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Charleston Peninsula CSRM Project - PED Phase

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston District, and the City of Charleston signed the Design Agreement for the Charleston Peninsula Coastal Storm Risk Management Project on October 3, 2025. This milestone marks the official start of the Preconstruction, Engineering, and Design (PED) phase and begins the next step toward protecting the Charleston Peninsula from the risks of storm surge and coastal flooding.

The Charleston Peninsula Project is a federally authorized coastal storm risk management initiative aimed at reducing the risk of storm surge flooding across the peninsula. The Design Agreement formally establishes the shared responsibilities of USACE and the City of Charleston during the PED phase.

The PED phase will involve detailed engineering and design work, environmental reviews and continued collaboration with community stakeholders. It will refine project alignment and designs, assess environmental impacts and develop a construction-ready plan. Public engagement will remain a critical part of the process, with opportunities for residents to provide input as designs advance. This phase is expected to take several years to complete.

While renderings and preliminary designs have been previously released, the final design of the project has yet to be determined and will be finalized in the PED phase. The project partnership will enable the consideration of local input in cost-shared design and will allow the city to propose city-funded enhancements, known as “betterments,” while ensuring compliance with federal requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the signing of the Design Agreement mean for the project?

The Design Agreement marks an important milestone in our strong partnership with the City of Charleston. By signing it, we officially move into the Preconstruction, Engineering, and Design (PED) phase. This agreement is not just a financial commitment, it’s a legally binding contract that defines how work will be performed, how costs will be shared, and how both the city and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will collaborate to deliver this historic project.

Why is the Design Agreement so significant?

It represents years of collaboration and sets the foundation for how we will design and ultimately deliver one of the largest projects in South Carolina’s history. The agreement ensures that we move forward with shared responsibility, legal clarity, and a clear path toward creating a more resilient Charleston.

How will the City of Charleston and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers work together during this phase?

Strong partnerships are the backbone of large-scale federal projects, and this agreement is proof of what can be accomplished when local and federal teams work side by side. The City of Charleston has been a steadfast partner, and together our teams will continue coordinating closely with city leaders, technical experts, and the community. This collaboration will ensure the design meets federal standards while also respecting Charleston’s unique history and character.

Will the project design take local input into account?

Yes. The Design Agreement, plus additional agreements for historic resources and aesthetics, ensure the integration of local input into project design. The city will also have opportunities to propose enhancements, known as “betterments”, that go beyond the federally authorized project scope, as long as they remain in compliance with federal requirements.

What does the Design Agreement commit the City of Charleston to?

Signing the Design Agreement commits both the city and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to the PED phase only. It does not obligate the city to move into construction. If the city chooses to proceed with construction in the future, that will require a separate Project Partnership Agreement.

What are the next steps now that the agreement is signed?

Engineering design will begin immediately. The first construction contract request, focused on rehabilitating the High Battery, will be included in the FY28 budget. If construction funding is appropriated and the city signs the Project Partnership Agreement, we could begin construction at that point. The PED phase will also finalize the footprint of the full alignment to ensure each section is designed thoughtfully, integrated with Charleston’s historic character, and built for maximum resilience.

How long will the overall project take?

With sustained federal and local support, the project is expected to take between 5 and 10 years to fully design and construct.

How does this project fit into the bigger picture of Charleston’s flood protection efforts?

The Charleston Peninsula Project is one of the largest civil works projects ever undertaken in South Carolina, with an estimated cost of over $1 billion. Its scale requires rigorous planning, environmental review, and extensive community engagement. Importantly, this project is complemented by the Charleston Tidal and Inland Study, which addresses flooding from rainfall and tidal events. Together, these efforts provide a more holistic approach to reducing Charleston’s flood risks.

What is the ultimate goal of this project?

At its core, this project is about safeguarding people, property, and cultural heritage. By combining federal resources, local leadership, and community input, we’re laying the foundation for a stronger, more resilient Charleston that will endure for generations to come.

In-Kind MOU

In-Kind Memorandum of Understanding for Design Work Performed Prior to Execution of a Design Agreement

What is an In-Kind Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)?

An In-Kind MOU is a document executed by the Corps and a non-federal sponsor (such as the City) which allows for eventual credit for the value of materials or services provided by the non-federal sponsor prior to execution of a formal project agreement (such as a design agreement).  In this case, credit for eligible in-kind contributions would go toward the City’s required non-federal cash contribution should a design agreement subsequently be executed.  The statutory authority for an In-Kind MOU is found in Section 221(a)(4) of the Flood Control Act of 1970, as amended (42 U.S.C. 1962d-5b(a)(4)).

