The Charleston Water Plan

WHAT IS IT? 

In 2024, the  City of Charleston’s Mayor’s Office of Resilience and Sustainability released its Comprehensive Integrated Water Plan, also known as the Charleston Water Plan (CWP). The purpose of the Water Plan is to provide a long-term planning guide for the city to live with water in the face of rising sea levels and development pressure.  

The Water Plan is presented as an online ArcGIS StoryMap. This interactive web map is organized into five planning areas: the Peninsula, West Ashley, James Island, John’s Island, and Daniel Island and Cainhoy.  

HOW WAS IT DEVELOPED? 

Using the Dutch Dialogues as a foundation, the city developed design strategies that will guide the implementation of the projects identified in the Water Plan. These strategies include adapting to water, defending against storm surges, and preserving natural ecosystems. Rounding out the plan are specific area-based projects, adaptive management strategies, and policy recommendations that build upon the design strategies. 

WHAT’S NEXT? 

To support the implementation of the Water Plan, the city has recently formed a Basin Flood Action Committee. The committee includes representatives from each of the five key planning areas and will help prioritize and implement projects identified in the plan, including projects like the battery extension/perimeter protection.  

We hope this guide can be used to help you understand the types of projects and design strategies that are being proposed in your neighborhood, as well as relevant work the Coastal Conservation League is doing to support resiliency efforts in your basin.  

Chs water plan one pager guide

WATER PLAN STRATEGIES FOR THE PENINSULA 

The Water Plan’s vision for the Peninsula includes two primary strategies: increasing perimeter protection and adapting open systems.  

The perimeter protection is proposed to surround much of the lower Peninsula and is more widely known as the Battery extension. Outside of the Battery extension, communities like Rosemont, Bridgeview, and Wagener Terrace are expected to pursue other adaption actions, such as raising roads and elevating buildings.  

As proposed, the Battery extension would extend from Brittlebank Park around the Peninsula and terminate near Romney Street. The Battery extension considers the inclusion of other mitigation strategies, such as space for marsh migration, swales to store runoff, road elevation, and new pump stations. The CWP also mentions the potential of the Battery extension to be dual-purpose infrastructure and provide additional community benefits beyond flood mitigation, such as enhanced waterfront access and improved urban design.   

The Conservation League has been involved in projects related to the redevelopment of Union Pier, zoning code rewrites and the Lowcountry Lowline. 

• Union Pier  

• The Conservation League has played a leading role in shaping public discourse around the Union Pier redevelopment, advocating for a resilient waterfront that prioritizes public access, green infrastructure, and equitable planning. We participate in the stakeholder working group and maintain regular contact with Beemok and city staff. 

• Zoning Code Rewrite 

• The Conservation League has championed reforming the zoning code to support water-conscious development. Our advocacy has centered around pushing for elevation-based zoning, resilient design strategies, exercising greenbelt initiatives in low-lying areas, and incentives for nature-based solutions. We view this as a vital opportunity to embed resilience and climate adaptation into the city’s zoning framework.  

• Lowline 

• The Lowcountry Lowline presents an exciting opportunity to tackle both flood defense as well as a thoughtful urban area for recreating and traversing the peninsula on foot or bicycle. 

WATER PLAN STRATEGIES FOR WEST ASHLEY 

The Water Plan recognizes that West Ashley is already at risk for flooding and storm surge around its riverine edges. Many of the strategies  include raising roads and homes, improving drainage, and embracing greenspace conservation in low-lying areas. The principal project for West Ashley is known as the “Blue Crescent.” This project seeks to strategically connect tributaries of the Stono and Ashley Rivers to better store and drain water in low-lying areas. Additionally, raising and fortifying the West Ashley greenway and existing roads can help provide protection from storm surge events. Ideally, West Ashley will invest in resilient development along the high ground of Sam Rittenberg Boulevard and conserve areas of lower elevations for naturally functioning floodplain. 

The Conservation League has been involved in Highway 61 improvements, zoning code rewrites, and enforcing the urban growth boundary.  

• Highway 61  

• The Conservation League closely monitorsSCDOT’s multi-phase project to improve Highway 61. We advocate for solutions that maintain the historic and ecological character-sensitive designs, stormwater improvements, and pedestrian safety measures. 

• Zoning Code Rewrite  

• Although currently paused, the Conservation League champions reforming the zoning code to support water-conscious development. Our advocacy has centered around pushing for elevation-based zoning, resilient design strategies, exercising greenbelt initiatives in low lying areas and incentives for nature-based solutions. We view this as a vital opportunity to embed resilience and climate adaptation into the city’s zoning framework. 

