OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER GRANT

George L. Carrington Middle School (Carrington MS) is a traditional school in the Durham Public School System, serving over 1,000 students, of which 68.9% of the students across this school are economically disadvantaged. The school supports a strong academic program but was lacking in outdoor learning opportunities. They had a small garden (that has existed for several years), but it wasn’t enough to teach lessons across all subject matters. Mr. D’Angelo, an Agriculture and Biotechnology Teacher at Carrington MS, along with Durham Soil and Water staff, discussed ways to maximize the benefits of the outdoor education area.

In 2020 The Durham Soil and Water Conservation District staff wrote and received $2,500 in funding to expand the outdoor space at Carrington MS into an outdoor educational learning center (OELC). The funding received from The NC Foundation of Soil and Water Conservation and EPA provided the school with materials, tools, and supplies needed to build a new teaching garden. The students grew and harvested lettuce, swiss chard, cherry tomatoes, chives, and sunflowers that they donated to the community. The District had already received a grant through its partner, the Piedmont Conservation Council (PCC), to provide extended learning opportunities for at-risk youth from Northern High School (NHS). The PCC funding helped pay for two Agriculture Education teachers from NHS to teach high school students how to install a cistern and its accessories. This system was designed to water the vegetables and pollinator plants in the eight raised beds. In addition, DPS staff secured a $15,000 grant from NC Tobacco Trust Fund to purchase an industry greenhouse. The greenhouse was installed in late 2020.

Carrington Middle School plans to continue to use the space in the Fall for a new set of crops. Their students appreciate learning in this space, and there seem to be endless opportunities to enhance more lessons around this garden- from pest management practices to soil and water sciences. We hope that the fall semester will offer Carrington Middle School Teachers and Durham Soil and Water staff more opportunities to engage students in outdoor learning.

STREAM RESTORATION

GROVE PARK STREAM RESTORATION PROJECT

The Durham Soil and Water Conservation District have obtained all funding (1.4 million) needed to move forward with the Grove Park Stream Restoration Project. The overall project is 6,000 LF (Phase 1 - 3,680 LF & Phase 2 - 2,320 LF). The project was surveyed earlier this year and is in the design phase. Once 60% of designs are complete, permits applications will be submitted, and the project should go to construction this winter.

The project contains Unnamed Tributaries (UTs) located within the Grove Park development and connects to Little Lick Creek, and drains a portion of eastern Durham County. The property has experienced channelization and straightening of the stream channel. The upstream suburban development and past timbering have resulted in a deeply incised stream bed with eroding vertical banks. The project is located in the headwaters of Falls Lake. Falls Lake is listed on the State’s Clean Water Act Section 303(d) list of impaired waters.

The purpose of this project is as follows:

1. Conversion of 6,000 LF of UTs to Little Lick Creek from an eroding, degraded channel to a natural, stable system with excellent aquatic habitat.
2. Reduction of sediment loading to a sediment impaired 303(d) listed Little Lick Creek and Falls Lake
3. Establishment of vegetated riparian buffers along UTs to Little Lick Creek Corridor, which will be protected in perpetuity through a District monitored conservation easement.
4. Provide an opportunity for students to grow riparian trees and then install them.
5. The District has assembled many partners for the project, and they are as listed; Grove Park HOA, Piedmont Conservation Council, Division of Water Resources of DEQ, Triangle J Council Of Government, Raleigh Watershed Protection Program, North Carolina Land and Water Fund and the Land and Water Solutions.

THE AGRICULTURE COST SHARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (ACSP)

The Agriculture Cost Share Assistance Program (ACSP) is a voluntary program for qualifying farmers and agricultural landowners to address natural resource concerns on the land and nonpoint source pollution from agricultural activities. The program provides technical, educational, and financial assistance for the installation of conservation best management practices to address water quality issues found on the farm. The ACSP has been putting conservation on the ground across NC since the mid-1980s. Here in Durham County, it is administered by the Durham Soil and Water Conservation District.

The program is 100% voluntary on the part of the producer/landowner to help them improve the natural resources; air, soil, plant, animal, and water; on their property by utilizing/installing conservation BMPs. Participants can be reimbursed up to 75% of a predetermined average cost for each BMP installed. The applicant is responsible for the remaining 25% of the costs. In some situations, new or limited resource farmers can be eligible for up to 90% cost share.

