Dutch Dialogues: Charleston

Charleston’s future depends upon how well the City and surrounding counties invest to adapt and preserve physical assets, underlying economies of medicine, education, tourism and trade, and enhance residents’ quality of life. Given Charleston’s abundant natural and man-made assets, creatively linking spatial planning, integrated water management, infrastructure and development will yield a compelling vision for Charleston’s future. This process will present a fundamental shift in how we approach the problem of flooding, offering a holistic way of thinking about water, its impacts, and its benefits. To create that vision, Historic Charleston Foundation and the City of Charleston have launched Dutch Dialogues™ Charleston, a collaborative effort bringing together national and international water experts working alongside Charleston’s local teams to conceptualize a Living With Water™ future. This new way of thinking about water, land, and people with multiple benefits will provide near- and long-term value to Charleston. Over 800 years of living at the water’s edge make the Dutch experts in water adaptation. Flooding cannot be “fixed;” however as the Dutch have learned, risk can be reduced. Their approach combines integrated planning with urban landscape design. The Dutch Dialogues™, through a collaborative effort with city, professional, academic and community leaders in planning, stormwater management, resiliency and other interests, will bring an integrated approach, tying together numerous entities, collectively working to manage water. Dutch Dialogues™ Charleston will be directed and coordinated by Waggonner & Ball, LLC, The Water Institute of the Gulf and the Royal Netherlands Embassy, Washington, DC, alongside key Charleston-region partners. -Dutch Dialogues Charleston