As Asheville, North Carolina, reels from the latest devastating floods, which have claimed lives and caused extensive property damage, questions about the city's flood management practices have resurfaced. While many have pointed to climate change as the cause of Asheville's increasingly frequent flooding, the underlying issue may be far more local. Liberal city policies that have prioritized rapid development over necessary infrastructure improvements have left Asheville vulnerable. The city's rapid urbanization, without sufficient attention to flood management systems, has compounded the risk, turning heavy rain events into deadly disasters.
The Development Problem
As previously mentioned, liberal urban planning in Asheville has permitted high-density development, leading to widespread construction of roads, rooftops, and parking lots—impervious surfaces that prevent rainwater from being absorbed naturally into the ground. Consequently, when heavy rainfall occurs, the excess water has nowhere to go but into Asheville’s streets and rivers, resulting in flash flooding.
Areas like Biltmore Village and the River Arts District have been hit particularly hard, not just because of extreme weather but because of the failure to update stormwater systems to accommodate increased runoff. Instead of slowing development to assess infrastructure needs, city planners have continued to prioritize growth without properly addressing the resulting flood risks.
Poor Infrastructure and Outdated Systems
While climate change is often cited as the culprit, the reality is that Asheville’s infrastructure has not kept up with the demands of rapid urbanization. Roads and rooftops channel large amounts of rainwater into an outdated stormwater management system, which struggles to handle the increased volume. This is why flooding has become more frequent and severe, regardless of the global climate situation.
As more areas are developed, the problem continues to grow. Without significant upgrades to stormwater infrastructure, flash flooding will remain a persistent issue. It's clear that the policies driving this unchecked urban expansion, not climate change, are to blame for the increasingly common floods.
Overstating Climate Change’s Role
Many have overstated the role of climate change in Asheville’s flooding issues. While climate factors like increased moisture and heavier rains can contribute, the core problem lies in city planning choices that exacerbate these conditions. By paving over natural landscapes with impervious surfaces, Asheville’s urban policies have made it much harder for rain to be absorbed, dramatically increasing the risk of urban flooding.
This is not a new issue. Asheville has seen repeated flooding events in its history, most notably in 2004 and again in more recent years. Each time, the lack of modern infrastructure has been highlighted as a major contributor. Yet, the response has remained the same—further development without sufficient preparation for handling rainwater.
Conclusion
Asheville’s flooding issues can be traced back to liberal city policies that prioritize growth and development over sustainable urban planning and flood prevention. While climate change may play a small role, it is not the main cause. Instead, the city must focus on updating its infrastructure and creating better flood management systems to reduce the risk of flash floods in the future.
For more information on Asheville's development and its impact on flooding, check out these sources:
- Asheville Watchdog: https://avlwatchdog.org/ashevilles-flood-risk-will-only-grow-as-rain-events-and-climate-change-intensify
- Asheville.com: https://www.asheville.com/news/2024/09/asheville-watchdog-ashevilles-flood-risk-will-only-grow-as-rain-events-and-climate-change-intensify/
- The Charlotte Observer: https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/weather-news/article293109734.html