Request was submitted to the Drainage Division of Public Works.

Wow! Having a hard time excepting that this problem with Sunset Creek was closed so easily. This is not only about what I and other neighbors must deal with everyday and not to mention how ashamed I am to allow anyone to inter my backyard.

I told Mr. Daniel that during a hard rain storm it floods that entire area.
The water now reaches a level of at least 8 feet high.

There has been erosion and it’s only a matter of time before it floods my property and possibly damages my home.

I know that if the creek off of Chesapeake Ave, in Hampton was in such a sad state like that of Sunset Creek. The city would tackle the problem right away and get it clean up. My neighbors and I pay our taxes too. What does it take for my neighbor hood to get some attention like Chesapeake Ave recently received within the past two years?

I have lots of pictures depicting the horrid state of Sunset Creek, in Downtown Hampton Virginia.

Mr. Taylor,
Have you and your neighbors organized any cleanup efforts on your own?

This issue has been reported to Public Works

If you have any other questions or would like to submit another service request, please feel free to contact the 3-1-1 Customer Call Center. Hampton residents can simply dial 3-1-1 or email us at call311@hampton.gov. If you are calling on a cell phone or out of the city limits, you can dial (757) 727-8311. The Call Center is available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.

Roger this creek bed is not something simple for a crew of neighbors to take on. The clean up will require dump trucks, and some type of drag line in order to pull the muck to the banks on both sides, also it will require homes owners to allow equipment temporary permission to use their property to properly stage equipment. The falling of several trees and removal and the city should put up a fence around their properly after all I was once told by a city employee that it was going to be made into a bird sanctuary

I want that disgrace cleaned up once and for all.

I know for a fact that Mr. Taylor has continued to clean up the creek as much as possible. He has cleared overgrown cutzu plants that are invasive plants to get to the trash that is dumped there because the city will not take action and clean up the creek on their own. The city needs to clean it up. The creek needs to be revitalized as the estuary it once was. Clean it up, plant native plants, do what is right for this community that indeeds pays its share of taxes!

311 is a joke, Our house has been shaking apart for years due to a recent road patch installed in front of my house that acts as a speed bump.But we have a convention center and new mall that I will never visit, But Ill pay my whole life for. Thanks H-Town, for keepin it HOOD! ha

This issue was responded to some time ago.

Hello Hampton 311,

Thank you for staying on top of these issues. Was this issue fixed yet, or just submitted into your work order system? Issues should only be closed when fixed; closed issues disappear from the map after 2 weeks, and prematurely closing issues will cause unfixed issues to disappear from the map.

Thanks for understanding, and have a good day.

Best,

Zak
Community Manager
SeeClickFix

Thank you Zak Stone for pointing out the fact mentioned in your comment Hello Hampton 311.

* Issues should only be closed when fixed; closed issues disappear from the map after 2 weeks, and prematurely closing issues will cause unfixed issues to disappear from the map.

* Zak
Community Manager
SeeClickFix

It is not brain surgery Hampton-CLEAN THE CREEK! What an shame.

Thanks for sending some men out to clean the rumble from the front of the drain pipe, however they should not have stopped there I was under the impression they were going to clean out the entire ditch of which they have yet to complete after viewing the little bit they did yesterday after wavy ten got involved.

Continued

continued

continued

continued

continued

See Click Fix is NOT a City of Hampton website. If you want to report an issue that needs to be fixed or get information about something please contact the 311 Call Center directly. Our email address is
call311@hampton.gov and our phone number is 757.727.8311.

See Click Fix is NOT a City of Hampton website. If you want to report an issue that needs to be fixed or get information about something please contact the 311 Call Center directly. Our email address is
call311@hampton.gov and our phone number is 757.727.8311.

continued

Please clean out the ditch (run off for SUNSET CREEK).

I though I heard Wavy Ten on the 5 pm news (4th of May, 2010) say that the creek behind my home is not the city's responsibility to clean up, according to what the city told Wavy Ten.

Further the city claimed that the Chesapeake Bay Authority was responsible for the maintenance of Sunset Creek, adding that they the City of Hampton would notify CBA about our problem.

City maintenance did say that they were responsible for cleaning of the ditch adjacent to the large vacant lot and next to one of the city's child care centers.

They won't clean it up. The city is too busy helping Elizabeth Lakes.

The city did finely clean out the ditch, however they also said that the Chesapeake Bay authority (?) was responsible for the clean up of Sunset Creek.

Sunset creek flows from Victoria Blvd to Kecoughtan Rd with approximately 1000 ft flowing into an old 1930s (?) poorly made cement ditch of which the city claims they have the responsibility to clean out when needed. The city cleaned out the ditch. The creek still has tons of plastic and various types’ of cans, glass bottles, Tires, blown down trees, and the list goes on. The problem is still with us.

I see a lot of people complaining about this, but what has anybody done to help. We all litter in one way or another most of us on accident. Spend an hour cleaning instead of complaining it would more then likely get the place looking good.

I would suggest that the person who made the last comment never bothered to see for his self the magnitude of clean up this whole thing entails. I request the person to at least take the time and visit sunset creek to witness the condition.

Why did the city of Hampton Virginia blow my request off? Remember the reasons the city gave as to why it was not the city's responsibility to CLEAN UP SUNSET CREEK guest the current condition of the City's creek does not matter much.

I will flood this job request with up dated photos this coming winter.

