City Of Hampton | City Of Hampton website
City Of Hampton | City Of Hampton website
The City of Hampton and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have joined forces to investigate the impact of sea level rise on flooding in coastal regions and rivers along the Peninsula. This collaboration comes as a response to the repetitive damage caused by coastal storms, rainfall, and flooding in low-lying areas.
Approved by the Corps' national headquarters in December, the Virginia Peninsula Coastal Storm Risk Management Feasibility Study will focus on areas that have been particularly vulnerable to these environmental challenges. With an initial funding of $3 million, the study is 100% federally funded under the Long-Term Disaster Recovery Investment Plan component of the 2019 Additional Supplemental Appropriations Disaster Relief Act.
Hampton City Manager, Mary Bunting, expressed her enthusiasm for the study, stating, "Hampton has taken a very proactive position on mitigating the impact of storms and sea-level rise. This is a study we have been seeking for several years and are pleased that it is moving forward. We are very excited for the opportunity to partner with our regional partners and the Army Corp of Engineers. Floodwaters cross borders, and this comprehensive study is an opportunity for the Peninsula to have a regional planning approach for shoreline protection projects. The Army Corps’ study will provide an understanding of those issues and develop potential solutions that will make the region safer and stronger."
The study area encompasses the cities of Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson, and Williamsburg, as well as York and James River counties. It is bordered by the James River to the south, Chesapeake Bay to the east, and the York River to the north.
In order to manage the risk of storm damage, the study will explore various measures, including building elevation or flood-proofing, nature-based solutions like wetland restoration, and structural measures such as tide gates and flood walls. The aim is to determine the federal interest and feasibility of implementing these measures.
Colonel Brian Hallberg, commander of the Norfolk District of the Army Corps of Engineers, expressed his excitement about the partnership, saying, "We're excited to partner with the City of Hampton and work with the Cities of Newport News, Poquoson, Williamsburg, and the counties of James City and York. This study aims to examine suitable, feasible, and acceptable measures to reduce the effects of coastal storms and strengthen the resilience of the Peninsula region against flooding."
Once the study findings are available, the city and the surrounding communities will collaborate with the Army Corps of Engineers to develop a plan for implementing measures that will manage coastal storm risk and improve the economic resiliency of the Peninsula region.
This joint effort between the City of Hampton and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers marks an important step towards understanding the challenges posed by sea level rise and finding effective solutions to protect the Peninsula region from the impacts of coastal storms and flooding.