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An open house featuring stormwater strategy for Runyon Creek resulted in discussion about how to handle runoff.

Sound Rivers Executive Director Heather Deck, Program Director Clay Barber, Water Quality Specialist Taylor Register Seijo and Business Manager Lauren Rowe teamed up with Jamie Heath from the Mid-East Commission and City of Washington Public Works Director Hope Woolard for the drop-in event at the Washington Civic Center last week to share potential projects to boost water quality in the Runyon Creek watershed.

The meeting was part of Runyon Creek’s 9-Element Watershed Restoration Plan, intended to identify where and how water-quality can be improved in the Pamlico River tributary’s watershed.

“We had lots of really cool maps and suggestions for some strategically placed stormwater control measures with a big focus on drainage control of agricultural runoff,” Clay said. “Turns out a huge chunk of Runyon Creek is fed by poor-draining agricultural land, so the water wants to run off in more places than it wants to soak in.”

He added that Beaufort County’s incentive programs can help with the issues facing Runyon Creek — issues such as a creek made shallow with sediment and water quality impacted by fertilizer washing from field to stream.

“We strongly suggest continued support for Beaufort County’s incentive programs that offer financial, technical and educational assistance for things like land conservation, water-quality initiatives like draining controls for fields and stormwater control measures and crop health. For instance, if the crops need less fertilizer because of better farming practices, that’s less fertilizer running off into the creek. We’d love to see these programs continued and enhanced — it benefits everybody to tackle it.”

Other issues brought to the group’s attention included the ongoing flooding of the boat ramp parking lot at Havens Gardens, as well as innovative projects such as floating wetlands that combine aquatic plants and walking paths.

“I’m glad people think about things like that and also think it would be cool to have,” Clay said.

Want to read up on issue facing Runyon Creek and Jacks Creek in Washington? Here’s the East Carolina University study launched by the 9-Element Watershed Restoration Plan and published in Hydrology journal.

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