Letter of Intent
Please sign and return no later than July 1st, 2010:
Check One:
“I/We, AGREE to dedicate to the City of Hampton, Virginia a voluntary perpetual irrevocable
public drainage easement for the initial dredging and future maintenance dredging over the
riparian portion of my/our property.”________________ .
“I/We Do Not Agree to dedicate to the City of Hampton, Virginia a voluntary perpetual
irrevocable public drainage easement for the initial dredging and future maintenance dredging
over the riparian portion of my/our property.”________________.
Signed: __________________________________ Date _________________
Print Name: _____________________________________________________
Property Address: _________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
Telephone number: _____________________________
Signed: __________________________________ Date _________________
Print Name: _____________________________________________________
Property Address: _________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
Telephone number: ____________________________
If necessary, please attach additional signature sheets with information as requested above.
RETURN DATE:______________

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS (757) 727-6346 FAX (757) 727-6123
22 LINCOLN STREET, HAMPTON, VIRGINIA 23669-3522
publicworks@hampton.gov
May 15, 2010
Re: Indian River Creek Dredging;
Dredging of Riparian Portion of Property
Dear Property Owner:
The City of Hampton has determined that it is in the public interest to dredge the main
channel of Indian River Creek. Included in the project is the dredging of the ancillary channels,
as a drainage improvement project. (the “Project”)
However, in order to accomplish the dredging it is necessary that the affected property
owners grant a perpetual irrevocable public drainage easement for the initial dredging and
future maintenance of the dredging over the riparian portion of the owners’ property. The width
of this easement will be variable width but generally no more than 60 feet (extending
approximately 30 feet on each side form the center of the main channel). The side channel
width would be generally 25 feet. The project design is still preliminary, and specific easement
requirements may change.
If you are willing to dedicate an easement to the City of Hampton for dredging across the
affected portion of your property please sign the accompanying letter of intent where indicated
below and return same in the enclosed self addressed, stamped envelope no later than July 1 st ,
2010. Please be aware that all affected property owners must agree to dedicate this easement
in order for the City to proceed with the project. A sample Deed of Easement is posted in the
City’s web site at www.hampton.gov for your review. If all affected property owners agree to the
easement dedication, the City will move forward with preparing plats and the Deed of Easement
for execution. The Deed of Easement must be signed and recorded at the Circuit Court Clerk’s
Office for all affected property owners before the Project will proceed.
Again, please complete and sign the attached form and return no later than July 1 st ,
2010.
Should you have any questions, please feel free to call me at 727-6346 or the City
Attorney’s Office at 727-6127.
Sincerely;
Chuck Fleming, PE
Storm Water Manager
Enclosures

I will flood this job request with up dated photos this coming winter.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW IMAGE
http://www.terraserver.com/view.asp?cx=379379&cy=4097633&proj=32618&mpp=0.15&pic=obl&prov=pt&stac=N&ovrl=-1&drwl=


TerraServer
The Leader In Online Imagery
www.TerraServer.com

http://www.terraserver.com/view.asp?cx=379379&cy=4097633&proj=32618&mpp=0.15&pic=obl&prov=pt&stac=N&ovrl=-1&drwl=

Copy and paste the address to view Sunset Creek.

Sunset Creek is still waiting for the city of Hampton Virginia to remove all the used tires, plastic cans and bottles, water heater, limbs, fallen trees.

Gary, I've looked at the pics you posted some time back. It looks to me like the citizens could do something about this themselves. Probably not all of it, but something. I clean up trash around my property all the time. Trash in the street, in the gutter, etc. I did not put it there, but I clean it up anyway.

The City of Hampton has determined that it is in the public interest to dredge Indian River Creek, Included in the project is the dredging of the ancillary channels.

What the ---- IS THIS! How about cleaning or dredging Sunset Creek first, It(sunset creek)has been in this sorry state at least 60 or 70 years long before there was a Elizabeth Lakes housing area, I mean really.

Just a thought, but maybe the city factors in how many houses front the area to be worked on. How many houses front Sunset Creek as opposed to the ares in Elizabeth Lakes? Have you worked with the homeowners and business owners in the area to rally support and form some osrt of coalition or something to get this done? Or did you just post something here on SeeClickFix? Looks like there is lots of marine industry businesses there. Has the cause of the pollution been determined? If this is cleaned up but the source of pollution is still there it will be back to the same state eventually, right?

Also, how can a person view the condition of Sunset Creek without going on private property? And first you wanted it cleaned, now you want it dredged too?

Gary, I've looked at the pics you posted some time back. It looks to me like the citizens could do something about this themselves. Probably not all of it, but something. I clean up trash around my property all the time. Trash in the street, in the gutter, etc. I did not put it there, but I clean it up anyway.

Roger
10 days ago

Roger to enlighten you, The City of Hampton can get access from city owned property the same way they did to clean out the ditch remember, and view this sordid mess. Hampton owns the property of said Sunset Creek end of story. Hampton has claimed not to be responsible for Sunset Creek by the same reasons, guest Hampton is responsible for Indian River, the city has for dredging, let us not get to technical cleaning out dredging they are kind of the same right, anyway what is good for Indian River is also good for Sunset Creek right? The City of Hampton has no excuse for not dredging again cleaning out, Sunset Creek.

Kindest Regards

Gary

Gary, I've looked at the pics you posted some time back. It looks to me like the citizens could do something about this themselves. Probably not all of it, but something. I clean up trash around my property all the time. Trash in the street, in the gutter, etc. I did not put it there, but I clean it up anyway.

Roger
10 days ago

Roger to enlighten you, The City of Hampton can get access from city owned property the same way they did to clean out the ditch remember, and view this sordid mess. Hampton owns the property of said Sunset Creek end of story. Hampton has claimed not to be responsible for Sunset Creek by the same reasons, guest Hampton is responsible for Indian River, the city has for dredging, let us not get to technical cleaning out dredging they are kind of the same right, anyway what is good for Indian River is also good for Sunset Creek right? The City of Hampton has no excuse for not dredging again cleaning out, Sunset Creek.

Kindest Regards

Gary

The stated reason for dredging Indian Creek is for drainage reasons, to control flooding. Do you agree that controlling flooding is a higher priority than aesthetics?

No....it was so they could move their canoes along because of all the silt, Roger.

Sunset Creek does need to be dredged. It does flood. Also Hampton is probably breaking it's own storm water management codes by not cleaning a dredging. If our residents in the Hampton Roads area gets fined and required to pay more to the city for storm water shouldn't the city have to pay fines and correct the problem. Gary, I would look up storm water management for the city.

