INTEGRATING NUISANCE AND STORM FLOOD MODELING INTO LAND-USE MANAGEMENT IN CHARLESTON, SC

In Charleston South Carolina, the College of Charleston and the Charleston Resilience Network (CRN) are working together to integrate the mapping and identification of the effects of natural hazards in the Charleston region. The CRN is a collaboration of public, private, and nonprofit organizations focused on enhancing the resilience of the greater Charleston region. Its mission is to provide a unified strategy and forum to share science-based information, educate stakeholders, and enhance long-term planning decisions in the region. The region is unique along the US South Atlantic coastline, it has natural hazards ranging from sea level rise and periodic/storm flooding to earthquakes and hurricanes. Additionally, the greater Charleston region has the largest amount of pristine estuarine wetlands coupled with a population growth rate of 45 people per day compromising 25 percent of the state’s total population gain. This discussion focused on regional flooding, a major issue especially for newer residents. Recent in-migrants do not understand the risk landscape and do not know what actions are needed. The mapping of flood hazards in the region has incorporated meteorological events, tides, storm/wind surge and subsurface infrastructure in developing high resolution (parcel scale) flood models for the region. The results of the flooding studies are in the hands of municipal leaders and planners. Understanding of the regions sensitivity to climate induced phenomena makes messaging difficult when trying to meet the needs of multiple constituents: municipalities, developers, insurers, and the business and residential communities. Some information deemed sensitive by some is considered essential by others. The geoscientists in charge of the development of the data and models have a unique role in helping to form an integrated understanding of the hazards impacts.