Item:
Title
Authorize Board Chair to sign Letters of Support for Applications for Environmental Enhancement Grant Funds for County Stormwater Projects
Body
Date of BOCC Meeting: March 25, 2024
Request for Board Action:
Agenda Text
The Board is requested to authorize the Chair to sign letters of support as part of two applications for grant funding under the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office’s Environmental Enhancement Grant Program (EEG). The North Carolina Attorney General’s Office awards grants annually to projects that will help improve and protect North Carolina’s natural resources Since the EEG Program began, the Attorney General has awarded more than $40 million to nearly 200 projects. These projects have resulted in the closure of 240 abandoned hog waste lagoons and the restoration or permanent conservation of more than 31,000 acres of land, wetland restoration, stormwater remediation, stream stabilization, as well as several environmental education and research initiatives.
Durham County’s Stormwater and Erosion Control Division (S&E) has received two (2) of these grants in the past three years, including $40,000 for a stormwater education program in partnership with North Carolina Central University in 2021 and $225,000 for the Neal Middle School Bioretention Project in 2022. The S&E Division has identified two (2) new projects for which it is applying for EEG funding and is requesting letters of support from the Board of Commissioners.
First, as part of the Whispering Pines Mobile Home Park Stream Restoration project, the County is planning to incorporate a bioretention area and educational materials to provide water quality benefits and empower residents with knowledge about stormwater management practices, fostering a sense of environmental responsibility and active participation in the community's well-being. This is a piece of the larger overall project which seeks to restore approximately 1,200 linear feet of stream flowing through the park reducing nutrients in the watershed and protecting properties from flooding. A Local Assistance Stormwater Infrastructure Investment grant, received by the County in 2023, is funding the planning and design portion of this project.
Second, the S&E Division is seeking funds to integrate drone technology into our stormwater management and erosion control initiatives to enhance our capabilities and contribute to the overall efficiency and effectiveness of our programs. The proposed project will accomplish this by giving the department the ability to efficiently survey large and previously inaccessible areas, provide real-time data on stormwater infrastructure and erosion control measures, identify potential issues, and facilitate swift response to mitigate stormwater-related problems. The integration of drones in a stormwater program represents the County’s commitment to environmental stewardship and innovation by leveraging cutting-edge technology to enhance efficiency, safety, and decision-making in the management of stormwater infrastructure.
Alignment with Strategic Plan: This agenda item supports Goal 4: Environmental Stewardship and Community Prosperity, specifically improving water quality.
Resource Persons: Ryan D. Eaves, PE, Stormwater and Erosion Control Division Manager; Jay Gibson, PE, Director of Engineering and Environmental Services; Taylor Blauser, Grant Administrator for Engineering and Environmental Services
County Manager’s Recommendation: The County Manager recommends that the Board authorize the Chair to sign these letters of support for application to the Environmental Enhancements Grant Program.
Signature
County Manager: ____________________________