Center For Heir’s Property Preservation Flood Study

The Center for Heirs’ Property Preservation (CHPP) protects heirs’ property and promotes the sustainable use of land to provide increased economic benefit to historically underserved families through legal and forestry education and services in South Carolina.

The combination of legal and land management services provides a significant and measurable pathway out of generational poverty for low-wealth families.

CHPP requested a flood analysis to determine the current flood risk in the Bucksport, Andrews, Kingstree, Plantersville, and Choppee communities. Weston & Sampson and GeoScience Consultants are working together to meet the project request and will obtain a comprehensive understanding of flood risk and problem areas in the communities of focus. The project seeks to identify and prioritize mitigation actions, with emphasis on nature-based solutions, to increase community resiliency. Data is obtained from several sources, including historical flood records from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, recent FEMA flood maps, and historical landmark data from the State Historic Preservation Office. As part of the project approach, our team relies on local knowledge to complement and validate the findings of the study. Our team is committed to facilitating stakeholder engagement strategies combined with GIS analysis to develop a robust understanding of flood risk and mitigative solutions.

Upon completion of the GIS analysis and community engagement components of the study, our team will identify the feasibility of nature-based projects that can help to alleviate flooding in the community of focus by using natural processes to manage water. Our team will determine how water flows and if opportunities exist to intercept water along the path and reduce/prevent downstream flooding. The developed prioritization matrix will highlight decision-making factors to help inform capital improvement planning. Five maps will be provided, one for each of the communities of focus, to identify appropriate and feasible areas for implementation of nature-based solutions. Five concept drawings are also included to help inform communities and decision makers of the form and function of these practices.