Cary Uses Natural Buffers to Battle Runoff
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 12, 2012
Cary Uses Natural Buffers to Battle Runoff
Periodic closures to Occur on Swift Creek Greenway during construction
CARY, NC – The Town of Cary will turn to Mother Nature to help battle the impacts of runoff and flooding at the border of Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve and Ritter Park. Starting October 15, contractors working on behalf of the Town will repurpose several trees onsite into “log vanes” and insert them along a 150-foot section of the Swift Creek bank, weather permitting. These minimally invasive buffers are designed to not only stabilize the Swift Creek bank and reduce erosion, runoff and flooding, but also improve in-stream habitat.
“This project helps protect our environment naturally while at the same time extending the life of the park’s infrastructure, which enables visitors to escape into Hemlock Bluffs and get lost in its beauty,” said Town of Cary Parks Planning Manager Paul Kuhn. Kuhn noted that the Town has been monitoring the situation for several years prior to taking action.
Construction and installation of natural buffers is anticipated to last through mid-November. During this period, there will be short periodic closures on the Swift Creek Greenway to allow contractors working on behalf of the Town of Cary to bring work materials to the construction zone; closures may occur Monday through Friday, 7 a.m.-6 p.m. The total cost of the project is estimated at $55,000, of which $20,000 is funded by a grant received from the North Carolina Division of Water Resources to partially fund this project. Upon completion, the Town will install educational signage along the boardwalk for visitors to learn about the impacts of runoff and the project’s use of log vanes as natural buffers.
For more project information, search “Hemlock Bluffs Bank Stabilization” at www.townofcary.org or call (919) 469-4360.
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PRIMARY CONTACTS:
Paul Kuhn, Parks Planning Manager, (919) 469-4360
Deanna Boone, Deputy Public Information Officer, (919) 462-3908
Susan Moran, Public Information Director, (919) 380-4240
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