It is getting closer to winter, Will submit new photos of Sunset Creek soon to show viewers that nothing been done. Convinced the city will never rectify the situation.

No it has not been fixed.

No changes to report; poor neighborhood poor services go hand in hand in Hampton Virginia.

Gary, what action have you taken on this issue?

Sender should contact the Corps of Engineers, Norfolk Office, at 201-7500. If debris is along the shore, he can contact the Hampton Clean City Commission at 727-1130 to see if they can schedule a clean-up.

Thanking those who care about the state i.e. health of this creek that is merely a quarter of a mile long yet stuffed with plastics, truck tires, refrigerator, kitchen sink, shopping center carts, and God only knows what else old pilings from the ship building company that used to be at the mouth of the creek. The reply to the suggestion from Hampton Virginia's 311 call center I do believe it is the CITY that is responsible for cleaning, dredging
Sunset Creek, and please stop replying to me as if this was my personal property.

Google: 45 w Sunset Rd Hampton Va 23669 the Creek is located directly behind my home use the satellite view photo maybe 3 or 4 years old, however the tires and other trash is still marred in the silt and has been in this condition 60 or 70 years.

Gary, you didn't answer my question.

I'm sorry Roger I didn't know that I had to respond to you. I have contacted those who I thought could help.

I think if you want to spend my tax dollars cleaning up your backyard it's not a bad idea.

I thank you Roger for your support, but my back yard is fine. We wouldn't want the city out here mowing or raking my yard. Sunset Creek though is a mess. Apparently, it would be a liability to the city for the citizens to attempt to clean it, but if you work for the city and are willing to authorize it....

Apparently, for those who have boats along a creek the city is willing to dredge forever at tax payer expense under the guise of flooding. How pathetic and corrupt.

When will it get cleaned up?

Hampton came to a small area and removed 11 plus tires, spotted a dozen tvs, tried to remove a frig, couldn't get to the other stuff and has no idea how they will clean this mess. Have lived in a city with awful trash collection and living in Hampton which provides wonderful service I just can't understand the lazy people that have distroyed this creek. The turtles, ducks and other wildlife are continueously getting hurt on the trash.

Gary, I'm happy that the city is at least making an effort! And I must agree that Hampton trash service is very good. I am stunned that they are unable to figure out how to remove this debris. Could they get to it via crane? How far is the fridge from the shore? I've been meaning to get over there and take a look at it.

I hope that Hampton Clean City Commission will find a way to complete the clean up.

No progress on the creek clean up in several weeks.

Well it seems the City of Hampton has no intention to come up with a solution after making assurances that they would stay on top of this problem. I wonder if they believe that I am to contact the Army corps of Engineers to remove all the trash that has found its way to this creek.

People you guest it very little has been done since the Hampton Clean City Commission Project Assistant Ms. Cris Ausink bought a crew to remove some of the many tires that are still in the creek 15 tires just the tip of the iceberg.
She said that they found 14 old TV sets on the bank in an area that is thick with vines and trees.

Ms. Cris Ausink said that it would be unsafe to have volunteers do any of the clean up because she believes it would be too dangerous.

A problem I think requires the Federal Government to step in and see to it that number one DETERMINE out how so much plastic made its way to the creek along with all that other stuff.

Wavy 10 commented that they would follow up on this subject, when the problem was aired several months ago on the pm channel 10 news program; and so did Hampton Public Works, so as to this date only Ms. Cris Ausink has made an effort to rid the city of this pool of pollutants.

Hampton Clean City Commission Project Assistant Ms. Cris Ausink bought a crew to remove some of the many tires that are still in the creek 15 tires just the tip of the iceberg.

In closing hoping to see the Mayor Ms. Molly Ward view this creek from the best, view possible from Wavy Ten on Your side helicopter.

Wavy 10 commented that they would follow up on this subject, when the problem was aired several months ago on the pm channel 10 news program; and so did Hampton Public Works, so as to this date only Ms. Cris Ausink has made an effort to rid the city of this pool of pollutants.

Hampton Clean City Commission Project Assistant Ms. Cris Ausink bought a crew to remove some of the many tires that are still in the creek 15 tires just the tip of the iceberg.
In closing hoping to see the Mayor Ms. Molly Ward view this creek from the best, view possible from Wavy Ten on Your side helicopter.

Gary Taylor (Guest)
less than a minute ago

Nothing has changed. It is a shame the city of Hampton Virginia has for decades deliberately ignored this area of Hampton; our MAYOR if she was worth a grain of salt would at least do something to get this job done, Ms. Ausink said that they found 13 or 14 abandoned old TV sets
On the bank opposite, my side of the creek that has to be illegal but no one seems to care at city hall.

Gary, how you coming on organizing a coalition of people and businesses to clean up the creek? It is my bet that private citizens and businesses are the ones that dumped these items into the creek in the first place, not the city of Hampton.

Roger, I am sure it was the citizens, the businesses, and the city that created this mess. The city also went out there and said that the city would be held liable if private citizens entered the creek to clean it and got hurt. Unfortunately, this can not be restored by a coalition of people.

Nothing has changed it is still contaminated, polluted water entering the James River and the Bay.

Shut down acess to the area by boats,street vehicles,and businesses which could potentially be a
acess to dumping. Charge the taxpayers for 24-7 monitoring of the areas and to haul in barges and cranes to clean up litter,debris, and plant life wich could trap flying litter from any source. Then keep Chris, the PW/parks dept on call 24-7 to stop the mowing,streets work,sewer maintenance,special events set-up,school services,mosquito control work etc and come out to maintaibn this area be it for 1 day to 30 days. Of course since it is the bay we could charge the other cities, the state and the Feds to contribut the money and staff to do this.

Sunset Creek is about a quarter mile long before it enters a city made ditch that was constructed some 40 or 50 years ago or longer. No person in there right mind would step one foot in this creek. Summer is back again and most of it hidden from view because of the green vegetation.

Almost all of this trash that is still puluting the creek was tossed in by people who could care less about anything; the same as%**$# who you see every day driving around Hampton tossing dirty diapers out their car window.

