Earlier this month, the USS North Carolina Battleship Memorial hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for the Living with Water® project, which will address nuisance flooding at the memorial and preserve visitor access to the battleship. Located along the Cape Fear River, across from downtown Wilmington, North Carolina, this National Historic Landmark has experienced a 7,021% increase in tidal flooding since the battleship came to the site in 1961.

NCCOS scientists have partnered with the memorial to help guide the restoration project, which will elevate part of the parking lot and re-naturalize the rest. NCCOS will also participate in post-construction monitoring efforts.

The work will convert two acres of overflow parking to intertidal wetland and use excavated material from the conversion to raise the elevation of the remaining parking area to build long-term resilience to sea level rise. The project will also restore 800 linear feet of hardened berth with a living shoreline.

Living shorelines use native vegetation alone or in combination with low sills, such as rocks or oyster reefs, to stabilize the shoreline. This green infrastructure helps absorb nutrient runoff, creates essential fish habitat, and buffers shorelines from waves and storms. Research indicates that living shorelines are more resilient than bulkheads in protecting against the effects of hurricanes.

USS North Carolina was commissioned in 1941 and engaged in every major naval action in the Pacific Theater. The vessel retired the highest decorated American battleship of World War II and has received over 13 million visitors from around the world since coming to Wilmington in 1961.

Aerial view of USS North Carolina Battleship Memorial on February 9, 2024, day of the Living with Water® project groundbreaking ceremony. Credit: Ted Powers.