CARY, NC – The Town of Cary Engineering Department’s erosion control program has received top honors for its efforts for protecting the water quality of area creeks and streams by controlling development runoff. Given by the North Carolina Sedimentation Control Commission--a division of the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources--the annual Local Erosion and Sedimentation Control Program Award for outstanding local program with more than three dedicated staff highlights the importance of the involvement of local governments in the control of sedimentation pollution of the state’s waterways. Cary's award winning erosion control program not only complies with the state's sedimentation rules, it meets or exceeds the requirements for construction runoff control for state and federal stormwater management.

"We are very proud to be selected for this honor," said Cary Town Manager Bill Coleman. "Considering the level of growth that Cary has experienced, it is especially important for our development staff to find effective ways to protect our environment. They work very hard and clearly do good work."

This is the second time that the Town of Cary has been recognized for this sort of environmental effort; Cary received the local program award for programs with fewer than three staff in 1998. Since then, the Cary program has grown in size and become more proactive. For fiscal year 2001, the Cary Town Council adopted a new initiative aimed at environmental protection and quality of life. The new stormwater rules aim to protect the water quality of Cary’s streams and rivers in addition to meeting the goals for protecting the Neuse River and include 100’ buffers around most streams and creeks.

The award, which covers the period from January 2001 - December 2001, was presented on January 23, 2002, in Southern Pines, NC, at the 2002 Local Program Workshop. Cary’s Erosion Control Officer Tom Horstman will be recognized by the Cary Town Council at their next regular meeting on Thursday, February 14, 2002.