What led to the execution of an In-Kind MOU between the Corps and the City?

By letter dated June 11, 2024, the City requested to enter into an In-Kind MOU to carry out certain proposed design work prior to the execution of a design agreement for the Charleston Peninsula CSRM project.  After some discussion regarding the scope of in-kind design work, the Corps and City executed an In-Kind MOU on October 24, 2024.  The MOU does not deviate from the standard provisions of the model MOU developed by the Corps for in-kind work prior to execution of a design agreement.

What design work is covered by the MOU?

The design work contemplated in the MOU generally consists of preliminary preconstruction engineering and design (PED) work and design-related studies regarding storm surge structure alignment and form, along with supporting data collection and assessments, as well as public engagement.

Are there requirements that the City’s design work has to meet in order to be eligible for credit?

Yes.  First, the Corps must determine that the City’s design work is integral to the Project prior to the execution of a design agreement.  The non-federal design work must constitute work that the Government would otherwise have undertaken for design of the Project in order for it to be deemed integral, and must be consistent with the general parameters of PED work outlined during the feasibility phase of the Project.  Second, creditable non-federal design work does not include activities which the City would be obligated to perform as part of a design agreement (such as serving on a design coordination team).  Third, the Corps must verify that the City’s design work was accomplished in a satisfactory manner, and in accordance with applicable Federal laws, regulations, and policies.  Fourth, after the design work is performed by the City pursuant to the In-Kind MOU, the Corps will conduct an audit to determine the reasonableness, allocability, and allowability of the City’s costs.

What if the City wants to achieve more with its design work than the Corps would otherwise do for design of the Project?

The City is not prevented from achieving complementary goals which are in addition to or which exceed those that the Corps would otherwise apply to design of the Project.  Where non-federal design work exceeds the standards that the Corps would otherwise apply to design of the Project, it is considered a “betterment”.  Design work associated with additional work or betterments is not eligible for credit under the In-Kind MOU.

Does the MOU provide a guarantee that covered design work will receive credit if a design agreement is executed?

No.  In addition to the conditions for eligibility noted above, credit for in-kind design work may be impacted by such things as project authority and funding, or by future modification of the project which could result in certain in-kind design work no longer being an integral part of the Project.

What will the perimeter storm surge barrier look like?

The project includes a storm surge barrier along the edge of the peninsula with an elevation of 12-foot NAVD88. The height of the barrier would vary depending on the ground elevation. Areas that have lower ground elevations would tend to have more barrier visible. Areas with higher ground elevations would tend to have less barrier visible. Also, the experience of the barrier would vary depending on the barrier design. For example, in locations near the Low Battery (Figure 1) where the ground elevation is around 5-feet NAVD88 the visible barrier height is around 7-feet tall. However, because the barrier is designed for people to walk on it, the experience of the barrier is almost as though it has no height. The project team will be considering a similar structure along the west side of the Peninsula through the City Marina, Medical District and Brittlebank park.

Figure 1: Current aerial view of the rehabilitated Low Battery.


By providing coastal storm surge protection for the Charleston Peninsula, the project reduces risk of damage to aesthetic and cultural resources from these storm events. Simultaneously, the project team recognizes the design of the barrier will need careful attention to fit in. This is why the Chief’s Report for the project identified approximately $54M (est.) for aesthetic mitigation.
The project team, which includes the Corps and the City of Charleston, will work to preserve the aesthetics of the Peninsula while reducing the risk of coastal storm surge damages. The Corps and the City will work together on the design of the storm surge barrier, including the aesthetics, and have together developed and agreed to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to guide the treatment of aesthetic resources.
The MOU states that during Preconstruction, Engineering and Design (PED), the project team will address aesthetic resources in the following ways:
• identify aesthetic resources and conditions,
• assess the nature and extent of effects on aesthetic resources,
• design the project for considerations such as compatibility, and
• determine any needs for additional mitigation.
The MOU includes public engagement as a part of the design process for aesthetics. The project team will design the project with aesthetic resources in mind and will share information and visuals with the public as they are developed. Figure 2 is an example of the kinds of design concepts that may be developed and shared with the public.

Figure 2: Example concept of a storm surge barrier at Joe Riley Waterfront Park. (Rendering Created By The City Of Charleston Civic Design Center)


The process for treatment of aesthetic resources under the MOU is in addition to the process in place for the treatment of historic and cultural resources (including visual affects to those resources).
The project team recognizes that the aesthetic resources in and around the Charleston Peninsula are a critical part of the community and addressing these resources with care is in the public interest.