The Kleinfelder Blog

Kleinfelder is designing green infrastructure in places like the Town of Burgaw (North Carolina) to mimic stormwater management processes that occur in natural environments pre-development, providing benefits to the environment, wildlife, and community.

Pictured: example of a rain garden designed to capture and absorb rainwater

Success stories from North Carolina

Since 2021, Kleinfelder has served as a consultant for the North Carolina Resilient Coastal Communities Program (NC RCCP), helping small coastal communities get ready for and adapt to the challenges of climate change and coastal hazards through engaging communities, conducting risk and vulnerability assessments, and identifying and prioritizing projects to reduce the impacts of coastal hazards like flooding and storms.

One such project we’re currently working on as part of the NC RCCP is designing a rain garden for Burgaw — a charming and historic town in Pender County, NC.

The Burgaw Initiative: It’s a Rain Garden

The Town of Burgaw has faced challenges related to stormwater management, particularly in the face of hurricanes and even just heavy summer thunderstorms. With assistance from Kleinfelder Climate Resiliency Planner Julia Laine, the Town was able to secure grant funding from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Coastal Management (NC DEQ-DCM) through Phase 3 of the NC RCCP, to improve the Town’s resilience to short-duration, high-intensity storms and major flooding events. The Town intends to utilize the funding to design a rain garden as an educational demonstration site and improve local flood management inside the Town.

Kleinfelder brings ample experience to this project, having designed and constructed everything from large watershed projects to small-scale bioretention cells, as well as expertise in engineering, geotechnical investigation, community engagement, and project management.

Burgaw is taking steps to construct a rain garden that will provide many benefits, thanks to funding from the NC DEQ-DCM and the vision of Town leadership.

“The site will help mitigate problem flooding and will be a great learning experience for residents and visitors of all ages, specifically detailing how green infrastructure not only facilitates the management of stormwater runoff, but also enhances the aesthetic and ecological vitality of the community,” said Kleinfelder Project Manager Keely Lane.

Why Rain Gardens?

Think of rain gardens as the superheroes of stormwater management: These green champions are designed to capture the first inch of a rain event, which carries the most pollution, and then hold that, allowing the plants to filter the oils, chemicals, and particles it carries. By holding this initial water, rain gardens reduce runoff, improve water quality, and boost urban biodiversity. They swoop in to save the day by capturing and absorbing stormwater and conserving precious water resources.

Once established, these green natural features require minimal upkeep, allowing the community to enjoy their benefits without the maintenance. Plus, they provide an attractive aesthetic appeal with their vibrant native plants and flowers, which increases biodiversity.

Veronica Westendorff, program manager for the planning and landscape services at Kleinfelder, believes rain gardens are a powerful tool in our urban landscapes.

“Rain gardens offer so many benefits, from cleaning and managing water within a small space to improving the health of our ecosystems,” she said. “And the opportunity to introduce beautiful plants with a variety of seasonal interest, color, and texture adds vibrancy and appeal to our landscapes.”

How Do Rain Gardens Work?

Rain gardens are all about plant-soil interactions. The plants in these gardens filter pollutants from stormwater through their roots, which create channels in the soil. This helps water infiltrate and percolate, removing heavy metals, nutrients, and sediments. The soil mix—usually sand, compost, and native soil—supports plant growth and enhances pollutant breakdown. Microbes in the soil also play a crucial role in cleaning the water. Rain gardens also hold water, slowing it and giving streams an opportunity to move water down without getting overwhelmed.

Beyond Stormwater Management

Rain gardens do more than manage stormwater; they support local biodiversity by providing habitats for plants and animals, including pollinators like bees and butterflies. These green spaces improve the ecological health of urban areas and offer aesthetic appeal and recreational value. Educational sites, like the one in Burgaw, help raise awareness about sustainable practices and engage the community.

Community-Consultant Partnership

The rain garden project in Burgaw is a testament to the Town’s commitment to sustainability and resilience, and the staff at Kleinfelder are thrilled to be part of this transformative journey.

“Rain gardens are not just about managing water,” said Keely, “they’re about creating sustainable, beautiful spaces that benefit the entire community.”

“Working closely with Burgaw from the early stages of their resilience planning has been incredibly rewarding,” Julia added. “I look forward to seeing the benefits the garden brings to the whole community, and how the Town continues to plan for the future.”

Learn More

Kleinfelder is designing green infrastructure to mimic stormwater management processes that occur in natural environments pre-development, which provides a suite of benefits to the environment, wildlife, and community. In many cases, our rain garden projects also serve as a living classroom, teaching the community about the benefits of green infrastructure.

Would you like to know more about any specific projects or aspects of Kleinfelder’s work with the Town of Burgaw? Please contact Keely Lane or Julia Laine.

Tom Bucci

South Division Director of Business Development

Keely Lane

Project Manager

Julia Laine

Project Manager

Veronica Westendorff

South Division Principal Landscape Architect

About NC RCCP

The NC RCCP provides funding and technical assistance for the development and implementation of various solutions, as well as offers grants for planning, engineering, design, and final implementation and construction. This support helps communities overcome barriers to coastal resilience and adaptation planning.

Kleinfelder was selected twice as a consultant for the NC RCCP’s Phase 1 and Phase 2 programs, which directly pairs consultants with towns to provide technical assistance services in risk assessment and resilience planning work (click here to learn more). Kleinfelder has been deeply involved in planning efforts throughout several regions across eastern North Carolina, working with local community stakeholders to identify vulnerabilities and recommending projects aligned with applicable funding sources to bolster climate resiliency and support community education and green infrastructure.