DAPHNE, Ala.—The Daphne Planning Commission at its regular Thursday meeting unanimously approved the NRCS-8 Emergency Watershed Protection plan, which will address eight sites impacted by erosion and sedimentation in the D’Olive/Lake Forest Watershed.

“We have eight projects,” city site containment inspector Ashley Campbell said. “Some of them are as simple as inlet repair. Some of them are major stream restoration projects.”

Erosion and sedimentation in the watershed’s creeks—D’Olive, Tiawasee, and Yancey and Joe’s Branches—have increased over time, causing silt and dirt from construction sites to flow into the streams.

Last fall, representatives from the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program met with state representatives, city officials and environmental agents to coordinate a plan of action to correct the troubled watershed.

“We’re ready to implement these projects and hopefully they’ll be successful,” she said.

Also, commissioners:

Commission secretary Don Terry jokingly asked Peterson if the addition’s new paint scheme will match the exterior of neighboring Hot Wheels skating rink. The skating rink recently painted over its turquoise exterior; the building now has a neon green façade and most of the largely two-tone building includes white electric shocks dividing blue and purple hues.

Peterson said the library won’t be painted.

Commissioner Cathy Barnette abstained.

"Since there were enough votes there was no need to cloud the issue for me," she said.