319 Grant Update - Ashley Street Bioswale Done!

 

Construction of the bioswale on Ashely Street is complete, just in time for a rainfall event!

What’s the difference between the before and after?  It’s all in what you DON’T see.  Much of the existing materials were excavated and replaced with an engineered soil mix.  The soil mix will filter the stormwater runoff from smaller storms, removing sediment, oil, grease, and excess nutrients.  Most of our rainfall events are smaller storms, therefore most of the runoff will be treated.  Runoff from large events will flow into the area inlet.  Native grass seed was sown in the bioswale.  Native grasses are more suited to the Missouri weather extremes.  Additionally, native grasses tend to be more deeply rooted encouraging infiltration and filtration of the runoff. 

BEFORE - Bioswale on Ashley Street prior to reconstruction

Excavation of existing material and reconstruction of area inlet.

Public Works Stormwater Crew placing rock in flowline on top of engineered soil mix.

AFTER - Bioswale on Ashley upon completion.

 We'll post more photos when the grass comes in!

 US Environmental Protection Agency Region 7, through the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, has provided partial funding for this project under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act. (G11-NPS-12).

Happy New Year: Cleaning Out Debris

No, we're not talking your closets or your basement.  It's time to clean out sediment and debris that is clogging culverts and bridges around town.

Part of the natural process for a stream is to "pick up" sediment from one location and "drop off" sediment in another location.  A favorite "drop off" spot is culverts and bridges where water slows down, allowing heavier particles (rock, pebbles, sand, soil) to settle out.

Grass growing on sediment clogging a culvert under Nifong.

When sediment fills up in front of culverts and bridges, it does not allow stormwater runoff from larger rainstorms to flow through as easily.  Sometimes, this can cause street flooding during very heavy rainfall events.

Sediment inside a culvert reducing capacity for stormwater runoff.

The Street and Stormwater Maintenance division of Public Works is responsible for maintenance of stormwater facilities.  A crew of four operators plus a supervisor is paid from the stormwater utility to be responsible for maintenance of ALL inlets, pipes and culverts in City right-of-way or drainage easements. 

The stormwater utility crew is currently removing sediment and debris from the larger culverts and bridges around town.

Culvert under Nifong, recently cleaned by stormwater utility crew.

Stormwater facilities are designed to keep our roadways safe and passable for emergency vehicles during most rainfall events.  The Public Works stormwater utility crew works year round to keep Columbia's stormwater facilities in good working order.  Much of Columbia's stormwater infrastructure is reaching the end of its life expectancy, so the stormwater utility crew is very busy repairing and replacing stormwater structures around town.  Meanwhile, as Columbia grows, there are more and more culverts and bridges to be kept clean.

Your safety is important to us!  If you know of a stormwater structure that is a hazard and needs some attention, please contact us at (573) 874-6289 or pubw@GoColumbiaMO.com.

Meanwhile, if you see the Public Works stormwater utility crew out cleaning a culvert near your home or fixing a broken storm inlet, thank them for keeping you and your neighbors safe!

Columbia Daily Tribune Article

City Investigates Sediment in Bear Creek

The Columbia Daily Tribune reports on a City investigation into limestone dust in the storm drainage system near the quarry that goes to Bear Creek.