Overview:
Ruekert/Mielke engineers, working with a 20-member citizen Storm Water Advisory Committee, prepared a Comprehensive Storm Water Master Plan for the City of Watertown. Municipal Economics & Planning, a division of Ruekert/Mielke, worked with the same advisory committee to develop a Storm Water Utility as a means of funding storm water management activities.
Of particular concern for the City is the preservation of water quality in the Rock River and Silver Creek basins. The study now ensures that all regulatory requirements are met, along with providing a guide for cost effective future development. Watertown’s Storm Water Utility generates approximately $250,000.00 per year in funds that are exclusively dedicated to storm water projects.
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Unusual Facts:
The Storm Water Management Plan addresses the flood control, water quality and NR216 permit compliance for the entire City of Watertown. The plan was primarily funded through two WisDNR Urban Nonpoint Source and Storm Water Management Grants. The grant amounts were $100,000 for the storm water management plan and $33,000 for the utility feasibility study.Watertown formed a 25 member advisory committee composed of civic, business and nonprofit stakeholders. Ruekert/Mielke Engineers met with the committee for over one year to provide guidance, gather input and review completed work.
The Storm Water Management Plan included a review of current framework plans, a description of existing and future conditions (City demographics, growth, sewer service, etc), preparation of design criteria, analysis of alternative solutions, development of a recommended plan, prioritization of the recommendations and a review of capitol improvement funding options. After gathering all of this data, $7.2 million in improvements to decrease localized flooding were recommended. With the formation of a Storm Water Utility, the City now has a dedicated source of funding to make these necessary improvements over the course of several years. Many of the recommendations can be accomplished as part of routine street and utility work, thereby making this funding source even more cost-effective. This project was completed on time and 30% below budget.