Natural Infrastructure Practices as Potential Flood Storage and Reduction for Farms and Rural Communities in the North Carolina Coastal Plain

Meredith Hovis, Joseph Chris Hollinger, Frederick Cubbage, Theodore Shear, Barbara Doll, J. Jack Kurki-Fox, Daniel Line, Andrew Fox, Madalyn Baldwin, Travis Klondike, Michelle Lovejoy, Bryan Evans, Jaclyn West and Thomas Potter
Additional contact information
Meredith Hovis: Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
Joseph Chris Hollinger: Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
Frederick Cubbage: Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
Theodore Shear: Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
Barbara Doll: Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
J. Jack Kurki-Fox: Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
Daniel Line: Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
Andrew Fox: College of Design, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
Madalyn Baldwin: College of Design, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
Travis Klondike: College of Design, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
Michelle Lovejoy: North Carolina Foundation for Soil and Water Conservation, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
Bryan Evans: North Carolina Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
Jaclyn West: Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
Thomas Potter: North Carolina Foundation for Soil and Water Conservation, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 16, 1-25

Abstract: Increased global temperatures resulting from anthropogenically induced climate changes have increased the frequency and severity of adverse weather events, including extreme rainfall events, floods, and droughts. In recent years, nature-based solutions (NBS) have been proposed to retain storm runoff temporarily and mitigate flood damages. These practices may help rural farm and forest lands to store runoff and reduce flooding on farms and downstream communities and could be incorporated into a conservation program to provide payments for these efforts, which would supplement traditional farm incomes. Despite their potential, there have been very few methodical assessments and detailed summaries of NBS to date. We identified and summarized potential flood reduction practices for the Coastal Plain of North Carolina. These include agricultural practices of (1) cover cropping/no-till farming; (2) hardpan breakup; (3) pine or (4) hardwood afforestation, and (5) agroforestry; establishing the wetland and stream practices of (6) grass and sedge wetlands and earthen retention structures, (7) forest wetland banks, and (8) stream channel restoration; and establishing new structural solutions of (9) dry dams and berms (water farming) and (10) tile drainage and water retention. These practices offer different water holding and storage capacities and costs. A mixture of practices at the farm and landscape level can be implemented for floodwater retention and attenuation and damage reduction, as well as for providing additional farm and forest ecosystem services.

Keywords: natural infrastructure; hazard mitigation; flood reduction; resilient design; nature-based solutions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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