Milltown: New Opportunities in Flood Mitigation
Environmental Planning Studio Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy December 18, 2012
Why are we here? • Flooding • Present mitigation of flooding • Enhancement of Milltown
Presentation Outline 1. Floodplain Management 2. Stormwater Management 3. Transportation 4. Economic Development 5. Selected Funding Opportunities
Past Flood Damage • Large Flood Events in 1927, 1975, 2011 • Roadways, substation, businesses and residences affected • Direct effects • Indirect Effects • 2011, 20-50% of county was without power
Floodplain Management Mitigation Strategies • Losses account for more than just costs • Understanding losses helps to provide a framework for mitigation strategies • Moving infrastructure and buildings out of floodplain • Removing barriers from the path of the river • Plan ahead and educate
River Bottom Cross Sections
FIS Profile: Diagram of Flooding Factors Dam Â
Illustration of FIS Profile
Controlled Breach of a Dam • May be necessary if considered historic • Removal of a section of a dam to allow increased water flow and lower upstream levels • Often used to relieve pressure on dams, usually considered emergency situations • What is involved in a breach?
Dam Removal • Motivation for dam removal can include: o Liability o Poor condition o Ecological benefits • Dam removal can lead to: o Reduced flooding o Better fish passage o More recreational opportunities
Effect on Flood Extents
• In Baraboo, WI, dam removal led to dramatic reduction in flood extents • • Due Due to to natural natural floodplain restoration floodplain restoration
Removal of Calco Dam in Bridgewater, NJ
Before After
Current Floodplain
Redesign Vision Central focus New post office/retail
Public park
Recreational trail Smaller streambed
Stormwater Management
Photo Sources: Lake County, Illinois, UCSB Dept. of Environmental Health and Safety, and lowimpactdevelopment.org
Stormwater Management • Hydrology of Flooding • Based on the water cycle o Precipitation, interception, infiltration, runoff, evaporation, transpiration • Problem of surface runoff o Flooding o Pollutants • Factors affecting runoff o Storm factors: magnitude, intensity, spatial distribution o Surface factors: interception rate, surface storage capacity, surface porosity, antecedent conditions
Photo Source: http://edtech2.boisestate.edu/mitchemh/502/webquest/intro.html
Stormwater Management • Development leads to impervious surfaces in town • Drastically affects water distribution throughout town and region • Influences flooding levels • Simulating natural designs and techniques to limit runoff offer best solution (Low Impact Design - LID)
Water Distribution After Rainfall Surface Runoff Interflow
Pre-Developed Site <1% 20-30%
Developed Site 20-30% 0-30%
Groundwater Evapo-Transpiration
10-40% 40-50%
10-20% 20-30%
!
Source: LID Technical Guidance Manual for Puget Sound (2005)
Impervious Surface in Milltown • Over 60% of Milltown is impervious surface. • From rooftops, parking lots, sidewalks, streets, and other elements of the built environment • Lawrence Brook is considered pervious surface • Space for change
Calculation of impervious surface in Milltown using AutoCAD 2013
Stormwater Management
• Stormwater Management techniques applicable to Milltown o o o o o o
Vegetated Swales Flow-Through Planters Infiltration Basins (Rain Gardens) Pervious Pavement Street Trees Rain Barrels
Vegetated Swale
Rain Garden
Flow-Through Planter
Photo Sources: Flickr Creative Commons – Soggydan, Roger Soh, Natalie Blackburn
Pervious Pavement Demonstration
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BREd1TbF_MQ
Stormwater Management
Sources: EPA Edison, New Jersey
Street Trees • Trees capture water in leaves and store water in limbs, trunks, and surrounding soil • Provide other environmental benefits • Large Storage Capacity § 100 mature trees can retain 100,000 gallons of water annually
Photo Source: Flickr Creative Commons – blmurch
Benefits of LID to Runoff in Milltown •
48.9 inches of annual rainfall in Milltown
•
Approximately 234,320 gallons of rainwater per year
•
50 Mature Street Trees = 50,000 gallons annually
•
5000 sq. ft. of LID = 3,500 gallons of water per rain event.
