Columbus County approves sole-source contract to develop watershed drainage plan using BRIC funds and $75,000 local match

The Columbus County Board of Commissioners approved a revised project ordinance and sole-source contract to hire Moffett and Nickel to prepare a countywide watershed drainage management plan funded through the federal BRIC (Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities) program.

Representatives of the Soil and Water Conservation District explained the plan's scope and timeline. A district representative said the plan will "cover the majority of the county" and focus on blue-line streams, main drainage canals and community-specific watershed prescriptions. Danielle D'Arcangelo, executive director of Cape Fear Resource Conservation and Development, said Moffett and Nickel had assembled a team and "we only have until January 2027, to execute the full grant and the full plan."

The board was told the federal share for the planning grant is $240,000 and the county's required local match is $75,000. The district explained the plan is intended to make the county more competitive for follow-on implementation grants and other funding programs. The district also said it will hold stakeholder meetings and public hearings as part of plan development.

After discussion about geographic scope, environmental constraints and how the plan positions the county for additional grants, the board moved, seconded and approved the sole-source contract and revised ordinance. The approval authorizes sole sourcing the watershed drainage management plan to Moffett and Nickel to meet the grant's timeline and project requirements.

Next steps: the district will begin work with the engineering team, hold stakeholder and public meetings, and return with mid-project updates to the board as the plan develops toward full execution by January 2027.