Phone: (252) 728-2141 ext. 233
Fax: (252) 728-3982
Address: 701 Front Street, Beaufort, N.C. 28516
Hours of Operation: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday-Friday
Stormwater Advisory Committee
The Town’s stormwater committee was established in 2016 to address flooding and water quality issues.
The committee consists of Town elected officials, staff, and residents as well as local organizations including the N.C. Coastal Reserve, North Carolina Coastal Federation, UNC Institute of Marine Science, Duke University, Eastern Carolina Council, and Carteret County Soil & Water Conservation District.
The committee has been successful in identifying flooding hotspots, writing a Watershed Restoration Plan, and securing grant funding through committee partners to make infrastructure and water quality improvements. The Watershed Restoration Plan, which has been approved by the State, makes the Town eligible for federal funding for stormwater control measures. The goal of this plan is to reduce the volume of stormwater reaching our local waterbodies as well as matching capital improvement projects with stormwater control measures.
Learn more about ongoing projects below or join us at the next committee meeting.
- What is stormwater and how does it contribute to pollution to our waterways: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvFT4yw4yTM
- Smart Yards: Simple Do-It-Yourself Solutions to Reduce Stormwater Runoff: https://www.nccoast.org/uploads/documents/Media%20Room/Special%20publications/SmartYardsGuide_8-14_issue.pdf
- Watershed Restoration Plan
Current Projects:
- COMPLETE - Orange Street
- On the 100 block of Orange Street, an underground infrastructure repair is being paired with a stormwater retrofit. Permeable paving is being used in parking spaces. This paving allows stormwater to soak into the ground instead of draining into Taylor’s Creek. The project is funded by a grant from the Clean Water Management Trust Fund, which was secured by committee partner, the North Carolina Coastal Federation.
- Pollock Street
- The 300 block of Pollock Street experiences flooding with only a small amount of rain. Once funding is secured, this project will reroute the existing stormwater infrastructure and install green street components (e.g. bioretention bump-outs, pervious median, maybe permeable parking areas). This will help infiltrate and drain stormwater during rain events.
- IN PROGRESS 2021 - Cedar Street
- Before North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) turns Cedar Street over the Town (due to the opening of the new bridge), they will be fixing the underground infrastructure that has caused all the potholes. Additionally, with the help of the Stantec (the contractor that did the Town’s recent Transportation Plan), designs have been created to implement stormwater control measures along the street. Twelve bioretention boxes will be installed underground to collect stormwater. Infrastructure repairs will be made in spring 2019, with final street paving occurring in fall 2019. This is a $2.5 million project that the Town has invested very little money into. Through the committee’s coordination, NCDOT’s Highway Stormwater Program is funding most of the project.
- COMPLETE - Lennoxville Boat Ramp
- Wildlife Resources Commission is paving this gravel lot and using permeable paving in the parking spots. No oak trees will be harmed as part of this project. This will reduce stormwater runoff reach Taylor’s Creek. The project is funded by a grant from the Clean Water Management Trust Fund, which was secured by committee partner, the North Carolina Coastal Federation.
