Norfolk City Electronic Handout - Resilient Norfolk Fact Sheet 2026.pdf

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-05

3rd Bay and Pretty Lake Avenues

15th View Street

48th Street Dead End overview The City of Norfolk is increasingly at risk of flooding and damage from coastal storms. Norfolk has one of the highest rates of relative sea level rise (RSLR) among Atlantic coastal communities.

The Coastal Storm Risk Management (CSRM) Project will reduce the City’s risk from coastal flooding and damage from nor’easters, hurricanes, and other significant storm events.

partnership The Norfolk Coastal Storm Risk Management Project is a collaboration between the USACE and the City of Norfolk.

resilientnorfolk.com

Downtown Norfolk

Virginia Beach

PRETTY LAKE

0 1 2

Miles

Norfolk Int.

A portir

NSA Norfolk

Naval Station Norfolk

Norfolk International

Terminal

Sentara Norfolk General Hospital

Downtown Norfolk

INDIAN RIVER

LAKE TAYLOR

LAFAYETTE RIVER

LAFAYETTE RIVER

ELIZABETH

R

IVER

ELIZABETH RIVER

E

LIZA

B E

TH

R

IV

E

R

WILLOUGHBY

BAY

CHESAPEAKE BAY

LI

TT

LE

C R

EE

K

ELIZABETH RIVER

SO

U

TH

E

R N

B R

A N

C H

ELIZABETH

R

IVER

BR

O

AD

C

R E

E K

NORTH B

R

A N

C H

L

AF

AY

ET

TE RIVER

L

AKE WHITEHURST

LEGEND

Ghent-Downtown-Harbor Park Pretty Lake Surge Barrier Lafayette Outer Surge Barrier

Ghent-Downtown-Harbor Park

Pretty Lake Surge Barrier

Lafayette Outer Surge Barrier

Nonstructural Measures Area

Structural Flood Risk Management Measures

Structural Measures Risk Management Area

Nonstructural Measures Risk Management Area

Critical Infrastructure

Evacuation Route

0 1 2

Miles

Broad Creek Surge Barrier

Broad Creek Surge Barrier

Protected by Other Measures

Ohio Creek

Levee Ohio Creek

Levee

Southside Norfolk

NS

NS

NS

Southside Norfolk*:

This area may transition from a Nonstructural approach to an alternative plan recommended by USACE, pending the results of the ongoing General Reevaluation Report (GRR).

Virginia Beach

PRETTY LAKE

0 1 2

Miles

Norfolk Int.

A portir

NSA Norfolk

Naval Station Norfolk

Norfolk International

Terminal

Sentara Norfolk General Hospital

Downtown Norfolk

INDIAN RIVER

LAKE TAYLOR

LAFAYETTE RIVER

LAFAYETTE RIVER

ELIZABETH

R

IVER

ELIZABETH RIVER

E

LIZA

B E

TH

R

IV

E

R

WILLOUGHBY

BAY

CHESAPEAKE BAY

LI

TT

LE

C R

EE

K

ELIZABETH RIVER

SO

U

TH

E

R N

B R

A N

C H

ELIZABETH

R

IVER

BR

O

AD

C

R E

E K

NORTH B

R

A N

C H

L

AF

AY

ET

TE RIVER

L

AKE WHITEHURST

LEGEND

Ghent-Downtown-Harbor Park Pretty Lake Surge Barrier Lafayette Outer Surge Barrier

Ghent-Downtown-Harbor Park

Pretty Lake Surge Barrier

Lafayette Outer Surge Barrier

Nonstructural Measures Area

Structural Flood Risk Management Measures

Structural Measures Risk Management Area

Nonstructural Measures Risk Management Area

Critical Infrastructure

Evacuation Route

0 1 2

Miles

Broad Creek Surge Barrier

Broad Creek Surge Barrier

Protected by Other Measures

Ohio Creek

Levee Ohio Creek

Levee

Southside Norfolk implementation phases

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-05

- 10

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-10

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1 Downtown

A system of floodwalls with a levee, surge barriers, and nature-based features, extending from Ghent through downtown connecting to the Ohio Creek Watershed project.

