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Catawba County seeks FEMA approval to replace park culvert with bridge after Helene damage
Summary
Following Tropical Storm Helene damage, the Board authorized a grant project ordinance and asked FEMA to approve replacing the Riverbend Park culvert with a small bridge as an alternate project; the bridge option was the recommended, longer-term solution with an estimated total cost of $183,000.
Catawba County staff reported May 5 that two culvert pipes at Riverbend Park failed during Tropical Storm Helene; FEMA identified the county for permanent work under FEMA Disaster DR-4827-NC. Resource Environmental Solutions prepared a hydrologic and hydraulic analysis offering three options: repair to pre-storm culvert size ($122,500), repair with larger pipes ($127,500), or replace the culvert with a small bridge ($183,000).
Staff recommended option 3 — replacing the culvert with a small bridge — as the best long-term solution for stream stability, aquatic passage and reduced long-term stream impacts. Because a bridge is an alternate project relative to a culvert repair, staff will submit a formal letter to FEMA requesting approval of the alternate project and justification for the change.
The Board adopted Grant Project Ordinance 2025-2 to establish a $183,000 project budget for the Riverbend Park culvert replacement, anticipating FEMA Public Assistance reimbursement: FEMA share estimated at $164,700 (90%) and state share at $18,300 (10%). Staff said procurement and design will proceed once FEMA approves the alternate project and final approvals are processed.
The ordinance directs county staff to maintain records and reports required for FEMA reimbursement and sets the project to expire upon final FEMA reimbursements related to DR-4827.
