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Comments due by Sept. 22 on SCDNR grant application on flood forecasting and alert system September 6, 2017

A grant is being applied for by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) that would install 10 monitoring sites across South Carolina in waterways that may be affected by future floods.

Gauges such as this one on the Lynches River could be installed on waterways around the state as part of a proposed project to monitor potential flooding in an SCDNR grant proposal to the FEMA and the South Carolina Emergency Management Division. (SCDNR photo)

Gauges such as this one on the Lynches River could be installed on waterways around the state as part of a proposed project to monitor potential flooding in an SCDNR grant proposal to the FEMA and the South Carolina Emergency Management Division. (SCDNR photo)

The grant is through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and South Carolina Emergency Management Division. Comments are solicited from the public; local, state or federal agencies; and other interested parties in order to consider and evaluate the impacts of the proposed project. Comments on the grant proposal are due by Sept. 22 and should be made to Scott Harder, SCDNR senior hydrologist, at (864) 654-1671, extension 25, or HarderS@dnr.sc.gov.

The project title of the grant is Flood Forecasting and Alert System.
Download a full copy of the grant proposal

The main purpose of this proposed project is to reduce the risk of physical harm to individuals in communities that may be affected by future floods. The project proposes to install 10 streamflow monitoring sites across the state chosen as sites of flooding concern by SCDNR and the National Weather Service.

The area affected by this project consists of 10 bridge crossings and/or stream banks near bridge crossing on the following streams and associated roads in South Carolina:

  1. Four Hole Swamp at US 78
  2. North Fork Edisto River at US 321
  3. Lynches River at SC 41/51
  4. Black River at SC 41
  5. Lumber River at SC 9/US 76
  6. Twelvemile Creek at US 1
  7. Wilson Creek at SC 246
  8. Little River at US 221
  9. French Quarter Creek at Cainhoy Road 1
  10. Steven’s Creek at Woodlawn Road
  11. Jeffries Creek at US 76 (alternate site)
  12. North Tyger River at Railroad Crossing near Fairmont, SC (alternate site)

The installation and maintenance of the monitoring sites for one year would be contracted out to the United States Geologic Survey. The data collected will be used by flood forecasters from the National Weather Service to predict where and when streamflow levels are expected to reach or exceed flood stage. The flood forecasts can then be used by state and local emergency managers to determine when evacuations should take place.

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