Press Releases

RALEIGH, North Carolina (October 1, 2024) – Kleinfelder is pleased to announce that Lumber River Council of Governments (LRCOG) received the 2024 Aliceann Wohlbruck NADO Impact Award for two projects. Presented by the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO), these awards celebrate projects that advance regional planning, economic development, and resilience across the nation. Kleinfelder provided climate resiliency planning services to LRCOG for both projects.

The two award-winning projects, the Lumber River Wetlands Restoration Study and the Lumber River Resilient Roads Study, focus on building resilience in the five-county Lumber River region of North Carolina, which faces repeated flooding and severe hurricanes. These projects underscore LRCOG’s commitment to improving the natural and built environment of its communities in the face of increasing climate-related challenges. Kleinfelder provided climate resiliency planning assessments, stakeholder engagement, and conceptual-level engineering recommendations for both studies.

The Lumber River Wetlands Restoration Study focuses on mitigating flood risks in the region by identifying and prioritizing wetland restoration sites as natural solutions for floodwater storage. Kleinfelder conducted a thorough analysis with field visits to determine which wetland areas have the highest potential for flood mitigation through restoration, aligning these efforts with funding programs in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). The restoration plan focused on reducing flood risks to disadvantaged communities, promoting long-term resilience in some of North Carolina’s most vulnerable areas.

The Lumber River Resilient Roads Study prioritizes roadways most vulnerable to flooding and provides conceptual-level recommendations for flood mitigation and adaptation strategies. Kleinfelder used both quantitative and qualitative methods to identify local roads that serve as critical lifelines to communities during extreme weather events. Conceptual recommendations were then developed to address problematic flooding on these roads. The study’s findings provide a framework for the next phase of the project—design and engineering services—ultimately helping build a more resilient regional transportation network that ensures essential services remain accessible before, during, and after flood events.

“We are proud to have supported the continued efforts of the Lumber River Council of Governments in delivering these award-winning projects. Both were originally identified through the North Carolina Office of Recovery and Resiliency (NCORR) RISE Program (Regions Innovating for Strong Economies and Environment) and demonstrate the success of resiliency planning with local governments. We look forward to continuing our work in strengthening community climate resilience across North Carolina through projects like these,” said Kleinfelder Climate Resiliency Planner Julia Laine.

The NADO Impact Awards celebrate the positive, lasting effects of initiatives like these on communities and the importance of regional collaboration in addressing complex challenges. For more information about the NADO Impact Awards, visit the program’s website: 2024 Impact Award Recipients – NADO.

Kleinfelder. Bright People. Right Solutions. Founded in 1961, Kleinfelder is a leading engineering, design, construction management, construction materials inspection and testing, and environmental professional services firm.  Kleinfelder employs over 3,100 professionals and operates from over 100 office locations in the United States, Canada, and Australia.  The company is headquartered in San Diego, California.  Poised for growth, Kleinfelder continues to provide high-quality solutions for our diverse client base.  Visit Kleinfelder.com or follow us on LinkedIn/Kleinfelder.