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Cape Fear RC&D presents Waccamaw watershed assessment; county asked to consider mitigation and grant support
Summary
Danielle D'Arcangelo of Cape Fear Resource Conservation and Development presented the Waccamaw River watershed drainage project, said MS Consultants is engaged and that the nonprofit has invested roughly $35,000 so far; she asked the county to explore mitigation and funding sources and invited commissioners to a fall stakeholders meeting.
Danielle D'Arcangelo, executive director of Cape Fear RC&D, updated the Brunswick County commissioners on a multi‑county Waccamaw River watershed drainage assessment the nonprofit has pursued since February 2019.
D'Arcangelo said the nonprofit has invested approximately $35,000 of its own funds to date and has engaged MS Consultants for an engineering assessment. Edward Davis, a board member and former Columbus Soil and Water director, described recurring issues in the watershed: downed trees from storms, beaver activity, sedimentation and increased impervious surface leading to drainage problems.
D'Arcangelo said MS Consultants will produce an assessment and that the project will move to a feasibility phase that will generate a portfolio of projects for counties, municipalities or private partners. She noted the group is seeking additional grant resources and that Horry County is contributing state‑level funding to support its portion of the watershed work.
"We're actively looking for other grant resources to make this project move forward," D'Arcangelo said, and invited county staff and commissioners to a stakeholders meeting in the fall to gather additional input.
Commissioners asked whether the project coordinates with downstream work in South Carolina; D'Arcangelo replied that Horry County is participating and that the initiative has legislative support there.
Why it matters: Watershed and drainage assessments inform prioritized, multi‑jurisdictional projects that can reduce flooding, protect infrastructure and qualify for state and federal mitigation funds.
What’s next: The RC&D will continue engineering assessment work, pursue grant funding, hold a stakeholders meeting in the fall and share results with county staff for potential partnering and mitigation funding.
