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HomeMy WebLinkAboutStormwater_Utility_BrochureYou Can Help Oshkosh residents and homeowners can help improve the City’s storm water management in the following ways: • Build a rain garden or install a rain barrel • Direct roof downspouts to grassy areas away from driveways and sidewalks • Plan for minimal hard surfaces on your property • Pick up pet waste and dispose of it in the trash or flush down toilet • Water from carpet, drapery or upholstery cleaning should be discharged to the sink, toilet or other drain connected to the Sanitary sewer system • Instead of pressure washing, use dry methods such as mops, brooms, rags or wire brushes to clean the pavement, buildings and equipment as much as possible • Wash cars on lawns where the water can soak in or use a car wash • Direct sump pump discharge to lawn if possible • Keep grass clippings out of the street • Test your soil for fertilizer needs and only apply what is needed • Do not use storm drains for dumping anything Storm Water Management For more information please contact: Alyssa Deckert, P.E. Civil Engineering Supervisor adeckert@oshkoshwi.gov Justin Gierach, P.E. Engineering Division Manager/ City Engineer jgierach@oshkoshwi.gov 215 Church Avenue P.O. Box 1130 Oshkosh, WI 54903-1130 (920) 236-5065 Continuous Improvement The City of Oshkosh is working to protect its infrastructure, businesses and homes from damage due to flooding. It is also improving the water quality of the nearby lakes and rivers so that its citizens may boat, fish, swim and enjoy cleaner water. For ways citizens can help improve storm water management and for additional information on the city’s storm water utility please visit our websites at: City of Oshkosh: oshkoshwi.gov Storm Water Utility: oshkoshwi.gov/StormWaterUtility 2019 Jeld-Wen Outfall & Storm Sewer Improvements 2023 Parkway Area Detention Basin 2024 Rural II Clairville Road Area Flood Control Basin 2018 Libbey-N. Main Area Stormwater Quality & Flood Control Basin 2017 Westowne Area Stormwater Quality & Flood Control Basin 2017 South Park Area Stormwater Quality & Flood Control Basin 2016 North Main Street Area Wet Detention Basin 2015 9th and Washburn Area Stormwater Quality & Flood Control Basin 2014 Armory Area Stormwater Quality & Flood Control Basin 2013 City Hall Underground Detention Basin & Parking Lot 2011-13 James Road Area Flood Control Basin 2011-13 Sawyer Creek Dredging & Westhaven Street Bridge Replacement 2011 Hughes Street (Glatz Creek) Culvert Replacement 2011 Westhaven Circle Area Stormwater Quality & Flood Control Basin 2010 North High School Area Stormwater Quality & Flood Control Basin 2010 Oakwood Road Area Stormwater Quality & Flood Control Basin 2010 Melvin Avenue Area Pump Station & Storm Sewer Improvements 2009-11 Tipler School Area Flood Control Basin & Storm Sewer Improvements 2008 Baldwin Ave. Area Flood Control Basin & Storm Sewer Improvements 2005 Anchorage Channel and Fair Acres Stormwater Quality & Flood Date Project A brief list of recent projects and accomplishments includes:City’s Storm WaterManagement Program The City of Oshkosh has embarked on an aggressive program to improve storm water management for both flood control and pollution reduction. Storm water management not only improves safety, protects property, and enhances water quality. It also promotes a strong business climate by maintaining an efficient transportation system. Storm Sewer Improvements Storm Water Utility Fees are used for many improvements including replacing existing storm sewer and building new storm sewers. Storm sewers are usually upgraded as part of the street reconstruction process. Storm sewer improvement projects replace aging sewers and increases the capacity of the storm sewer system in order to reduce flooding. Since 2009 the City has embarked on an aggressive storm sewer construction program. This program reflects the City’s goals to improve infrastructure, reduce flooding, and improve water quality. The accompanying graph illustrates the length of storm sewer installed annually by the storm water utility. Paying for the Storm Water Management Program The storm sewer upgrades and other projects listed in this brochure are expensive but provide great benefits. People in the affected areas have noticed the reduced flooding in their neighborhoods. Funding for the City’s storm water program comes from state and federal grants and the Storm Water Utility Fee, which was established in 2002. The fee is paid by every City property owner based upon the amount of impervious surface on each property. In 2013, Storm Water Utility Fees generated almost $6.3 million dollars that are used to pay the debt on past projects, help fund new projects and finance daily operations. Additional projects will be needed to continue storm water improvements throughout the City. What is Storm Water and Why is it Important? Storm water is the water that runs off the land’s surface when it rains or when snow melts. Storm water flows onto streets and into storm sewers or ditches and is carried directly into nearby lakes or rivers including Lake Winnebago, Lake Butte des Morts, Fox River and Sawyer Creek. In Oshkosh, storm water is important for two reasons: 1. Flooded streets and property. 2. Pollution of lakes and rivers. Flooding An impervious surface, such as a driveway, rooftop or street, does not allow the rain to soak into the ground. The amount of impervious surfaces increase when buildings, parking lots, streets and other structures are built on previously vegetated land. Increased impervious surfaces result in more water running off the land and can lead to flooding if not managed properly. Much of the City of Oshkosh is built on flat land. As a result, storm water tends to pond in depressions on the land’s surface, which can lead to nuisance conditions. Storm water flooding can result in private property damage, hinder emergency vehicle access, endanger public safety, and damage roads, bridges and other infrastructure. Pollution As storm water flows across driveways, parking lots, lawns, streets and other surfaces, it picks up pollutants along the way. The pollution comes from many sources — oil leaking from vehicles, tire and brake lining wear, lawn fertilizers and pesticides, soil from construction sites, grass clippings, and litter. Storm water typically runs directly into streams, rivers and lakes. When this pollution reaches the lakes and rivers, it can result in nuisance algae and aquatic weed growth, high bacteria levels, turbid water, toxic levels of metals or petroleum, and low oxygen levels. The City of Oshkosh, like almost all cities in Wisconsin, is under state and federal regulations to reduce storm water pollution.