Good afternoon Chuck, we compiled a summary of questions and answers from the public meeting on October 20th (attached). They will also be added to the project webpage.
We’re incorporating changes noted from the public meeting into the plans and specifications. We hope to advertise the project for construction early in the new year. We will continue to update our webpage as the project progresses, but if there are any additional questions, please reach out.
V/R,
Jason P. Zern, P.E.
Senior Manager
New Castle County Public Works
(302) 395-5780
Creating a Cleaner, Greener
New Castle County
Q&A Summar Public Meeting – Little Mill Stream Restoration October 21, 2024
• Question: How long will the project take to construct? We have heard it will take 5 years.
Response: Construction has been estimated to take 12 months.
• Question: Are any additional pedestrian bridges proposed besides the two existing bridges to be
replaced?
Response: No additional bridges are proposed as part of the project besides the two existing
bridges that need to be replaced to accommodate grading for the restored floodplain. One of
the new bridges will hold park maintenance equipment/vehicles.
•Question: Will construction cause vibrations that will damage structures (walls, fences, etc.) on
adjacent resident properties?
Response: The contractor will be required to take pictures/videos of the area surrounding their
construction zone before construction. These pictures/videos will be used during and after
construction to determine if any structure was damaged. During construction, the contractor will
be required to follow best practices to ensure that vibration is not damaging to structures.
• Question: Will the proposed stream restoration maintain walking access to residents on the west
side of Little Mill Creek north of Rhode Island Avenue? Residents currently access the park
through a cleared area maintained by a local resident.
Response: The County has asked the design engineer to modify the plans in order to maintain a
cleared grass area suitable for walking access from the west side to the bridge near Rhode Island
Avenue.
• Question: Will property owners adjacent to the park need to obtain flood insurance due to the
project?
Response: No change in flood insurance requirements for homeowners adjacent to the project
are anticipated as the project results in net excavation (removal of existing sediment/soil).
• Question: How will the project impact flooding near the intersection of Wagoner Drive and
Centre Road that currently experiences storm drain surcharges during heavy rain events?
Response: Water surface elevations at the downstream limit of the project are controlled by the
Centre Road bridge. No changes are proposed to the existing bridge configuration and only
minor changes at the existing storm drain outfalls are proposed. The minor outfall changes are
proposed to ensure the storm drainpipes can discharge to the restored floodplain and/or
channel. Therefore, it is anticipated that the project will not have noticeable impacts on water
surface elevations near the intersection of Wagoner Drive and Centre Road.
• Question: Will the existing park amenities remain after the project?
Response: Yes, the two existing basketball courts and existing playground will remain after the
project’s completion. Additionally, the proposed trail will increase accessibility to these
amenities.
Q&A Summary
Public Meeting – Little Mill Stream Restoration
October 21, 2024
• Question: How will the use of motorized vehicles be limited on the proposed trail?
Response: The County will place bollards and signage to dissuade motorized vehicles from
traversing on the pathways. Violations will be pursued by NCCPD.
• Question: Why not just excavate the channel in its current location?
Response: Excavating the existing channel would not result in the same ecological uplift as
performing a holistic stream restoration such as the proposed stream-floodplain-wetland
approach and it would not provide the required Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) credits as
required by the MS4 permit. Additionally, excavating the existing channel would be more
detrimental to the channel and park as additional flood flows would be conveyed in the channel,
causing additional streambank erosion and loss of adjacent trees.
• Question: Are “waterfall” features in the existing stream going to be maintained?
Response: The “waterfall” features observed during the 10/21/24 field walk are a result of
concrete encased sanitary sewer pipes being uncovered in the channel which increases the risk
of failure. The proposed stream and floodplain are designed to provide additional cover over the
exposed sanitary sewer lines to limit future maintenance needs for New Castle County and
reduce the risk of a sanitary sewer overflow. So therefore, the existing “waterfall” features will
not be maintained.
• Question: Will residents be able to walk through the restored floodplain?
Response: The restored floodplain will be highly vegetated with native trees, shrubs, and tall
grasses which will make walking through the restored floodplain difficult. However, nothing will
block pedestrians from accessing the restored floodplain.
• Question: When is construction supposed to start?
Response: Spring/Summer 2025
• Question: Will the entire park be under construction at one time?
Response: Though the County cannot dictate the contractor’s means and methods, the intent is
for the contractor to phase the construction by working on a small section of the stream at a
time. The playground and basketball courts will remain available most of the time during
construction.
• Question: Can the property owners be involved in the species selection that will be used for
screening purposes between their property and the proposed trail?
Response: The County will work with interested stakeholders in locations where the trail is in
close proximity to their property.
• Question: Can the “beach” area be preserved?
Response: The “beach” area is a result of sediment depositing on the inside of a tortuous
meander bend. Tortuous meanders result in streambank erosion along the outside of the
meander bends which contribute to lateral migration of the channel.
The proposed alignment for Little Mill Creek and its tributaries aims to eliminate tortuous meander bends to reduce streambank erosion, lateral channel migration, tree loss, and to meet the TMDL requirements. Therefore, the “beach” area cannot be preserved.
• Question: Has a wildlife survey been completed, and if not, when will one be conducted?
Response: Wildlife surveys are not typically conducted before stream restoration projects, and
they are not required by regulatory agencies. Wildlife habitat is severely degraded in this stretch
of stream and parkland so the project will only increase biodiversity when the habitat is
improved. Pre and post water quality monitoring surveys will be undertaken which can act as a
surrogate for the health and diversity of aquatic life.
• Question: Will the County install fencing for homeowners as part of this project?
Response: New Castle County is not erecting fencing during this project. Fencing would restrict
access to the parkland. The County will be installing vegetated screening in areas where the
pathway is near propert
https://www.newcastlede.gov/2738/Woodland-Run-Stream-Restoration
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