SOUTH CAROLINA BEACH ADVOCATES

Tuesday, February 12, 2019

Tom Mullikin

Chairman, SC Floodwater Commission

Authorizing of the South Carolina Floodwater Commission

WHEREAS, South Carolina has experienced numerous episodes of flooding along the coast, rivers, and low-lying interior areas as results of rains, storms, hurricanes and tides that highlight the

need for a state-wide plan to accommodate and mitigate flooding impacts in the state; and

WHEREAS, the State will benefit from a coordinated and collaborative effort to identify

comprehensive responses and solutions to protect persons, property and enterprises and to fully appreciate the attributes and power of the forces of nature; and

WHEREAS, in these endeavors it is vital that this State work to accommodate and mitigate flooding to lessen the negative impacts to our State's economy to facilitate growth, promote tourism and assist communities and businesses struggling with repeated flooding events; and

WHEREAS, a coordinated national, state, local and community effort is necessary and appropriate to facilitate the interaction between governments at all levels and the private and academic sectors to address these issues.

October 15, 2018

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SC FLOODWATER COMMISSIONPURPOSE & MISSION

PURPOSE

To create a state-wide flood accommodation, response and mitigation effort.

The Commission shall serve as a vehicle for authorities to research, evaluate, share and coordinate measures and ideas being considered.

The Commission shall identify short-term and long-term recommendations to alleviate and mitigate flood impacts to this State, with special emphasis on cities, communities and enterprises located on or near the coast and rivers.

The Commission shall consider, in its discretion, any and all relevant studies, data, reports and expert and lay opinion on storm water management and use, urbanization impact, coastal shoreline fluctuation, project and operational financing, affordability, available grants, appropriate partnerships, and the impact such decisions have upon neighboring cities, counties and states to ensure that a comprehensive, executable strategy may be adopted.

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• We have coastal erosion that is complicated by recurring extreme weather systems; we have nuisance flooding along our coastline, and we have flooding in our river systems across South Carolina from rushing watersheds in North Carolina from extreme weather originating in the Gulf.

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DECEMBER 20, 2018ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING

MEETING OBJECTIVES

❑ Provide a general overview and purpose for the newly created

Floodwater Commission.

❑ Outline the “task force” structure of the commission and introduce the

task force co-chairs.

❑ Discuss a timeline for both task force and full commission meetings.

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SC FLOODWATER COMMISSIONTASK FORCES

ARTIFICIAL REEF SYSTEMS Alvin A. Taylor – ChairmanDr. Will Ambrose - Secretary

LIVING SHORELINEDr. Paul Gayes – ChairmanSharon Richardson – Secretary

INFRASTRUCTURE & SHORELINE ARMORINGChristy Hall – ChairmanMarguerite McClam – Secretary

SMART RIVER AND DAM SECURITYMG Robert Livingston – ChairmanDr. Len Pietrafesa - Secretary

GRID SECURITY Keller Kissam – ChairmanSenator Thomas C. Alexander - Secretary

LANDSCAPE BEAUTIFICATION & PROTECTIONDuane Parrish – ChairmanWilliam Bruno - Secretary

NATIONAL SECURITY Col. Bill Connor – ChairmanCol. Steve Vitali – Operations OfficerCol. Tom Smith - Secretary

STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT John Tecklenburg – ChairmanRay Farmer - Secretary

FEDERAL FUNDING Congressman Tom Rice – ChairmanDeb Stirling - Secretary

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTJoe Ellers – ChairmanKelli S. James - Secretary

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• Evidence shows coral reefs play a critical role in wave attenuation. Coral reefs provide protection from storms and rising sea level and other critical support for coastal protection. The effects are comparable to artificial breakwaters that are engineered specifically to dissipate wave energy. Artificial reefs’ hydrodynamic features act to reduce incoming waves and alter current patterns and shoreline adjustments behind the artificial reefs. The utilization of artificial reefs can be used to enhance shoreline protection structures. The reef structure buffers shorelines against waves, storms, and floods, helping to prevent loss of life, property damage, and erosion.

