Greener stormwater management could bring new features to Beaufort neighborhood

When rain runs off the driveways, streets, or any other unclean surface, it will pickup any toxic pollutants it comes in contact with into our marshes.

With that in mind the EPA reviewed drainage conditions in Beaufort's Northwest Quadrant neighborhood and will share creative ideas to more "greenly" deal with the runoff at an April 3 meeting.

Ideas include a "green street" design at Duke Street and a vegetated filtering basin at the southeast corner of Hamar and Prince streets.

Here are more details from an e-mailed release:

EPA to share ideas April 3 for stormwater improvements in Beaufort Northwest Quadrant

Results of an EPA review of stormwater management in Beaufort's historic Northwest Quadrant neighborhood will be shared with the public April 3 at Beaufort City Hall.

Engineers, drainage experts and planners from the federal Environmental Protection Agency and its contractors visited Beaufort in November as part of a technical assistance grant valued at up to $100,000.

Their goal: Find ways to improve stormwater management in the Northwest Quadrant and, working with city staff, identify ways to incorporate these recommendations into street and block design.

Ideas include a "green street" design at Duke Street and a vegetated filtering basin at the southeast corner of Hamar and Prince streets. The Duke Street location right-of-way is owned and maintained by the City of Beaufort. The proposed vegetated filtering basin site, however, is privately owned. Rights to the parcel must be secured before the project can begin.

This planning grant makes Beaufort eligible to apply for additional EPA funds to build the project, Beaufort City Manager Scott Dadson said.
On April 3, 2 p.m., the recommendations will be discussed in detail at City Council Chambers in City Hall, 1911 Boundary Street.

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