North Carolina Allocates $5.7 Million for Flood Mitigation in Western Regions
With the threat of future floods looming, North Carolina is taking proactive measures to safeguard its communities. Governor Josh Stein has announced a significant $5.7 million allocation for flood mitigation projects across Western North Carolina. Speaking from Woodfin, alongside the French Broad River, Stein emphasized the importance of reducing flood risks in the area.
These initiatives will focus on enhancing flood resilience by creating floodwater storage facilities, restoring and reconnecting floodplains, relocating susceptible infrastructure, and improving water quality.
This funding is part of the broader efforts under the Department of Environmental Quality’s Flood Resiliency Blueprint, a strategic plan developed following a directive from the General Assembly to mitigate the impact of floods statewide.
“We know that there will be floods to come in the future. So we are making smart investments now to limit flood severity, enable communities to recover more quickly and to limit future risk,” Stein stated at a press briefing.
The announcement was made at the future site of Taylor’s Wave, an artificial wave park for kayakers expected to open this summer. This wave park is part of a comprehensive initiative to revitalize the river corridor between Asheville and Woodfin, partially funded by state grants.
“These are amenities that just make our lives better. And if you can do that and mitigate the risk of future flooding. That is a win-win,” Stein remarked.
The North Carolina General Assembly has allocated a total of $96 million for implementing projects under the Blueprint, with nearly half of that sum already expended.
Assistant Secretary for Resilience Kathie Dello noted, “Flood resilience is best achieved through thousands of small, community centered projects that preserve the character of the places that we live, work and play.”
Among the beneficiaries is Haywood County Schools, awarded $2 million to acquire land and relocate school facilities from flood-prone areas. As planning is underway, Assistant Superintendent Graham Haynes expressed optimism about the funding, stating it puts them “in the right direction.”
“I think viable land that is good to build on, that you don’t have to do tons of grading [on] is somewhere around $100,000 an acre,” Haynes mentioned to BPR, highlighting the cost considerations for the project.
The projects funded include:
Woodfin Riverside Park Flood Mitigation and Stormwater Improvements:
Woodfin’s Riverside Park will receive $284,000 for riverbank stabilization and stormwater infrastructure improvements.
Clyde Downtown Floodable Riverfront Park:
A $400,000 grant will facilitate the creation of a floodable park to manage floodwaters and protect nearby roads.
Canton Park Street River Access and Stormwater Improvements:
This $450,000 grant will help establish Haywood County’s first public river access, complete with new trails and open space designed for flood management.
Canton Chestnut Mountain Floodplain Restoration:
With a $470,000 grant, over four acres of land along Hominy Creek will be restored.
Canton Property Acquisition to Support School Relocation:
The $2 million funding will assist in relocating school buildings from flood-prone areas, with current sites repurposed for flood resilience.
Black Mountain Veterans Park Floodplain, Wetland, and Green Infrastructure Complex:
A $1.6 million investment will support the development of wetlands, natural stormwater infrastructure, and stream restoration.
Hendersonville Lower Mud Creek Floodplain Restoration Phase I:
This $100,000 grant will aid in constructing and managing a 27-acre floodplain and stream corridor.
Hendersonville Municipal Stormwater Infrastructure Improvements:
The $356,000 awarded will upgrade and reposition stormwater systems to prevent future flooding.
These eight projects are part of a larger initiative that now includes 81 statewide efforts, collectively aimed at enhancing flood resilience in riverside communities. For more information, visit the full press release here.
