Item:
Title
Approval of Budget Amendment No.26BCC037 Recognizing a $600,000 Grant From NCDEQ Division of Water Resources for Whispering Pines Stream Renovation Project
Body
Date of BOCC Meeting: November 24, 2025
Request for Board Action:
Agenda Text
The Board is requested to approve Budget Amendment No.26BCC037 recognizing a $600,000 grant from the NCDEQ Division of Water Resources (DWR) Water Resources Development Grant Program, in partnership with the Division of Mitigation Services (DMS) Flood Resiliency Blueprint, for the Whispering Pines Stream Restoration Project. The Board is also requested to authorize the Manager to enter into a contract with DWR to accept the grant funding.
NC DEQ has authorized the Division of Mitigation Services (DMS) to oversee the development of the North Carolina Flood Resiliency Blueprint, a state flood planning process to increase community resiliency to flooding throughout North Carolina’s River basins, serve as a resource for riverine and stream management to reduce flooding and support the establishment and furtherance of local government stormwater maintenance programs. DWR has been allocated a portion of Blueprint funding to provide state funds to offer cost-share grants for projects that reduce flooding or increase flood resiliency. Durham County applied for and has been awarded $600,000 for the Whispering Pines Stream Restoration Project.
The Whispering Pines Mobile Home Park Stream Restoration Project was identified in the County Stormwater Nutrient Management Strategy as a potential project for compliance with the Falls Lake Nutrient Management Rules. The project consists of approximately 1,700 linear feet of stream restoration and a bioretention pond to treat stormwater on the property. The stream restoration project will remove sources of nitrogen and phosphorous from streambank erosion - helping the County meet the nutrient requirements of the Falls Lake Rules - while also reducing flooding impacts to residents of Whispering Pines Mobile Home Park.
The total estimated project cost is $2.1 million. The County previously applied for and received a $400,000 Local Assistance for Stormwater Infrastructure Investments (LASII) grant from the North Carolina Division of Water Infrastructure to cover the planning efforts for the Whispering Pines project. The County also received $500,000 from the Division of Soil and Water’s Streamflow Rehabilitation Assistance Program (StRAP). The County has also been selected to receive an additional $240,000 in funding from the North Carolina Section 319(h) Nonpoint Source (NPS) Grant Program. That award is awaiting final EPA approval. In total, for the $2.1 million dollar project, the County has received over $1.7 million in grant funding - over 80% of the total cost.
Alignment with Strategic Plan: This agenda item supports Strategic Plan Goal 4: Environmental Stewardship and Community Prosperity. More specifically, it supports the objective of improving water quality and reducing flooding hazards to residents.
Resource Persons: Taylor Blauser, Grant Administrator for Engineering and Environmental Services; Ryan D. Eaves, PE, Stormwater and Erosion Control Division Manager; H. Jay Gibson, PE, Director of Engineering and Environmental Services
County Manager’s Recommendation: The County Manager recommends that the Board approve Budget Amendment No.26BCC037 recognizing a $600,000 grant from the NCDEQ Division of Water Resources (DWR) Water Resources Development Grant Program, in partnership with the Division of Mitigation Services (DMS) Flood Resiliency Blueprint, for the Whispering Pines Stream Restoration Project. The Board is also requested to authorize the Manager to enter into a contract with DWR to accept the grant funding.
Signature
County Manager: ____________________________