Third Fork Creek

The following is a re-posting of my earlier blog which many in our community found alarmist in nature, further dividing a community that has experienced far too much invective and acrimony.  I confess that I did allow myself to be pulled into this and did not fully investigate the statements of either side, only reacting to the emotional appeal of one side or the other.  This was wrong for me to add fuel to this already raging fire and I am hoping that this revised blog will at least ameliorate the harm already done and perhaps begin healing within our community as a whole.  In a recent conversation with both ‘sides’ within the community (it seems I have been elected as bridge builder), I remarked on the parallels between our community and the Congress’ inability to stop and listen to each other, even when those with whom we disagree are next door neighbors.  Community implies communication; without communication we will not have community and my hope and yes prayer is that this revision will help build communication and community.  


 Since Kathy and I moved to the Elm Grove community, we have been both amazed and gratified at the wonderful neighborhood and the manner in which so many who live here do reach out to one another.  As we’d decided to become more involved in the area (our volunteer work with the USO-NC is an example of this), we sought out the HOA president and were invited to become involved with the HOA on a volunteer basis, initially as members of a group seeking to welcome new residents to our community.  Following one open session of an HOA board meeting however, a new concern for our neighborhood caught my attention and I agreed to meet with several of those who had expressed concern about the proposed (and accepted) XXL gas station complex on the south side of Martin Luther King Boulevard across from Walmart.  That this gas station, car wash and convenience store was to be sited straddling an already threatened waterway and some of its tributaries, they were concerned that the City of Durham had rushed into a project that they may regret in the future.  The impact from this commercial enterprise of Murphy Oil included putting at risk an important watershed already under stress (see below) and the indigenous wildlife as well as migratory birds that used this area in their twice yearly travels.  Additionally there was expressed a concern that the XXL station complex would further negatively impact the quality of water in Jordan Lake to which Triple Fork Creek eventually empties.

Third Fork Creek is a small creek whose headwaters are near Forest Hills and NC Central University, the course of which winds through the Hope Valley Farms and Woodcroft communities and from there eventually emptying into Jordan Lake and then Cape Fear River via the Haw River.  Durham City has posted concerns about this watershed and how many of the challenges with that watershed (elevated levels of nitrogen, phosphorus as well as coliform bacteria) are reflected in increasing difficulty of maintaining the condition of Jordan Lake from these same pollutants.  The portion of Third Fork Creek that borders the Elm Grove community has, according to Durham City’s own assessment, the “…worst water quality across the watershed…”  

So what?  Over the past few years the City of Durham has changed the zoning for the plot of land bordering this fragile waterway until the most recent change allows Murphy Oil to successfully apply for permission to build their gas station complex here where previously that would not have been possible.  As our city grows such changes are to be expected, but the gradual nature seemed to be an effort to avoid alarm on the part of those neighborhoods bordering this area (Elm Grove); I have also learned that the City Council only requires that notice of such changes be sent to those homeowners within 600 feet of the proposed change and HOA boards that are within 1000 feet.  Whatever motive the City used to gradually seek the changes it did may never be known, but it has happened and the communication to and among all of Elm Grove as well as other affected communities in the Third Fork Creek watershed (Hope Valley Farms, Woodcroft, among others) has left us with few options now other than to express our concern to the City of Durham, particularly in reference to their already published concern for this tributary of the Cape Fear River (see links above).  For those who live in Phase I of Elm Grove (Grey Elm Trail) will also face dramatic changes not only during the construction of this complex, but through light and noise pollution from this large gas station complex as well as potential foot and vehicular traffic from those visiting the XXL gas station into our community.   Many within the community have struggled both to stop this process from the beginning of their becoming aware of the plans of Murphy Oil.  Some of those remain deeply involved, but frustrations with perceived lack of response from the City and other governmental bodies as well as the HOA and management company have led to an exchange of invective rather than ideas (see my opening paragraph) that has led to a disjointed effort at best to seek a remedy for possible threats to our community and the Triple Fork Creek watershed.  As a relatively new member of our community I am still gathering facts, but will strive not to accuse any party of wrong doing, rather hope to be a source of information rather than accusation.  As part of my efforts I will be reaching out to different persons within the City of Durham in the coming weeks to ascertain their views not only for the process that has led us to this point, but the potential impact on Triple Fork Creek watershed, Jordan Lake, Haw River and Cape Fear River as well as other concerns expressed to me by some within our community: 

   1.    The potential for a loss in property values; different sources disagree on what, if any, impact this proposed gas station complex would have on the Elm Grove and bordering communities, but I hope to be able to ascertain a more objective examination of this in coming weeks

2.    Increased traffic flow in the area

3.    Increased risk of those from the proposed station being able to walk up into our neighborhood

4.    All of Hope Valley Farms will feel this impact as well as having a massive impact on the only access we now have to the Third Fork Creek Trail, which connects to the American Tobacco Trail

5.    The runoff from the gas station could further harm an already at risk watershed; the 6.77 acres they plan to use could bring irreparable harm to the nearly 8 acres of the Third Fork Creek watershed flood plain located south of Martin Luther King Boulevard (see images in slide show)

6.    Those indigenous species living within the area could be destroyed and those migratory birds that currently use this flood plain in their travels would also be placed at risk

7.    This gas station could further degrade the quality of the water in the Third Fork Creek and from there Jordan Lake and the Cape Fear River, so more than our own community is being put at risk to establish this gas station

Yesterday morning I took a hike down to this creek, following in the footsteps of someone else who earlier has done some research regarding the impact of this station on the area, walking down the hill behind some of the homes on Grey Elm Trail, to see for myself what some neighbors have told me is at risk.  I was amazed at the almost bucolic environment I found.  Bordering the creek itself is a large body of water filled with a wide variety of flora and fauna; the sound of traffic on Martin Luther King Boulevard seemed to accent the importance of preserving this beautiful area for all of Durham to enjoy.  I have included some of the photos I took while walking along Triple Fork Creek and the associated flood plain and invite anyone who is so inclined to walk along the trail and just look at the immense variety of wild flowers, animal and bird life you will see there.  The plans for the Murphy Oil, XXL gas station complex have been approved and deforestation could begin soon.  Removing yet another spot of beauty from our city may seem right economically, but the price we may pay has much more than dollar signs attached to it.  The Durham City government has established a Third Fork Creek Restoration project and perhaps that is the best person or part of our city government to approach with concerns or offers of help.  If you care about the quality of our drinking water (yes, you too in Wake and Chatham counties) and the horrible trend of paving over more and more of our wetlands and woods concerns you, then please speak up.