The Durham County Agriculture Cost Share Assistance Program (ACSP) received $44,966 from state appropriations for the conservation best management practices (BMPs) in fiscal year 2021. Of the state appropriated funds, 100% were allocated to local Durham County producers/landowners for the following conservation BMPs; 1 rooftop runoff, 4 grassed waterways, 2 shaped field boarders, 1 riparian buffer, 2 fencing exclusion systems, 1 livestock watering system, 1 stream crossing, 1 agricultural road repair, and 2 acres of micro-irrigation. The BMPs will mitigate or prevent future losses of nutrients and soil from the farms & nearby streams, thereby improving overall water quality in Durham County. Estimated reductions expected once the BMPs are installed are 110.2 pounds per year of Nitrogen saved, 6.5 pounds per year of Phosphorus saved and 190.85 tons per year of Soil saved.

The District staff will be working closely with these producers over the next couple of years to provide technical assistance during the installation of the BMPs. Once completed, the District will monitor the BMPs for 10 years to ensure their function and continued use.

NC AGRIGULTURAL WATER RESOURCES ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (AgWRAP)

Established in 2012, the NC Agricultural Water Resources Assistance Program (AgWRAP) is available to assist the Durham County agriculture community with water resource needs. Instead of being water quality driven like ACSP, the AgWRAP program is strictly water quantity based to help address water resource concerns/needs on farms. AgWRAP is intended to; Identify opportunities to increase water use efficiency, availability, and storage, implement best management practices (BMPs) to conserve and protect water resources, increase water use efficiency, and Increase water storage and availability for agricultural purposes.

The state legislated appropriation for AgWRAP is considerably smaller than ACSP, therefore the District allocation is much smaller than the ACSP. In FY 2019 the Durham District received $22,545 and that entire amount was allocated to a Durham County farmer for the installation of 1 acre of micro-irrigation and sediment removed from an irrigation pond. Both projects are for a new/beginning farm family in Durham County that are growing 1+ acres of vegetables, berries, fruit, and herbs.

Similar to the NC Ag Cost Share Program, once an AgWRAP contract has been signed and approved the producer has 2 to 3 years to complete the installation of all BMPs.

HURRICANCE AGRICULTURAL DISASTER PROGRAMS

Durham county farmers and landowners alike felt the effects of both Hurricane Florence and Hurricane Michael. The heavy rainfall in such a short time and wind gusts caused several types of damage to field erosion, fences, barns, crops, farm roads, and stream blockages. To help several emergency programs were funded through Federal, State, and Private funding. North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Hurricane Florence Agricultural Disaster Program of 2018 was funded by the North Carolina General Assembly with a $240 million bill to provide direct payments to farmers that reported crop loss. North Carolina Division of Soil and Water award Durham Soil and Water Conservation District $22,500 out of a requested $43,500 to provide cost share assistance with 3 farm road repair contracts. Natural Resource Conservation Service received funding through FEMA to provide cost share assistance with stream debris removal. Pasture Renovation and Cover crop seed initiative, which provided Durham County farmers with 1000 pounds of free seed for reseeding pastures or winter cover on crop fields. The initiative was made possible with funding from state Farm Bureaus around the country and Duke Energy.

THE NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE (NRCS)

The Natural Resources Conservation Service is wrapping up another year of conservation programs signup. During FY2021, we received 7 Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) applications in Durham County – specifically for High Tunnels and Forest Mgmt. Unfortunately, these funding pools are very competitive, and only one High Tunnel System application was funded for a total of $9,500.00. The remaining applications stay in the system, and if participants are still interested when the next signup comes around, these will be ranked again.

An additional contract was approved in the county under the Conservation Stewardship Program – Grassland Conservation Initiative (GCI) for 12.9 acres. The Farm Service Agency determines who is eligible for this program and the amount of eligible acres. The GCI allows landowners to graze, hay, or do other activities as long as the land is kept in grass. Participants sign up for a period of 5 years and receive an annual payment each year.

NRCS also has another conservation program for those Ag Producers (including Non-Industrial Private Forest ) that are doing above and beyond in conservation, the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). NRCS rewards those producers by paying for the current level of conservation, but those producers will need to adopt a new conservation practice or enhancement practice on their land. We received a Forestry application this year, in which participants would like to do prescribed burning and pre-commercial thinning to meet the requirements of the program. The application was ranked and submitted by the deadline. If funded, this application will be the first CSP contract in the county.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

COMMUNITY CONSEVATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (CCAP)

AND

BIONOMIC EDUCATION TRAINING CENTER (BETC)

The Community Conservation Assistance Program (CCAP) is a voluntary program that provides landowners with technical assistance and cost-share reimbursement to install best management practices (BMPs) on urban and suburban land. On-site consultations are provided to residents to address erosion, drainage, and water quality concerns along with evaluating those BMPS suitable for a site. Staff also host community outreach meetings with homeowner’s associations and local groups to discuss water quality improvement. BMPs available through CCAP include rain gardens, grass swales, cisterns, critical area plantings, impervious surface conversion, and streambank stabilization. The primary mission of CCAP is to reduce the amount of sediment and nutrients from reaching our streams to improve water quality and aquatic habitat.

