Staunton has had issues with flooding downtown in recent years. The city government took a big step last week to set the course for the work that needs to be done to limit the impact of future flooding.
Staunton City Council voted last week to adopt the city’s first Flood Resilience Plan, with a key benefit to the plan now being adopted and on the record being, the city is now eligible for state and federal resilience programs that can give the local government access to funding to offset the cost of high-priority capital improvements.
“Adopting this plan gives us a clear, actionable path forward,” said Willow Hughes, who heads up the Environmental Programs Division in Staunton city government. “More importantly, it reflects the lived experiences of our residents who shared their stories and concerns with us. Having this framework in place ensures we aren’t just reacting to storm events, but actively building a safer and more resilient city.”
The finalized plan is the culmination of nearly a year-long community process led by the the EPD, alongside consultants from Wiley|Wilson and Wetland Studies and Solutions Inc.
The plan incorporates extensive feedback gathered through public surveys and community listening sessions held at the Staunton Public Library.
The plan guides future capital planning and floodplain management through five core principles:
- Best available science: Incorporating modernized data to anticipate changing rainfall patterns.
- Social equity: Prioritizing solutions that protect vulnerable residents and neighborhoods.
- Community-scale impact: Focusing on projects that deliver broad, citywide benefits.
- Economic responsibility: Aligning projects with cost-effective practices and sensible land-use policies.
- Nature-based solutions: Leveraging natural systems and green infrastructure to mitigate runoff.
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Chris Graham
