The forebay site is downstream of the bridge at North Lakeshore Drive and near the intersection of South Lakeshore Drive/Curtis Road/Kensington Drive/North Lakeshore Drive.

As you probably know, the forebay (pond) is a widening and deepening of the creek channel. It was built in 2001 to capture much of the silt and other materials coming downstream en-route to Eastwood Lake and Jordan Lake. As you can see from the bridge, it has been doing just that, and there are now sandbars and significant filling of the creek bed and forebay. The plan is to restore the effectiveness by re-excavating to the original depths. Essentially 100% of the material to be removed did not originate in Lake Forest; however, LFA will pay 100% of the costs to remove it.

The forebay was designed and built for periodic maintenance. There are permanent crushed stone access roads and pads on each side. The Town has opted to not do any excavation under or upstream of the bridge at this time. LFA’s project begins at the downstream face of the bridge.

The work is covered by specific permits issued by the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, NC Division of Water Quality (DWQ) on behalf of the EPA, and the Town of Chapel Hill.

LFA’s contractor is Baxter Johnson Construction of Raleigh. They are a third-generation family business doing specialized grading projects. They are very experienced in working on lakebeds, streams, and sediment detention facilities, and they know how to meet the unusual permit requirements. They are highly recommended by past clients and civil engineer consultants.

Here is the approximate sequence of the work: Temporarily extend the access roads to the town streets on one or both sides. Protect the wetland areas with orange fencing. Remove vegetation as needed in the work area – in general, that is much but not all of the new growth since 2001. In accordance with DWQ preference to “work in the dry”, temporary check dams will be installed and water pumped from the forebay before digging. Excavation will be done with conventional equipment, such as track hoes. Most of the material removed will be stacked on the side temporarily to dewater it before loading the trucks. Trucks will then transport the material to approved upland disposal sites. Truck routing will depend on the destinations, but Curtis Road/ Elliott Road is most likely. That routing is approved by the Town since the project involves local traffic, not through traffic. The site will then be restored with removal of the dams and all excavated materials and temporary roads and fencing; then grass seeding and other plantings.

Start time is weather-dependent, but the week of July 6 is expected. Once started, most of the work should be completed in three to six weeks, again weather dependent.

We regret any disruption this project may cause, but it is an important step for improved water quality. Thank you for your understanding.

-Don Brewer