Manchester Residents to City: Don't Chop Down Our Trees

A stormwater improvement project on a Manchester creek that officials say will stop erosion and neighborhood flooding is drawing opposition from residents concerned about its impact on the area’s natural wilderness.

The $687,932 project was recently approved unanimously by the board of aldermen and involves a small creek in the Countrylane Woods subdivision that runs behind a string of homes on La Feil Drive between Mautenne Drive and Le Manns Drive.

Alderman Mike Clement told Patch the city identified the area 10 years ago as something that needed attention and has now decided to dedicate funds raised through the city’s Prop P property tax toward making improvements. 

"It was identified then as a channel that needed remediation to stabilize it and stop erosion," he said. "There are many creeks in this whole area that are causing problems by cutting into people's yards and flooding."

However, several residents whose homes back up to the creek have raised alarms, saying that they fear it will result in a clear cutting of what they described as a “wildlife corridor.”

When she initially heard of the plans, Countrylane Woods resident Nancy Walkenhorst said she was in favor of the work. But after a walk-through with engineers and a landscaping company on Saturday, Walkenhorst became concerned.

“I really got upset with what they were saying,” she said, noting in particular the news that they more trees would be removed than she initially thought.

But Clement said the erosion has caused the creek bank to become very steep in places, creating a hazard for families with small children. In addition, it has exposed utilities and weakened some trees, causing them to fall. 

The creek at issue is part of the Grand Glaze Creek watershed and travels through many homeowner’s yards. The city previously completed a similar project that Clement said he thought was a success.  

The plans approved by the council call for a landscaping company to strip out much of the present vegetation, including invasive honeysuckle plants, and fell dozens of trees. The creek banks will then be stabilized with rock while landscaping will be added on top and hundreds of new trees will be planted.

"There will be some loss of vegetation, but we view it as short-term," he said. "What is being planted and replaced will be all fast-growing native grasses, native wildflowers and native shrubs."

Tomorrow: Residents have begun an online petition to block the project.