The BETC Program was created in 2010 as a pilot program to teach students about the growing needs, demands and technological developments in agri-science, green industries and green infrastructure. The Program enhances middle and high school education by actively engaging students in hands-on implementation, activities, and research, as well as the development of critical thinking skills. The Program seeks to improve STEM literacy for students by providing teachers with curricula and training and advance responsible student behaviors toward the environment by engaging them in water quality projects (e.g. rain gardens) that address how to mitigate urban storm water runoff that threatens our water quality.

The big news for CCAP and BETC this year is the success of the first year of a two-year grant from the Southeast Sustainable Communities Fund (SSCF). Totaling $300,000, this grant involves a cooperative effort between the Durham County Soil & Water Conservation District (DSWD), City of Durham, Rebuilding Together of the Triangle (RTT), Durham Public Schools, Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association (ECWA), and the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service. The primary goals of this cooperative effort are to address climate change by reducing stormwater runoff, streambank erosion, and flooding in low-income neighborhoods in the Ellerbe Creek Watershed of Durham and improving energy and water efficiency in these same neighborhoods. An important secondary goal is to provide disadvantaged high school students with an opportunity to learn job skills in the field of green infrastructure.

The DSWD and ECWA installed 23 stormwater BMPs at 12 locations (10 single family homes and two community gardens). DSWD used $32,935 in matching funds provided by the City and County of Durham to help implement these projects. In addition, seven teachers and 60 students participated in the installation of these practices. RTT completed weatherization and moisture and mold remediation projects at 10 homes with projects at an additional 15 homes currently in progress. Projects have included HVAC repairs, gutter installations, door and window repairs, porch and deck repairs, and full bathroom replacements. Working with community leaders, DSWD has already compiled a list of 18 additional households interested in this funding for the second round of installations in 2022.

Contractor (Technical)

The Durham SWCD’s contract employee, Cherri Smith, has continued to work for the District inventorying streams on agricultural lands and assisting in the field with riparian buffer determinations. These data are used to determine the percentage of streams with state-regulated intact riparian buffers as well as to target those streams that would benefit from agricultural cost share funds.

In addition, this employee has continued to update the Voluntary Agricultural District (VAD) Program database and add new farms to this program. There are currently close to 8,000 acres enrolled in the VAD Program in Durham County with 851 acres added during the last fiscal year.

For the calendar year 2021, Cherri has also helped monitor the District’s eight completed stream restoration and stormwater retrofit projects. Much of Cherri’s time during 2021 has been spent assisting with the Community Conservation Assistance Program and the Southeast Sustainable Communities Fund. A primary goal of this grant is to address climate change by reducing stormwater runoff, streambank erosion, and flooding in low-income neighborhoods in the Ellerbe Creek Watershed of Durham. She assisted students and teachers to install rain gardens at homes within this watershed and helped with stormwater educational programs.

As the District’s case load of drainage and erosion issues continues to increase, Cherri began assisting with these site visits. She conducted 15 consultations with single family homeowners from March through June of 2021.

WATERSHED

Agriculture Compliance with the Falls Lake Rules

The Durham Local Advisory Committee met on March 24, 2021 for the annual review of crop data and discussed the Local Nutrient Control Strategy as outlined by Falls Lake Reservoir Nutrient Management Strategies. Durham farmers reported 481 acres of corn, 653 acres of soybeans, 791 acres of tall fescue, 51 acres of orchard grass, 247 acres of wheat and 112 acres of tobacco for a total of 2,352 acres of crop land in crop year 2020. The Nitrogen Loss Estimate Worksheet (NLEW) that was compiled has indicated that the nitrogen losses of 85% from the baseline in 2006. Durham farmers have continued to exceed the 20 percent reduction according to the Phase I mandate.

AG DEVELOPMENT

FY21 Agricultural Economic Development Grant

In FY 2021, The Durham County Board of County Commissioners allocated $50,000 towards the Agricultural Economic Grant for its third program year. The purpose of the Agricultural Economic Development Grant Program is to offer cost share grants to assist farmers and to promote Agriculture Development and Outdoor Environmental Learning Centers in schools.