• Enforcing the UGB and resilient subdivision design  

• The Conservation League consistently advocates for enforcement of the Urban Growth Boundary by both Charleston County and the City of Charleston. The Urban Growth Boundary helps direct growth toward areas that are already urban or suburban, while steering growth away from areas that are more rural and wish to remain low-density. Similarly, we advocate for resilient design of new subdivisions that cluster development on high ground and preserve low-lying areas for naturally functioning floodplain.  

WATER PLAN STRATEGIES FOR JAMES ISLAND 

Neighborhoods along the edge of James Island will need to devise individual community plans to adapt to rising waters. In anticipation of sea level rise, key roads on the island, such as Folly Road and Fort Johnson Road, could be raised or reinforced. The plan acknowledges the complexities of multiple municipal services on James Island and suggests consolidating these services or increasing coordination to best serve residents in this dynamic island community. Similar to the Blue Cresent of West Ashley, the Willow Walk Stormwater Park will connect existing tributaries of the Stono River and James Island Creek to reduce flooding and expand greenspace access. 

The Conservation League is involved in the Rethink Folly Road initiative, opposing the I-526 expansion, and successful Greenbelt funding projects like Mill Point Park. 

• Rethink Folly Road 

• The Conservation League has long supported the Rethink Folly Road initiative, especially its emphasis on sidewalk and drainage improvements. We have pushed for a complete streets approach that reduces runoff and improves safety for pedestrians and cyclists.  

• 526 and James Island County Park  

• The proposed extension of I-526, which would threaten wetlands and disrupt stormwater pathways on James Island, in addition to cutting through the beloved James Island County Park, was successfully defeated this past fall after a concerted advocacy campaign led by the Conservatino League asking voters to vote no on a ballot referendum that would have funded the project.  

• Greenbelt Success: Mill Point Park 

• Mill Point Park is an example of greenbelt funding used successfully to eliminate future housing in a flood-prone area. The Conservation League is encouraging replication of this model elsewhere on James Island to project low-lying land and expand greenspace.  

WATER PLAN STRATEGIES FOR JOHNS ISLAND 

Much of the Water Plan proposes to maintain Johns Island’s rural character by protecting forested wetlands and allowing for marsh migration corridors along the Stono River edge. Future development should be concentrated along the highest ground on the island – the Maybank Highway Corridor. Conservation and enhancement of existing creeks will help store and drain stormwater on the island. River Road will need to be connected to existing stormwater infrastructure and new stormwater management features throughout the island should be considered to further increase resilience of this area. 

The Conservation League advocates for tree protection, enforcing the Urban Growth Boundary, and resilient subdivision design.  

• Tree Protection and Urban Growth Boundary Enforcement 

• The Conservation League fought to uphold the County’s tree ordinance, recognizing the critical role forests play in absorbing and slowing stormwater. We consistently advocate for enforcement of the Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) by both Charleston County and the City of Charleston. The UGB helps direct growth toward areas that are already urban or suburban, while steering growth away from areas that are more rural and wish to remain low-density. 

• Resilient Subdivision Design 

• The Conservation League actively pushes for zoning reforms that avoid building in low, flood-prone areas and instead encourage clustering new development on high ground. We’ve also emphasized the need for real subdivision standards that incorporate stormwater into the design from day one, not as an afterthought.  

WATER PLAN STRATEGIES FOR DANIEL ISLAND AND THE CAINHOY PENINSULA  

Low-lying neighborhoods on Daniel Island will need to work together to adopt Community Adaption Plans in anticipation of rising sea levels. On the Cainhoy Peninsula, drainage pathways will need to be preserved, as well as corridors for marsh migration. The Water Plan acknowledges the risk for flooding from stormwater runoff, sea level rise, and storm surge.  

The Conservation League has raised major concerns about a development planned for the Cainhoy Peninsula, most of which would be located in the floodplain.  

• Approved in 2014, the plan proposes to fill over 180 acres of wetlands on the peninsula and build 9,000 new homes, most of which would be located in the floodplain. We’ve engaged in public meetings and legal review, urging the city and developers to revisit the plan, respect the ecological importance of the site, and adapt the plan to preserve the floodplain and avoid wetland fill. 

Dover Kohl Vision
We endorsed the Dover Kohl plan as a more responsible path forward for Cainhoy, one that balances development with the landscape and supports resilience. Learn more.