CHARLOTTE, N.C. — There are more than 2,000 miles of streams within Charlotte city limits. One creek in particular, in a Hidden Valley community, is raising concerns for people who live nearby. They say the creek is creating erosion on their property, thus damaging their homes.
These citizens are calling for Mecklenburg County and the city of Charlotte to step in and fix the issue before it creates some serious damage.
Judy Jordan is one of them and said she’s already made several requests, but those have gotten them nowhere.
“This is my property, nobody cares,” said Jordan. “Hidden Valley is a forgotten community.”
Jordan and her neighbor Noel Farrar’s families have lived in the community since the 1970s.
“The creek was probably five to six feet wide,” said Farrar. “Now, it’s just getting deeper, wider and wider.”
It’s not the first time the creek has caused a stir in the community.
“Back when my parents were here, they did a petition and I think they are the reason the riprap got done, and the rocks,” said Farrar.
Mecklenburg County Storm Water did complete some stream work there back in 1989. But neighbors say the land around the creek continues to fall apart.
“Every now and then you will see sinkholes and some of the holes I have to go in and fill it in because they drop down so big,” said Farrar.
A large tree from Farrar’s backyard fell into the creek last year and now Jordan is worried about a fence close to the edge falling in next. She said when her family put up the fence, there was more land on the other side.
Now, it is almost all gone.
“You can feel how soft the ground is as well," Jordan said. "The foundation from my house fell and that had to be fixed."
“My house is dropping right now, and my parents had a brace put onto the house because it is sinking,” said Farrar. “It came back this way and had a crack coming down the whole side as if the house is getting ready to pull apart at the back.”
The city of Charlotte’s Storm Water Services said they sometimes work with property owners to clear major stream blockage issues. However, most creeks are located on private property and its maintenance falls onto the property owners.
“The city of Charlotte says it’s my responsibility to maintain the creek, how can I maintain a creek,” Jordan. “Your creek is cutting into my property line whose fault is that, who is going to be responsible for that?”
However, after WCNC Charlotte started asking questions, staff scheduled a site visit. A spokesperson said residents do have access to the Mecklenburg Soil and Water Conservation Districts’ Urban Cost Share Program to help address existing erosion.
Jordan says she just wants a resolution and to protect their homes.
“If they would just fix it, I would be happy with that,” Jordan said.
Contact Jesse Pierre at jpierrepet@wcnc.com or follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.