ARTIFICIAL REEF SYSTEMSTASK FORCE

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ARTIFICIAL REEF SYSTEMSTASK FORCE

• Alvin A. Taylor (Chairman) – Director, SC DNR

• Dr. Will Ambrose (Secretary) – Vice Dean, Coastal Carolina University

• Barbara Bellamy – Mayor, Conway SC

• Brendon Barber – Mayor, Georgetown SC

• Rep. Jeff Bradley – SC House of Representatives, District 123

• Rep. Heather Crawford – SC House of Representatives, District 68

• Glenn Hamm – SC State Guard

• Mark Robertson – Nature Conservancy

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• Living shorelines use native vegetation to stabilize the shoreline. Living shorelines provide a natural alternative to shoreline stabilization methods like bulkheads, and they provide a buffering of the shoreline from waves and storms as well as numerous other benefits including pollution remediation and marine habitats.

LIVING SHORELINE TASK FORCE

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LIVING SHORELINE TASK FORCE

• Dr. Paul Gayes (Chairman) – Coastal Carolina University

• Sharon Richardson (Secretary) – Audubon Society

• Dr. Nicole Elko – Elko Consulting, Inc.

• Elizabeth Von Kolnitz – Chief, SC DHEC OCRM

• Mark Robertson – Nature Conservancy

• Dr. Robert Young – Western Carolina University

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• This task force will focus on the identification of culverts, ditches, and other existing water drainage and flow infrastructure in need of maintenance and/or enhancement, and it will prioritize and make recommendations to bring the infrastructure to full functioning capacity. This task force will further consider shoreline armoring and stabilization by utilizing site-specific methodologies that balance the needs of manmade protection and that of natural systems.

INFRASTRUCTURE & SHORELINE ARMORING TASK FORCE

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INFRASTRUCTURE & SHORELINE ARMORING TASK FORCE

• Christy Hall (Chairman) – Secretary, SC DOT

• Marguerite McClam (Secretary) – Palmetto Consulting Engineering Group

• Rep. William Cogswell – SC House of Representatives – District 110

• Jay Faison – ClearPath Foundation

• Sen. Stephen Goldfinch – SC Senate – District 34

• Sel Hemingway – Administrator, Georgetown County

• Mark Robertson – Nature Conservancy

• Kim Stenson – Director, SC EMD

• Bryan P. Stirling – Director, SC Department of Corrections

• Dr. Richard Viso – Coastal Carolina University

• Alan Williams – Trident Technical College

• Dr. Robert Young – Western Carolina University

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• An important step in better managing our natural resources is to effectively combine datasets and multiple model inputs and outputs, such as data collected through lidar and other studies, for an enhanced understanding of our complex river systems and dams. Existing data sets could be utilized to develop a multi-layered geographic information system (gis) to improve the understanding of river ecosystems and make better-informed management decisions. The work would focus on aligning data and various model inputs and outputs into one geospatially referenced database, then developing visualization products to display the information.

SMART RIVER & DAM SECURITYTASK FORCE

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SMART RIVER & DAM SECURITYTASK FORCE

• MG Robert Livingston (Chairman) – SC Military Department

• Dr. Leonard Pietrafesa (Secretary) – Coastal Carolina University

• Jeffrey Allen – SC Water Resources Center, Clemson University

• Dr. Duke Brantley – USC Earth Sciences and Resources Institute

• Dr. Hanif Chaudhry – USC College of Engineering and Computing

• Dr. Erfan Goharian – USC College of Engineering and Computing

• Sel Hemingway – Administrator, Georgetown County

• Marguerite McClam – Palmetto Consulting Engineering Group

• Dr. Inthuorn Sasanakul – USC College of Engineering and Computing

• Marshall Taylor – Acting Director, SC DHEC

• Sen. Kent Williams – SC Senate – District 30

• Rep. Richie Yow – SC House of Representatives – District 53

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• A key element of resiliency and recovery during a flooding event is the safety, security, and continued operation of the electric grid. It is imperative to provide sanitary essentials, continued recovery, and continuity of normal activities. An important aspect to consider is “connectivity.” The various system control centers for transmission; dispatch operations for distribution; and the control rooms for each power generating plant must be secure and equipped with back-up power sources in order to continually provide operation and monitoring of the various electrical systems.