The County has a successful economic development plan that offers cash incentives to businesses that create jobs in the community. This Agricultural Economic Grant Program mimics the same outcome but is directed to support farms, new and beginning entrepreneurs, and to support agriculture education in schools.

DURHAM SOIL AND WATER WELCOMES NEW EMPLOYEE

Sherry Scully joined the Durham Soil & Water Conservation District as the Ag Development Coordinator in July 2021. She will serve the Ag Economic Development Committee by administering the Ag Economic Development Grant Program. She will also work collaboratively with the Durham County Farmland Protection Advisory Board, other county departments, economic development professionals, private agencies, and others to carry out strategies and programs set forth by the Durham County Agricultural Development and Farmland Protection Plan. Sherry previously worked with Chatham Soil and Water Conservation District and the Division of Soil & Water through the NRCS ATAC program. She received her BS in Biology with an Environmental Science Concentration from Meredith College. She has an extensive farming background and love of agriculture and the environment.

PIEDMONT CONSERVATION COUNCIL (PCC)

Piedmont Conservation Council (PCC) is a regional nonprofit organization started in 1967 under the Resource Conservation and Development program through the USDA. PCC continues to fulfill its mission by leveraging people and resources for innovative projects that promote conservation and sustainable communities.

Serving ten counties, the Council has supported Durham Soil and Water Conservation District projects such as Sevenmile Creek Watershed Project, Grove Park Lake Project, and the Bionomic Education Training Center located in Durham County over the past year.

Following Hurricane Florence, the immediate stretch of Sevenmile Creek downstream of a culvert running under Continental Drive in Durham experienced severe erosion and clogging by trees to fall into the stream. Durham County Soil and Water Conservation District (DCSWCD) served as the sponsor for EWP funds to repair the stream, and the Piedmont Conservation Council (PCC) served as the project manager. The District worked with PCC to conduct this $240,000 project. A survey was conducted in September 2020; engineering plans and specifications were developed throughout the fall and winter, while PCC acquired authorization from all involved landowners. The 401/404 permit application was submitted in January and received approval on March 24, 2021. In March, contracts for construction and plantings were obtained. A Flood Study was approved by Durham Development Services on April 19, allowing construction to move forward the following week. On May 22, 2021, the construction was completed, and plantings were installed on May 28. As-built drawings have been submitted, and a final inspection with NRCS has been conducted. DCSWCD has approved the final work.

Two new staff have taken over the helm to continue the agency’s momentum. As Executive Director, Ginell Rogers brings experience in nonprofit management, including building financial infrastructure and engagement into the community. As Project Manager, Kim Lahman, with social work and environmental science background, produces results connecting people and projects that benefit the Piedmont region. These PCC employees have office space in the Durham District Office.

The Durham District serves on the Executive Board as well as the Full Council overseeing the many projects that are funneled through PCC.

ENO RIVER HYDRILLA

District staff continues to represent the county on the Eno River Hydrilla Management (ERHM) Task Force. The ERHM Task Force has decided to conduct another vegetation and tuber survey during the 2021 growing season. This monitoring effort will allow us to evaluate how the river has responded to another year of no treatment as well as inform us how to best set up the treatment for 2022. The vegetation survey of the river be from the confluence of the West and East Fork Eno rivers to Old Oxford Road. See map. In addition to the vegetation survey a tuber survey will also be conducted by NCSU.

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

FY21 Durham SWCD Conservation Contest Winners

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CONTRACTOR (Kyleene Rooks)

In the FY2021 Kyleene Rooks created or aided in the creation of a total of seventeen educational and promotional videos for the Durham Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD). Twelve of these videos serve as supplementary online resources for Durham County Public & Private Schools (DCPS); following NC DPI Essential science and social studies standards for environmental education. Many of these videos serve dual purposes as supplementary resources as well as lessons that can be extended to in-person once COVID regulations in schools have been lifted. In addition to education videos that cover the topics of soil, water and other agriculture education, she also created several local agricultural economic development videos that promote local farm families who have received grant funding from Durham County Soil and Water Conservation. Aside from providing technical support and creating online content for Durham SWCD Kyleene also helped maintain its social media presence by creating an Instagram and YouTube account for the department and revived the Durham SWCD Twitter account; assisted in some admin duties; and maintained her NC Environmental Educators Certification.

AUGMENTED REALITY SANDBOX (AR Sandbox)