Flood management, stormwater projects in Washtenaw County get $1.2M boost

WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI – Getting old culverts channeling water underneath roadways throughout Washtenaw County shall be swapped out due to some $1.2 million in support for a slew of native stormwater and flood management projects.

The cash from the Washtenaw County Water Sources Commissioner’s Workplace is flowing to 17 projects in 15 communities, together with some which have skilled file deluges in current years.

It’s the results of a two-year program funded by county leaders with $2 million of the county’s pot of federal COVID reduction {dollars}.

“I wish to thank the (Washtenaw County) Board of Commissioners for taking motion to fund projects that assist our communities adapt to the impacts of local weather change,” mentioned county Water Sources Commissioner Evan Pratt in an announcement.

“That is going to assist neighborhoods handle the acute rainfall occasions that we’ve got seen, and can proceed to see in the longer term,” he added.

Pratt has raised the alarm about more and more extreme storms which have swept by the county, smashing rainfall information, flooding streets and resulting in property injury — a development solely projected to proceed.

Learn extra: Washtenaw County had 2 file rainstorms in 2 years. Extra will come, official says

In 2021, summer time flooding from almost 6 inches of rain in a 24-hour interval displaced some 42 individuals in an Ypsilanti Township condominium complicated and prompted an area state of emergency.

Two years later, in August 2023, almost as a lot rain fell in simply three hours. Basements once more backed up, and a highway close to Willow Run Airport was washed out. It stays closed as repairs are deliberate.

The county grants are supposed to assist efforts to handle stormwater, management flooding and enhance water high quality. They fund building prices for native projects.

Investing in stormwater and sewage infrastructure was the second-most supported precedence when county officers performed a survey on how one can spend the COVID support from the federal American Rescue Plan Act, in response to Pratt’s workplace.

Residents additionally regularly talked about storms and flooding as vital threats in a survey associated to the county’s 2022 local weather motion plan.

The projects are scattered throughout the county, stretching from Dexter and the Chelsea space to Ypsilanti.

Some 15 culverts, drainage buildings that channel water previous obstructions like roadways, shall be changed by this system, officers mentioned.

Municipalities utilized for the cash from the grant program, now in its second spherical. It encourages projects that present a number of advantages to the neighborhood, in response to Pratt.

Learn extra: Digging extra holes is a county official’s reply to retaining toes dry throughout unhealthy storms

“The candidates are capable of decide the problems that impression their residents probably the most,” he mentioned. “That’s what is nice about this program. We’re wanting ahead to seeing the enhancements in the communities, each for water high quality and high quality of residing.”

The projects awarded grants are:

• $107,500 – Ann Arbor Township – Warren Highway culvert alternative
• $150,000 – Augusta Township – Judd Highway culvert alternative
• $50,000 – Metropolis of Dexter – Storm sewer lining
• $36,000 – Freedom Township – Nollar Highway culvert alternative
• $80,000 – Lodi Township – Saline-Waterworks Highway culvert alternative
• $150,000 – Northfield Township – Six Mile Highway culvert alternative
• $57,500 – Pittsfield Township – Warner Highway culvert alternative
• $75,000 – Salem Township – Pleasure Highway culvert alternative
• $19,000 – Saline Township – Macon Highway culvert alternative
• $18,000 – Scio Township – Knight Highway culvert alternative
• $74,500 – Scio Township – Park Highway culvert alternative
• $19,000 – Scio Township – West Delhi Highway culvert alternative
• $150,000 – Sylvan Township – Sibley Highway culvert alternative
• $30,000 – Webster Township – Zeeb Highway culvert alternative
• $72,500 – York Township – Warner Highway culvert alternative
• $50,000 – Metropolis of Ypsilanti – Manhole cowl and pipe repairs
• $77,000 – Ypsilanti Township – Ellis Highway culvert alternative

Need extra Ann Arbor-area information? Bookmark the native Ann Arbor information web page, the Ypsilanti-area information web page or join the free “3@3 Ann Arbor” day by day publication.