GRID SECURITY TASK FORCE

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GRID SECURITY TASK FORCE

• Keller Kissam (Chairman) – President, SCE&G

• Sen. Thomas C. Alexander (Secretary) – Chairman State Regulation of Public Utilities Review Committee

• James Clark – President, SC State University

• MG Robert Livingston – SC Military Department

• J.R. Sanderson – South Carolina Disaster Recovery Office

• Babs Warner – VP, Legal Services – Santee Cooper

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• Urbanization, clearing trees, draining wetlands, and paving the ground exacerbates flooding. This task force will examine ways to reduce urban flooding through the use of green-space areas and through the use of permeable surfaces wherever possible. Driveways, sidewalks, patios, parking lots, and pathways can be made from porous materials that are firm, but that still permit water to drain. Porous concrete, and porous asphalt are some of the materials that could be utilized to increase permeability. Along the coast, the careful planning and planting of native coastal plants can help protect property from storm damage and flooding.

LANDSCAPE BEAUTIFICATION & PROTECTION TASK FORCE

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LANDSCAPE BEAUTIFICATION & PROTECTION TASK FORCE

• Duane Parrish (Chairman) – Director, SC PRT

• William Bruno (Secretary) – SC State Guard

• Sen. Tom Davis – SC Senate – District 46

• Sharon Richardson – Audubon Society

• Rep. Leonard Stavrinakis – SC House of Representatives – District 119

• Hugh Weathers – Commissioner , SC Department of Agriculture

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• The shifting hazard of increased flooding amplify risks for people, valuable assets, essential infrastructure, and important economic industries such as energy production and shipping. This task force will be charged with identifying potential risks associated with flooding events and making recommendations to prepare for and minimize those risks. Extreme weather events could make critical facilities unusable or necessitate costly or manpower intensive workaround that would be unacceptable to military operations.

NATIONAL SECURITY TASK FORCE

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NATIONAL SECURITY TASK FORCE

• Col. Bill Conner (Chairman) – SC EPLO

• Col. W. Thomas Smith (Secretary) – SCMD

• Col. Steve Vitali (Operations Officer) – US Marine Corp

• Col. Bryan Hilferty – US Army (RET.)

• MG Robert Livingston – SC Military Department

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• Attention to stakeholders will be critically important throughout the process to ensure understanding, appreciation, information sharing, legitimacy and commitment to produce collaborative efforts which result in unique solutions. Stakeholders who have a stake or a vested interest in the program, and/or policies, being evaluated and therefore also have a stake in the evaluation will be invited to speak and participate. Stakeholders who are involved in an evaluation process contribute to important decisions regarding evaluation, planning, implementation, and use and eliminate or minimize resistance to proposed plans of action.

STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENTTASK FORCE

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STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENTTASK FORCE

• John Tecklenberg (Chairman) – Mayor, Charleston SC

• Ray Farmer (Secretary) – Director, Department of Insurance

• Brenda Bethune – Mayor, Myrtle Beach SC

• D. Thomas Johnson – Jasper County Council

• Mark Lazarus – Chairman, Horry County Council

• John McCann – Mayor, Hilton Head SC

• Victor Rawl – Chairman, Charleston County Council

• Paul Sommerville – Chairman, Beaufort County Council

• David Wielicki – SC Waterfowl Association

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• Members of this task force will be charged with identifying sources of and securing federal funding to supplement any or all of the floodwater commission task force initiatives. Potential funding sources include DOE, DOI, DHS, NOAA, NSF, FEMA and U.S. military sources.

FEDERAL FUNDING TASK FORCE

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FEDERAL FUNDING TASK FORCE

• Congressman Tom Rice (Chairman) – US House of Representatives (SC-7th)

• Deborah J. Stirling (Secretary) – Coastal Carolina University

• Congressman Joe Cunningham – US House of Representatives (SC-1st)

• Sen. Chip Campsen – SC Senate – District 43

• Mark Robertson – Nature Conservancy

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• A challenge exists to research and develop plans for economic opportunities associated with an increase in water from our river systems and along our coastline. Expansion of our lake system including canals and off-ramps through river diversions could open opportunities for lake and/or canal watersports while providing for potential electricity generation. Canal systems along the coast and in the lowcountry have the potential to utilize underused and low-lying areas for tourist/economic development.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTTASK FORCE

