Peyton Creek "Daylighting": helping restore the health of an important natural resource
Urban open space conservation easement in place
On November 11, 2010 Staunton City Council voted unanimously to hold a permanent urban open space conservation easement on the property located at 280 and 274 North Central Avenue, including a small portion of 271A North Lewis Street. By placing the property under conservation easement, the owner Dr. David Morgan will be afforded both Federal and State tax advantages that will allow for the private funding of the design and construction of the restoration of Peyton Creek on these parcels. Dr. Morgan is working with City staff and the Center for Watershed Protection, outlining the process of demolishing the two existing buildings on the property and removing the paving. The result will be uncovering this section of Peyton Creek, opening it back up to the daylight. The newly re-created riparian environment will then be shaped and planted with indigenous tree, shrub, grass, and perennial species. The Center for Watershed Protection's involvement in the project has been funded by a "Circuit Rider" grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The purpose of the grant is for the Center to provide assistance to local governments for projects that advance both local water restoration goals and broader goals of the Chesapeake Bay restoration.
A little history
As in many urban areas, Staunton's streams and creeks were covered during the course of the City's development, favoring the advancement of the built environment over natural conditions. Diverted into a network of pipes, our local streams flow through a vast underground drainage system. Large areas of the City are literally constructed over a series of stream valleys.
"Daylighting" is the process of uncovering a stream or creek having formerly been placed in an underground culvert. The primary goal of daylighting is to re-establish a stream or creek to a more natural condition which will help improve the overall health of the stream. The daylighting of this section of Peyton Creek will provide several advantages for the community by supporting long range planning goals and expectations included in the Staunton City Code. These goals include providing for the preservation of permanent open space to help curb urban sprawl, prevent the spread of urban blight, encourage and assist more economic and desirable development, help provide or preserve park, recreational, historic and scenic areas, and to conserve natural resources.