I wish I had never came here, because there is a huge population here that are trashy dirty ^&*# heads.

Everywhere you drive, you will see trash on the side of the road except of course the areas where the more affluent people live.

Nothing ever changes on the Poor side of town.

No the creek has not been clean out it is still as polluted as it was when I first requested it to be clean up over a year ago. On the north banks of the creek Hampton Clean City Commission Project Assistant Ms. Cris Ausink was out a week ago and removed she said 38 tires from the north bank I'm sure the property owner was pleased.

Still the same?

Gary, have you and the other property owners taken Cris Ausink's suggestions?

Again, Roger the problem lies within the creek. The problem is that it is what is in the creek.
Hampton Virginia must find a way to remove all the trash and silt.

It has been suggested to Ms. Cris Ausink's to get in touch with the city civil engineers to devise a way to accomplish the task.

That old accumulation that has polluted this little creek located in down town Hampton Virginia, Sunset Creek has been in this state of pollution for at least 50 years or longer.

Did the city of Hampton dump the trash in the creek? And what in the city budget would you suggest not be funded so that they can clean up your backyard?

Roger,

Did you see the comment a guest mentioned below. - "Roger, I am sure it was the citizens, the businesses, and the city that created this mess. The city also went out there and said that the city would be held liable if private citizens entered the creek to clean it and got hurt. Unfortunately, this can not be restored by a coalition of people."? So how would you propose the community to clean it up if the city is acknowledging that it isn't public territory and that they would not be held liable? Actually, Gary, you need to find out who owns the creek if the city doesn't and have them clean it up. Whoever owns it a private citizen, group, or city is in violation. Roger would you know how to contact the owners of this creek?

And why isn't this request being acknowledged? It is still open over a year now! Come on Hampton , get with the program! Also, storm water management may need to get involved. It is clear that this creek is fed from the Chesapeake Bay. This contaminant is getting in everyones water not just Gary's. I bet the surrounding waters are not safe to swim or fish from either. Way to go Hampton.

I found this Pilot New article from 2008 online. Gary, you may want to try contacting a David Paylor about the creek.
http://hamptonroads.com/2008/06/number-polluted-virginia-waterways-highest-ever

Folks Roger works for the city that is why his panties are all bunch up.

Gary, really? I work for the city? I guess it's a volunteer position, because I haven't been getting the paychecks. And if it was the "citizens, businesses , and the city" that made the mess why does it fall on only the city to clean it up?

Roger your attitude towards Sunset Creek from the beginning has been negative in fact I had good reason to suspect you were an employee of the city from the comments you have made.

I have expressed that it is not my personal property that needs cleaning.

Roger also I have expressed what the city has determined, that it is dangerous, also that the city would in fact be liable if someone was hurt or injured while attempting to remove any of the trash from Sunset Creek.

Your tone is always hostile when you comment on this subject, but that is OK you have a right to your opinion.

Gary, I assure you that I am not a city employee. Some time ago I asked if you had talked with neighbors and nearby businesses about forming some sort of coalition to work together on this project, as those groups likely played some part in the trash getting there in the first place. You never responded to that and simply insist that the city must clean up this mess.

My thought is to get Sunset Creek put on a list like this one.

http://www.dailypress.com/news/hampton/dp-nws-clean-the-bay-day-20110604,0,4142561.story

In a perfect world (and with unlimited funds!) maybe the city could fund this cleanup. But then again in a perfect world people wouldn't dump their trash in the creek in the first place!

I honestly think that the owner of the creek needs to clean it. If it is a private group, rsident, or the city, they should clean it. Also this trash if it was dumped by the residents. Do you Roger honestly expect Gary to get those residents in a group to pick it up? Knowing the liability concerns too. Really Roger? Really? This is an honest question too, are you an owner of that creek? Because if you are not a city employee you seem to be very concerned.

I am only suggesting what I myself would do if I were Mr. Taylor. I am not one to complain about something if I am not willing to get in there and work at it myself. And no I am not an owner of the creek. I am a Hampton property owner and that is why I am concerned. These are my tax dollars that he wants to appropriate for this effort. I keep meaning to drive by there and view the condition of the creek myself.

Well I know that he an a couple of others have done work to clean up what they can. But there is way too much for one to three people to handle. Again this is either city or privately owned property. Now if you had trash like tires, refrigerators, and tvs dumped right off yours and yur neighbors property then you would be fed up and expect something to get done. The tax dollars you pay to have rules like not polluting enforced should be put to use. If that means that the city needs to get waste management out to clean city property and maybe issue some dumping fine signs out then so be it. I to believe in trying first to clean up the creek but when you have exhausted your efforts to clean something that doesn t belong to you and then your told that if you get hurt oh say picking up a rusty metal cart that the city is not liable then you kinda give up. Remember we pay taxes too.

I really need to come out there and see for myself what it looks like.

Roger why not come by the house and allow me to show you the condition first hand?

Here it is.

Gary, I just have to find time to do it! Maybe next week sometime.

I went out there and took look last week, and there is a lot of trash. I was looking up the businesses surrounding Sunset Creek and noticed that one of them does a lot of environmental work, so I sent them an email. They called me back and we talked about it. They have connections with several organizations that do stream and river clean-up projects. As well, the man said that they might be able to provide some equipment support for the heavier items. But it sounds like the first thing to do is to get with somebody that can provide the expertise to do this the right way. Hang in there Gary!

Thanks Roger for your support and thank God that others may get involved in this difficult task. Sunset Creek should have professional environmental people to study and make a recommendation as to deter and prevent future illegal dumping, trash and litter build-up.

By Scott Harper
The Virginian-Pilot
© June 17, 2008

GLEN ALLEN

Eighty-five percent of Virginia's waterways are polluted, according to a report released Monday by the state Department of Environmental Quality.

Described as the most comprehensive assessment of state waters to date, the report found that 10,600 miles of rivers and streams, 94,000 acres of lakes and reservoirs and 2,200 square miles of estuaries, including much of the Chesapeake Bay, are tainted by at least one pollutant.

