City of WestfieldInformational Meeting

Westfield RiverFlood 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

Williams Riding Way Pump Station

Westfield

River

Levee System

Leve

e S

tart

Leve

e E

nd

Elm

St.

N. Elm

St.

Meadow St.

Orange St.

St. Paul St.

Miller S

t.

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