Located seven miles south of Fayetteville, NC, the Dugout Stream & Wetland Mitigation Site spans 41.3 acres in southern Cumberland County. This project will restore, enhance, and preserve Grays Creek and two unnamed tributaries, delivering 7,860 feet of stream mitigation (6,496 SMUs) and 13.61 acres of wetland mitigation (5.78 WMUs).

Key Objectives

• Stream Restoration: Reconstruct stable channels, exclude livestock, and add in-stream features like riffles, pools, and woody materials.
• Riparian Buffers: Establish 50-foot-wide forested buffers with native hardwoods.
• Wetland Renewal: Elevate stream beds, plug ditches, and plant wetland vegetation.

Located at the watershed’s headwaters in the Cape Fear River Basin, this project targets stressors like nutrient and sediment pollution, urban runoff, and habitat degradation. It aligns with regional priorities to address the impacts of urban growth near Fort Liberty.

The Dugout Site is a vital step toward healthier ecosystems, improving water quality and biodiversity while safeguarding natural resources for the future.