Municipal Association Executive Director Todd Glover, left, presents an Achievement Award trophy for Population 10,001 — 20,000 Category to Beaufort Project Manager Neal Pugliese during the 2022 Annual Meeting Charleston. (download image)
The City of Beaufort received a Municipal Achievement Award for its Mossy Oaks stormwater drainage project. The town won in the 10,001 – 20,000 population category. Twenty-four cities and towns submitted their projects and initiatives for consideration in the annual awards.
Suffering from repeated flooding during heavy rains, king tides and storm surges, Beaufort’s Mossy Oaks neighborhood, home to 1,500 houses, experienced many drainage challenges. The issues of inadequate pipes and overgrown ditches were compounded by the vulnerabilities of slab-built homes, and after the neighborhood suffered three damaging floods in 11 months, Beaufort identified it as the top priority for mitigation among its flood-prone areas.
The city created a multijurisdictional task force for the effort, including the Town of Port Royal, Beaufort County, state agencies, utilities, nonprofits, neighborhood groups and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Over several years, the city conducted an engineering study and identified funding, including $5.9 million from bonds, $1.5 million from grants and $580,000 from community partners.
The project installed improved drainage pipes at corrected elevations and tidal flap gates to control water flow into the marsh. After permitting and bidding, the construction took nine months — two months less than planned — and was completed under budget. The numerous partnerships involved in the effort allowed for utility collaboration, so that new water, sewer and electrical lines could be installed during construction. Ongoing outreach efforts and two-way communication with residents meant that those affected by construction were kept informed of the process.
Since completion of the project, Mossy Oaks has experienced no significant flooding, even during a storm event that dropped 7 inches of rain in less than 24 hours. For future stormwater projects, Beaufort will use the planning, construction and communication methods employed for Mossy Oaks as it addresses one of the objectives in its strategic plan: “plan for sea-level rise.”
“Beaufort built an effective coalition of organizations and stakeholders to resolve a major infrastructure problem. In doing so, these partners have created an excellent model for future projects,” said Todd Glover, executive director for the Municipal Association.
These winning entries represent innovative projects undertaken by Municipal Association member cities and towns. Information and a video about the project are available on the Association’s website www.masc.sc (keyword: Achievement Awards).
The Municipal Association of SC initiated the Achievement Awards in 1987 to recognize and encourage innovations and excellence in local government.
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