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTTASK FORCE

• Joe Ellers (Chairman) – Palmetto Associates

• Kelli James (Secretary) – Horry County Chamber of Commerce

• Peter Brews – Dean, USC School of Business

• Bryan Derreberry – President, Charleston County Chamber of Commerce

• Dr. Rick Peterson – Coastal Carolina University

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QUARTERLY COMMISSION MEETINGS

2019 Schedule

1st Quarter Meeting – CTL/Founders Hall Friday, February 8th

2nd Quarter – Paris Mountain SP Saturday, June 15th

3rd Quarter – Cheraw SP Saturday, August 31st

4th Quarter – Greenwood SP Friday, November 8th

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TASK FORCE UPDATESFebruary 8, 2019

Commission Meeting

Founders Hall | Charlestown Landing | Charleston, SC

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• Initial research on various entities the would have permitting or commenting responsibilities in artificial reef project.

• Initial contact made with the us army corps of engineers for assistance in analyzing engineering aspects.

ARTIFICIAL REEF SYSTEMS TASK FORCE

• Research underway by SCDNR and OCRM including effectiveness, case studies and lessons learned.

• Initiated efforts to broaden the communication network by identifying and connecting existing active organizations and other stakeholders.

• Draft initial Task Force Deliverables.

LIVING SHORELINE TASK FORCE

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• Organized into three Working Groups in order to focus our efforts and run concurrent paths. The three Working Groups are: INFRASTRUCTURE – SHORELINE ARMORING –RESEARCH

• The three Working Groups have been tasked by the Chair to identify and advance achievable items that can be achieved in the short-term, such as maintenance, and longer-term items that will require a higher level of study, such as identifying and prioritizing needed improvements or upgrades.

INFRASTRUCTURE & SHORELINE ARMORING

TASK FORCE

• We created two Sub Task Forces. One to deal with rivers and the other to deal with smaller tributaries and the dams on those tributaries.

• Goals over the next three quarters include:o An inventory of all modeling currently available on inland waters and an inventory of

data that can be used by Artificial Intelligence to predict areas of future concern; List of projects that can improve river flow; Analyze critical regulated dams on tributaries to rivers.

SMART RIVER & DAM SECURITY TASK FORCE

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AREAS OF FOCUS:

• Cyber-Security threats to the electric grid and the increased vulnerabilities that occur during weather-related events.

• Verification of control centers and staging areas in relation to flooding impact.

• Verification of dam stability and ability to withstand historic crests of waterways.

• Resource availability and allocation of both craft personnel and specialized equipment.

GRID SECURITY TASK FORCE

• Defined key areas of concentration: Permeable Surfaces, Greenspaces, Protection of sand dunes.

• Review of current ongoing projects, greenspace issues.

LANDSCAPE BEAUTIFICATION & PROTECTION

TASK FORCE

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• Assessment of coastal erosion and potential flooding risks to federal installations in SC.

• Integration of flood risk management into planning processes.

• Develop and promote coastal resilience planning tools, making them readily available for policy and decision-makers.

• Identify and propose incentives for communities from building or staying in harm’s way through forward-looking zoning and land-use choices.

NATIONAL SECURITY TASK FORCE

• Communicate with members of each Task Force to determine the scope of each program and develop a list of potential stakeholders.

• Develop educational talking points for each program and engage stakeholders to educate them on the program goals and status and elicit feedback, recommendations and collaboration.

STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT TASK FORCE

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• Identify and secure federal funding to be utilized on the most impacted areas in South Carolina.

• Coordinate with taskforce chairs and federal partners to distinguish projects of importance in order to help connect resources from Washington to South Carolina.

• Coordinate ongoing and future efforts within the state to prevent the impact from the next natural disaster.

FEDERAL FUNDING TASK FORCE

• Specific recommendations regarding economic development will have to occur after the technical task forces have made their recommendations. However, this task force will attempt some “concurrent engineering” and begin investigations into possible areas of economic development.

• Three main directions:- Mitigation of damage to critical infrastructure and flood-prone areas. These efforts tend

to involve dams, dykes and elevation of roads/bridges.- Creation of diversionary channels that funnel floodwaters into streams and lakes with

excess capacity and also directly into the ocean.- Expansion of wetlands.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TASK FORCE

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