Only 15 percent of sampled water bodies passed all water-quality tests, most of them in rural, undeveloped areas.

The most common contaminant by far was bacteria, stemming from human sewage, storm water, farm runoff, pet wastes, development sites and wildlife, officials said.

The immense report, encompassing several volumes of data and interactive maps, is officially known as "the impaired waters list," though its more common nickname is "the dirty waters list."

Federal law requires the state to publish such an inventory every two years. The latest version measured conditions at thousands of monitoring stations between 2002 and 2008 and covered 95 percent of all known waterways, from the Eastern Shore to Big Stone Gap.

David K. Paylor, state DEQ director, cautioned against concluding that water quality is worsening. "We're finding more pollution because we're looking more closely throughout the state," he said.

Environmental groups have long pointed to the report as proof that Virginia must do more to clean up its waterways and prevent future pollution. And on Monday, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation declared that the 2008 report indicates "a statewide water pollution crisis."

"The term 'crisis' is no exaggeration," the foundation said in a statement. "Our waters now contain too few underwater grasses, too little dissolved oxygen, too much bacteria and too many toxic pollutants to support the ecosystems and economies in the commonwealth that rely on clean water."

The foundation urged state leaders to dedicate $100 million per year to clean-water programs. The General Assembly considered such a request earlier this year but balked because of economic hardships, budget cuts and other spending priorities.

The report released Monday added 1,100 miles of streams and rivers to the list of tainted waters, along with 3,300 acres of lakes and about half a square mile of estuaries.

Because of the complexity of the document, it was difficult to determine where those new waterway additions were located. The report, though, noted that the Elizabeth River, which flows through the industrial heart of South Hampton Roads, continued to exhibit some of the worst oxygen levels and highest rates of toxic contamination in the state.

For the first time, the report measured levels of chlorophyll A, an indicator of algae growth and nutrient pollution, in the James River. The result: Nearly all of the James flunked, except a small zone in the central part of the river.

The Chesapeake Bay remains impaired on at least 10 fronts, from poor oxygen levels, to excessive nitrogen and phosphorus, to fish consumption advisories due to high levels of toxic PCBs.

The Bay was supposed to be cleaned up enough to remove it from the impaired list in 2010. Officials conceded Monday that this will not happen. They said they already are preparing a new, required study of how best to remedy the famed estuary's many ills.

Whenever a waterway is classified as impaired, the state must compile a study, called a TMDL - short for "total maximum daily load" - that describes the problems and possible solutions.

The state has developed 546 TMDLs, and it has more than 200 more to complete by 2010, said Darryl Glover, state manager of water-quality monitoring programs.

Implementing the plans is another story, requiring money and scientific know-how. Some 24 such projects are ongoing today, Glover said.

In compiling the report, state officials measure myriad conditions, from oxygen levels to water clarity. Because of budget cuts this year, they had to rely more on citizen groups to conduct the sampling.

Of the nearly 1,200 watersheds across the state, 41 percent were impaired by one or two pollutants, 27 percent by between three and five pollutants, 11 percent by between six and nine pollutants, and 6 percent by more 10 or more, according to the report.

Since the last report, in 2006, conditions have improved or standards were changed so that 34 water bodies came off the impaired list. Most were lakes that showed too little oxygen before; now, the state believes natural conditions were responsible for the low levels, not any human pollution.

The report still must be accepted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as adequate and fair. A public hearing will be held June 24 at 7 p.m. in Richmond and shown via teleconference at seven regional sites, including the local DEQ office in Virginia Beach.

Scott Harper, (757) 446-22340, scott.harper@pilotonline.com

Environmental groups have long pointed to the report as proof that Virginia must do more to clean up its waterways and prevent future pollution. And on Monday, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation declared that the 2008 report indicates "a statewide water pollution crisis." Nothing has changed

Sunset Creek is getting cleaned up! Please be encouraged! And that is something very positive as a result of Gary's post.

You will be happy to know that there have been three huge cleanups done already this year- one in January done by public works (city property), another in March done by public works (city property), and another done in May by one property owner and his volunteers. People had illegally dumped on his undeveloped shoreline lots.He did not know it until he was contacted about the situation. Other residents are already cleaning up their part of the shoreline! It's exciting!

It is a slow process. It took years to accummulate all that trash. But, if things are going to be done properly with the least amount of damage to the environment, it is going to have to be done incrementally in a partnership with all the land owners along Sunset Creek. Look for some more good reports in the fall and winter when it is easier to access because of dead vegetation. Residents do care!

I hope that this winter the Hampton Public Works (city property) Department will come up with a way to remove all if not most of the tires, plastics, fallen trees in the creek itself.

I would get ahold of a good arborist for the tree and the rigging involved with the other heavy items. They could give advice on how to rig off of trees to lift items out of there. And of course to cut up and remove the downed trees!

Gary, I have watched your blogs over the year. With the cut backs I ask you now to specifically cite whom and where the monies will come from to preform this work. Please do not cite resposibility cites, I ask YOU to cite where the monies and work force will come from. Ms Ausink I ask you the same. Public works has been cut whom funds your job so has Parks whom can not mow the grass in the city. Time for Gary and Cris Ausink to solicit philanthropic monies beyond the Donald Trump level to get this job done. Got any contacts at that level Gary or Cris?

The city is responsible. You know they make budgets. So as they make plans to throw money on useless and stupid projects like the Kearney Park downtown to appease Ross then maybe they can do some useful work to appear dependable and ethical.

Maybe you were not aware that the city had so much money left over at the end of the year that they gave each other bonuses!

