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41 <br /> May 9, 2012 <br /> Ms. Renee Price, Chairman <br /> Committee for the Environment (LETTER MAILED TO ALL 15 MEMBERS OF <br /> 1701 Riverside Dr COMMITTEE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND <br /> Hillsborough, NC 27278 COPIED TO OTHERS) <br /> Dear Ms. Price: <br /> As citizens of Orange County, my family and I live on a special piece of property along the banks <br /> of Stoney Creek—4411 Hwy 70 E. Because of our location, we are the beneficiaries of an <br /> ongoing display of a great variety of wildlife and natural beauty associated with a stream. We <br /> view ourselves as stewards as well as owners of this property. <br /> Stoney Creek flows through the middle of our property, which is located one-half mile south of <br /> the Eno River State Park. We live in what Orange County Commissioners have designated the <br /> Stoney Creek Wildlife Corridor. This corridor connects parts of Duke Forest with the Eno State <br /> Park. The importance of protecting and maintaining this corridor is stated in various official <br /> documents adopted by the Orange County commissioners. <br /> The Stoney Creek Wildlife Corridor was designated for low-intensity use and connects the Eno <br /> River State Park to Duke Forest (Reference: Stoney Creek Basin Small Area Plan: Chapter 3, <br /> Pages 12-13—approved by the Orange County Board of Commissioners on August 5, 1996) <br /> Because of zoning changes approved by the Orange County Board of Commissioners in 2008 <br /> and more zoning changes in the Eno District that will be considered by the Commissioners at <br /> the May 29, 2012, public hearing,the viability of this corridor is being destroyed. It has already <br /> been damaged by attracting the type of businesses that contribute to water, air, and noise <br /> pollution. <br /> The photos enclosed here illustrate some of the environmental impact of one such business. <br /> When this company arrived,they clear-cut the timber on the Stoney Creek/Eno watershed and <br /> then began to stockpile dirt of an unknown origin uphill from Stoney Creek. That material now <br /> constitutes a small mountain. Storm-water runoff is already creating a man-made "tributary" to <br /> Stoney Creek, which is within 100 yards of this pile of stuff. <br /> Dirt and debris overwhelmed the original small silt screen. A new barrier, erected in March of <br /> this year, has already been breached. Given the configuration and angle of repose of that <br /> created mountain, it is doubtful that anyone will ever be able to contain the stormwater runoff <br /> there. Stormwater runoff translates as increased particulate matter and pollution flowing <br /> directly into the Eno River,through its tributary, Stoney Creek. Obviously this ultimately <br /> impacts the Upper Neuse River water supply. <br /> Page 1 of 3 <br />