CHARLESTON, S.C. — Residents of Charleston, S.C., get another chance Thursday, Oct. 8, to tell planners where their streets flood and what they want done about it, at an open house on the Charleston Tidal and Inland Flood Risk Management Study.
The drop-in meeting runs from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Baxter-Patrick James Island Library. It follows a first session held Wednesday at the West Ashley Farmers Market at Ackerman Park.
The study is a joint effort of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston District and the City of Charleston. It looks at ways to reduce the risk of damage from coastal, tidal and inland rainfall flooding in James Island, West Ashley and downtown Charleston, and the city says it will lay the groundwork for future infrastructure investments. Johns Island and Daniel Island could be studied later.
The study was authorized by Congress in WRDA 2020 and expanded under WRDA 2022 to develop a comprehensive flood risk management plan for the city. It remains under development, and the next phases include weighing alternatives, running economic, engineering and cost analyses and producing a feasibility-level design.
At the open house, visitors can look over preliminary flood mitigation strategies, talk one-on-one with project planners and point out where and when they see flooding. Chrissa Waite, the Charleston District project manager, said public input is key to building balanced solutions that protect neighborhoods while respecting the city’s natural and historic resources.
Comments will be accepted through Oct. 16. People who cannot attend can submit comments online or by mail to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston District, ATTN: Planning and Environmental Branch, 69A Hagood Ave., Charleston, SC 29403.
