WASHINGTON, N.C. – Beaufort County Government and Beaufort County Community College (BCCC) staff learned about stormwater management methods and regulations on Thursday at BCCC, where they also toured several working examples on campus.

The event highlighted Low Impact Development (LID), a design approach that uses natural and engineered techniques to manage stormwater on-site. By slowing, filtering, and absorbing rainfall where it lands, LID reduces flooding, protects water quality, and lessens the environmental impacts of development.

LID methods can: 

• Improve water quality by removing pollutants carried in stormwater runoff. 
• Reduce the amount of stormwater runoff reaching rivers and streams, protecting the natural aquatic habitat. 
• Retain more rainfall on-site, allowing rainwater to infiltrate the ground. 
• Lessen flooding and property damage by reducing the volume and speed of stormwater runoff.

After a presentation on the basics of stormwater and LID methods, attendees toured three LID projects on BCCC’s campus, including an NC Environmental Enhancement Grant-funded constructed wetland, as well as a permeable pavement parking lot and a rain garden, both of which were funded through the NC Resilient Coastal Communities Program. 

BCCC and Sound Rivers partnered several years ago to create the constructed wetland, which is located on the west side of campus. That project helps clean and slow stormwater as it flows off rooftops and parking lots on BCCC’s campus, reducing pollutants these waters may carry into Broad Creek, and ultimately the Pamlico River. You can read more about this project on the Beaufort County Community College website. 

The permeable pavement parking lot and rain garden are part of the recently constructed Low Impact Development Demonstration Site. Beaufort County, in partnership with the Mid-East Commission, was awarded grant funds for that project. The engineering and design phase of the project was funded by a Phase 3 NC Resilient Coastal Communities Program (RCCP) grant, and the construction was funded by a $194,166 Phase 4 RCCP grant, with a $16,394 local match approved by the Beaufort County Board of Commissioners. 

The permeable pavement parking lot is located near BCCC’s Public Services Driving Pad. Permeable pavement is a Stormwater Control Measure (SCM) that filters runoff as it percolates through the pavement and underlying media before discharging through an underdrain, reducing pollutants and allowing vegetation to grow between the pavers. 

The rain garden, located outside of Building 5, is filled with soil and plants that naturally filter runoff as it is absorbed into native soil. 

Low Impact Development protects water quality by creating a landscape that mimics the natural hydrologic functions of infiltration, runoff, and evapotranspiration.

The public is encouraged to view the LID projects on BCCC’s campus. The permeable pavement parking lot is available for use. 

Doug Keller of RK&K services explains the features of the permeable pavement parking lot during a training session Thursday at BCCC. (Beaufort County Government)

The LID rain garden is located outside of Building 5 on the Beaufort County Community College campus. (Beaufort County Government)

The constructed wetland is located on the west side of Beaufort County Community College's campus. (Beaufort County Government)