NIFMP Advisory Board Meeting Minutes July 11 2024

Natural Infrastructure Flood Mitigation Program (NIFMP)
Advisory Board Meeting
Meeting Minutes
July 11, 2024

Time: 10:00am Location: Piedmont Room 1103 Green Square & Microsoft Teams
Attendees:
Marc Recktenwald, DMS
Periann Russell, DMS
Medina, Sascha, DEQ Public Information Officer
Chris Dreps, Flood Resiliency Blueprint
Mehdi Lamssali, DMS
Will Atwater, North Carolina Health News
Kayne Van Stell, Water and Land Solutions
Arnold, Laura, North Carolina Association of Floodplain Managers
Etheridge, Randall, East Carolina University
Byrne, Marlena, North Carolina Office of Recovery and Resiliency
Will McDow, Environmental Defense Fund
Reeves, Byron, City of Fayetteville Stormwater Management Program

AGENDA
10:00 Welcome Marc Recktenwald
10:10 Updates and Progress Periann Russell
Strategic plan
Modeling Effects of traditional mitigation
Carolina Bays: potential for restoration and flood mitigation
Stoney Creek pilot project
10:30 Workshop Topics and scheduling Periann Russell
Project size and scale
NBS/NI definitions for program
Currency for RFPs and tracking
10:50 Questions
11:00 Adjourn

Marc Recktenwald welcomed the group and asked for everyone to introduce themselves; attendees added their name
and organization to the chat for the official record.

Periann Russell presented program updates and progress.

Kayne Van Stell asked for a copy of the modeling effects of traditional mitigation report from EPR.

Will McDow asked about the modeling application across some broader landscape.
Periann Russell stated that additional modeling work will be performed to test the curve sensitivity to different
slopes and soils. Once that work is complete, the methodology will serve as a guide for developing a scope of work
and RFP to model additional areas across the state.
Marlena Byrne asked how the modeling effort and the DMS tool for NIFMP fits in with the blueprint modeling.
Marc Recktenwald stated the DMS modeling is being performed at a more refined scale than the blueprint modeling.
The blueprint identifies the problem or problem areas and estimates the amount of flood storage needed to address
the problem. The DMS modeling and tool allows DMS to evaluate RFP response proposals at finer scale to
quantitatively compare specific projects proposed and to assess a combination of proposals that will address the
RFP.
Marc Rectenwald updated the group on a site visit in Goldsboro attended DMS and Rep. Bell. They visited several
locations including Wayne County Community College (WCCC) where the first project is being implemented.
Will McDow reiterated interest in holding a public event at the groundbreaking of the WCCC project and his
willingness to help. All members agreed that a public event is a great idea.
Will Atwater asked about the timeline for WCCC project implementation and asked to be updated. Sascha Madina
will be in touch with Will to keep him updated.
Periann Russell presented the workshop topics and asked for advisory members to indicate the workshops in which
they would like to participate.

Will McDow brought up the importance of creating different distinctions for definitions related to natural
infrastructure and nature-based solutions, as well as putting priority on looking beyond the environmental benefits of
nature-based solutions.

Marlena Byrne asked for clarification regarding the workshop topics and questions the workshops would be
addressing.

Periann Russell addressed the three workshop topics.

Periann stated that several board members, either five or six, have retired or moved on to different positions and
DMS is working on filling those positions.

Periann Russell mentioned the advisory board meetings would be in person and virtual so that the public may attend.
Workshops will be planned for in-person but virtual will be accommodated for out-of-town board members.

Periann asked if there were any final questions or comments, then the meeting ended.

Action items: Send conceptual framework document to board members
Send Stoney Creek traditional mitigation practices effects on flood mitigation to board
members
Sascha Medina contact Will Atwater with updates to Stoney Creek
Post July 11, 2024 presentation to website
Set up workshops