Posted on July 22, 2013 at 8:44 AM by Mitch Beaumont
- The consultant design team has been busy
since completion of the field survey work. They have been performing hydraulic
computations and beginning to design proposed grades for a new channel
configuration that provides more space for water to spread out and slow down. The
preliminary design also considers a meandering channel alignment, which results
in a longer channel and a flatter channel slope to also help slow down the
water. Slow water results in less erosion potential and greater opportunity for
filtration or cleaning of the runoff.
- The design team presented a draft of their
design work to City staff on July 15. The design team asked questions and
received guidance from City staff on various items. More design work is needed to have a plan
with enough details to present to the public and abutting property owners.
- Along with designing the details it is
equally important to assess the cost of the project. This is also being done by the consultants at
this time. The design must be one that
can be afforded and likely to receive sufficient grant funding.
- At the National Night Out event on August 6
in Central Park there will be an information booth to provide an overview of
the Thompson Creek Watershed Restoration project and some general information
on the channel stabilization plans.
During September an Open House is anticipated that will present more
specifics on the channel plans and allow for public comment and particularly for
residents abutting the creek. More
information on time and place of the Open House will be forthcoming
- City staff and the consultant design team
have scheduled a meeting with personnel from the USGS and the University of
Nebraska at Omaha to discuss monitoring the environmental conditions as well as
water quality and quantity measurements in Thompson Creek in the most
economical manner. This monitoring is required as part of the conditions of the
grant money.