In September 2004, communities in western North Carolina were devastated by flooding from remnant hurricanes Frances and Ivan.  Floods produced by these hurricanes and subsequent heavy rainfall events clearly demonstrated the need to reduce flood risks to human life and property within the Swannanoa River watershed.  In response to these 2004 events, the North Carolina Legislature approved the Hurricane Recovery Act of 2005, which directed funding a comprehensive planning study to achieve flood damage reduction in western NC communities.  An initial planning study was conducted of the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources Division of Water Resources (DWR) in 2007 with participation of stakeholders from Biltmore Village, the City of Asheville, and the Swannanoa River watershed with the assistance of a project consultant.

Based on the initial study, the goal of this project is to identify, and where feasible implement, a combination of measures to reduce flood damage and risk to human life and property within the Biltmore Village area and elsewhere in the watershed.

Start Date: June 1, 2009

End Date: June 30, 2010