Clean Coastal Waters and Reduced Coastal Flooding for a Healthy, More Resilient Coast
We’ve all jumped out of the car and into a flooded parking lot. Some of us have had inches or feet of rain seep into our homes. Reducing the volume of stormwater runoff is key for both minimizing flooding and restoring the health of coastal waters. That is why working for nature-based stormwater strategies that allow rain to soak into the ground will always be a priority for the Coastal Federation. Simply put, nature-based stormwater strategies work with the landscape and soil to capture and soak in rain where it falls, mimicking how the land naturally absorbs rain. These strategies should be considered for all land use activities to reduce flooding and protect surface water quality. In 2021, we will join state leadership, local governments and businesses who are embracing nature-based stormwater strategies to reduce flooding, improve water quality and help balance economic development with natural resource management.
The North Carolina Coastal Federation has developed a working map of sites along the North Carolina coast where stormwater projects have been completed. This map features descriptions, photos, funding agencies and more. Click on the various sites below and check back for new additions.
Advancing low-impact development
The federation brings together partners in urban and rural landscapes to use low-impact development (LID) techniques that slow down the flow of stormwater runoff and let it to soak into the ground. LID includes stormwater design techniques that infiltrate, filter, store and evaporate runoff. Instead of directing stormwater to ditches, pipes and ponds, LID maintains a landscape that captures and absorbs rain before it has a chance to become polluted runoff.
Using a variety of approaches, we work to promote and implement stormwater management programs at the state and local levels. By educating and assisting regional property owners, coastal communities and farmers, we are advancing LID as the next generation of stormwater management.