BELHAVEN — In a low-lying area such as Beaufort County, flooding and the effects of large storms are often at the forefront of conversation.

After this year’s wet spring, including remnants of Tropical Storm Bonnie, and the anticipated storms of summer, the Town of Belhaven has decided to take a closer look at its drainage system.

Town Manager Woody Jarvis said the emphasis on drainage came after two heavy storms within a period of two weeks recently stopped up two pipes in town and revealed areas of concern.

Belhaven has a long history of flooding due to its proximity to sea level, especially in the downtown area, as well as the threat of hurricanes. In 2014, the town received grant money to conduct a flood mitigation plan to address some of the problems.

At a June 13 Board of Aldermen meeting, board members gave Jarvis the go-ahead to look at ways to improve the system using the resources available. The town’s drainage system includes anything from pipes to storm grates to drainage canals.

“I think we’re pretty good for what we’ve got. We don’t have an ideal situation by any means,” Jarvis said. “We recognize that we’re really close to sea level in Belhaven. … If we dig deeper ditches in some places, it’ll just create more standing water.”

He said a big problem relates to wind-driven tides: with wind blowing from the east, water from the river is pushed up Pantego Creek, causing low-lying areas to fill up with water; with wind from the west, the creek empties out. The trick is to work with the natural factors and figure out a way to accommodate what they bring, Jarvis said.

Yet another factor to consider is the environmental aspects of operating a town’s drainage system. At the June 13 meeting, Mayor Pro Tem Greg Satterthwaite asked how those aspects would be handled.

Jarvis said there could be health concerns when it comes to standing water and poor drainage, but there’s also concern for how the system can affect the environment, especially when digging ditches.

“Standing water breeds mosquitoes, and we’re in a delicate environmental place because a lot of our wetter areas may be considered wetlands, and wetlands are nature’s filter,” he said. “Anything we do has to have the environmental foresight to make sure that we’re not creating more problems than we’re solving.”

Jarvis said he and the Public Works Department are discussing a plan to devote about 20 percent of the department’s time to the drainage system — a move that could help to improve flooding issues related to hurricane season, as well.

“It’s not like we’re going to reconstruct Belhaven because we don’t have the money to do that,” Jarvis said. “You always want to try to do things to enhance everybody’s quality of life and their yard and their property value.”