North Raleigh Today

Today marked the groundbreaking ceremony for the Stoney Creek Watershed Flood Mitigation Pilot Project in Goldsboro, attended by North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Secretary Reid Wilson and Wayne Community College (WCC) President Patricia Pfeiffer, among other officials and stakeholders.

The project is a $1.6 million effort aimed at reducing chronic flooding in the area, particularly along Wayne Memorial Drive. Located on the WCC campus, the development features a stormwater wetland and detention basin to mitigate flood risks for businesses, roadways, and emergency services in Wayne County and Goldsboro.

DEQ Secretary Reid Wilson emphasized the project's importance, stating, “It’s critical that we build, and rebuild, to be more resilient to devastating storms... we will help ensure Wayne County is a more resilient place for people to live, work, and raise a family.”

Beyond flood mitigation, the project will connect to Reedy Creek's greenway path, enhancing WCC's trail system and educational opportunities. WCC President Pfeiffer expressed optimism, saying, “We are pleased... this will have a positive impact on our campus, our community, and the local businesses in Wayne County...”

The project will capture campus runoff, releasing it slowly to mitigate peak water flows and will be covered with native plants to enhance environmental stability and habitat. It is the first demonstration site for the DMS Natural Infrastructure Flood Mitigation Program, established in 2020 to manage flooding in smaller watersheds.

Lessons from this project will guide similar natural infrastructure flood mitigation efforts across North Carolina. DEQ's additional planned projects for 2025 and 2026 are backed by an $8.5 million allocation from the NC General Assembly, aiming to further address flooding in the watershed.