Resiliency Planning

Resiliency Planning

The Lowcountry Council of Governments (LCOG) conducts resiliency planning using various approaches for appropriately integrating resilience into the region’s community. The resiliency planning ensures the region’s communities better prepare for, respond to, and recover from any challenging, changing conditions, and unexpecting events. The goal is to reduce the impacts in the area, build and sustain community capabilities, protect the resources, and support the economy.

The resiliency planning includes, but is not limited to, development or update of policies and plans, development standards, and update of land use codes. 

Natural Hazard Mitigation Planning

The Natural Hazard Mitigation Planning is required by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). A community must review and revise an existing plan to reflect changes in development, progress in local mitigation efforts, and changes in priorities and resubmit it for approval within 5 years to continue to be eligible for FEMA mitigation.

Military Installation Resiliency Review

The Military Installation Resiliency Review (MIRR) is focused on the communities surrounding the Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort and Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island.  The goal is to protect resources necessary to enhance the community resilience and the resilience of the military installations.

Marsh Evolution and Sedimentation Pilot Study

This study looks to define a replicable method using available data sets to categorize marsh typologies, accretion elevation, and marsh health for use in restoration techniques.  A  small marsh island on the Whale Branch creek was used to model processes that control marsh health and evolution in the larger Broad River/Port Royal Sound habitats.

Lowcountry Green Infrastructure Plan

Developed by the Green Infrastructure Center,  the Lowcountry Green Infrastructure Plan comprises a set of maps and strategies for conserving and restoring a connected landscape in the region. The process involved mapping habitats cores and corridors, as well as existing natural and cultural assets, followed by risk analysis to inform strategies for action. Lowcountry Council of Governments and local stakeholders helped to determine priority areas for conservation in the region, as well as strategies to ensure a connected landscape into the future. The statewide scale of the green infrastructure plan can be found HERE.

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Marsh Evolution and Sedimentation Pilot Study

Tide Gauges

South Carolina’s coastal communities are measuring the water levels surrounding their cities, towns and counties in real time with Hohonu Tide Gauges. A widespread network of water level monitoring stations  is being installed across the state. We are fortunate to have 3 stations up and running in the Lowcountry region with possibly more to come. The project is funded by the Southeast Coastal and Ocean Observing Regional Association (SECOORA) in partnership with the American Shore and Beach Preservation Advocates (ASBPA) and the SC Sea Grant Consortium. The tide gauges will fills gaps between existing federal tide stations.