Is Town backing off Happy Creek bank work compromise? Save Happy Creek Coalition calls for immediate citizen pushback to Town Council

Greetings and a Call to Action from the Save Happy Creek Coalition. We wish there were no need for our existence, but apparently, the Town Council is backpedaling on its sensible conclusions of November 23:

• To apply for a project extension from the relevant state permitting agencies,
• To develop a new community-friendly plan for the segment of Happy Creek between Prospect and South Streets,
• To consult with Front Royal’s Urban Forestry Advisory Commission (as per Town Code Section 156-3),
• To involve local expertise and YOU, Front Royal’s concerned citizens in developing that plan.

It is critical that YOU contact your Town Council members before they meet on Monday evening, December 7. Please insist on a proper construction plan in accordance with Virginia state standards and best practices for stream restoration. Council emails can be found at www.frontroyalva.com/381/Council-Members or you can leave a message with the Clerk of Council at 540-635-8007.

Also, local residents only can sign a new Save Happy Creek Coalition petition HERE.

According to a recent media report Vice Mayor Sealock states, “We went through the data, with what they gave us, and the (installation of) riprap will go on as scheduled.”

As currently planned, this project will require many tons of stone, costing YOU, the taxpayer $100-250K. This project will benefit no one but the quarry from which the stone is purchased.

Riprap is to be applied along the banks up to 15 feet in height. In some places, riprap is a good solution, but not along the entire 1300 feet of streambank, and 15 feet is overkill. As we’ve repeatedly stated, “channelizing” a stream simply turns it into a drainage pipe, accelerating and increasing the volume of water downstream while eliminating environmental benefits to wildlife, fish, and humans, to say nothing of buildings and businesses downstream.

According to our inventory, 161 trees at four inches or more were cut by both the initial contractor and the town crew, in violation of the Town’s commitment to cut only smaller trees. Thousands of expensive tons of riprap will not be required if tree stumps are left in place and allowed to regenerate. However, on December 2, the Town Manager told the Warren/Frederick County Report that stumps will be removed.

You can watch the November 23 Town Council meeting at here. And thank YOU for speaking out on behalf of YOUR Happy Creek.

The Save Happy Creek Coalition is: Alliance for the Shenandoah Valley, Beautification of Front Royal Committee, Friends of the North Fork of the Shenandoah River, Front Royal/Warren County Appalachian Trail Community, Front Royal/Warren County Tree Stewards, Izaak Walton League, Shenandoah Riverkeeper, and Sustainability Matters – and our affiliate, the Garden Club of Warren County