Dear Residents:
The Mossy Oaks Task Force is comprised of political leaders, municipal staff, utility service providers, civil engineers, a conservation group, and Mossy Oaks residents. This Task Force was formed in late September 2017 to find solutions to repetitive flooding events. Since 2017, much work has been done by SCDOT, municipalities, utility providers, contractors, and residents to minimize catastrophic flooding effects in the Southside Park and Duck Pond areas. Those efforts have achieved results. However, major construction is needed to create a permanent fix.
With the formation of the Task Force, a comprehensive engineering study was conducted to fully understand the reasons behind the repetitive flooding events. That almost $250K study identified necessary and critical corrective actions which informed the development of engineering plans. Those plans have been reviewed and approved by the applicable regulatory agencies to include The US Army Corps of Engineers, SC DHEC, SC OCRM, SCDOT, and applicable utility providers. Finally, two grants totaling $1.5M were requested and approved by the SC Department of Commerce to offset the cost of this phase of the project totaling about $6.3M.
Following receipt of required construction permits and with the approval of the SC Department of Commerce, construction bids were published, and contractors selected. On July 13, 2020, the first of two construction companies have been given notice to begin construction. Drainage improvement work will begin in about 10 days commencing with West Royal Oaks Drive, First Blvd, Jane Way, the Spanish Moss Trail, Broad Street and Battery Creek Road.
Drainage improvements will take about 6 months and while vital, the construction work will be disruptive. Residents can expect many detours throughout the area including the roadways where drainage will be improved, and the Spanish Moss Trail where tidal flap gates and a sheet pile wall are installed. Residents will be notified one week in advance of scheduled work unless an emergency arises. Residents will be informed using a wide variety of methods to include social media, or Task Force representatives. Residents are also encouraged to register with the “Notify Me” application found on the City of Beaufort website (http://www.cityofbeaufort.org/list/aspx) and subscribe to Mossy Oaks Stormwater Project updates.
This long awaited and critical project is vital to the residents of the Mossy Oaks neighborhood who have endured repetitive flooding events. The Mossy Oaks Task Force would like to thank our regulatory agencies for expediting the permit review and approval process, the political leadership for fully appreciating the scope of the problem and providing the funds necessary for corrective action and the residents of Mossy Oaks for their patience. Expect the next update in about 10 days. Now, it is time to get to work!