Environmental Planning

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News:
LID Manual and Spreadsheet - New Hanover County Planning staff are currently working with the City of Wilmington, Brunswick County and the N.C. Coastal Federation to develop a Low Impact Development Manual.  The manual will be complete this summer and a spreadsheet modeling tool will also be available for engineers to use on LID projects. 
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Water Quality Protection                                            

New Hanover County’s water quality has suffered in recent years. This has led to a strong community desire for greater protection and enhancement of surface and ground water resources. The County continues to work toward preventing further deterioration and loss of public uses in surface water and improvement of current water quality.

CLICK HERE to view a presentation highlighting many of the projects we are currently working on to improve and protect water quality.  

Water Quality Monitoring in New Hanover County

Watershed Management Advisory Board *This Board has completed its work.  Click the link to learn more about the Board's past accomplishements.

Lower Cape Fear Stewardship Development Award Program

Innovative development that enhances aesthetics and minimizes adverse environmental impacts of the built environment is encouraged in New Hanover County.  The Lower Cape Fear Stewardship Development Award Program honors development projects in Brunswick, New Hanover or Pender County that demonstrate outstanding environmental stewardship through the protection, conservation, improvement and awareness of our natural resources.  The Program is entering into the fourth application cycle, so start planning now if you are interested in applying.  Contact Shawn Ralston at (910) 798-7444 or sralston@nhcgov.com for more information, or visit the website www.stewardshipdev.com.

Low Impact Development

The County is currently developing a Low Impact Development (LID) manual and spreadsheet modeling tool to encourage the use of innovative stormwater management techniques.  With LID, strategies are incorporated on developed sites to reduce runoff and offset adverse environmental effects of impervious surfaces and development.  LID encompasses three main elements:  1) conserve and restore native vegetation; 2) minimize the amount of impervious surfaces; and 3) treat stormwater where it falls.  LID can also generate economic and community benefits.  For example, the amount of land set aside for a large stormwater basin can be reduced, yielding additional land for development or community preservation. 

Many communities across North Carolina and other parts of the United States have successfully incorporated LID into their regulations.  Click on the links below to learn more about LID. 

Huntersville, N.C. LID Program 

EPA Low Impact Development Page

Click on the links below to view presentations from a June 29, 2007 LID Workshop at the Coast Line Convention Center in Wilmington, N.C.

Economics of LID

LID Techniques in the Burnt Mill Creek Watershed 

Floodplain Management

Floodplains naturally store and convey floodwaters and regulate water flows into rivers and lakes.  However, when structures are built in floodplains, they become susceptible to damage from floodwaters.  The County is dedicated to providing information to the public about floodplains in order to avoid or minimize property loss.  The County participates in FEMA’s voluntary Community Rating System program.  Participation in this program enables all County residents that receive flood insurance from the National Flood Insurance Program to receive a discounted insurance premium.

Flooding in New Hanover County Brochure

Homeowners Guide to Retrofitting: Six Ways to Protect Your Home From Flooding

Alternative Transportation

As traffic continues to increase, the County continues to encourage alternative forms of transportation.  Alternative transportation includes rail, local transit, bicycle and pedestrian movement and Transportation Demand Measures such as vanpooling and ride sharing. 

Bicycling in New Hanover County 

WAVE Transit - Click here to find out about bus transportation in New Hanover County

Cape Fear Breeze - Alternative Transportation in New Hanover County

Global Climate Change and Sea Level Rise 

As a County government, we are responsible for the greenhouse gas emissions we generate, including those that are generated as a result of our development patterns.  In order to address global climate change on a county level, staff is working to develop a climate action plan for New Hanover County.  In order to develop a climate action plan, emissions must be inventoried and recommendations must be in place to address future growth so that greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced from current levels. 

In association with global climate change, as a coastal county, sea level rise is also a major concern.  Sea level rise projections have been developed by a wide range of respected authorities.  It is predicted that sea levels may rise from 11-50 inches by the year 2050.  Potential impacts from seal level rise could be diverse including: inundation of developable land, increased flooding impacts, increased shoreline erosion, loss of wetlands, and saltwater intrusion into groundwater.  There are many measures local government could take to mitigate the impacts of sea level rise in our area.  For more information about sea level rise, click on the following links. 

EPA - Sea Level Rise Information

Additional Links

NCDENR - Division of Water Quality

NCDENR - Division of Coastal Management

NCDENR - Stormwater BMP Manual

EPA - Surf Your Watershed