ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Two Western North Carolina communities hit hard by flooding are getting a boost in their efforts to prepare for the next big storm.
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality announced more than $1.2 million in funding for flood resilience projects in Swannanoa and Rosman through the state’s Flood Resiliency Blueprint program. The projects are designed to slow floodwaters, restore natural floodplains and wetlands and help protect homes, roads and critical infrastructure from future flooding.
Together, the projects will create nearly 9 million gallons of floodwater storage, restore about 3,000 feet of streams and three acres of wetlands, stabilize eroding streambanks and add natural stormwater features that help absorb and filter runoff.
“Rebuilding more resiliently in Western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene continues to be an urgent priority,” DEQ Secretary Reid Wilson said. “These projects will make downstream communities less vulnerable to damage during future floods.”
Swannanoa project targets Helene-damaged riverfront property
The largest award, $822,780, will go to RiverLink for a restoration project on a 4.45-acre property along the Swannanoa River that was heavily damaged during Helene.
The goal is to create about 1.6 million gallons of floodwater storage while reducing flood risks along Old Highway 70 and in downstream neighborhoods. The project will use natural infrastructure, including vegetation and stream restoration techniques, to slow runoff, improve water quality and stabilize a small tributary that feeds into the Swannanoa River.
State officials said the project could also provide long-term community benefits, including recreational and educational opportunities. The site was identified during post-Helene damage assessments as a location where restoration work could strengthen both the river corridor and the surrounding community.
Rosman project focuses on restoring natural floodplains
In Rosman, Conserving Carolina will receive $450,000 to restore 30 acres of former farmland near the headwaters of the French Broad River.
The project is expected to create about 7.1 million gallons of floodplain storage by reconnecting the river to parts of its natural floodplain. When rivers have room to spread out during heavy rain, floodwaters move more slowly and cause less damage downstream.
Officials said the work will help protect nearby assets, including Rosman Community Park, the town’s wastewater treatment plant and other infrastructure.
The project will also restore 3,000 feet of tributary streams and three acres of wetlands, improvements that can help filter pollutants, improve water quality and provide wildlife habitat.
Using nature to reduce flood risks
A key feature of both projects will be the construction of “flood benches” — low, flat areas beside streams and rivers that give floodwaters space to spread out during storms.
By slowing the speed and reducing the force of floodwaters, flood benches can lessen erosion and lower the risk of damage downstream.
“We’re excited to partner on these much-needed projects, which will complement ongoing recovery efforts, build resilience and help reduce the costs and disruptions caused by future floods,” Flood Resiliency Blueprint Program Manager Stuart Brown said.
The new awards expand the reach of the Flood Resiliency Blueprint in the French Broad River Basin. Before this announcement, the program had already invested more than $8.8 million in 16 flood resilience projects throughout the basin.
Statewide, the Blueprint has funded 84 projects totaling more than $43 million across six river basins. The initiative was created by the North Carolina General Assembly in 2021 and has received $96 million in funding to support long-term flood mitigation efforts.
For communities like Swannanoa and Rosman, the latest funding represents another step in rebuilding after Helene — and in preparing for whatever comes next.