Storm Water Projects Showing Results in Monroe, Wisc.

Despite receiving heavy rainfall this week, the city of Monroe, Wisc., has suffered only minor flooding due to more than a decade of storm water runoff system planning and improvements.

Monroe's public works director Kelly Finkenbinder said she heard only minor complaints of puddles in business' backyards and basement flooding in a couple of houses, but added that it was "lucky" last weeks rain was scattered over several days rather than hours.

On Aug. 19, 1994, more than 3.75 in. of rain pounded the city, leaving it underwater. A number of streets closed, and residents floated along the streets on air mattresses.

And while none of the past week's storms involved such intense rainfall over a short period of time, the more than 14 in. that has fallen in the past month would have "certainly" resulted in similar flooding had the city not improved its storm water system, Finkenbinder said.

Following the floods of 1994, Monroe officials had seven storm water detention ponds, larger storm water inlets and higher capacity storm sewer pipes installed throughout the city. The stream banks along the Honey Creek, which overflowed during the floods, were stabilized with permeable fabric and large rocks as well.

In 1999, crews installed an subsurface storm water storage tank at an intersection prone to flooding and more of the larger sewer pipes. And in 2001, the city adopted a storm water plan which required runoff prevention plans for all new developments going on within city limits.

No intersections have had to close due to flooding in Monroe this year. And Monroe's efforts, according to city engineering supervisor Al Gerber, have also alleviated flooding and other storm water-related problems in neighboring townships. "We're hearing Clarno had less problems because of what the city's done," he said.

The city is also working on completing its largest detention pond project, which is expected to be completed by year's end. State grant money and local tax dollars coming in from a recently enacted storm water utility fee will fund this project and other storm water-related improvements including additional detention ponds and underground storage capacity expansions.

"You can see the difference," Finkenbinder said.

Source: The Monroe Times