Hendersonville officials cut the ribbon this week on a restored stretch of floodplain along Mud Creek, marking the completion of a project meant to give rising water somewhere to go before it reaches homes and businesses. The Lower Mud Creek Floodplain Restoration and Flood Risk Reduction Project is expected to add about 20 acre-feet, or roughly 6.5 million gallons, of additional flood storage, and officials say it could help reduce flood risk for as many as 93 nearby properties.
As reported by WLOS, the City of Hendersonville celebrated completion of the first phase of the project with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and walking tour. The event marked the project's official opening to the public, and attendees included city council members, community supporters, funding partners and North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Secretary Reid Wilson, per the station's report. A photo caption identified Oct. 30, 2026 as the date of the ceremony.
What the Restoration Actually Changes Along the Creek
The project reconnects Mud Creek and its tributaries with the surrounding floodplain, creating more room for floodwater to spread out rather than push into nearby streets and structures, according to WLOS. Officials say the work is also designed to improve water quality, aquatic habitat and recreational access along the corridor. According to EIN Presswire, the project transforms 27 acres of city-owned floodplain along Mud Creek into restored wetlands, streams, floodplain habitat and publicly accessible green space.
The scope of the work is substantial. WLOS reports the project includes about 2,300 linear feet of tributary stream restoration, 1,500 linear feet of channel restoration on Mud Creek, 8.5 acres of wetland restoration and roughly 9.2 acres of riparian floodplain restoration and enhancement. EIN Presswire separately describes the effort as restoring more than 2,000 linear feet of streams while stabilizing 1,500 linear feet of Mud Creek streambank, along with 2,500 linear feet of paved greenway and 1,600 linear feet of natural-surface trail. The new trails are accessible from South Grove Street and Greenville Highway, according to WLOS.
State Funding and the Helene Connection
DEQ has contributed more than $2.8 million to the project through three of its programs, per the EIN Presswire account. That state investment fits into a larger push: DEQ has awarded funding to 86 Flood Resiliency Blueprint projects across six river basins statewide, totaling $45 million, the same report notes.
Wilson said the project will strengthen flood resilience and provide numerous other benefits, according to WLOS. He also said it combines DEQ's priorities of helping western North Carolina recover from Hurricane Helene and strengthening statewide disaster resilience more broadly, the station reported. Mayor Barbara Volk, City Manager Brian Pahle and Stormwater Director Michael Huffman joined Wilson at the ceremony, per EIN Presswire.
Why the Flood Threat Hit Home in Hendersonville
The urgency behind the project traces back to Hurricane Helene, which brought major flooding along Mud Creek and Bat Fork, inundating numerous businesses and other structures in the Hendersonville area, according to a National Hurricane Center tropical cyclone report. Huffman has said documented flooding at the project site occurs on average about every 20 years, based on historical records, as reported by Hendersonville Lightning.
That outlet also described the Lower Mud Creek work as the first of two major projects designed to address flooding in the area, in a report published in March. Earlier this year, Blue Ridge Now reported that the Lower Mud Creek restoration was set to receive $100,000 in new state funding while a separate city stormwater infrastructure project was slated for $356,000, with the two Hendersonville flood resilience efforts together drawing a combined $456,000 from DEQ.
The 20 acre-feet of storage and the protection for 93 properties represent expected benefits tied to the completed restoration, not outcomes that have yet been measured through an actual flood event. For now, the newly opened trails and green space along South Grove Street and Greenville Highway give residents a firsthand look at the project meant to keep the next major storm from repeating Helene's damage.
