HR Green Helps the Lower Meramec River Basin Identify Flood Mitigation and Funding
HR Green was recently hired by the City of Pacific, Missouri to complete a Flood Mitigation Study. One important goal for the study is to put Pacific in good position for mitigation project funding.
Background
Since August 2015, three record flood events have occurred within the two million acre lower Meramec River basin.
Damages in this river basin are attributed to many factors, including severe weather and development that have reduced flood storage. These factors collectively have contributed to the following:
- Repetitive damages to community assets such as water treatment plants, wastewater treatment plants, and electric substations
- Closure of Interstates
- Direct flooding of thousands of homes and hundreds of businesses
- Multiple Presidential Disaster Declarations
About the Study
The primary purpose of the Flood Mitigation Study is to develop engineering concepts for flood mitigation alternatives to address flooding within the City. The study will include engineer’s opinions of probable costs (EOPCs) to help guide selection of the preferred flood mitigation alternatives, and identify funding opportunities. The study will allow the City to strategically plan for the implementation of projects and apply for funding.
To guide development of flood mitigation alternatives, initial tasks will include site visits with the client, stakeholder/property owner meetings, record data search and review, agency and regulatory authority contact, as well as Geographic Information System (GIS) database and base mapping.
HR Green will evaluate the pros and cons of each of the alternatives and will provide the City with a planning level flood mitigation alternative analysis. In addition, a preliminary schematic exhibit and EOPC will be prepared for each of the identified alternatives.
HR Green will host a workshop for City staff to review the flood mitigation alternatives and will discuss the desired project goals, construction feasibility and costs. After meeting with the City, HR Green will conduct an open house public meeting to solicit feedback about the identified alternatives. The preferred alternatives will become the basis of further discussions with regulatory and/or funding agencies and will also allow the City to plan for projects.
Finally, HR Green will prepare a final report for the City and the Board of Aldermen to include a summary of existing conditions, evaluation of alternative and funding strategy, recommendations and next steps.
