The Stormwater Division of the Development Services Department oversees the permitting and development process for stormwater mitigation in new and existing construction projects.

PLEASE NOTE: Maintenance of the Town's existing stormwater infrastructure is administered by the Public Works Department.

For maintenance concerns or to report needed repair, CLICK HERE.

As Oak Island and the surrounding area continues to be developed natural areas are reduced. Natural areas include dunes, forests, grasslands, marshes, and wetlands. These natural areas hold soil in-place, absorb rainwater, slow down runoff, recharge ground water, and filter out pollutants. The Stormwater Division works to find the balance between sustainable development and maintaining a healthy ecosystem and/or environment. The Stormwater Division’s goal is to understand, plan for, and respond to issues caused by development and other land uses.

Stormwater mitigation is the effort to reduce runoff of rainwater into our streets and improve the water quality of this runoff before it enters natural water bodies.

CLICK HERE to view a map of Previously Flooded Areas

Best practices for homes and businesses to help manage Stormwater mitigation include:

• Keep roof runoff water on your property allowing infiltrate back into the ground
• Install rain barrels to capture and reuse rainwater
• Plant rain gardens and trees to improve runoff infiltration
• Select pervious building materials for hardscapes which allows water to quickly flow through them not over them
• Keep stormwater ditches and swales free of brush, debris and litter

Stormwater Issues

GENERAL INFORMATION: Stormwater runoff is the number one (1) source of water pollution in North Carolina. When stormwater runoff flows across driveways, highways, and parking areas the water can become polluted. Stormwater runoff can transport many pollutants including chemicals (fertilizer-herbicides-pesticides), litter, petroleum products (fuel, grease, oil, tar), salts, soil particles, and waste products (animal-human) into existing water bodies. Flatter overland conveyance systems (grassed waterways, swales, and open ditches) are good at slowing down stormwater runoff allowing it time to infiltrate into the ground. These flatter overland conveyance systems require routine maintenance by removing deposition to ensure their capacity. Wetlands and marsh areas are excellent at filtering out pollutants and improving water quality. The goal of an effective stormwater drainage systems is to have enough capacity for runoff that can-not be slowly infiltrated back into the ground. The goal of an excellent stormwater program is to educate homeowners, residents, and businesses how to reduce their stormwater footprint by not allowing it off their property. Oak Island is a unique coastal area with a diversity of ecosystems, plants, animals, fish, reptiles, and birds which need your help to protect their homes.

NEW CONSTRUCTION & DEVELOPMENT: Consider a single wooded lot (60ft. x 100ft) can be entirely cleared and replaced with a house and two-car driveway, resulting in impervious surfaces upwards of 60-80% of the lot. If there is no break in impervious surfaces to the street the runoff from this single lot can quickly add to the stormwater problem. For example, one (1) inch of rain falling on one (1) square foot (sq. ft.) generates approximately six (6) gallons of runoff. A 2000 (sq. ft.) roofed area (house) with a (24 feet x 12 feet) 288 sq. ft. impermeable driveway located on a 6000 (sq. ft.) cleared lot would add 13,728 gallons of runoff from a one (1) inch rain event. The total impervious area on the lot in this example would equal 38%. A 5000 (sq. ft.) roofed area (house) with the same impervious driveway size would add 31,728 gallons of runoff from a one (1) inch rain event and have a total impervious area of 88%. If you multiply these runoff calculations by hundreds of new homes being built per year you start to see the enormity and complexity of our stormwater issues. Additionally, the unique environmental conditions of Oak Island including climate, daily tidal changes, high water tables, level topography, and complex soil properties adds another layer of complexity to stormwater management, maintenance, and planning.

What to Know About Pervious Concrete

• CLICK HERE to learn important information on pervious concrete

What to Know About Wetlands

• CLICK HERE to download A Classification of Wetlands and Deepwater Habitats of the United States from the U.S. Department of the Interior, US Fish & Wildlife Service.

Stormwater Management & Permitting Forms

Contact the Division 

For further assistance with any of the information listed on this page, please contact the Stormwater Administrator directly using the staff information or contact form provided below.  

STORMWATER PERMITTING & DEVELOPMENT

STORMWATER SYSTEMS REPAIR & MAINTENANCE