In the fall of 2025, we returned to the Wild Oak Lane neighborhood in Carrboro where we had previously implemented a Regenerative Stormwater Conveyance (RSC) system designed to better manage stormwater runoff and protect the health of Bolin Creek. This time, the focus was a residential drainage issue where stormwater from a paved back porch was rushing downhill during heavy rains, eroding soil, damaging a garden, and exposing the home’s foundation.

To address these challenges, a 500-gallon cistern was installed to capture roof and surface runoff, paired with a newly constructed rain garden planted with native flowers and grasses to absorb excess water not collected by the cistern. The project also served as the hands-on workday for our first Advanced Student Apprenticeship through the Growing More Than Rain Gardens program. Orange County students surveyed the site, measured and excavated the garden, and completed the planting, gaining real-world experience in sustainable stormwater solutions while helping protect a sensitive watershed.