News

The resiliency plan in the works for Bath Township has reached the point of prioritizing projects.

After an open house held to solicit input from Township residents, Pamlico-Tar Riverkeeper Katey Zimmerman met with Mid-East Commission Planner Jamie Heath and other members of a stakeholder group in Bath this week to discuss which projects will be prioritized.

“The one that was prioritized by people at the open house and the planning group that fits the grant requirements is the replacement of sprayfields previously used by Bath’s wastewater treatment plant with constructed wetlands, other green stormwater projects and a passive, public-use area for residents to enjoy,” Katey said.

Another project to turn a section of the town’s restored Old Bath High School into a community resource center also proved popular with those weighing in. The center would be geared toward providing respite from the heat, for those with no air conditioning, or cold, for those who lack adequate heating.

“It’s a great idea, but we were told it likely would not be funded by the Resilient Coastal Communities Grant program,” Katey said. “Though it’s related to climate resiliency, there are likely other grants out there more likely to fund it.”

Other priorities discussed included a shoreline restoration project at Belhaven’s Wrights Creek boating access to address erosion, and dredging the canal leading to the ramp.

“There’s lots of erosion there, and it’s starting to impact navigation and boats getting in and out,” Katey said.

Prioritization of projects is Phase 1 of the Resilient Coastal Communities Program, a four-phase process that runs from community engagement to planning to project engineering and design, then to implementation and construction.

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