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Local presenter traces 300 years of landscape change behind Whiteville flooding
Summary
John Dean showed historical maps and GIS comparisons to argue that centuries of land-use change narrowed natural drainage and contributed to today's flooding problems; he urged long-term, science-based solutions beyond short-term fixes.
John Dean told the council he compiled maps from the early 1800s through 2025 to show how waterways and wetlands around Whiteville have shifted and been infilled. "For 300 years, our regional economy depended on resource extraction, their gutting forest, and extensive farming that fundamentally altered our landscape and natural water systems," he said, arguing that these changes—and decades of infill and paving dating from the 1950s onward—amplify runoff and concentrate stormwater into narrowed channels.
Dean said the town experienced slightly over 8 inches of rain in two days during the recent event—equivalent to a 25-year rainfall event for that localized area—and that staff studies (including NC State work) identified a set of prioritized projects such as detangling asphalt to create green stormwater features. He framed the issue as systemic and long-term, calling for coordinated green infrastructure and for the council to provide residents with the underlying maps and data he referenced.
