Finding solutions for a community facing high floodwaters

North Buffalo Creek Watershed Master Plan

In North Carolina, more frequent hurricanes and strong storms have increased the occurrence of severe flooding in the North Buffalo Creek watershed—threatening some communities with waist-high floodwaters. The City of Greensboro has used FEMA’s flood insurance rate map (FIRM) to guide development, but many structures built before the FIRM sit in high-risk areas. So the City asked us to study the watershed and help find solutions to mitigate flood risks.

We’re providing surveying, modeling, and cost-benefit analyses for different alternatives. Our team has assessed traffic impacts of alternatives to show how removing a bridge in the floodplain could affect the community. We’re also helping the City find and implement FEMA grants to fund flood mitigation improvements that keep the floodwaters at bay.

Stakeholders and residents are critical to the success of our study and resulting strategies. Our team provided key outreach via a series of community and stakeholder meetings. These meetings have helped us find practical solutions the community supports.

Once the study is complete, the City of Greensboro will have a roadmap to guide future projects and funding needs.