Raleigh reports $920 million in stormwater capital needs, proposes debt-and-grant approach to speed delivery

Wayne Miles, the city’s stormwater manager in engineering services, and Barbara Barranta, division manager for planning and asset management, briefed the Raleigh City Council in a work session update on the city’s stormwater capital improvements program.

The staff presentation said Raleigh has $920,000,000 in known stormwater capital improvement needs across five categories — major capital projects, water quality, asset management, floodplain management and other programs — and that using the current pay-as-you-go approach would take roughly 66 years to deliver those projects. “Using our current pay as you go strategy, it would take us 66 years to deliver these known capital needs,” Barranta said. Staff said a proposed debt-and-grant financing strategy would move delivery to about 25 years.

Why this matters: City staff said the program responds to an increase in development and changing rainfall patterns, aging infrastructure and recurring flooding. The capital program is intended to reduce public-safety risk, improve water quality and renew assets such as conveyance pipes, detention facilities and dams.

Major capital projects and examples

Staff described major projects developed through watershed planning, field data (survey/stream walks) and hydraulic/water-quality modeling, together with community engagement. One example is the Camp Pond Dam project in West Raleigh, a roughly $11,000,000 project to repair a corroded spillway and embankment under a road that is the only access for about 40 homes. The Camp Pond project is intended to maintain access and address a North Carolina dam safety notice of deficiency.

Water-quality projects and GSI

Staff highlighted stream and wetland restoration and green stormwater infrastructure (GSI). A Southeast Raleigh park project slated at about $1,900,000 will use roughly $1,000,000 in grant funding to restore streams and wetlands. Upper Durant conversion, described as a $9,400,000 project in North Raleigh, would convert a failing dam reservoir into stormwater habitat wetland. Miles and Barranta said city teams use LIDAR and a USGS partnership to identify erosion hotspots; preliminary findings show about 40 percent of Raleigh streams have moderate to severe erosion.

GSI uses plants and permeable soils to retain and treat runoff and provide community benefits, staff said. The city funds GSI on other agency projects (examples cited: Gibson Play Plaza and Civic Tower) and now has a GSI maintenance crew housed in Parks with council support.

Asset management and inspections

Staff described three asset-management programs (GSI, dams and stormwater conveyance). Miles said the city funds roughly 70 positions in Transportation related to inspections. Crews run robotic cameras through storm pipes, code defects using a nationally recognized coding system, and prioritize rehabilitation projects; lining pipes was cited as a lower-cost approach than full excavation and replacement.

Floodplain management and voluntary buyouts

The floodplain program includes updated mapping, assessment, planning for frequently flooded areas and a voluntary flood-hazard mitigation (buyout) program. Barranta said sediment-and-erosion control regulations went into effect in 1974 and floodplain regulations in 1978, with post-construction stormwater detention and water-quality requirements beginning to take effect around 2003. Staff said most buyouts occurred after a past disaster when federal funds were available; in the last five years, staff said the city purchased about four or five houses through the voluntary program.

Local assistance programs

Staff described the Drainage Assistance and Stream Stabilization program for homeowners and the Raleigh Rainwater Rewards program that funds private-property GSI. Over the past six years, staff said the city supported installation of more than 190 separate devices; the Office of Sustainability partnerships allow up to 100 percent financing for qualified applicants in disadvantaged communities. Reimbursement rates cited were typically 75 percent or 90 percent depending on location and water-quality priorities.

Funding and timing

Staff presented a 10-year summary indicating a large funding year in fiscal 2026 and a 10-year total of about $410,000,000 that staff said would advance many priority major capital projects if debt and grants are used. Miles said the current CIP this fiscal year was about $13,800,000, and that adopting debt financing would spread large project costs over the expected service life of the improvements (50–70 years) rather than charging only current ratepayers.

Community engagement and next steps

Staff emphasized equitable community engagement tied to watershed planning and invited residents to comment via the project website and an open survey that staff said remains available. Barranta said staff will return with more detailed budget recommendations in the April budget presentation. Miles said the USGS watershed study report is nearing completion and expected around April; staff suggested further council briefing or committee discussion when the final report is available.

Questions from councilors touched on grant prioritization (staff cited success with state Land and Water Fund grants and past ARPA allocations), ranking criteria (public safety, water quality, infrastructure risk), inspection technology, program prioritization and outreach. Staff noted a prioritization model developed with the Stormwater Management Advisory Commission that scores projects by probability of failure and consequence.

Ending

Staff said they will continue public engagement, pursue grant opportunities and return with specific budget requests in the spring. For information or to provide input, staff advised using the city's stormwater project website and the ongoing survey.