Athens County, Ohio – A new grant will fund a year-long flooding and erosion study aimed at improving Athens County’s resilience to severe rain events. The project will produce a flooding and erosion hazard model guided by community input and local experiences.
In partnership with Athens County, Rural Action and BSC Group will lead the project providing stakeholder engagement and modeling expertise, respectively. The project will analyze current and future risks from flooding, erosion, and sedimentation, providing data to guide land use policy, infrastructure investments, environmental restoration, and emergency planning.

Flooding and erosion have been the most frequent, and most costly, natural hazards throughout Athens County.
In 2025, the region experienced an historic amount of rainfall, with parts of the county receiving more than 44 inches of rain from January to July. In a normal year Athens County gets 25-30 inches of rain in that period. Series of intense rain events have led to repeated flash flood warnings and infrastructure failures, including a culvert collapse along State Route 144 between Coolville and Hockingport on July 15th, as well as landslides in Spring 2025 along Brady Road, Hooper Ridge, Swett Hollow, and Joneswood Drive.
These recent events illustrate the county’s continuing exposure to extreme rain events and the disruptions that these events can cause to local communities. Local impacts mirror regional trends that are expected to continue, putting added pressure on infrastructure, public safety, and local ecosystems.
Project Benefits and Outcomes:
- Hazard Mapping for Critical Access: Mapping of floodwater’s impacts to roadways, e.g. identifying rural communities with routes that may have limited access during high water, as well as locations where bridges and culverts are likely to experience washouts or other damage.
- Targeted Nature-Based Solutions: Identification of specific locations with need and opportunity for nature-based solutions to flooding and erosion. These nature-based solutions can include riparian trees and shrubs, restoration of floodplain connectivity and wetland areas, urban green infrastructure, and low-impact development. These environmental infrastructure projects reduce the impacts of intense rain events on developed areas, agriculture, transportation infrastructure, and aquatic habitats.
“As flooding continues to threaten the safety and wellbeing of residents throughout Athens County, it is important that we have the resources to properly plan for future land use and development. The Athens County Regional Planning Commission looks forward to partnering with BSC Group and Rural Action on the Climate Smart Communities Initiative project. Their flood modeling work, built from input provided by local communities, will expand the flood hazard and erosion risk information available to both local jurisdictions and residents of Athens County.” – Connor Lavelle, Athens County Regional Planner
“We’re excited to work with the Athens County Regional planner and BSC Group on a watershed approach to floodplain management and land use planning. Taking a ‘watershed approach’ to flood mitigation means we don’t just look at where the flood happens, we look at where the water is coming from and how its journey is shaped by land use. Along with upgrading infrastructure, we can reduce flood impacts by creating additional water storage with upstream ecosystem restoration. CSCI’s vision is perfectly aligned with Rural Action’s core work in supporting local leaders and helping small communities do big things. Through this work, decision-makers in Athens County will have more resources to proactively address flood hazards.” – Ryan Gilliom, Rural Action Watersheds Conservation Specialist
“BSC Group is excited to partner with the Climate Smart Communities Initiative, Rural Action, and Athens County to conduct foundational inland flood and sediment studies that will support local resilience and emergency preparedness. Access to detailed, locally relevant data is critical for identifying the most effective flood mitigation strategies. We’re particularly excited to phase our inundation and sediment modeling efforts in a way that incorporates community insights and lived experiences with flooding, ensuring the final model is both technically sound and practically useful.” – Katie Kemen, BSC Group Director of Climate Resilience Services
“We were happily surprised at the quantity and quality of the applications received,” said John Nordgren, Managing Director of the Climate Resilience Fund, one of six partners in CSCI. “It’s a clear signal that there is real demand from communities across the country. And we are excited to be able to support efforts that can help communities such as Athens County prepare for future climate impacts.”
This initiative represents a critical step in advancing Athens County’s climate adaptation goals and protecting residents from worsening flood risks. The collaborative knowledge developed through this project will help inform future resilience efforts, empowering the county to act proactively in the face of growing environmental challenges.
For project resources and updates: Athens County Watershed Modeling Project
About Rural Action
Rural Action is a member-based nonprofit organization based in Appalachian Ohio. Its mission is to build a more just economy by developing the region’s assets in environmentally, socially and economically sustainable ways. Learn more at www.ruralaction.org.
About Athens County
The Athens County Planning Office enforces the Athens County Flood Damage Reduction Regulations for the unincorporated areas of Athens County. These regulations were adopted by the Athens County Board of Commissioners to ensure that development within the county’s floodplains does not jeopardize the public health, safety, and general welfare of the surrounding communities.
About Climate Smart Communities Initiative
CSCI is a unique public-private partnership that provides financial, technical, and other assistance to help communities facing significant climate challenges with limited resources advance their climate resilience plans and projects, while developing the strategies and capacities that communities across the country will need as climate impacts intensify. For this round of grants, the Initiative received 118 applications from communities in 35 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Some of the communities are at risk from stronger storms, sea level rise, or flash flooding, while others must account for the reality of extended droughts, extreme heat, or destructive wildfires. Thanks in part to the generous support of The Coca-Cola Foundation and the Walton Family Foundation, CSCI was able to provide more grants to more communities this year. For more information about CSCI, visit www.climatesmartcommunity.org.