Gary, thanks for the reminder that this is a city site. I see your emotionalism in your comments regarding the useless/stupid projects. I ask you and Chris Ausink (whoms job is funded by the also severely cut PW dept as is her secondary supporter {Parks}) to specifically tell us where the monies will come from. As we all know the "stupid/useless" project funding WILL be funded wheather you or I or Chris like it or not. So I am asking you to pleasres cite where the monies will come from. Also please cite which other city departments will cut thier men's jobs so that Sunset Creek can be funded for this contractor needed work to be completed. Please do not continue to cite city council or the city hall upper rank. Despite grant monies/other feds monies which might be availiable require a hired person to write and seek such. The end result is that people will be laid off to contract out services. These will be working class laborers in the city staff, not the people you are angry at. So please check your emotions at the door and tell us which people will loose their jobs... more PW men? More Parks men? Facilities managment? School board people? Whom?

Well, the mayor could use some of the profit she will get from the sale of the Harbor Square Apartments to fund this project. Or, maybe the millions Hampton government plans to throw away on purchasing those apartments for an undetermined use could be used. And I bet if you looked you will see that Hampton has people to write grants so why would they hire out? More people on staff that can't do their jobs? I do not believe that a vein that leads to the Chesapeake Bay is unworthy. If every project that this city begins leads to personnel being laid off then Hampton is in BIG trouble. You must be a political person 1alpha who attempts to use SCARE tactics to persuade people of doom and gloom.

There you go back to the emotionalism. Cities invest in projects they decide to, and generally when they are big bucks projects,decisions are made to put others on hold, or cut back somewhere else. Sunset Creek is not a 1 time major clean up it is a forever project. It will have to be done every coupla years at the least. Economic development plans which are supposed to draw in more money to fund city costs are also ongoing. The specific needs to do a serious clean-up at the creek may/will require more than well intentioned volunteers along with more than a few leisure crafts put towards the deed. Our city has been freezing positions and laying off for more than 7 years now. Routine citizen services have been and are now being newly contracted out to outside labor as the staff no longer exist or is short. Simple example- schools landscape services are coming out of City Parks budget in excess of 1/2 a million. The landscape contracts at Power Plant and the cites in Mercury Central are near 200K. We are about to inherit costs for Ft. Monroe. To fund the above labor /working class positions were cut/froze to help fund the outside labor contracted . The positions needed to contract or hire city staff to handle Ft. Monroe are going to hve to be met along with monies to maintain the Harbor Square once it becomes city property. Hopefully it will come from money that should have come in from redevelopment in the economic development projects and not elevated taxes.I don't know if a specific team of grant writers even still exists on the city payroll;grant writing may have been reassigned to existing staff whom may not even have expertise in the area. Grants and other federal monies often come with strings attached that an acceptor must agree to. Example: "No Child Left Behind" accepted by most of the 50 states as it was attached to federal monies each state accepted for their schools. Last weeks news showed how many of our local schools could not meet the acceptance/outcome requirements. Not scare tactics Gary, rather an understanding of how governments function like it or not by you or me. Let go of feeling held captive, it will keep you on a focus away from emotional responses and allow you to direct that energy towards you finding the funding for this project. One does not have to be a government employee to seek and secure funding.

Doom and gloom. Doom and gloom.

This is how I see this project started and maybe a long-term solution. The private property along side most of the creek is so over grown and muddy that it would be dangerous for any one person or group of people to tackle but there is a way that this job could get started with our city’s public works equipment.

The huge field beside The Battery Shop at the corner of Sunset Rd and Kecoughtan Rd
Could be used as a staging area for equipment and temporary spot to put the debris from the creek, it is also the best area to start this project at the area where the creek inners the concrete ditch directly behind 25 west Sunset Rd which is in the N W corner of the vacant lot.

Starting on the South side of the creek a bulldozer could remove debris and create a path for an excavator with attached bucket to scoop up the exposed trash and pollution in the creek to load into a dump truck, which would follow the excavator.

I am certainly not an Engineer but it seems to me that this job could be accomplished with the know how and equipment of Hampton’s Public Works Department.

Great,now find out whom owns the lot you are talking about staging the clean-up upon,and if it isprivate:
1. Get permission to use it for the project @ a zero monetary fee.
2. Find out if liability insurance is needed.
3. Get a time frame estimate for the job to be done.
4. Get costs estimates for the hourly rate of each vehicle needed.
5. Get costs estimates for each workers salary on the job.
6. Get costs for the disposal at landfill
7. Get disposal costs for hazardous/non- landfill derbis.
8. Get costs for property repairs from job(landscape,tree replacement,oops type
actions and such).
9. Check to see if the city will have to apply for any special permits.
10.Check to see if there are any endangered habitats,species(both plant and animal)
who's lives/homes may be disrupted by the heavy equiptment or by the actions of
the job. Espically if the species made a home in a barrel or TV set or other derbis.
11. Establish a relocation home for any of those species if possible.
12. Establish a back-up/plan B and C.
13. Present the data to city council with positive funding plans.
14. Investigate suing the city, state, or feds if need be to include your costs.

1 alpha you sure sound as though you have the experience with this sort of thing, my guest is that you are a city employee and just maybe the person these complaints go to, in which case I hope your superiors’ have been on you to get the job done.

I refuse to engage that sophomoric hook, you did this to Roger in prior blogs. I ain't bitting. You seem to have a plan,it appears theat over the past year several suggestions and information has come your way;now get with the program.Do the leg work,present your data collection and responsibily developed work plan together and present it to council. If your ducks are in a row they will see you are serious and not a whinner.

No hook 1 alpha. I am just trying to get this CITY area cleaned. You may not be aware of it but that is the purpose of this comment section on the Daily Press website. Why you want to pick a fight is beyond me. If the trash that is in this feeder of the Chesapeake Bay doesn't concern you then fine, it does upset me; therefore, I placed the request to the city through this site. The city has responded and is aware of the issue. I would like the city to address what I believe is an important request with the same respect that they give the ridiculous and unnecessary requests that they do address.

Gary, it IS getting cleaned up. The city has had THREE cleanups this year, and hauled truckloads of trash and debris out of there. How much have you cleaned? How many truckloads have you hauled? And the fact is they are planning more cleaning in the future. This creek didn't get polluted in one day, and it won't get cleaned in one day.

