A First Look at Charleston’s New Water Plan Set for August 27
The battle against rising sea levels and climate change continues at Charleston, with city’s leaders focusing their efforts on a Comprehensive Integrated Water Plan coming into play for the next 25 years. As tides persistently threaten the city, with a turbulence increase of 3,650 percent since 1922, Charleston is making strategic moves to alleviate the impending issue.
The unveiling of the Water Plan is set to transpire on August 27 and will be live-streamed on the city’s YouTube channel for those unable to physically attend. Acting as a beacon of hope, the Water Plan could significantly alter the city’s worrisome trajectory by providing feasible solutions for the rising sea situation.
A Ripple in the Tide
Charleston, considered as one of the cities grappling with the effects of rising sea levels, is faced with a prediction of a foot rise in sea levels within 25 years, and a daunting 3 to 5 foot rise by 2100. Flooding, especially in an era of climate change, is proposed to worsen due to heating oceans fostering more potent hurricanes.
A century ago, the waters around Charleston were rising roughly a foot, which led to increased tidal floods from merely two in 1922 to a staggering 75 in 2023, signifying an alarming 3,650 percent increase. This continual rise, coupled with the catastrophic effect of the floods, places a significant economic strain on businesses and homeowners alike.
A Plan for Hope
The first public display of Charleston’s Comprehensive Integrated Water Plan will occur on August 27 in the city council chambers at 80 Broad St. This development was announced by Mayor William Cogswell at a council meeting, expressing his excitement over the formative and aspirational concepts of the plan.
Aiming to finalize the Water Plan in the fall of 2024, officials have pledged a series of public meetings to ensure transparency and allow citizens to champion the plan for a safer Charleston.
Details Emerge
Pasters council meetings have provided snippets of information regarding the Water Plan, with the most recent including details of a project to rehabilitate New Market Creek and convert it into a flood-controlling wetland and public park. Additionally, a proposed initiative to elevate the West Ashley Greenway to craft a flood wall offers insurance against future disaster.
Aligning Forces
The partnership between the city of Charleston and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers stands at the core of realizing the Water Plan. They are currently working on two major initiatives: a Tidal and Inland Flooding Feasibility Project and the Charleston Peninsula Perimeter Protection Project, also known as the seawall project. It shows promising signs of creating a safer Charleston, with a “raised edge” on the peninsula being strongly endorsed by Mayor Cogswell. The plan calls for a $1.3 billion structure spanning approximately 8 miles of the peninsula.
The steadfast commitment to mitigate the effects of rising seas and climate change in Charleston is evident in the city’s Water Plan and partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. As the city braces for the future, its actions today signify a lasting impact on the generations of tomorrow.
