Storm water runoff
2012 Storm Water System Improvement To Vacant Lot at 806 Brenner
Summary of storm sewer work installed in November 2007
City Notice of 10-5-07 regarding storm sewer work in neighborhood
Report on 2006 Neighborhood Hydrologic Study Commissioned by the City:
Copy of a memo summarizing the results of the study
Map of the area included in the study
Notice for 3/13/07 Neighborhood Meeting Issued by City
The problem:
Storm water drainage is a problem that has affected the area since the streets were put in back in the mid 70's. Water from the entire triangular area described by Victoria, Brenner, and Millwood all ends up in the Brenwood neighborhood either running across the yards of the homes on Victoria or down the streets. Millwood, which has been flooded with as much as 3 or 4 feet of water at the curve where it changes from a north-south to an east-west street and to a lesser extent Brenner, are subject to serious flooding during heavy rains. [see pictures of "Lake Millwood" and front yard at 815 Millwood after July 28, 2002 storm]
There is a low area in the currently vacant lot southwest of the Brenner & Millwood intersection that serves as a water detention pond during storms which alleviates even more serious flooding (refer to the map). On July 28, 2002 we had 4.25" of rain that came down in less than 3 hours. The water level in this low spot afterwards came up to the SW corner fence post (586 kb jpg file) at 800 Brenner and was, therefore, within inches of flooding the walk out levels of several homes along the west side of Millwood. This same storm also flooded the Brenner/Millwood intersection (330 kb jpg file) and came within about 2 1/2 feet of flooding the homes on the NW and SW corner. Mud blocked one of the eight storm catch basin grates at the intersection of Brenner & Millwood - the others were clear.
Cause: According to an study by SEH Engineering conducted in 1988, the storm sewers that serve the intersection of Brenner & Millwood as well as the the street in front of 817 Millwood are not adequate to handle the so called "100 year" storms (you know the ones we've gotten three times in the last 10 years). However, the report went on to conclude that installing larger sewers was not "cost effective". To read the 1998 SEH report in its entirety click here (580 kb pdf file) and change the Adobe Reader display size (on the upper navigation bar) to 100%.
Latest concern: The immediate concern which prompted this effort is the new construction on Brenner at Avon. If contractors are allowed to push the dirt excavated from any new homes east, the low area would be eliminated which would virtually guarantee flooding of several homes as well as worsen the flooding on Millwood and Brenner.
Duane Schwartz, the Roseville Public Works Director, and Deb Bloom, the Assistant Director, and Dennis Welsch, the Community Development Director are all aware of the problem and have forbidden contractors from dispersing any more excavated dirt to the east and are now requiring them to move the dirt off site. They've stated that they are not going to let anyone fill in the low area. A city crew is scheduled to finish surveying the area by 3/14/05. The city will then prepare a drawing which will accurately document and quantify the problem by 3/21/05. When Jody Younger went into the city with the grading plan for their new home which is being built just west of the low lot that serves as a water retention pond, Deb Bloom, for the first time, stated that she wouldn't allow the capacity of the retention area to be decreased.
City Code section 1012.06 Drainage details drainage requirements for building permit issuance. It is the burden of the building permit applicant/ property owner to demonstrate that they do not violate this section of code. This lot is currently owned by a private property owner. The city has contacted him by phone and via mail to inform him of our drainage code requirements. They have also indicated to him that the city will require a drainage easement for a water retention area on the lot. The required capacity for this retention area is 0.4 acre feet or 0.8 acre feet depending on how one interprets the 1988 SEH report referenced above. Size, depth and location will be proposed by the applicant for city review.
History has proven that the water detention area southwest of Brenner & Millwood, as it now stands, was capable of protecting the homes along the west side of Millwood (south of Brenner) from flooding during several rain storms over that last 10 years. However, the July 28, 2002 storm came within 6" of causing flooding of at least one walkout basement. Therefore, determining the volume of water this area currently can hold and requiring any development of that lot to provide an area with at least as much volume will provide some measure of safety.
The city is unable provide any design for the water retention area, their only role would be to enforce city codes, not design private property improvements. As a result, the city will not be able to provide absolute design parameters until such time as a plan is provided for review.
The city is also working with Ramsey County to divert storm water that drains off Victoria between Millwood and Brenner into the storm sewer system and run it to the west which will reduce the amount of water coming into the Brenwood neighborhood. This is scheduled to take place during the summer of 2005 when Victoria is rebuilt.
If any of you have pictures of the flooding aftermath from the July 2002 storm (or other high water events) please send them to Dick Lambert at 800 Brenner Avenue or rlambert@rclambert.com so they can be scanned and added to this website for the record in case we need them. Someone was rumored to have a picture of kids swimming in several feet of water which accumulated in the low spot on Millwood. We can talk all we want about the neighborhood's storm water problem but that picture would say it much more powerfully.
