BOOKER CREEK WATERSHED PLAN

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BOOKER CREEK WATERSHED PLAN

• WATERSHED ASSESSMENT
• WETLAND ASSESSMENT
• POLICY FRAMEWORK

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BMP SUITABILITY
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CONCLUSION

• Paradox Development occurring in areas where it
  is least suited and where BMPs least feasible.
• Overall Booker Creek Watershed is in mediocre
  condition with much to improve upon
• Capitalize on recreational opportunities and
  environmentally sensitive development
• Preserve water quality upstream and mitigate
  stormwater impacts of development with Pond and
  Wetland BMPs.

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Vision for Booker Creek Watershed

• Our vision is to maintain and promote a
  healthy, functional watershed. We will keep
  pristine areas protected and maintain suitable
  areas for riparian vegetation and wildlife. In
  addition we will maintain high water quality and
  sustainable development patterns for residential,
  commercial and recreation areas for current and
  future generations.

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PLAN GOALS

• G1 Clean water sufficient to support aquatic
  life and human uses
• G2 Streams that are physically similar to
  pristine streams
• G3 A watershed where flooding does not
  negatively impact the built environment
• G4 Environmentally sensitive land use within
  the watershed

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PLAN OBJECTIVES

• O1 Reduce non point pollution in the Booker
  Creek Watershed 30 by the year 2015. Related to
  Goal G1
• O2 Reduce point source pollution emitted into
  the streams of Booker Creek Watershed 35 by the
  year 2015. Related to Goal G1
• O3 Restore stream beds to their natural state
  of equilibrium by 2050. Related to Goal G2
• O4 Reduce vulnerability of the built
  environment in Lower Booker Creek Watershed.
  Related to Goal G3, G4
• O5 Increase the amount of land zoned for high
  density residential development in suitable areas
  by 25. Related to Goal G4

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PLAN POLICIES

• P1 Establish volunteer water quality monitoring
  program.
• P2 Implement Buffer of 100 feet around
  perennial, intermittent and headwater streams.
• P3 Initiate a radio campaign educating
  residents about using native plants to reduce
• fertilizer and pesticide use as well as
  sediment runoff.
• P4 Install watertight covers or inflow guards
  on all sewer manholes in the floodplain.
• P5 Establish monitoring program for toxic waste
  disposal area in Crow Branch watershed.
• P6 Establish a volunteer construction site
  monitoring program that ensures developers are
  complying with construction site regulations and
  increase fines 25 for noncompliance.
• P7 Implement Buffer of 35 feet around the 100
  year floodplain. (See Map A-5-1)
• P8 Require all new developments over 3 acres
  that border or cross a perennial stream to
  implement a Pond or Wetland Best Management
  Practice within 500 feet of stream if land is
  suitable. The BMP should store water proportional
  to the amount of impervious surface of that
  development. BMPs at sites below 5 impervious
  cover are not required. (See Maps A-2-1 and
  A-2-2).

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• P9 Install Pond or Wetland Best Management
  Practices within 500 feet of a perennial stream
  on all developed city-owned property over 3 acres
  by the year 2015. BMPs
• are only required where land is suitable.
• P10 Construct raingardens and stormwater
  catchments for existing and future impervious
  surfaces exceeding ½ acre.
• P11 Stop construction of new sewer manholes in
  the floodplain.
• P12 Undergo clearing and snagging operation in
  Lower Booker Creek
• P13 Encourage cluster development and new
  urbanist design through tax incentives.
• P14 Halt future development in the 100 year
  floodplain
• P15 Pervious surface cover required for 35 of
  new sidewalks
• P16 Stormwater runoff from new development may
  not exceed predevelopment levels
• P17 Encourage Low Impact Development (LID) for
  all new development proposals by decreasing
  impact fees for sites that integrate two or more
  of the following LID methods
• Bioretention facility
• Grass Swales
• Vegetative Roof Covers
• Permeable Pavement
• Rain Barrels or Cisterns
• No Curb and gutter
• Disconnected Impervious Cover

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WETLAND ASSESSMENTField Evaluation
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North Carolina Field Evaluation Checklist for
Wetlands
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WETLAND ASSESSMENTGIS Evaluation
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VISION STATEMENT

• Our vision is that Booker Creek Watershed will
  host healthy, functional, clean wetlands. We will
  improve and sustain healthy hydrological and
  biological characteristics that create habitat
  for aquatic life and wildlife. In addition we
  will have wetlands that have the capacity to
  prevent damaging floods. Our wetlands will be a
  place for current and future generations to enjoy
  the wonders of the outdoors.

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WETLAND GOALS

• Wetlands that support a diverse native plant
  community and healthy habitats for wildlife and
  aquatic life
• Adequate water storage and stable banks
• Wetlands that are inviting to the community and
  foster educational programs

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OBJECTIVES

• Within ten years all wetlands in the watershed
  will be 50 dominant native species
• Improve wetland habitat so that at least fifteen
  bird species are frequenting the wetlands in five
  years
• Stop development in the floodplain to improve
  water storage capacity and reduce flooding
• Reduce bank slumping by 75 in five years
• Ensure that twenty educational programs and
  civic groups will tour the wetlands within five
  years
• Create a recreational area and handicap-accessible
  boardwalk in the Eastwood Lake wetland within
  two years

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POLICIES

• All proposed developments that are on a property
  that contains a wetland, or that are within 100
  yards of a wetland must undergo a wetland impact
  evaluation.
• Organize civic groups to plant native plant
  species and remove invasive species for all
  medium to high quality wetlands twice a year.
  Medium to high quality wetlands are identified on
  Map 1 on page 6. APPENDIX 4 lists allowed native
  plant species to be planted.
• Appoint one person, agency, or develop a
  relationship with a nonprofit, who will be
  responsible for daily maintenance of wetlands
  (specifically removal of invasive species

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• Establish a 100 ft buffer around all wetlands
  that are of high value
• Establish a 75 feet buffer around all medium and
  low rated wetlands
• Install sediment detention ponds in properties
  that contain or are adjacent to a wetland
• Install bioretention cells in Eastgate Mall
  parking lot and other impervious surfaces in
  Lower Booker Creek over 2 acres
• Start a mitigation bank for undeveloped land
• Create zoning ordinance
• No new development in the floodplain
• Downgrade density requirements in a 50 foot area
  around the floodplain
• The Town of Chapel Hill will publish a wetland
  management, restoration, and creation guide to
  assist developers and landowners whose property
  contains a wetland.
• Create and erect signs in recreation areas near
  wetlands that clearly define the importance of
  wetlands.
• Develop a relationship with a naturalist at a
  Nature Center who will lead educational programs
  in the wetlands
• Increase the recreational value of wetlands by
  building a greenway that extends along the sewer
  easement in Crow Branch watershed

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THANK YOU