Stream Restoration, Water Quality Enhancement and Greenway Trail
Near the heart of downtown Charlotte, Little Sugar Creek now sparkles in the sunlight.
Traffic still buzzes overhead on criss-crossing Interstate ramps. But this section of Little Sugar Creek is no longer hidden under brush and trash. Gently-sloping banks hug the restored creek. The stream channel and banks are specially designed to reduce erosion by slowing the flow of the water after heavy rain.
Once neglected, the ribbon of stream is now a picturesque place to enjoy nature near the main campus of Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC).
Stream work completed: 2011
Objectives:
- Reduce levels of pollution in the water
- Restore stream function and wildlife habitat
- Create Best Management Practices (BMPs)
- Provide educational opportunities for schools and the community
- Provide a greenway trail and preserve open space
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Stream restoration work is at the bottom right of this picture, taken in January 2011.
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Final project mailer (March 2012)
Cost: $363,000
Sources of Funding:
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services: $159,490
NC Clean Water Management Trust Fund: $203,510
The project cost includes construction of a rain garden at CPCC's Culinary Building and a cistern to collect storm water runoff from the roof to be used for irrigation. The cost does not include possible stream-side amenities planned by Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation or CPCC.