Progress
Phase Progress
Gap Analysis
Statewide inventory and gap analysis of resources and data necessary to develop the Blueprint and action strategies. The Gap Analysis will identify and analyze factors that prevent resources from working together/spatial disconnects. Each factor will be summarized based on best available data and models.
Recommendations and Decision Framework
Report detailing specific recommendations and decision framework to support the Blueprint Program and online decision support tool. The report will include a decision framework that will lead future implementers through the planning process by identifying decision points, actions, and possible outcomes for each stage of the planning process. Recommendations will include data, policy and governance strategies that could be incorporated at the state, regional and community levels to coordinate efforts, affect change and improve the overall flood resiliency planning process.
Draft Neuse Action Strategy
Report including findings and recommendations for improving flood resiliency within the Neuse River Basin. The basin-specific action strategy will identify and evaluate flood risk, consider multiple benefits, and prioritize actions that specifically address stakeholder needs. This will include identification of existing and proposed projects, discussion of lessons learned, data and model standardization, and recommendations for next steps to support implementation.
Draft Blueprint
Procedural and guidance document to support the development of basin specific Flood Resiliency action strategies and other flood resiliency project planning efforts, including the use of online decision support tools. This will be a high-level comprehensive document that establishes how flood resiliency plans will be developed moving forward. It will include the Gap Analysis and Recommendations and Decision Framework reports, and will provide user information for the application of the online decision support tool. It will include an approach to streamline the overall stakeholder, analysis and modeling processes defined to facilitate the development of future scopes of work.
The North Carolina Flood Resiliency Blueprint is being developed in phases with Phase I beginning in late 2022. Phase I includes development of the Blueprint planning framework, a draft pilot Neuse River Basin Flood Resiliency Action Strategy, and a requirements analysis for an online decision support tool. Phase II is the development of the decision tool, referred to as the Tool. The tool will be designed to fulfill key components of N.C. Session Law 2021-180, Sections 5.9.(c) (Senate Bill 105) and N.C. Session Law 2022-75, Section 22.a.(3) (HB 911).
The Tool will be a publicly accessible, data- and model-driven, GIS-enabled web application that supports flood planning and implementation across the state. The Tool will support and enable the development and management of the Flood Resiliency Blueprint program including a standardized statewide methodology for visualizing flooding, its impacts, and solutions. The tool will assist state agencies, local governments, regional entities, and others in identifying and selecting flood mitigation and resilience strategies, including funding options.
Phase II began in November 2023 and is expected to continue through 2024. Key milestones are:
Key Phase II Milestones | Estimated Schedule | Delivered |
Initial Beta Testing | Late Spring 2024 | April 26, 2024 |
Version 1 Testing | Fall 2024 | September 24, 2024 |
Version 2 Public Release | Spring 2025 |
DEQ is currently in the contracting process for Phase III, which applies the online support tool developed in Phase II, and the Draft Flood Resiliency Blueprint developed in Phase I, to river basins statewide. Phase III will develop river-basin-specific action strategies, similar to the Draft Neuse Basin Action Strategy developed in Phase I, for five additional targeted river basins in North Carolina, with additional basins to be added as funds allow. The five additional targeted river basins in the state currently planned for Phase III are the Cape Fear, Lumber, Tar-Pamlico, White Oak, and French Broad basins.
Basin Action Strategy
The Draft Neuse River Basin Flood Resiliency Action Strategy is now available.