History

The Walnut Creek Wetland Community Partnership (WCWCP) formed in 2014 by residents and organizations who were interested or working in the community surrounding the Walnut Creek wetlands in SE Raleigh. The group was formed to create a space for individuals from varying backgrounds to come together to discuss and manage the wetlands.

What we do

Partners work together to identify and implement projects that support healthy wetlands and healthy communities. Public meetings are held to discuss projects, ideas and other relevant topics. Anyone is invited to attend these meetings.

What we have done

• Installed a rain garden at St. Ambrose Episcopal Church
• Environmentally focused events for youth and families
• Engaged the community in conversations about flooding and stormwater concerns
• Identified partners and funding to do projects of interest such as Parks with Purpose

Walnut Creek Wetlands

What are wetlands

Low lying lands that collect water, have soggy soil, and provide homes to a variety of plants and animals. Wetlands act as sponges and filters, helping to control flooding and provide clean water.

Walnut Creek Wetlands

The wetlands help to remove pollution and reduce flooding from the runoff that flows from downtown Raleigh and upstream communities. The Rochester Heights neighborhood is adjacent to the wetlands, and partially within the 100-year floodplain.

To learn more about the wetland’s history visit  Partners for Environmental Justice or Walnut Creek Wetland Park

Walnut Creek Watershed

Watershed: An area of land that contains a common set of streams and rivers that all drain into a single large body of water such as a river, lake or ocean.

Threats to the wetlands and surrounding communities

• High percentage of surfaces (pavement, sidewalks, rooftops) that don’t absorb stormwater
• Untreated and strong stormwater runoff flows from downtown Raleigh and communities upstream
• Extreme and nuisance flooding of nearby communities
• Poor water quality from erosion and sedimentation, development and habitat degradation

Making a Positive Impact in the Wetlands

• The WCWCP is committed to working on local issues in the wetlands by engaging the local community and partners, and by developing action-based solutions
• Check out partner pages (links below) to see how they are making a positive impact in the wetlands, watershed and local communities
• We are always interested to hear from and to work with the community to address any concerns, and to implement ideas to support healthy wetlands and communities. Find contact information below.

Partners

We step up to the table with our individual motivations, gifts, talents, and humility, seeking to share those in a place we care about, with people we care about. We invite residents and organizations that are active in the community to join us. So far, we include:

• American Rivers
• Carolina Wetlands Association
• Center for Human and Earth Restoration
• City of Raleigh Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources
• City of Raleigh Stormwater Management Division
• Fuller Elementary School
• Institute for Landscape Art and Sustainable Practices
• JPB Foundation
• Kris Bass Engineering

• Local residents surrounding the wetlands
• Natural Learning Initiative, NCSU College of Design
• NC Sea Grant
• NCSU College of Natural Resources
• NCSU College of Humanities and Social Science
• Partners for Environmental Justice
• Pisces Foundation
• St. Ambrose Episcopal Church
• Step Up Ministry
• The Conservation Fund
• Triangle Greenways Council
• Urban Community Agrinomics- Catawba Trail Farm
• Walnut Creek Wetland Park
• Water Resources Research Institute

Return to the Walnut Creek Partnership homepage