Teresa Court Stormwater Improvements

The Teresa Court Stormwater Improvements project in the Ocean Dunes neighborhood aims to address persistent flooding issues by incorporating nature-based stormwater management solutions. This includes replacing a flood-prone asphalt cul-de-sac with permeable pavers, installing a central bioretention basin, and constructing a dry detention bioswale along the street’s edge. These enhancements will reduce impervious surfaces, increase stormwater storage, and mitigate flooding on Teresa Court and surrounding properties. Chosen by the Town of Duck as a model project, this initiative showcases three innovative stormwater solutions and offers a replicable example for other coastal communities seeking to improve their own stormwater management strategies.

Click here to view a PDF of the proposed site improvements.

Click here for a PDF of the project specifications.

The proposed stormwater management project will implement several nature-based solutions including the replacement of an existing, flood-prone, asphalt cul-de-sac with permeable pavers, installation of a central bioretention basin, and construction of a dry detention bioswale one foot in depth around the edge of Teresa Court, a publicly owned and maintained cul-de-sac located in the Ocean Dunes neighborhood. These stormwater management improvements are intended to reduce flooding in the Teresa Court roadway and surrounding properties by substantially reducing impervious surfaces and increasing stormwater storage capacity.
Teresa Court is a public street that has suffered from severe flooding issues over the years. The Teresa Court Stormwater Improvements project was purposefully selected by the Town of Duck as a model project for the community because it incorporates three different types of nature-based stormwater management solutions. Incorporating multiple solutions will allow the project to serve as a real-life example for neighborhoods in Duck or other communities seeking to implement any of these alternatives. The nature-based, stormwater improvements implemented in this location can be replicated in any cul-de-sac or along other roadways throughout Duck or other coastal communities.
The Town of Duck has contracted with the planning/engineering firm Vanesse Hangen Brustlin (VHB) to complete the design/permitting and oversee the construction process. VHB completed the neighborhood stormwater management study that identified the planned Teresa Court improvements.

As owner of the Teresa Court cul-de-sac (and responsible for its maintenance), the N.C. Department of Transportation has been consulted during development of the plans and will have to issue a permit for the project. Local utility companies have also been involved during the design stage to provide information about current utilities and input about relocating utilities to avoid conflicts.

Teresa Court property owners and neighborhood leaders have been made aware of the impending improvements and the Town will continue to communicate with these contacts throughout the project.

  • VHB is in the process of preparing final surveys/plans/specifications for submission.
  • The construction plans must be reviewed and permitted by the N.C. Department of Transportation.
  • A bid process will be conducted and the bid awarded to the selected contractor.
  • The Town will engage in construction coordination with affected property owners.
  • During/following the construction process, Town staff will organize a public education component accompanying the project.
Surveying and detailed design began during the fall of 2024. VHB anticipates that project permitting will be obtained in early 2025, bid process conducted in February/March 2025, and completion of the construction by May 2025.
The Town of Duck has embraced its role as one of the State’s leaders for coastal resilience practices. In 2021, Duck was chosen as one of the first communities to participate in the Resilient Coastal Communities Program (RCCP). The RCCP was established by the North Carolina Division of Coastal Management with the goal of advancing community resilience for over 20 coastal counties. The program provides funding and technical assistance to communities for developing resilience strategies and associated project engineering, design, and implementation.

With the assistance of an RCCP grant, the Town of Duck first completed a study of resilience strategies involving the community in setting coastal resilience goals, assessing the existing conditions and needed resources, and identifying and prioritizing projects to enhance the community’s resilience and response to coastal hazards.

With funding matched by another RCCP grant, the Town then took the next step of working with a planning/engineering consultant to develop a neighborhood stormwater management study focused on five flood-prone basins in Duck. This study involved significant neighborhood participation to identify issues and causes of flooding, develop potential stormwater management solutions, and identify the solutions most suitable for each area studied.

Questions about the Teresa Court stormwater management improvements can be directed to Community Development Director Joe Heard at jheard@ducknc.gov, Senior Planner Sandy Cross at scross@ducknc.gov, and/or Community Planner Jim Gould at jgould@ducknc.gov.