How Urban Wetlands Help Prevent Flooding in Southeast Raleigh

Urban wetlands like Walnut Creek are doing more than most people realize. In Southeast Raleigh, they’re not just a patch of green — they’re a frontline defense against flooding, pollution, and climate extremes.

What Are Urban Wetlands?

Urban wetlands are natural low-lying areas that hold and slowly filter rainwater. In cities like Raleigh, they’ve often been overlooked, paved over, or polluted. But when restored, they provide critical flood relief and improve environmental health.

The Role of Walnut Creek

Walnut Creek Wetland Park, located near Rochester Heights and Biltmore Hills, is one of Raleigh’s most important environmental assets. After decades of flooding in Southeast Raleigh — especially during storms like Hurricane Fran — this wetland became a community-driven restoration success. Today, it helps absorb stormwater runoff from surrounding neighborhoods, reducing flood damage and erosion.

How Wetlands Reduce Flooding

Here’s what makes wetlands like Walnut Creek so effective at flood control:

• They store excess rainwater during storms

• They slow the flow of runoff, giving water time to soak in

• They trap sediment and debris, improving stream health downstream

• They protect infrastructure, keeping roads and homes from flooding

When wetlands are removed or degraded, flooding worsens. Restoring them is one of the smartest — and most natural — forms of climate resilience.

Why It Matters for Southeast Raleigh

Historically, Southeast Raleigh neighborhoods were excluded from infrastructure investments. As a result, they suffered more frequent and severe flooding. Today, Walnut Creek Wetland Park is not just a green space — it's a symbol of community-led environmental justice, helping to protect the very neighborhoods that were once overlooked.

Call to Action

Want to be part of the solution? Join us in protecting Raleigh’s wetlands and building flood resilience from the ground up. Whether you live near Walnut Creek or simply care about a safer, greener city — your voice and action matter.

Contact us today to volunteer, donate, or learn more about how you can help protect Southeast Raleigh from flooding.