TITLE: Title
EPA 319 Grant Award and Ordinance
PURPOSE: The purpose of this agenda item is to authorize the Town Manager to accept an EPA 319 grant award and adopt an ordinance in support of a collaborative effort to stabilize streams and reduce erosion in an 11-acre drainage area in the Bolin Forest neighborhood.
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DEPARTMENT: Public Works, Finance
CONTACT INFORMATION: Emily Cochran, Stormwater Administrator (919) 918-7435; Randy Dodd, Stormwater Utility Manager (919) 918-7341; Arche McAdoo, Finance (919) 918-7439
INFORMATION: The lower extent of Bolin Creek in Carrboro has been on the State/Federal list of impaired waters for over 15 years because the aquatic insect community, a prime indicator of creek health, is suboptimal, as determined by both State and Town monitoring. In 2008/2009, both Carrboro and Chapel Hill received 319 grants which sponsored projects over a 4-year span to make progress in improving watershed/creek health. One of the outcomes was the completion of a Bolin Creek Watershed Restoration Plan in 2012 that met the requirements for eligibility for future federal/state support. Since the Stormwater Utility was formed in 2017, staff have been looking for an appropriate opportunity to submit a new 319 application. The best opportunity identified to date is for erosion and small stream stabilization in the Bolin Forest neighborhood. The watershed is comprised of a combination of single-family residential lots and open space from 3 Homeowners Associations (HOAs).
The project concept is to pursue stormwater management and ephemeral stream channel stabilization efforts in this 11-acre drainage. The Town submitted the grant application in May 2021 and has been awarded a grant in the amount of $150,000. The Town will provide in kind support with grant administration. Nine other organizations (including the 3 HOAs) will provide in kind and cash match with a large amount of outreach and volunteer support. The other grant participants include OWASA, Orange County, NC Cooperative Extension, Friends of Bolin Creek, UNC Institute of the Environment and a Carrboro High School teacher and his students. The attached memo provides more information about the site and proposed project.
FISCAL & STAFF IMPACT: The total amount of financial support for the Bolin Creek 319 project is $168k, which includes: $150k (EPA); $16.5k (HOAs) and $1.5k (Friends of Bolin Creek). There will be a staff impact associated with grant administration, also as part of the match. Approximately 300 hours of staff time is estimated.
RECOMMENDATION:r It is recommended that the Council adopt the attached project ordinance.