In partnership with R/M, the City of Kenosha was recognized as a 2022 Engineering Excellence Award winner by the American Council of Engineering Companies of Wisconsin (ACEC, WI).
About the Award Winning Project
THE CITY OF KENOSHA storm water improvement projects
In July 2017, the City of Kenosha endured back-to-back rainfall events that resulted in catastrophic local and regional flooding. Approximately 4.5 inches of rain fell in a 5-hour period on July 10th, and another 3.2 inches fell in a 14-hour period on July 12th. This 48-hour event was classified as an approximate 200-year precipitation event, with only a 0.5% chance of occurring in any given year.
Five years earlier in 2012, the City partnered with Ruekert & Mielke, Inc. (R/M) and Environmental Resource Associates (ERA) to begin a comprehensive analysis of the City’s storm water infrastructure from both a flood control and water quality perspective, including a 3D flood model and storm water quality model. When the 2017 floods raised immediate public health concerns and caused significant damage to community homes, businesses, and infrastructure, the City amplified their long-term and short-term storm water management efforts. The data collected from the flood and water quality models allowed R/M to quickly conduct a priority area analysis and evaluate the City’s flooding hot spots. The results of this analysis ultimately led to the following storm water improvement projects.
Former Kenosha Engine Plant (KEP) Storm Water Improvements
KEP Facility
The City partnered with R/M and ERA to construct a 90-acre-foot (or 3,920,400 cubic feet) flood control facility on the property of a former Kenosha-based engine plant. The project was designed to divert the surcharged storm water flows from the existing 96" storm sewer to attenuate the flows and mitigate upstream flooding. The KEP facility will significantly reduce the recurring flood risk and associated damage to public safety, municipal infrastructure, commercial property investment, and private property within the City and tributary watersheds. The facility will also serve the planned Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood Redevelopment; a $1 billion project that includes residential housing, commercial developments, and other community amenities
GEORGETOWN STORM WATER IMPROVEMENTS
Georgetown Facility
The north half of the Gangler sub-basin experienced some of the worst flood damage during the July 2017 rainfall events. To directly mitigate the area’s ongoing flood risk, and to improve community surface water quality, the City purchased 6.9 acres of land and constructed a new, 50-acre-foot (2,178,000 cubic feet), storm water detention and flood control facility.
Looking Ahead
The City of Kenosha is far from the only Wisconsin community impacted by severe weather in recent years. The state has experienced a record-breaking amount of precipitation over the last decade, resulting in billions of dollars in flood damage to homes, businesses, and public infrastructure. In 2018, statewide flooding was so severe that Governor Walker declared a state of emergency for all of Wisconsin; the total damage cost taxpayers nearly $210 million. The KEP and Georgetown storm water improvements will provide significant economic and environmental benefits to the City and its residents for generations to come.
LEARN MORE
To learn more about how R/M can help make your next project an award winner, contact one of our experts today.
