City of Westfield Informational Meeting Westfield River Flood Control System September 23, 2009 Presenters: Mark Cressotti, P.E., City Engineer Ronald Michalski, P.E., Tighe & Bond, Inc. David Loring, P.E., LEED AP, Tighe & Bond, Inc.
Has Westfield Experienced Floods? YES ■ Periodic City Flooding Over 200 Years – City constructed various levees dating back to late 1800’s
■ 1930’s – Major Flood – Federal & State Governments responded
■ 1955 – Major Flood – Additional Federal & State involvement
■ 1960 – Westfield Flood Control Commission Established
Historic Flooding
What is the Westfield River Flood Control System? ■ 10,000 + Feet of Earthen Levee – 4,500 feet west of Elm Street constructed late 1800’s – 5,500 feet east of Elm Street constructed in the 1940’s/1950’s
■ Williams Riding Way Pumping Station – Constructed in the 1950’s
■ Protects the City from the Westfield River – Minimizes cost of flood insurance
Westfield River Levee System
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Westfield
What is Happening Now?
■ Hurricane Katrina Response – Nationwide Levee Assessment Program ■ Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is the Focal Point ■ FEMA Flood Maps are Being Updated (2007 Notice) ■ FEMA Knows Little About the Westfield River Flood Control System ■ City Requested to Certify the System by September 2009 ■ Without Certification, the City’s Flood Protected Areas Will No Longer be Protected
Current FEMA Map
100 Yr. Flood
500 Yr. Flood
Flood Protected Area – What Does it Mean to the City? ■ Properties Do Not Need Flood Insurance ■ Properties in a Flood Zone Need Flood Insurance ■ Homeowner Insurance Does Not Provide Flood Insurance ■ Flood Insurance is Expensive >$1,000 per $100,000
What is the Levee Certification Process? ■ Follows Rigid Federal Requirements ■ City/Engineering Consultant Must Inspect and Certify that the System is OK ■ Example Certification Items – – – – – –
No trees No structures No washouts/penetration problems Mowed/maintained High enough Stable/properly constructed
■ Levee is currently Provisionally Accredited
Existing Flood Control System has Problems
Trees
Fences/Obstructions
Williams Riding Way Pump Station
Levee Certification is Needed:
■ FEMA Flood Maps Are Being Modified ■ If The Levee Is Not Certified, FEMA Maps Will Change ■ Current Flood Protected Areas Will Be Eliminated ■ Expensive Flood Insurance Will Be Needed
Levee Certification Improvement Costs
■ Levee Accreditation
$200,000
■ Contract #1
$200,000
– Levee Maintenance
■ Contract #2
$1,200,000
– Levee Repair
■ Pump Station Work
$
800,000
– Maintenance/Upgrade
Total $2, 400,000* *$200,000 Levee System Accreditation is not a part of the proposed $2,200,000 borrowing request.
City Initiated a Three Phased Levee Certification Program ■ Pursue Levee Certification ■ Contract #1 –Maintain the Levee ■ Contract #2 – Upgrade the System – – – –
Raise the height in sections Remove structures Repair drainage outlets Upgrade the Williams Riding Way Pump Station
■ Annually – Continue to Maintain the Levee
How Are You Impacted?
■ ■ ■ ■ ■
City has a Levee Easement/Row You’re an Abutter You May Be Using the Levee You’ll See Maintenance and Construction Work Certain Levee Impacts Must Be Removed – – – – –
Trees Fences Landscaping Sheds/Garages Parking Areas
What’s the Levee Certification Schedule? ■ Levee Certification Process – Ongoing ■ Levee Maintenance Work – This Fall/Winter ■ Levee Upgrade Work – Next Spring/Summer ■ Accreditation Process Should be Finished in August 2010