Street Trees
Street Trees
Street Trees
Street Trees
Vegetated Swale
Current
Vegetated Swale
With Vegetated Swale
Rain Garden
Current
Rain Garden
With Rain Garden
Flow-Through Planter
Current
Flow-Through Planter
With Flow-Through Planter
Transportation
Ford Avenue Redesign
BEFORE
Ford Avenue Redesign
BEFORE A OPTION
Ford Avenue Redesign
OPTION B
Main Street Bridge
BEFORE
Main Street Bridge
AFTER
Ford Avenue Currently
Ford Avenue 11â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Median
Ford Avenue 13â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Median
Ford Avenue 13â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Median
Ford Avenue 13â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Median with Vegetated (Bio) Swale
Ford Avenue 13â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Median with Vegetated (Bio) Swale
Ford Avenue 13â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Median with Vegetated (Bio) Swale
Ford Avenue 10’ Multi-Use Path and 3’ Buffer
Ford Avenue 10’ Multi-Use Path and 3’ Buffer
Main Street Bridge Currently
Main Street Bridge With Lane Reduction
Economic Development and Brook Park
Business Improvement District (B.I.D.) • • • • • • •
Public/Private Collaboration Organizing and Financing mechanism Voluntary Collective Responsibility Investment State enabling legislation 1984 82 BIDs in sixty-seven municipalities in New Jersey Rarely disbanded
Business Improvement District (B.I.D.)
• Step 1: Create a Feasibility Plan • Step 2: Form a Steering Committee • Step 3: Determine BID implementation • Step 4: Obtain a Certificate of Incorporation • Step 5: Assess current conditions • Step 6: Draft Ordinance • Step 7: Finalize Ordinance • Step 8: Establish the District Management Corp. and Board of Directors
BID
Funding • Economic Development Grants • Donations • Low-interest loans • Special Assessments • Property-owners and tenants • Several methods of assessment • Can include churches or residents
Total Budget
Business Contributions to Business BID Contributions % of Budget
Audubon
$46,660
$46,660
100%
Bloomfield
$630,000
$210,000
33.33%
Botany, Village, Clifton
$252,000
$79,550
31%
Central Ave/ Jersey City
$202,160
$78,380
39%
Jersey City, Historic Downtown
$340,000
$140,000
41%
$1,400,000
$678,000
48%
Maplewood, Springfield Avenue
$162,000
$152,000
93.82%
Maplewood, Maplewood Village
$61,095
$38,708
63.30%
Millburn
$240,000
$160,000
66.66%
Montclair
$366,000
$366,000
100%
Newark, Downtown
$1,600,000
$1,400,000
88%
Newark, Ironbound
$900,000
$405,000
45%
New Brunswick
$689,608
$471,858
68.40%
Rahway
$383,300
$89,400
23.32%
Red Bank
$559,752
$434,000
77.53%
River Road, Fair Lawn
$178,000
$120,000
67%
Rutherford, Downtown
$152,000
$132,000
86.84%
Washington Borough
$210,000
$200,000
95.23%
Westfield, Downtown
$377,500
$377,500
100%
$1,300,000
$115,000
9%
$247,000
$247,000
100%
Jersey City, Journal Square
Wildwood, Boardwalk BID Wildwood, Downtown
Additional Resources: Community Rating System 10 CRS classes, with each class corresponding to a 5% increase in NFI Premium Discounts • Process • Contact IOS/CRS coordinator • Submit application • Verification Visit • Annual Recertification • 18 established point activities • Acquisition and Relocation • Inquire about specific improvements
Selected Funding Sources: Dam Removal • State and Federal Sources • US Forestry Service • Watershed Restoration and Enhancement Agreement Authority: Wyden Amendment
• US Department of the Interior: •
Fish and Wildlife Management Assistance
Selected Funding Sources: Dam Removal Continued
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA) • Open Rivers Initiative • American Rivers
Selected Funding Sources: Floodplain Mitigation • FEMA • Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) • Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) program
• Sustainable Jersey
Reason: Flooding Solutions: • Dam Removal • Stormwater Management Opportunities: • Transportation • Economic Improvement
Result: A Community Centered Around “Brook Park”
Check out our website: http://www.raritan.rutgers.edu/milltown