The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Charleston District and Horry County are partnering to study flood risk reduction measures for flood impact areas along the Waccamaw River and its tributaries.
Charleston District and Horry County signed a Feasibility Cost Share Agreement in August 2022 to kick-off the Waccamaw River Flood Risk Management Study. The purpose of the study is to address flood and life safety risk to communities and transportation routes specifically within Horry County, and generally within the Waccamaw River Basin, and to recommend a plan to reduce this risk. Primary flood impact areas initially identified in Horry County based on historical flooding information include Bucksport, Socastee, City of Conway, Red Bluff, and Longs.
The study will evaluate both structural and nonstructural measures to reduce flood risks. Potential structural measures under consideration include flood barriers, floodwater diversions, and flood water retention using a range of hardened structures such as flood walls to nature-based structures such as floodplain benching. Potential nonstructural measures under consideration include elevating, floodproofing, relocating, and/or acquiring structures in the floodplain. These measures can be explored in the Study StoryMap.
The Study Objectives
• Reduce the risk of damages to structures, industry, and public infrastructure within the affected communities of Conway, Bucksport, Socastee, Red Bluff and Longs
• Increase the reliability of evacuation and supply routes during flood events
• Reduce life-safety risks associated with the inundation of structures and critical infrastructure throughout the study area
Study Status
The study team requested input on the scope of the study for 30 days through July 15, 2023. Input was also provided during one of the public input meetings and/or by exploring the Study StoryMap.
We will use this input and existing data and information to identify what flood risk reduction alternatives to include in the study, then evaluate, model and compare the alternatives. In the summer of 2024, we expect to release a Draft Feasibility Report (integrated with an Environmental Assessment) that presents the results of the study so far and identifies a tentatively selected alternative plan. The Draft Report will be available for public review and comment at that time.