For decades, unmanaged stormwater runoff from the City of Aiken significantly impacted Hitchcock Woods, causing severe erosion and damaging sensitive forest habitats. Protecting this treasured landscape required years of planning, collaboration, and innovative engineering to restore the health of the ecosystem while safeguarding the surrounding community.
Before improvements were made, uncontrolled stormwater runoff dramatically altered portions of the Woods and its waterways.
Forested wetlands affected by stormwater erosion.
A stream that could once be stepped across expanded to approximately 70 feet deep and 200 feet wide due to decades of erosion.
Extensive research, engineering, and collaboration were required before a long-term solution could be implemented.
Following years of planning, the City of Aiken began construction of a major stormwater relief project in September 2021, completing it in December 2022.
At the heart of the project are two underground stormwater vaults, each approximately the size of a football field, located adjacent to Hitchcock Woods. These vaults capture and manage stormwater more effectively, helping to reduce erosion and protect the forest’s natural resources.
