Band-aid Boulders: Poorly placed solutions simply send the problem downstream
Band-aid Boulders: Poorly placed solutions simply send the problem downstream |
Stream repair is not a do-it-yourself endeavor. Homeowners are encouraged to hire a professional who has been trained in the best practices for stream bank stabilization.
In an effort to make this professional assistance affordable for average homeowners, the Mud Creek Watershed Restoration Project initiated the Stream Dr. Program.
The Solution - The Stream Dr. Program
The Stream Dr. program is aimed initially at professional landscaping contractors. Participants attend a full-day training workshop on stream ecology and function, stream stabilization practices, recommended materials, and use of native riparian vegetation.
A hands-on training project follows the workshop to provide on-the-ground experience in installing stream stabilization practices.
Cost-Share Assistance for Homeowners
Homeowners who contract with trained Stream Doctors (professionals who have completed the Stream Dr. training program) are eligible for cost-share assistance to help defray the costs of stream repair. Cost-share assistance covers 60% of the total project cost, up to a maximum of $3000 assistance ($5000 total project cost).
Homeowners who are interested in applying may click here for a list (PDF format) of professionals who have completed the Stream Dr. training. Homeowners negotiate the service and fee with the contractor privately.
Application for the funding is a team effort. The contractor must provide the client with a budget and a design sketch of the proposed work. Photos are encouraged. The client must then fill out a brief application and attach those documents to it for submission. Click here for a PDF-format application form. (Print the form and send it by regular mail to the address indicated).
The application will be reviewed by a Stream Dr. advisory team made up of Extension agents and specialists with expertise in stream repair and riparian landscaping. The review team will ensure that the scope of the work and the budget reflect approved practices and are priced appropriately for the local market.
The cost-share contract includes a maintenance agreement, in which the homeowner assures that the project will be cared for and not intentionally “un-done.”
Once the application for cost-share funding is approved and a contract is signed, work can be done. The homeowner is responsible for paying the contractor directly.
Once work is complete, leaders from the Stream Dr. program will inspect the project to ensure that it was completed according to the approved plan. Once the work is approved, the homeowner can submit receipts to the Mud Creek Project to receive the cost-share funding as reimbursement for expenses, according to the cost-share agreement.
In summary, the homeowner will enter into two contracts: one with the approved Stream Dr. professional for the work, and one with the Mud Creek Project for the cost-share reimbursement.
Funding for the Stream Dr. Program is provided by the NC Division of Water Quality through a Federal 319 grant.
Note: The Stream Dr. program is aimed at small scale backyard erosion problems. Bigger projects that require more complex engineering or in-stream structures are not within the scope of this program. Homeowners may please contact the Mud Creek project for advice on pursuing more extensive stream restoration, or for any additional information regarding the program.
