Lake Hills

Lake Hills Ecological Restoration
Pfafftown, North Carolina
Pilot View RC&D and Lake Hills Homeowners Association
2007 – 2010

Mill Creek #3 is a tributary to Muddy Creek in the Yadkin River drainage system.  The project reach drains a 7.9 square mile watershed.  This project  involved the removal of an old dam, restoration of 3,080 LF of Mill Creek #3, the creation of 8.5 acres of wetlands. and a 3.5 acre oxbow lake.  Pilot View contracted Clear Creeks Consulting to conduct assessments, prepare designs, obtain permits and provide construction management.  Mr. Powell was Project Manager, Senior Scientist, Restoration Designer and Construction Manager. CNA Engineers and Big Eagle Surveying provide engineering and survey support services.  The project was constructed by North State Environmental.

Technical Services:

  • Coordination with Pilot View and Property Owners, Conducting Community Meetings
  • Topographic surveys and base map preparation
  • Verifying bankfull channel indicators and developing bankfull discharge estimates
  • Hydrologic and hydraulic analysis
  • Level II and III Rosgen stream classifications and channel stability assessments
  • Identifying and surveying reference reaches
  • Developing design criteria and sediment entrainment analysis
  • Preparing Findings and Design Reports
  • Preparing Concept, Preliminary and Final Design Plans, Erosion and Sediment Control Plans and Construction Documents
  • Preparing permit application packages and conducting pre-application meetings for local, state and federal permits
  • Construction management services

Construction of Phases 1 and 2 were completed Winter 2009.  Phases 3 and 4 were completed Fall 2010.

Project Details

In the late 1940’s H. Bryce Parker, lawyer and developer, purchased the area now known as Lake Hills, which is located to the northwest of Winston-Salem, North Carolina.  In the beginning it was a weekend and summer Country Estate for his family.  Several years later the weekend residence was turned into a Club House for the neighborhood and the family’s year-round residence was built along Lakeview Drive.

In the 1950’s and 1960’s Mr. Parker began selling off lots for development.  As part of the development, Mill Creek #3 and its tributaries were impounded to create a system of lakes that would provide recreational opportunities (e.g., swimming, fishing, and boating) for the Lake Hills Community residents.  In addition, trails were constructed throughout the area for walking and horseback riding.

While very few of the original homeowners still live in the community, the biggest draw to this area has always been the landscape, the wildlife habitat, and the lakes.  Unfortunately in recent years some of the dams impounding the lakes have been damaged by storms forcing the North Carolina Division of Land Resources to issue Notices of Deficiency and requiring that corrective actions be taken.

The Lake Hills Homeowners Association, working with Pilot View RC&D, resolved to make the necessary corrective actions an opportunity to restore and enhance the natural resources that have long attracted people to their community.  This project included the removal of an old dam, restoration of 3,080 feet of Mill Creek #3, creation of a 3.2 acre lake, and creation of 8.5 acres of wetlands within the Lake Hills Community.

The project was completed in four phases:

Phase 1 – Dam Removal and Fish Passage Restoration
Phase 2 – Mill Creek #3 – Lower Reach Restoration
Phase 3 – Mill Creek #3 – Old Lakebed Reach
Phase 4 – New Lake and Wetland Trail

Phase 1 – Dam Removal and Fish Passage Restoration

Phase 2 – Mill Creek #3 Lower Reach Restoration

Phase 3 – Mill Creek #3 – Old Lakebed Reach

Phase 4 – New Lake and Wetland Trail