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MURPHY HIGH SCHOOL
TRACK
Printable Project
Summary
(pdf)
History of the Murphy
H.S. Track Project
MHS graduate and
Cherokee County resident, Eric Mulkey, contacted various agencies
and organizations in summer 2007 about removing trash and brushy
non-native vegetation from the wooded area along Valley River at the
Murphy H.S. track. HRWC staff visited the site with Mr. Mulkey and
Keith Wood of Cherokee County Cooperative Extension. While walking
the site, the group noticed (in addition to the aforementioned
issues) that approximately 350 feet of the river bank is moderately
eroding and unstable. It presents an ongoing safety hazard, but
also could be severely detrimental to water quality and aquatic
ecology should it wash out during a storm event. HRWC staff also
noted several opportunities to improve stormwater drainage/treatment
at the site.
After obtaining
the support of the school board, HRWC applied for and, in June 2008,
received a $65,000 grant from the NC Section 319 Nonpoint Source
Pollution Program. Shortly thereafter, in partnership with HRWC,
the Cherokee Co. Soil & Water Conservation District received nearly
$14,000 from the NC Community Conservation Program to assist with
construction of stormwater best management practices. A minimum of
$35,000 in matching funds must be contributed by the project
partners; however, in-kind services and volunteer time can be
utilized to help meet the match.
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Goals &
Objectives
Although it is being funded through a
different source than restoration work previously conducted
in the Valley River watershed, this project is considered
part of the multi-year
Valley River Watershed Restoration
Project initiative. The
primary goal of the larger project is to reduce turbidity
and sedimentation such that full use support status is
returned to the Valley River and it is removed from the
303(d) List of impaired waters.
Site-specific objectives of the Murphy High School Track
project are to:
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Reduce bank erosion and nonpoint source pollution
associated with stormwater runoff from the track site to
to
reduce turbidity and improve aquatic habitat in the
Valley River;
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Create an easily accessible demonstration site in the
Town of Murphy,
NC and the Valley River watershed; and
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Further educate people about watershed problems and
solutions.
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HRWC plans to
involve teachers and students from both the high school and middle
school in the project to maximum extent feasible. |
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Project Partners
Baker
Engineering
Cherokee County Board of Education
Cherokee County Soil & Water Conservation District
Hiwassee River Watershed Coalition
Murphy High School
Murphy Middle School
Natural Resources Conservation Service
NC
State University Water Quality Group
Town
of Murphy |
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Donated materials
such as gravel, fill dirt, native trees/shrubs
or grass seed; supplies such as tools, gloves,
trash bags, signage, or printing; and donated
equipment time from local contractors can be
used to help meet match requirements for our
grants. Please contact Callie Moore at
cmoore@hrwc.net
or (828) 837-5414 if you are interested in
becoming a project partner. |
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Earth Team volunteer, Brian Wood, helped
students remove dead trees and invasive species in the
buffer of the Valley River at the Murphy High School Track. |
Current
Project Status
HRWC and project partners have held
several meetings and established a
working timeline
for the project.
Baker Engineering
out of Asheville, NC has been contracted to design the bank
stabilization work and NC State University Water Quality
Group has been contracted to suggest (and design) stormwater
BMPs for the site.
The first volunteer workday for the project
was held on Wednesday, April 22nd (Earth Day). More than 200
students from 13 classes at Murphy High and Middle Schools and a
dozen volunteers participated! Thanks to Lowe's for providing water
for the event!
Visit
our scrapbook for pictures!
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