Stormwater Maintenance

The Oak Island stormwater system has approximately 13.3 miles of storm drainage pipe, including road culverts, and 19.7 miles of designated storm drainage ditches.  This conveyance system - a network of ditches, swales, and pipe - must be maintained and clear of debris. 

The system has 127 discharge locations, 59 of which empty into Davis Canal.  Only a few of these are point discharges.  The remainder are "sheet flow" discharges from the street-ends lining the canal.  The largest point discharge, located at Pelican Drive and 40th St., drains from the the ditches along Pelican Drive. 

There is also a series of pipes and ditches leading to 10 discharges into ponds located between SE 59th St. and SE 71st St.   Pipes and ditches leading to the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) convey the remaining discharges.  Most of these are 100 - 200 feet short of the waterway, which provides some vegetative filtering before discharging into the waterway.  For details of the system, see the Stormwater Management Program Report (January 2004).

There are also 167 drop inlets, most of which are located at the eastern end of Oak Island or what was formerly the Town of Yaupon Beach.  Also in the eastern part of the Town are two manholes located on McGlamery Street, which are for maintenance of an 18-inch corrugated metal pipe conveying stormwater to the marsh adjacent to the Intracoastal Waterway.

The system requires considerable maintenance and structural improvements such as:

• complete long-term drainage improvements to help address problem areas

• continue ditch vegetation control and cleaning program

• implement the stormwater monitoring and documentation program

• maintain stormwater system and outlets inventory in town GIS database

• complete inventory and documentation of all remaining long-term drainage programs that need improvement

• complete a comprehensive stormwater study

In addition to the town-managed parts, there are stormwater components built into multi-family units and commercial businesses that connect with the town system.  These must be designed and maintained as well. 

For instance, a "cookie sheet" retention pond at a 58th St. development empties into a weir that connects with the town-maintained drainage ditches.

This ditch at the intersection of 58th St. (west side) and Pelican St. collects stormwater from the condominium complex, which is equipped with buried drainage pipes.  The large riprap reduces erosion of the bank from surface runoff.  Vegetative buffers lining the complex aid in reducing silt deposition into the waterways.

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Stormwater System Costs

In terms of cost, the Town of Oak Island will spend approximately $394,624 in fiscal year (FY) 2006-2007 for all stormwater-related activity.  The combined revenue from grants and stormwater fees (residential and commercial combined) will generate approximately $245,000 but the remaining $149,624 will come from the general fund and an appropriated fund balance.

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