Carolina Beach Flood Modeling
Envisioning flood resilience workshop series
Four workshops were held in Carolina Beach over one year with the goal of identifying flood resilience strategies preferred by the community and testing how how effective these strategies might be in mitigating current and future floods. Carolina Beach residents directed the development of flood resilience strategies, research staff led workshops and modeled the effectiveness of flood resilience strategies, and town staff listened to resident perspectives on flood resilience strategies.
Resources from all workshops
Recording of the presentation given by Sunny Day Flooding Project research team members at the May 7, 2025 Envisioning Flood Resilience in Carolina Beach: Research Presentation and Open House. The presentation provides an overview of work done by the research team to identify flood resilience strategies for Carolina Beach that are effective in mitigating flooding and aligned with community preferences. Links to materials presented at the Open House portion of the session can be found below the recording.
Results summary for Carolina Beach Town Council: Booklet distributed to members of the Carolina Beach Town Council to accompany a presentation on findings from the workshop series. The booklet summarizes modeling results showing the effectiveness of flood resilience strategies at current (Workshop #2) and future (Workshop #3) sea levels. The booklet also details sea level rise scenarios, strategy costs, and strategy considerations.
Below is a recording of the 45-minute presentation of workshop findings to Carolina Beach Town Council on July 22, 2025.
Workshop #4 handout: One page descriptions of the computer modeling that occurred during the Envisioning Flood Resilience in Carolina Beach research project, and key findings from modeling of flood resilience strategies. Also contains a table showing best and worst case scenarios for sea level rise in Carolina Beach from now through 2100.
Workshop #4 introductory poster: Poster describing all parts of the Envisioning Flood Resilience in Carolina Beach research project, both the survey and workshop series. Details key questions asked at the four workshops. Describes how flood modeling was completed and what strategies were modeled or not modeled. Directs readers to additional stations, the content from which can be found in Workshop #3 posters and Workshop #4 feasibility posters.
Workshop #2 handout: Handout shared with participants at Workshop #2 that lists potential flood resilience strategies. Describes strategy functions. Presents model results showing strategy effectiveness in mitigating saltwater (tides, wind) and saltwater + freshwater (tides, wind, and rain) flooding at present day sea levels. Summarizes present day flood mitigation pros and cons as well as feasibility considerations. Flood model simulations were run using conditions from a flood on January 22, 2023.
Workshop #3 printout: Results from modeling of flood resilience strategies at current and future sea levels. Presents results from four flood resilience strategies (pumps; minimum bulkhead elevation + pumps; movable flood barrier at the entrance to the Yacht Basin; canal along the north half of Canal Drive) plus the present day configuration of Canal Drive (current bulkhead heights and drainage infrastructure). Plots show results for both saltwater flooding (light bars) and saltwater + freshwater flooding (dark bars). Plot on the first page shows maximum flood depth measured at the intersection of Clamshell Lane and Canal Drive. Plot on the second page shows flood duration measured at the same intersection. Sea level rise modeling was done by taking a relatively small flood event that occurred on January 22, 2023 and simulating that same flood event at future sea levels shown in the Workshop #4 handout. Maps of flood model results for each strategy can be found in the Workshop #3 posters folder.
Workshop #3 model results posters: Posters showing maps of maximum flood depth for four flood resilience strategies (pump; minimum bulkhead elevation + pumps; movable flood barrier at the entrance to the Yacht Basin; canal along the north half of Canal Drive) plus the present day configuration of Canal Drive (current bulkhead heights and drainage infrastructure) at current and future sea levels. Results come from the same simulations as shown in the Workshop #3 handout, but here we show only saltwater flooding results (light bars in the Workshop #3 handout). Each poster shows model results from the present day configuration of Canal Drive (no strategies implemented) on the left for reference, followed by results for two strategies in the middle and right. Posters are named by the two strategies shown on the middle and right, followed by the sea level rise timeframe shown in the poster. For example, Bulkheads+Pumps_Barrier_2040-2050 shows the Bulkheads+Pumps and Flood Barrier strategies modeled at 2040 to 2050 sea levels.
Workshop #4 feasibility posters: Posters describing feasibility considerations and potential costs associated with four flood resilience strategies (pumps; minimum bulkhead elevation + pumps; movable flood barrier at the entrance to the Yacht Basin; canal along the north half of Canal Drive). Also details four comparable funded construction or planning projects in other North Carolina towns, including a brief project description, funding amount, and funding source.
Flooding survey results: Plots showing results from a flooding survey distributed to Carolina Beach residents. Postcards with the invitation to take the survey were mailed to Carolina Beach addresses in early 2024. 363 survey responses were received. Survey results cover resident preferences for flood mitigation strategies and flood impacts experienced by residents.