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North Carolina restores 27 acres of wetland to help protect $60m in properties

By · Via Times of India · Published by Everything Blog

In short

The initial phase of the Lower Mud Creek project reconnected waterways to their natural floodplains, undoing past straightening, dredging, and commercial development. In total, the restoration engineered 20 acre-feet of new stormwater storage capacity across wetlands, tributary streams, and riparian zones. Funded through state environmental grants awarded in spring 2023, the site also incorporates pedestrian bridges and over 4,000 linear feet of combined paved and natural trails. City officials caution, however, that the enhanced absorption will mitigate severe weather risks rather than eliminate flooding entirely.

Key points

  • The completed site mitigates flood vulnerability for up to 93 surrounding properties coll…: The completed site mitigates flood vulnerability for up to 93 surrounding properties collectively valued at approximately $60 million.
  • Grants secured in spring 2023 from two North Carolina water infrastructure and land funds…: Grants secured in spring 2023 from two North Carolina water infrastructure and land funds financed the first phase of construction.
  • Officials emphasize that while the expanded storage mitigates flood hazards, it will not…: Officials emphasize that while the expanded storage mitigates flood hazards, it will not completely eradicate flooding during extreme storms.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

A North Carolina city has completed the first phase of a floodplain restoration project more than two decades after acquiring land vulnerable to flooding. The City of Hendersonville’s Lower Mud Creek Floodplain Restoration Project has transformed approximately 27 acres into restored wetlands, streams, natural floodplain habitat and public green space. According to the city’s October 27, 2026, announcement, the project is expected to provide additional floodwater storage and reduce risks for as many as 93 nearby properties with an assessed value of approximately $60 million. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for October 30 to mark the completion of Phase 1.

Why Hendersonville acquired the land in 2002

The project centres on two city-owned properties along Mud Creek in the southside of Hendersonville, North Carolina. The city acquired the land in 2002 partly to preserve floodwater storage and prevent further development in an area vulnerable to flooding. Mud Creek has a long history of flooding. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, sections of the creek were straightened, dredged and separated from surrounding land by raised embankments, known as berms. These…

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