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Neuse Riverkeeper Samantha Krop, Sound Rivers’ water-quality intern Maya Hardison and Walnut Creek Wetland Partners volunteer Denise Spaugh continued their Little Rock “creekwalk” last week and encountered a severe erosion issue now reported to the City of Raleigh.

Previously, their investigation sent them downstream from Sound Rivers’ trash trap located on the grounds of the Walnut Creek Wetland Center. This time, they walked the creek upstream.

“We were looking for potential bacterial inputs; looking at infrastructure and stormwater outfalls. One thing that was notable was we found an area that was impassable because a serious erosion issue was happening. The creek bank had collapsed, taking down a tree, which is blocking the creek, and the fencing of a school playground is within two inches of this 10-foot cliff,” Sam said.

Sam believes the tree is likely preventing trash from reaching the downstream trash trap, as well.

“We reported this to the City of Raleigh, and the City of Raleigh is awesome for having a variety of programs available for stream restoration and green stormwater,” Sam said.

The issue had gone undiscovered because it’s in an inaccessible area, she said: “It was something that you had to be walking up the creek to find.”