Mayor Saffo Highlights Local Resilience Efforts at 2025 WATERS Summit

Published on November 13, 2025

Mayor Bill Saffo joined state and local leaders in Wilmington earlier this week at the 2025 WATERS Summit, a bipartisan gathering focused on improving North Carolina’s ability to prepare for and respond to flooding.

Now in its sixth year, the summit — organized by U.S. Representatives David Rouzer and Greg Murphy — brings together federal officials, state agencies, researchers, emergency managers, and elected officials to discuss long-term resilience strategies across the state.

In his welcome remarks, Mayor Saffo underscored the statewide impacts of stronger storms and changing rainfall patterns, noting that communities from the mountains to the coast are facing similar challenges. He emphasized the importance of collaboration across jurisdictions and highlighted the summit as an opportunity for partners to share solutions, coordinate efforts, and strengthen North Carolina’s overall approach to flood resilience.

During a panel on local flood-mitigation success stories, the mayor outlined several of Wilmington’s key initiatives, including long-standing watershed restoration work in Bradley and Hewletts creeks. He described how more than 150 nature-based stormwater projects — such as wetlands, restored stream corridors, and green infrastructure — have helped slow and filter runoff, leading to measurable improvements in water quality.

He also highlighted the city’s Heal Our Waterways program, which engages residents, neighborhoods, and commercial property owners in reducing stormwater pollution through education, technical support, and new cost-share incentives.

Mayor Saffo also discussed major capital and data-driven projects shaping Wilmington’s resilience strategy. These include the $11 million Clear Run Branch project— currently the largest stormwater investment in city history — and a countywide real-time Flood Gauge Network funded through a Duke Energy grant.

He noted that regional and statewide partnerships, such as the American Flood Coalition and the Resilient Coastal Communities Program, are helping Wilmington align local projects with broader funding and planning efforts aimed at reducing flood risks over the long term.

At the conclusion of the panel, Mayor Saffo was presented with the "2025 Leader in Resilience Award" by the American Flood Coalition and recognizes his leadership at the local, state, and federal levels to help address flooding issues.