In the early 2000s, Cary began purchasing land with the intent to conserve open space along White Oak Creek west of Highway 55. In addition to open space funding set aside by Town Council, grants from the North Carolina Clean Water Management Trust Fund (currently known as the N.C. Land and Water Fund) were used to secure conservation easements over land or to purchase parcels outright. 

Today, Cary controls approximately 285 acres along the three-mile stretch of White Oak Creek between NC Highway 55 and the Jordan Lake conservation land owned by the federal government. In the same corridor, The Triangle Land Conservancy owns 24 acres, and the NC Department of Transportation owns 11.5 acres in remnant parcels adjacent to the NC 540 right of way. Additionally, roughly 171 acres in Apex’s jurisdiction are either set aside for conservation or are located within privately owned floodplain acreage. In total, over 450 acres are protected and help to extend this conservation arm of the Jordan Lake watershed.

This project will identify conservation, education, and recreation management goals along this protected corridor. Creating and executing this plan will help ensure that this conservation land will continue to provide ecological and hydrologic value as well as public enjoyment for years to come.

N.C. Land and Water Fund (NCLWF) awarded Cary a planning grant to inventory, evaluate, and create a management plan for approximately 485 acres of land which are primarily comprised of wetlands and floodplains along White Oak Creek west of NC 55. The management plan will identify goals and guide maintenance and enhancement of the hydrologic and ecologic functions of this valuable corridor as well as establish an identity for the corridor, which will enhance educational opportunities and tell the story of this conservation effort. 

Cary is working with the Town of Apex as well as the Triangle Land Conservancy in this planning effort.

Sandi Bailey, AICP | Transportation Planning  sandi.bailey@carync.gov
Alyssa Campo Bowman | Environmental Management  alyssa.campo@carync.gov
Eric Kulz | Stormwater Management  eric.kulz@carync.gov
Sarah Justice | Environmental Management  sarah.justice@carync.gov

Questions?

Call 311 or (919) 469-4000 outside of Town limits, or email 311@carync.gov.