Dare County Secures Grants for Resilient Coastal Projects
The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management (DCM) recently awarded 20 grants to 19 communities through the N.C. Resilient Coastal Communities Program (RCCP).
Dare County received two grants for projects in Salvo and Hatteras Village.
Grants Awarded to Enhance Flood Resilience
The first grant, totaling $234,000, is for a Phase 3 design project in Salvo. This project will involve engineering, surveys, drainage studies, geotechnical analysis, and wetland delineation. The goal is to design a solution to reduce flooding along N.C. Highway 12 near the Wind Over Waves subdivision.
The second grant, amounting to $160,000, is for a Phase 4 construction project in Hatteras Village. This project will install swales and culverts along N.C. Highway 12 near the Hatteras Civic Center. These features aim to collect and store ocean overwash and stormwater runoff, addressing recurring flooding issues.
Both projects were identified as critical by Hatteras Island residents and property owners during earlier phases of the RCCP. These phases included a risk and vulnerability assessment and a public survey that pinpointed priority areas for flood mitigation.
Previously, Dare County secured Phase 3 funding for stormwater improvements along Old Lighthouse Road in Buxton. Using this design, the county obtained $770,000 in May 2024 from the N.C. Emergency Management Disaster Relief and Mitigation Fund Grant. This project aims to improve drainage and reduce flood depths on roadways and nearby properties.
The N.C. Resilient Coastal Communities Program
Dare County Grants Administrator Barton Grover stated, “The Resilient Coastal Communities Program paired local knowledge with engineers to identify, design, and construct projects to make Hatteras Island more resilient. We are excited to receive grants to move these three projects forward and will continue seeking grants to address additional areas of concern.”
The N.C. Resilient Coastal Communities Program supports communities in setting coastal resilience goals, assessing local capacity, and prioritizing projects to enhance resilience to coastal hazards.
Contact Information for Further Inquiries
For more information about Dare County’s Resilient Coastal Communities Program projects, contact Dare County Grants Administrator Barton Grover at Barton.Grover@DareNC.gov or 252-475-5628.