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Master Planning
The innovative groundwater lowering system in the Nags Head Acres neighborhood is the successful result of creative, thoughtful master planning. A series of vertical wells and submersible pumps lower the surrounding water table in a flood prone-area in the neighborhood, creating extra storage for stormwater run off, resulting in reduced flooding.
Innovative Stormwater Planning
Master planning is a proactive response to stormwater management for the town through infrastructure improvements, maintenance, and ordinance revisions. An important component of master planning is stakeholder involvement as this type of engagement can significantly improve the level of service for managing stormwater. The Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) includes specific infrastructure improvements throughout the town to reduce flooding and improve water quality.
The Town is currently updating its Stormwater Management Master Plan, with planning and technical support provided by McAdams, an external engineering firm. This initiative is funded through a $400,000 stormwater planning grant from the Division of Water Infrastructure, supporting the following key components:
- Asset Inventory + Field Data Collection
- Inventory Database Management + Dashboard Creation
- Asset Condition Assessment
- Problem Area Identification + conceptual design
- Capital Improvement Plan Prioritization + Implementation
Items number 1-3 are nearing completion and are being finalized alongside the identification of problem areas. A recent Stormwater Master Plan Open House provide an opportunity for public input, which along with field observations, investigations, and citizen complaints, has helped shape a draft list of problem areas. A link to map of the draft problem areas is included at the top of the page under Related Documents.
The draft list of problem areas include those areas within the Town and North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) rights-of-way, where the Town of Nags Head and NCDOT maintain responsibility. This listing includes areas observed to experience frequent flooding and an increased potential of water quality impairment.
The next step in the process involves developing conceptual-level solutions for these problem areas. Concepts will be presented to the Board of Commissioners during Spring 2026 Capital Improvement Plan(CIP) workshop. The final CIP stormwater program deliverable will serve as a living document, allowing the Town to update it as projects are completed and new priorities emerge.
For questions related to recent planning efforts, please contact David Ryan, P.E., Town Engineer by email or by phone at 252-441-6221.