex 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. Development activity
in the watershed raised community concerns about the Creek and the popular
Black Creek Greenway that runs adjacent to much of the creek and connects
to Umstead State Park and Crabtree County Park. Citizens and the Town
of Cary are interested in harnessing the local energy of the community
to prevent further degradation of the natural resources and to determine
reasonable goals for watershed restoration.
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