Roger, I am surprised. You know the situation going on with this CITY property that the CITY has determined unsafe for the public to participate in the clean-up. I believe the exact word used by the city employee was - LIABILITY. Maybe this planned project will be like many others......ignored and hopefully forgotten. And THREE. Guess you know more than me and have seen more than I have as a citizen living on the creek. I appreciate any effort that they have made, but like I said it goes need to become one of the ignored and forgotten projects.

Gary, I'm not going to argue with you on this. Have a good day.

Again Gary you take the sophomoric emotional approach to the information I and Gary have submitted to you. You choose the same old"you must be a city worker or you choose to scream at folks with "this is CITY property." Let's get to business and talk about your plan;

How goes your research:
1.Did you chat w/ the private property owner and get cost free acess to his property for the work?
2.How about the liability insurance w/the city and the property owner?
3.The job time frame for completeion did you find out?
4.Any luck on the hourly costs for each vehicle to be used?
5.How about the workers did you find out how much it will cost us to pay for the workers salaries?
6.How about the landfill disposal fees, how much will we taxpayers shell out for that?
7.Any suspected hazardous materials there? How much to dispose of them if they exixt?
8 About the private property damage that may occcur from the job;any estimates from the owner ?
Maybe he is as cpncerned as you and will absorb the repair costs.
9.Any special permits needed?
10.Any endangered species affected;did you find out?
11.Hear anything about relocation of endangered animal or plant life yet?
12.Tell us about you back-up plans B&C if this one won't work.
13.Got a date with city council for funding plans?
14.Any luck yet if you can sue the city?

Do you intend to take these suggestions seriously?
Now I will address your comments to me:
1."No hook alpha I amd just trying to get this CITY area cleaned."
---that is why I and others offered you suggestions.
2."You may not be aware of itit but.....(etc etc."
--- the site clearly state its function and invites conversation.
3."Why you want to pick a fight..."
---suggestions are offered by myself and others which you emotionally rebuke and resort to
youthful(sophomoric) responses;thus dismissing folks responses as meaningless. The indicator
is that you consider us useless, and that you are a whiner whom does not wish to do leg work
on a project that you state is serious to you.
4."I placed the request and the city has responded...."
---and????

5."I would like the city to address what I believe..."
-----operative words "what I believe,: and"what they give the ridiculous..." these are judgement
calls which reek of value judgements and send the message that folks other that whom agree
you are devalued. Hence the impression folks about you could become ones not genuine\
about your core mission.

People serious about a mission join it,own it and work w/ the city to resolve it through meaningful work. Get out of this blog and into leg work to solve the problem.

1alpha you can stop. This creek is owned by the city of Hampton. It is the city of Hampton responsibility. The city of Hampton has allowed this to continue on for years. The city of Hampton has ignored it. I know the city of Hampton knew about it because I began calling after I moved here. Had 311 on several occasions over the years tell me that it would be cleaned up in several days. Hampton can do what as a municipality they are responsible to do and analyze the situation, develop a plan to clean it and get it done.

Now if you are bored and have nothing to do, feel free to offer suggestions to the city of Hampton. I am sure they will be extremely receptive to you because you sound like an extremely bright individual -- with a stutter.

The public works department removed some illegally dumped trash in recent months, but the creak bed is still in terrible shape.

It still the same.

It's great that something is being done about this. The city has stepped up, and will continue to step up. It didn't get polluted overnight, and it won't get cleaned up overnight. The ground is not firm enough right now to support the kind of equipment required to get the debris out of the creek. Gary, have you cleaned up the debris directly behind your property?

I'll believe it when I see it ,on another note it's still the same.

I'll believe it when I see it ,on another note it's still the same.

Gary, through email and the phone I was able to contact a local business for equipment support to remove debris. I contacted 2 local environmental service organizations to investigate the impact of cleanup of the creek. They put me in contact with other people, and eventually it came back around to Cris Ausink. She explained what she had already done on this effort, and future plans for it. So I went on a wild goose chase for a project that was already underway! The city has hauled out TONS of debris, and progress on this project will continue when it is safe to do so. I look forward to seeing Gary out there this winter.

Cris was able to have her volunteers remove trash from the banks and where it was possible removed 15 or 20 tires this past summer.

From our last tropical storm, two or three trees blew over and now may cause a blockage on the drainage.

Still waiting maybe someday in the near future.

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Still waiting

Please write words of encouragement to help Hampton City Officials realize the importance of dealing with this contaminated issue.

Nothing has changed.

Have you removed that large stack of bricks behind your fence, or the white table? When I went out there I saw quite a bit of trash the could be cleaned up that is within steps of your own property. Get in the game Gary, and make a change.

Roger, that was not trash. Maybe you don't care for the children's swing set - should I remove that too?

The table and the bricks are on my property, but don't be silly and forget what my request is and continues to be is to get the City of Hampton (who are responsible) to remove the trash and multiple contaminants that have polluted Sunset Creek for well over a half century.

Still the same no attempt to remove any of the trash that pollutes Sunset Creek .

If you are coming in here complaining about this, why don't you get up and make a difference yourself... You have 2 legs and 2 arms and can pick trash up yourself. If you don't like it, then fix it... Stop waiting for someone else to go behind you and clean stuff up. You are a part of the community and should act like it.

Nadia I know Mr. Taylor and that is not the case. No one has to go behind him and clean up after him. It is not his property that is the issue. You must be a negative Nellie who jumps to conclusions. This is city property and he as already said the city will not allow him because it is a liability and unsafe for the citizen to do it.

Does anyone read or just assume everything. You know what they say about assuming.

Actually just the opposite, thank you. I participate in Clean the Bay and other environmental clean ups. It is something that people do to help the area and the environment. It doesn't have to be personal land to be able to go and do that. If I can do that to help the area then no one can be above picking up a little bit of trash to support the environment.

