As you can see from the above pictures, this very expensive stream renovation done by the Army Corp of Engineers a few years ago is deteriorating.
One of the reasons this is happening is because intermittent streams and storm water run-off system pipes dump large quantities of water into the creek after a rain event from the surrounding urban neighborhood.
At the most recent Durham District 2 Partners Against Crime meeting, the condition of the 'No Mow' zone around the restored creek was criticized for it's impact on safety in our park that this creek runs through. Summer brings a tangle of head high weeds in addition to young trees and shrubs planted to help stabilize the creeks banks. Parents in the neighborhood are deeply concerned about the safety of their children near this wild area. They question whether it is safe to let children play in the surrounding areas play ground because they cannot see what's lurking in the undergrowth. A large portion of the park's play areas had to be sacrificed to create these 'No Mow' buffers so play spaces have become much smaller.
Again, I would like to remind everyone that part of this problem could have been mitigated by the installation of more rain gardens in the surrounding neighborhood.
Why would this have any relevance to you if you don't live in this neighborhood you may ask? And the answer is there is always someone that lives downstream from everybody. There will always be a community struggling with meeting the demand for clean water with a water source that has developed poor water quality and requires expensive, expansive fixes.
Much work needs to be done to design creek and stream restorations through urban areas that are compatible with the neighborhoods.
But perhaps we could start lending a hand by installing rain gardens in our yards and solving a small part of the problem. We all need to provide input to community officials about new ideas and solutions that emphasize partnerships.
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