One of the projects included in the NC Clean Water Management Trust Fund (CWMTF) grant proposal was a demonstration project to correct storm water and erosion problems in a residential subdivision. One doesn’t have to look very far to find storm water problems in local subdivisions. As reported in the local newspapers, damage from storm water can be devastating and very expensive to fix. The repairs can easily bankrupt a homeowner or a homeowners association. It is a tragedy to see a family lose their home. Without special flood or mudslide insurance they could easily lose everything and have no means to replace it. As a result, storm water management is a growing concern in Haywood County and throughout the state. 

The Haywood Soil and Water Conservation District partnered with HWA on the CWMTF grant application. HWA was responsible for writing the proposal and getting the money here (the GIS database and Watershed Action Plan were instrumental in this process). The District designed the improvements, provided cost estimates, and most important of all, put it on the ground. The District and HWA identified Balsam Meadows as a good candidate for the grant program. The project was needed, doable and not so large that it would be a “budget buster”. After several meetings with the homeowners and many hours of design and leg work by its staff, the District finalized the plan. 

The Balsam Meadows Homeowners Association inherited serious storm water, erosion and road maintenance problems from the developer. The subdivision was a prime example of a poorly planned development with inadequate storm water management design. Runoff from rainstorms was undermining the roads and impacting homes placed in the path of the storm water. Without proper intervention, the problems would have only increased over time. 

The District staff surveyed the subdivision and prioritized the needed repairs. Next they designed the improvements and during construction supervised the work. The roads were re-graded and one steep section was paved. Water breaks, proper sized culverts and drop inlets were installed. The existing ditches were improved and where needed armored with asphalt. The storm water was diverted away from the homes and into a small creek and natural drainage area. The final project cost was $58,440. 

This project was a success thanks to the efforts of the District staff. The project proved that proper planning and design will result in a good subdivision with stable roads and reduced risk of flooding. We are very fortunate to have this local expertise available in the county.