The Coastal Federation teamed up with Swansboro to develop a watershed restoration plan for the town which lays out a framework for reducing stormwater runoff that flows into Foster, Halls, Hammocks, Historic, and Ward/Hawkins Creeks ultimately reaching the White Oak.
The Town of Swansboro Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the plan in March 2017.
The plan targets the reduction of 13.3 million gallons of polluted runoff with strategies that promote stormwater infiltration to allow water to slowly soak into the ground instead of flowing into coastal waters.
The goal of the plan is to “turn back the clock” to restore the watersheds so that local waters are safe for fishing and swimming and meet the town’s water quality goals.
Implementation Projects
Walnut Street Stormwater Outfall Project – 2022
A stormwater outfall at the end of Walnut Street was redirected to an engineered sand filter instead of discharging into Hawkins Creek. The site now treats runoff from an almost 10-acre watershed before reaching the creek. The Federation worked with Coastal Stormwater Services, Inc, and M&W Land Improvement Inc. to design and install the device. The project was funded by the N.C. Division of Water Resources, EPA 319 program.
Ward Shore Park Permeable Parking – 2021
With support from the EPA Section 319 grant program, the Coastal Federation and Town of Swansboro removed sections of asphalt and compacted turf at Ward Shore Park and replaced it with rock-filled permeable paving grids to allow stormwater to soak into the ground to reduce runoff while also providing public parking.
Second Swansboro Town Hall Permeable Parking – 2019
The Federation and Coastal Stormwater Services, Inc. designed a second permeable parking lot for Swansboro Town Hall. It was constructed by the Town using Ecoraster permeable paving grids in the spring of 2019. Instead of contributing to runoff, the new parking lot soaks in the rain.
Swansboro Cistern – 2019
In the fall of 2019, the Federation, the Town of Swansboro, and Onslow Soil and Water Conservation District partnered to install a 2,000-gallon and 3,000-gallon cistern purchased from Rainstorm Solutions. The Cisterns are harvesting rain from the Town’s fire department and public works buildings.
Swansboro Town Hall Rain Garden – 2019
Students from Swansboro Middle School helped the Federation and Onslow Soil and Water Conservation District build a rain garden to reduce stormwater runoff at Swansboro Town Hall. The shallow landscaped depression includes native plants and mulch. Rain gardens work the way nature does to capture stormwater runoff so it can soak into the ground. In addition to reducing the amount of runoff being generated from the Town Hall roof, the rain garden serves as a community living classroom. Funding for the garden was provided by the North Carolina Community Conservation Assistance Program and the North Carolina Division of Water Resources’ EPA Section 319 Water Quality Program.
Swansboro Town Hall Parking Lot and Bioretention Area – 2018
While most parking lots are designed to get the rain off-site as quickly as possible, the Town of Swansboro and the Federation partnered to install a parking lot at Town Hall that actually lets stormwater soak into the ground. The new public parking lot, located between Town Hall and the public safety building provides parking and also absorbs runoff. It includes sections with pervious paver grids that have been filled with rock. The lot was designed by Coastal Stormwater Services, Inc. and was constructed by Task Contracting. Funding for the parking lot was provided by the North Carolina Division of Water Resources’ EPA Section 319 Water Quality Program.