The city of Charleston is the largest city in South Carolina, with a population of over 130,000. Known for its cobblestone streets and antebellum houses, Charleston sees approximately 7 million visitors annually, generating an estimated $7.37 billion.
Charleston is a low-lying Atlantic port city threaded by dozens of rivers and creeks, making drainage a top-priority issue since its 1680 founding. However, in recent years the combined challenges of sea level rise, heavier downpours, and tidal flooding have caused flooding to become more frequent than ever, strengthening the city’s focus on finding solutions. In the 1970s, Charleston experienced an average of 2 days of tidal flooding per year. By the early 2010s, tidal flooding had risen to eleven times per year and is projected to reach 180 days per year by 2045. For Charleston, identifying and executing measures that will improve the city’s ability to withstand the effects of sea level rise has become more timely, and more urgent, than ever.
The city is a leader among U.S. East Coast cities in preparing and planning for sea level rise. Charleston has developed a sea level rise strategy, which is now being updated, that includes a plan to mitigate flooding and sea level rise of up to 2.5 feet over the next fifty years, allowing for adaptations over time based on the availability of new scientific data. 76 items outlined in the plan are currently underway.