2 Pretty Lake A system of floodwalls and storm surge barriers to reduce storm surge from entering Pretty Lake at Shore Drive.

3 Lafayette A storm surge barrier from Norfolk International Terminal (NIT) to the Lambert’s Point area to reduce storm surge risk to the Lafayette River watershed.

4 Broad Creek A system of floodwalls, storm surge barriers and tide gates to reduce storm surge from entering Broad Creek at I-264.

NS Nonstructural A series of property-specific flood mitigation projects: home elevations, basement fills, floodproofing, etc. Work would take place in multiple areas of the city including Berkley, Campostella, Elizabeth Park, Ingleside, Willoughby Spit, Woodbine, and River Forest Shores.

the citywide project is divided into 5 implementation phases project features The CSRM project includes structural, property-specific, and nature-based features.

Structural Projects: Structural mitigation projects are construction projects intended to lessen the impact of a coastal storm. Examples include floodwalls and levees, storm surge barriers, and tide gates.

Property-specific, nonstructural: These measures involve the modification of existing buildings and structures. Examples include property floodproofing through FEMA grants, CSRM project nonstructural adaptations such as basement fill, and protecting critical facilities such as a hospital.

Natural and Hybrid Infrastructure: These solutions preserve and restore natural areas and their protective functions. Natural areas could include floodplains, wetlands, barrier islands, and sand dunes. Examples include beach and dune preservation, tree planting and preservation, and wetland preservation and restoration.

Neighborhoods on Norfolk’s southside have requested re-evaluation of the features proposed for their area.

The re-evaluation process is underway with elevation of the request to the federal government.

risk reduction features The CSRM project will utilize several types of flood improvement structures that are specifically designed for reducing coastal flood impacts.

T-wall - A sturdy concrete wall, shaped like an upside-down T. It consists of a concrete base with tall floodwall panels extending upward.

Levee / T-wall - This combination is a T-wall with compacted, heightened material on one side to provide additional support.

Bin-wall - A gravity retaining wall system made from adjoining closed-faced bins, then backfilled with soil.

Levee - Man-made structures, such as an earthen embankment, designed and constructed practices to contain, control, or divert the flow of water.

Property-specific, nonstructural - These focus on reducing the damages caused by flooding to homes and businesses.

Critical Infrastructure - These flood mitigation solutions will protect the assets, systems and networks that are essential to the City’s function.

Natural and Hybrid Infrastructure - These are flood mitigation solutions that mimic natural processes and include varied practices that can be applied at many different scales.

Gate - Adjustable gates used to control water flow in flood barriers, reservoirs, rivers, streams, or levee systems.

Pump station - These help protect areas by pumping away large volumes of water, preventing the occurrence of flooding.

project timeline

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Tidal Flooding at the Hague

5//26 resilientnorfolk.com

Tide Gate

Pump Station

Home Elevation

The Resilient Norfolk Coastal Storm Risk Management Project timeline has been developed to give the public a general guideline on the timing of various stages of the project.

The timeline is approximate and is subject to change over the life of the project.* Sitework includes utility relocations and real estate certification.

Sitework 2023-2033

Final Completion

Design 2021-2033

Construction 2027-2040 for more information contact norfolkrc@norfolk.gov 757-401-4042 Information contained within this document is accurate as of 5/11/26 and is subject to change.

project at a glance The $6.1 billion* project features storm-surge barriers, nearly nine miles of floodwalls and levees, 11 tide gates, and 13 pump stations. It also incorporates nonstructural measures such as home elevations, basement fills, commercial floodproofing, oyster reefs, and living shorelines.

building resilience With one of the highest rates of relative sea level rise (RSLR), the City of Norfolk’s increased risk of flooding and damage during a coastal storm proves a resilience strategy is critical to strengthen our coastal community for the future.

*�Conditional pending Congressional authorization