Major storms regularly cause the Elizabeth River to overflow, overwhelming Norfolk’s outdated stormwater drainage system. Flooded streets, sidewalks, and even fully submerged roadways are common.
The persistent flood risk has made the city a national top performer in flood protection and sustainability. Yet, with continually rising sea levels, officials recognized the need to strengthen their coastal resilience and adaptation plans to ensure the long-term safety of people, homes, and businesses. The launch of HUD’s National Disaster Resilience Competition (NDRC) in 2014 presented an opportunity to transform Norfolk into a model for climate adaptation infrastructure and resilient waterfront development.
Norfolk and Arcadis partnered to develop an NDRC application. In June 2015, Dutch Dialogues brought together Arcadians and city stakeholders to strategize innovative flood resilience solutions.
With the area’s vulnerability—second only to New Orleans in the number of people threatened by rising sea levels—plans extended beyond traditional pumps, gates, and levees, embracing holistic coastal adaptation and coastal defense engineering. The proposed solutions would create a more interconnected and equitable city with more accessible critical infrastructure and facilities.
By applying advanced techniques for water management, landscape architecture, flood protection, and urban design, Norfolk is taking a bold step toward being a model of coastal resilience. The Ohio Creek Watershed project has become a proof of concept for resilient waterfront development and coastal defense engineering, making the city a benchmark for innovative climate adaptation infrastructure and securing residents against ever-rising sea levels.
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