Kids and parents alike can now learn about more than just animals the next time they visit the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro. A new stormwater wetland will educate them about the importance of protecting the state’s water quality, as well as the benefits of team work.
The wetland was built through a partnership between the N.C. Department of Transportation, the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the Clean Water Management Trust Fund. The organizations worked together to gain environmental permits, design, fund and oversee construction on the $1 million project.
The wetland took more than three years to transition from an idea to a reality, but the wait was definitely worth it.
When rain falls on the zoo’s 11-acre North America parking lot, it washes pollutants such as oil leaked from cars into storm drains. Before the wetland existed, the dirty water would flow from the drains right into the zoo’s lake. That is no longer the case. Now, the water is filtered as it passes through the wetland and goes into the lake untainted.
Through a successful partnership, the wetland project is not only improving the water quality in the lake, but it is also better protecting the plants and animals that rely on it for survival.
The next time you go to the zoo, stop by the wetland, read the signs explaining how it works, and enjoy the scenic overlooks and nearby picnic areas. NCDOT and its project partners hope the wetland will highlight our commitment to the environment and motivate others to follow in our “green” footsteps.