The Onslow County Soil & Water Conservation District is working to reduce flooding and restore 
streams across the county. A $377,335 grant from the NC Department of Agriculture will help restore a large portion of Backswamp and Squires Run Creek. Work is scheduled to begin the week of January 23, 2023 and is expected to be completed by the end of February, weather permitting.
A contractor will clear more than 68,000 feet of streams by removing downed trees and debris that impedes waterflow. Soil and Water Conservation Director Josh Thomas says this project will help prevent future flooding in the areas around Backswamp and Squires Run Creek. “These projects are vitally important to flood mitigation in our part of the state. Whether it’s debris from storms and hurricanes or from beaver damage, any amount of debris that we can remove from our creeks and streams increase the speed at which flood waters can recede in our communities.”
The work is funded by the StreamFlow Rehabilitation Assistance Program (StRAP) which was created by the NC General Assembly for projects that protect and restore the integrity of drainage infrastructure of North Carolina’s waterways. This work helps prevent future flooding, restore streams, and reduces risks to life and property in Onslow County.
The Onslow County Soil and Water Conservation District also offers agricultural cost sharing, water resources assistance, and other programs to Onslow County citizens by preserving, protecting, and enhancing natural resources.