Recently the city of Charleston, SC, along with the US Army Corps of Engineers, decided to move forward a plan to repel hurricane storm surge from the downtown peninsula. The low-lying city has suffered flooding from many storms in recent years. This ambitious new plan includes an 8-mile long wall reaching as high as 8 feet off the ground, pumping stations to clear rainwater from the roads, and a breakwater to slow waves moving toward the city.
The plan is still in the preliminary stages and is open for public comment. The design team will have to consider the historic fabric of the City and minimize effects on aquatic habitats. Engineers hope to meet these challenges and provide protection to this historic city—providing an example for other low-lying coastal areas. – Beth Sciaudone, DTC Civil Water Resources & Environmental Instructor
