WestEdge Permit Applications & Test Results
Throughout 2020, WestEdge has continued working extensively with civil and environmental engineers, land planners, the City, government regulators at ACOE and SC-DHEC, the Westside Neighborhood, community representatives, land conservationists like the Open Space Institute, and environmental advocates like SC-Coastal Conservation League and Charleston Waterkeeper to design and execute on solutions which will protect and enhance the Ashley River watershed and reduce flooding impacts.
As we successfully wind up the first phase of WestEdge, we continue our steadfast commitment to advance quality of life and economic opportunity on the west side of the Charleston peninsula. The trajectory of increasing tide levels and prospects of greater storm events forces us to make challenging choices. We must face these choices with clear eyes and a commitment to long-term resilience. WestEdge wants to invest in the significant environmental and stormwater improvements that are enforceable commitments in our permit application, investments that will remove existing impacts on our community, especially on those who are most vulnerable.
As outlined in the attached permit documents, work would include:
- Converting the tidal area along Hagood into a landscaped 1-acre freshwater basin to better manage stormwater;
- Over 20 acres of tidal marsh wetlands will be restored and enhanced upstream along the Ashley River to mitigate for the elimination of the trash-filled ditch, a restoration that exceeds the required credits to offset;
- New subsurface infrastructure will connect parts of Gadsden Green and Ashton Street to the Spring Fishburne deep tunnel; and
- Stormwater collected within WestEdge will be isolated from landfill contaminants and conveyed to the Ashley River.
A complete compendium of recent test results, detailed site analysis and proposed investments included in the full documents already submitted for the permits is available here: WestEdge Permit Documentation.
We invite all to read the full documentation to be better informed about this challenging situation and the improvements being offered.