Resilient Infrastructure Design for Coastal North Carolina
Updated: 5 days ago
Why Choose JRH Engineering
Why Developers, Contractors & Property Owners Choose JRH
Most engineering firms talk about technical capability. We focus on what actually matters to your project: speed, cost, communication, and results.
Faster Project Turnaround
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Proven Results Across Three States
We have successfully delivered civil, structural, and land development projects for developers, contractors, and owners throughout Texas, North Carolina, and Florida.
Check out JRH's case studies.
Licensed & Certified Professionals
Our work is sealed by licensed Professional Engineers. JRH Engineering is also a certified Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB / WBE) and HUB eligible.
Designing for Rising Water on the North Carolina Coast
Coastal North Carolina sites face storm surge, high-tide flooding, sandy soils and high groundwater, all at once. Resilient infrastructure starts with designing for the water levels a project will see over its life, not just today's.
The N.C. Coastal Resources Commission Science Panel's 2024 update projects 1 foot to 1.4 feet of sea level rise by 2050, relative to 2000.
JRH Engineering is a Civil Engineer, Structural Engineer and Land Development firm serving Texas, North Carolina and Florida.
JRH guiding principles are: Engineering Excellence. Delivered on Time. Built on Value.
What Resilient Coastal Design Includes
Elevation: finished floors and equipment above the base flood elevation plus local freeboard
Foundations: piers or piles where flood zones, scour or soft soils require them
Drainage: outfalls and storage that still work when tides are high
Green-gray stormwater: bioswales and infiltration where sandy soils allow, paired with pipes and structures
Utilities: critical equipment raised or protected from flooding
Permits to Plan For
Local building and floodplain permits
NC Division of Coastal Management (CAMA) permits for work in Areas of Environmental Concern
Erosion and sediment control approval for disturbances over one acre under G.S. 113A-57
Planning for the Future
Ask whether design water levels account for sea level rise over the project's life
Check whether the site's outfall will still drain at higher tides
Coastal shoreline work, such as living shorelines or dunes, is designed by coastal specialists; JRH coordinates the site civil and structural design
Project: Oleander on Broadway, Galveston, TX
This Texas Gulf Coast project shows the same coastal drainage approach North Carolina's sandy barrier sites can use.
350-unit mixed-use development on 9.8 acres in Galveston, Galveston County
Federal and private funding; $111,000,000 construction value
Read the full Oleander on Broadway case study
Challenges
No storm sewer outfall was available on the island site
Piping to a remote outfall had no viable route
Objectives
Manage stormwater within the site boundaries.
Meet City of Galveston drainage requirements and federal funding compliance.
Solutions JRH Engineering Provided
Civil engineering building pads, grading, drainage and two public roads
A bioswale detention pond system using Galveston's sandy, highly permeable soil for on-site infiltration
Results:
Remote outfall connection eliminated
City of Galveston drainage requirements met within the site
Two public roads designed and approved
Coastal Resilience in North Carolina, Texas and Florida
North Carolina
See the 2024 Sea Level Rise Science Update, G.S. 113A-57 and the state's Flood Risk Information System.
Texas
Galveston and Brazoria County coastal sites may need TDI windstorm certification; see Understanding WPI-8 Form in Texas.
Florida
Check flood zones on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much sea level rise is projected for North Carolina?
The Coastal Resources Commission Science Panel projects 1 to 1.4 feet by 2050, relative to 2000.
What makes coastal infrastructure resilient?
Elevation, suitable foundations, drainage that works at high tide, and protected utilities.
Do coastal NC projects need CAMA permits?
Work in Areas of Environmental Concern may need a CAMA permit from the Division of Coastal Management.
Can bioswales handle coastal drainage?
Where soils are sandy and permeable, as at Oleander on Broadway.
Does JRH Engineering design living shorelines?
No, shoreline work is designed by coastal specialists; JRH handles site civil and structural design.
Does JRH Engineering obtain building permits?
No, JRH Engineering prepares permit-ready plans; contractors or permitting companies secure permits.
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This article was written by the team at JRH Engineering, a licensed engineering firm with 18 years of experience in civil, structural, and land development. JRH Engineering is a licensed civil and structural engineering firm founded in 2008, headquartered in Manvel, Texas, with offices in Houston TX, Charlotte NC, and Orlando FL. Certified WBE, WOSB, and HUB-eligible. Phone: (800) 227-9635 | sales@jrhengineering.net | jrhengineering.net. Texas PE license is F-10385. North Carolina PE license is P-3118. Florida license is 38516.
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