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Home My WebLink AboutNewport_CaseStudyStormwater Infrastructure Mapping Case Study: Newport Stormwater Mapping NC 205(j) Grant Stormwater Infrastructure: What is Stormwater Mapping? Stormwater mapping identifies all the infrastructure above and below ground that channels water away from roads and properties. Stormwater infrastructure is primarily designed to address flooding, but it can also be used to improve water quality by capturing polluted runoff and allowing to soak it into the ground. This infiltration approach uses the soil to naturally filter contaminants out of the water before it reaches local waterways and aquifers. Stormwater maps identify the location and condition of existing stormwater infrastructure. This information allows local governments to address maintenance issues and plan upgrades to reduce flooding and water pollution. River Basin: White Oak County: Carteret 205(j) Funding: $17,464 Total Project Cost: $17,464 Newport Stormwater Mapping Project Newport, like most coastal towns, faces stormwater management challenges due to a high water table, flat terrain, and climate change impacts. As a result, water quality in the Newport River has deteriorated and residents face frequent flooding. Following a 2008 Watershed Management Plan, the Town of Newport and the Eastern Carolina Council (ECC) received an EPA Clean Water Act Section 205(j) Grant in 2016 to create a digital map of the town’s stormwater system by reviewing existing maps and aerial images and collecting additional field data with a GPS unit. To share the mapping results and improve stormwater infrastructure maintenance, the ECC also held meetings with Homeowner’s Associations, facilitated town hall meetings, passed out brochures, and made recommendations to the town on stormwater management. Catch basins Culverts Pipes Drainage ditches Retention Ponds 205(j) Grant Administrator: Kelsey Rowland Email: kelsey.rowland@ncdenr.gov Telephone: (919) 707-3679 Maintenance Needs: • 131 blocked culverts • 6 buried junction boxes • 1 collapsed line • 1 clogged ditch Additional Project Elements: • Reviewing and updating stormwater ordinances • Homeowner education campaigns • Stormwater infrastructure maintenance planning * Stormwater mapping projects can help with planning for MS4 permits General 205(j) Grant Requirements: • Water quality management planning projects • Council of Governments sponsor/ partner • No more than 18 months • No match requirement Mapping Results & Next Steps Newport’s stormwater mapping project revealed numerous maintenance issues, including blocked, collapsed, and buried infrastructure. The Town and the ECC identified lack of homeowner awareness of their maintenance responsibilities as a significant contributor to these conditions. To improve maintenance on private properties, ECC held a series of outreach events for property owners to learn proper maintenance. Continued outreach and education campaigns were proposed as a tool for voluntary compliance, along with volunteer cleanup days. Other solutions to improve stormwater infrastructure maintenance could include the creation of stormwater ordinances or the establishment of a stormwater utility, which would collect fees to cover maintenance costs. Additionally, Newport can use information from the mapping project to update their Emergency Management Plan. Learn more about the 205(j) grant on the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality website.