A local group has voted to develop its own greenway transportation plan, which members say will help protect a local watershed.
The board of directors for the Friends of Bolin Creek, a nonprofit organization that aims to conserve the Bolin Creek watershed, voted to create its own transportation plan at its first meeting of the year on Jan. 8.
The transportation plan will be incorporated into the group’s Bolin Creek Conservation Study, which is expected to be completed and presented to the town in the fall, according to a Tuesday press release.
The group’s conservation study will describe the economic impact, geology and history of Bolin Creek in addition to making recommendations to promote sustainable use and to improve its conditions.
“What we’re trying to do is help build the best greenway that we can possibly build in town at the lowest cost and with the least impact on the ecology of Bolin Creek,” said Rob Crook, an expert in forestry and water quality who serves on the group’s conservation plan strategy committee.
Bolin Creek flows into Jordan Lake, which is a major source of drinking water for Orange County and surrounding areas.
Carrboro Alderman Sammy Slade said there is much discussion within the community about how to balance environmental concerns and promote alternative transportation around the creek area.
“There’s one side that sees environmentalism on a larger scale, understanding the value of providing alternative transportation infrastructure,” he said.
“There’s another part of the community that sees environmentalism and conservation in a much more local traditional sense in that they would like to maintain the natural aspects of this part of the creek as much as possible.”
