Greenville County, SC – The South Carolina Office of Resilience (SCOR) is pleased to announce the start of construction of the North Chastain Stream Restoration and Reclamation & Little Creek Stream Improvement and Reclamation projects. Managed by Greenville County, the projects’ construction is funded in part by SCOR’s ARPA Stormwater Infrastructure Program (ASIP); Little Creek is receiving $965,085 and North Chastain is receiving $621,073 in ASIP funds. Prior to construction, the County has funded engineering, construction administration, and permitting.

"These projects demonstrate the commitment of Greenville County and SCOR to the resiliency of South Carolina's communities," explains Senator Jason Elliott, District 6. "The county eliminated the flood risk for multiple homes through the buyout program and restored the natural habitat in these areas."

The two projects are in areas where Greenville County has bought out repetitively flooded homes to remove residents from the risk of frequent flooding. After addressing this immediate concern, the County is now focused on addressing erosion and enhancing the riparian area—vegetation and habitats along the stream banks—in the two sites. According to the County’s application for ASIP funds, the projects will “…help return the stream and riparian area to a more functional condition that would result in positive impacts to water quality, flood risk, and infrastructure resilience, as well as general ecosystem improvements.”

"Today, we celebrate the efforts of the South Carolina Office of Resilience in enhancing our vital riparian areas along Little Creek and North Chastain Creek,” says Rep Patrick Haddon, Greenville County District 19, in a statement about the projects. “The ongoing restoration projects in the Langston Creek area not only protect our natural resources but also strengthen our communities' resilience against environmental challenges. Together, we are committed to preserving the beauty of our landscapes for future generations.” 

Both projects are using a 100% nature-based approach to achieve these outcomes. Among the types of planned improvements is the reintroduction of vegetation which will contribute to holding stream banks in place. The project will also use rocks, logs, and other sturdy materials to reinforce vulnerable areas of the banks. 

“We prioritized projects using green solutions during the ASIP application period because their benefits extend beyond flood hazard reduction,” explains Chief Resilience Officer Ben Duncan. “Re-vitalizing the natural habitat along these streams is projected to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus in the Reedy River watershed, excessive levels of which can harm aquatic habitats and contribute to algal blooms.”

Preliminary construction activities will take place from late March into April 2025 before residents will begin to see restoration efforts in the two work sites. In preparation for this step, Greenville County and SCOR will host a public meeting for the community to review final plans. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 25, 2025 from 6:30-8:30pm at Berea Library (111 N Hwy 25 Bypass, Greenville, SC 29617)

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About SCOR: The South Carolina Office of Resilience (SCOR) is committed to enhancing the state's ability to anticipate, absorb, recover, and thrive when presented with environmental changes and natural hazards by planning and coordinating statewide resilience, long-term disaster recovery, and hazard mitigation. In addition to serving 3,459 homes in our Disaster Recovery Program, SCOR has 81 active flood mitigation projects, including voluntary buyouts, stormwater infrastructure, and plans and studies, across the State. SCOR continues to implement and maintain the Strategic Statewide Resilience and Risk Reduction Plan, which provides a framework to guide investment in projects, programs, and policies to protect the people and property of South Carolina from the damage and destruction of extreme weather events.