Along Wolf Village Way, a student-led sustainability project is quietly helping prevent flooding and making the area safer and more beautiful.

Completed last spring with support from the NC State Sustainability Fund, the project installed 45 feet of engineered “step pools,” a tiered system of weirs designed to slow, capture and filter stormwater. The Sustainability Stewards collaborated with NC State Facilities to design and construct the system, incorporating native, pollinator-friendly plants for added ecological and aesthetic benefits.

“We wanted to create a structure to help pull the water off of the road and make the area safer for everyone,” said Payton Bell, a biological engineering student who worked on the project. “I love step pools because it’s a sustainable solution to an engineering problem. The system utilizes native plant species and other natural features to create a more aesthetically pleasing and environmentally friendly design than traditional drainage boxes.”

Since construction wrapped, the step pools have been observed drawing excess water off the road and sidewalk after heavy rains, which reduces pooling, improves walkability and lowers safety risks. 

The step pools also serve as a visible example of innovative, nature-based infrastructure on campus. This project demonstrates how students can create real, lasting change on campus through the Sustainability Fund.

The Sustainability Fund FastTrack Grant offers up to $1,000 for student-led sustainability projects this academic year. Applications are due by 11:59 p.m., November 12.

Need more funding and time? The Sustainability Fund’s Normal Grant Cycle is open and available to the entire NC State campus community, including students, staff, campus organizations and departments. The Fund awards over $155,000 during this cycle and applications are due by Feb. 8. 

Learn more at go.ncsu.edu/ssf.