Battleship NC begins work on Living with Water project

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The USS North Carolina Battleship is beginning work on its Living with Water project.

This approach to counter the effects of tidal flooding is the Battleship’s response to mitigate increased parking lot flooding. According to a news release, by reengineering the shoreline, creating a constructed wetland and elevating the parking lot, the project will reduce battleship vulnerability to river flooding.

Living with Water will restore natural aquatic habitats for an array of wildlife, including shrimp and blue crabs. Native trees, shrubs, and marsh plants will support nesting and migratory birds. The living shoreline is expected to lessen wave and tidal erosion, while the created wetland will capture, hold and direct the flood waters.

In 2020, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation awarded the Battleship NC $1.25 million for the Living with Water project. The nature-based infrastructure aims to mitigate the risks posed by ongoing tidal flooding and improve water quality in the Cape Fear River