Hendersonville to Open Mud Creek Floodplain Project
The city will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony on October 30, 2026, for the new floodplain restoration site.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Safety
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Hendersonville is set to unveil the first phase of the Lower Mud Creek Floodplain Restoration and Flood Risk Reduction Project on October 30, 2026. This initiative aims to enhance flood storage capacity and protect local infrastructure.
Why it matters
The project serves to mitigate flood risk for 93 local properties while simultaneously improving water quality and local aquatic habitats. By reconnecting the creek to its natural floodplain, the city hopes to manage stormwater more effectively.
The 27-acre site includes 8.5 acres of wetlands and 9.2 acres of riparian floodplain alongside 2,300 linear feet of restored tributary streams. These improvements provide 20 acre-feet of additional flood storage, protecting 93 properties valued at $60 million.
The players
Wildlands Engineering
This firm served as the lead project engineer for the floodplain restoration initiative.
Shamrock Environmental
The company acted as the primary construction contractor responsible for the site work.
The details
Construction crews removed berms to reconnect Mud Creek to its natural floodplain, utilizing water-control structures to manage release. The site now features 2,500 linear feet of paved greenway and 1,600 linear feet of natural-surface trail for recreational use.
Timeline
The City of Hendersonville first acquired the project properties in 2002.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the project is scheduled for October 30, 2026.
Seasonal Patterns
The project aligns with the Federal Emergency Management Agency's flood mitigation assistance programs by prioritizing natural infrastructure to protect the community. This marks a strategic shift from traditional structural hardening toward ecological floodplain management to reduce regional flood impact.
Residents living near Mud Creek should review the updated flood risk assessments for their properties following these improvements. The public is invited to attend the upcoming ceremony to explore the new paved greenways and natural-surface trails available at the site.
The takeaway
This restoration project demonstrates the efficacy of natural infrastructure in managing municipal flood risks. Property owners in the area may benefit from reduced exposure to water damage following the completion of these landscape modifications.
What happens next
The city will hold a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the completion of the project on October 30, 2026.
Further reading
For more information on local mitigation efforts, visit Hendersonville Safety.
More information
View the Hendersonville flood restoration project information on the city website.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Whkp.
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Should your local government prioritize natural floodplain restoration projects over traditional flood mitigation methods?