Attended a meeting last night concerning Sunset Creek so I thought; But it turned out to be an informative lecture on the hazards of allowing clippings from lawn care, chemicals and the like to enter our storm drains and polluting our waterways. I even learned it is against the rules to allow chemicals to enter our waterways swamps etc. I wonder if the city of Hampton indeed this entire area is aware of the code, because of the chemicals that the city sewer pumps allow to run off into the Bay, marshes, and local creeks such as Sunset Creek.

Did You ask? Tell me is there a difference between storm water drains and sewer drains. What is the difference? Did you ask? Are the sewer drain lines depositing into the storm water drains? Are the storm water pipes(drains) seperate from the sewage drain lines? Give us the facts Gary.Whom are the greatest polluters .. the agriculture folks, the homeowners, maybe the city, or could it be the lawn care businneses? Telkl me Gary,I am curious to know.

I tell you 1 alpha you must be hard up to come back so soon: got nothing better to do with your time.

ok Gary, as usual the same emotional response from you. no substance, no nothing but whine whine whine.No factual response to my questions, ususal from you.

LMAO

VDAX Gary. VDAX.. Virginia Department of Agriculture.
A). The #1 polluter in the bay..Agriculture(Farmers)
B. Next: homeowners
C.Last on the list city chemical applicators and those of private landscaping (Chem lawn etc)

Storm Water systems different system/spillage from sewage systems.
City/State workers chemical applications regulated by EPA/Va Dept Of Agriculture
City/State Public Works Drainage systems regulated by EPA may also include Va Dept of Agriculture

Chespeake Bay does not start at Sunset Creek. Perhaps somewhere up north..Maryland and slightly above. What are our northern friends doing to keeps the tide from washing the debris to Sunset Creek. Have You asked?

Well thank you for your sincere clarification on the matter; you have been a great help.

Do not close this blog. The city may only check these blogs once a month or less. Just keep it open and update us weekly on the progress

It could be possible Alfafa is paid by our local government. She/he seems to be very passionate about local politics that include the city budget, or city cuts. Talks alot about the inner workings of the city, but not sure he/she is very acurate about the system. Could be low level ld or perhaps adhd. I am not attempting to be mean, but I am trying to get a better understanding of the reasoning behind the unhealthy passion. Would make a great personality disorder case study.

Still the same no attempt to remove any of the trash that pollutes Sunset Creek.

Still the same no attempt to remove any of the trash that pollutes Sunset Creek.

Still the same no attempt to remove any of the trash that pollutes Sunset Creek.

Any attempt by the residents to lift a finger?

The city has litter people/grass cutters to do just this type of work. They moniter this site and should respond to help clean up the bay.

Still the same no attempt to remove any of the trash that pollutes Sunset Creek.

I have checked the city website and no where is it listed that sunset creek belongs to the city this is taken directly from the city website http://www.hampton.gov/parks/parks_and_trails.html:

Complete List

Aberdeen Neighborhood Park
Air Power Park
Armstrong Neighborhood Park
Bluebird Gap Farm
Booker Neighborhood Park
Briarfield Park
Buckroe Beach and Park
Burbank Neighborhood Park
Carousel Park
Cary Neighborhood Park
Gosnold's Hope Park
Grandview Nature Preserve
Grundland Creek Park
Jane Bryan Neighborhood Park
Machen Neighborhood Park
Matteson Trail
Mill Point Park
Ridgway Park
Sandy Bottom Nature Park
Tucker Capps Neighborhood Park
Woodland Skateboard Park
Y.H. Thomas Neighborhood Park

The general population has become very demanding of self entitlement at the cities expense. Do us all a favor actually read the city budget reports and what they do and don't do for the city. Also pay attention to how many jobs the city from every department the city has cut over the past 5 years! Again take a little pride in your community and get your neighbors to rally to gether and if you see trash pick it up don't expect some one else to do it and don't expect the city to pay for it. As Nadia has said in the past join the bay clean up teams and get your neighbors to take back some pride for the community and environment and make and effort to clean it up. If your not able bodied to pick it up your self then still provide support to the neighbors that do and donate work gloves tools trash bags or refreshments to those that come out to the clean up day

Please close blogs only if you are the orginial poster. This way we can be sure that the issue has been addressed to the satisfaction of the orginal poster. The city monitors this site and will repair the issue as prioritys allow.

Henry do us all a favor and actually learn what the city does and does not do.

Alpha, you are not in control here.

Henry, what if the original poster has unrealistic expectations?

Well, I can't speak for Henry, But I have never seen anyone that has any unrealistic expectations on this site. I grow so weary some times from the tired rants of people stating that the city owes you nothing, there is no money in the budget, there have been cuts in personell, or that I voted to keep fire and police protection so we should just suck it up and bear with my choices.

I, along with the other citizens pay taxes on our land, our vehicles, our houses, fees for things like garbage pick up, and emergency medical services. Dog and cat licences, and permit fees for permission to spend my own money to build what I want on My property. We are the people who pay the city workers. They work for us, the citizens. I see some of these people driving around with the windows rolled up, the air conditioning on, smoking, eating, and lord knows what else. I and the other citizens are paying for the gas they are using to keep cool while driving to 7-11, Hardee's, and all the other fast food stops in the city. We are paying for the uniforms they are wearing, the health insurance they have, the retirement program they will use, and I am sure there are other things as well. So I do not think it is unreasonable to ask the city to clean up a water way, fix traffic lights, repair pot holes, fix signs, or any of the other things I have seen reported on this site. The city has the workers, the supplies, the tools, and the money to do all these things. Most citizens do not. No, It is not unrealistic at all to request them to address these issues.

And in the case of Rhonda, unrealistic AND irrational.

Well said, Rhonda.
I will not add anything to your blog. You speak the truth. I think our unhappy city employee is back under a new name, but still the same tired, if you don't agree with me than you are "unrealistic" banter. Thank you Rhonda, for putting things right. I wish you, and all the Seeclickfix team a relaxing and joyful memorial day.

I say this issue is addressed as best it can be, Therefore, I close this issue. Please put this issue in the archives.

This issue is not resolve and continues; therefore, this issue remains open.