James Island County Park Master Plan

A 295-acre facility that serves more than 700,000 visitors annually receives a master plan update that addresses flooding, habitat, and biodiversity issues.

Biohabitats supported the master plan for James Island County Park with a focus on analyzing the park’s stormwater drainage. The significant issues were flooding problems at the RV campground and other areas of the park. To create an updated, holistic water management element for the plan, Biohabitats inventoried the existing stormwater infrastructure and developed a comprehensive drainage model using EPA SWMM. This model was used to determine the existing level of service, identify flood prone areas, and assess the impacts of proposed development within the Park.

Working on a team led by Design Workshop, Biohabitats updated the stormwater drainage master plan to address identified flooding issues; considered the implications of changes to FEMA flood hazard areas; drafted recommendations to improve water quality and shoreline management of the lake and ponds; identified areas for habitat protection, biodiversity enhancement, native revegetation, and invasive species management; and incorporated sustainability and climate resiliency measures into the plan.