Charlotte Observer Mar. 8, 2009

Caldwell Station Creek in Cornelius to be restored

Workers will remove silt from the creek, protect wetlands and create new ones

Joe Marusak
Posted: Sunday, Mar. 08, 2009

CORNELIUS The town and state plan to restore silt-laden Caldwell Station Creek and protect seven nearby acres of wetlands beginning this year.
The creek flows through Cornelius, heading south of the Oakhurst and Poole Place communities, across the street from Home Depot and under Interstate 77 to link with McDowell Creek.
Workers will reconstruct the stream channel so the banks are stable, well vegetated, erosion-free and more capable of handling floodwater, town recreation officials said.
They said the work will also provide a healthy habitat for aquatic species and other wildlife. The wetlands will be protected, and new wetlands will be created beside the existing ones.
Visitors will be able to see the improvements and view wildlife from an observation area at the end of Poole Place Drive.
Work is expected begin in three to six months and end in early 2010.
The state is funding the work. The project's design cost $236,000, said Watson Ross of the N.C. Ecosystem Enhancement Program. The construction project is in the final bidding stage, Ross said.
The N.C. Ecosystem Enhancement Program and the Cornelius Department of Parks, Arts, Recreation, Culture are leading the effort.
The state program is part of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Parts of the wetlands are town-owned, and other parts state-owned.