Central Region LID Projects
Low-impact development (LID) is a relatively new approach to land development that reduces and prevents stormwater pollution. The N.C. Coastal Federation promotes LID because it mimics nature's water cycle and is a key tool to protect and restore coastal waters. Learn More
Schoolyard Rain Gardens
The federation and its partners have built rain gardens, a low-impact development (LID) technique, at several schools in the region. The schools help plan, build, plant and maintain the gardens. The various rain gardens were designed to treat stormwater runoff flowing from school roofs, parking lots and nearby roads. While they work to remove pollutants from stormwater, the rain gardens serve as classrooms where students and the community learn about stormwater issues and the way in which cost-effective and simple techniques can be used to protect and improve water quality. For more information, please contact Lexia Weaver.
Annunciation Catholic School
Two large rain gardens were planted at this Havelock school at the entrance and at the back of the school parking area. The student project and associated lessons were also funded by the Harold H. Bate Foundation and designed by Withers & Ravenel.
Arthur W. Edwards Elementary School
Three small rain gardens were planted at the entrance to this school in Havelock. The rain garden project was funded by the Harold H. Bate Foundation and designed by Withers & Ravenel.
Chocowinity Middle School
The rain garden at this school in Beaufort County collects runoff from the school’s roofs and parking lots. The rain garden was planted by seventh graders, area Wal-Mart employees and volunteers from the Pamlico-Tar River Foundation. Wal-Mart funded the project.
Smyrna Elementary School
The rain garden built at this school in eastern Carteret County is somewhat different from a typical rain garden because it uses sod rather than mulch to treat stormwater. This type of rain garden is a bit easier to maintain and reduces the pollutants in stormwater runoff from the school parking lot. Smyrna students and area Wal-Mart volunteers helped plant shrubs and trees around the swale. The students also learned how to monitor the success of rain gardens in capturing and filtering polluted stormwater runoff. The N.C. Department of Transportation, the N.C. Division of Soil and Water Conservation Community Conservation Assistance Program (CCAP) and Wal-Mart paid for the project. 
White Oak Elementary School
A series of three rain gardens were built at this school in western Carteret County school. CCAP and Wal-Mart paid for the gardens.
LID in the Community
Brandywine Bay Rain Garden Project
The federation is working with the Brandywine Bay Garden Club in Morehead City to install two rain gardens. The proposed site for the first rain garden is the entrance on N.C. 24. This rain will collect runoff from the road. Another rain garden may be installed near the parking lot of the pro shop. CCAP will design and partially fund the gardens, which will also educate homeowners on the values of stormwater controls. For more information contact Lexia Weaver.
Harkers Island Pilot Study
The goal of the project is to reduce bacteria concentrations entering into Core Sound by identifying, designing and installing several LID treatments at the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum and Heritage Center and the adjacent Visitors Center at Cape Lookout National Seashore. The six LID treatments -- two cisterns, three rain gardens and a stormwater wetland -- will help to capture, absorb and filter polluted stormwater runoff and reduce stormwater flowing into the shellfish waters of adjacent Core Sound. The N.C. Clean Water Management Trust Fund, North Carolina Sea Grant and CCAP funded the project. Master Gardener volunteers of N.C. State University’s Cooperative Extension Service and students at Harkers Island Elementary School helped with the plantings. For more information, please contact Lexia Weaver.
 
 
A cistern, top left, captures water from the museum roof. A wetland to treat stormwater, top right, begins to take shape. Rain gardens, bottom, were built in strategic locations to absorb runoff.
Federation Cistern Project
A 1,500 gallon cistern was installed to collect stormwater runoff from the roof of the federation’s Shorekeeper Learning Center in Ocean. The rainwater will be used to irrigate plants in an outdoor nursery and in the greenhouse. This is the second LID treatment installed at the federation Headquarters Office. A rain garden was built in 2006 to collect stormwater runoff from the gravel road and parking area. CCAP partially funded the cistern project. Contact Lexia Weaver for more information.
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