CITY OF CENTRAL
DRAINAGE
THIS PAGE IS A RESOURCE FOR CITIZENS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT DRAINAGE EFFORTS IN THE CITY OF CENTRAL
How Are Drainage Projects and Maintenance Funded?
The City of Central operates off of a 2% sales tax ONLY. An additional .5% sales tax is collected and dedicated to roads (construction, rehab, and beautification).
The City collected $8.9 million dollars last year in sales tax. $6.6 million dollars of that revenue is used for the general fund expenditures (the costs of operating the government). The remaining funds are deposited in an investment account that is dedicated to building financial reserves for the city. Currently, those reserves are at approximately forty million dollars. Although that may seem like a significant amount of money, in today's world, forty million dollars does not stretch far. The flood of 2016 alone will cost the city an approximate thirteen million dollars by the time it's all said and done. Although, the city can be reimbursed from the federal government for 90% of those expenditures, those are funds that must be expended up front, and 90% is not a guaranteed outcome. Reimbursement, at any rate, is also not guaranteed. Especially, with the frequency of natural disasters with in the United States, funding for disasters are becoming less, with greater restrictions applied.
The City of Central must continue to be fiscally responsible and frugal in government expenditures. One way that the city is able to operate at such a low cost is because all of the city's municipal services are contracted out to a third party, non-profit contractor. IBTS, the City of Central's municipal contractor, is responsible for maintaining all on-street drainage (only on roads owned and maintained by the City of Central) and 25 acres of off road drainage per the contract.
All major drainage improvement projects or drainage maintenance beyond what is identified in the contract with IBTS is either bid out and awarded to an additional contractor or charged to the city above and beyond the set contract if the work is performed by IBTS.
In the last two years, the City has expended nearly four million dollars on drainage for a clean out of all of the named canals, cleaning of the underground culverts in Jackson Place subdivision, and a drainage master plan that will identify capital outlay projects and develop a routine maintenance plan. That is in addition to the work above and beyond the contract that IBTS has performed.
However, initial projections estimate capital outlay programs and maintenance programs to cover a span of 25 to 30 years and and cost upwards of 100 million dollars or more. There just simply is not enough provisions in place. Bonding has always been an option for us in funding this drainage plan. However, until the full scope of work is identified, no decision can be made on whether or not the City will be able to secure the bonds needed.
Once the Drainage Master Plan is completed, the City will be able to identify and prioritize capital improvement projects and outline a routine maintenance plan that will service every drainage element within a designated amount of time.
WHO'S RESPONSIBLE???
THE CITY OF CENTRAL owns and is responsible to maintain all of the on-street drainage (ditches and culverts) along the roads that are owned by the City of Central. The city is also responsible for maintaining all off road drainage, including the major canals, with in the City of Central Boundaries.
EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH is responsible for the drainage along parish highways.
* Central Thruway
* Joor Rd (north of Hooper Rd to Hwy 64)
* Sullivan Rd (Greenwell Springs to Wax)
* Sullivan Rd (Hooper to Joor Rd)
* Comite Drive
* Dyer Rd
LOUISIANA DOTD owns and is responsible for maintaining all drainage along state highways.
* Hooper Rd LA408
* Wax Rd /Magnolia Bridge Rd LA3034
* Sullivan Rd ( Wax Rd to Hooper Rd)
* Joor Rd (Comite River to Joor) LA946
* Blackwater Rd LA410
* Liberty Rd LA409
* Greenwell Springs Rd LA37
* Greenwell Springs - Port Hudson Rd LA64
PROPERTY OWNER - If private property does not have a dedicated drainage servitude, the property owner IS RESPONSIBLE for maintaining the drainage way. However, the property owner can provide written consent and sign a hold harmless agreement for the city to maintain it. This can only be done if the drainage way affects more than the property itself.
Also, property owners are responsible for keeping ditches adjacent to their properties clear of all grass, debris, and leaves. *See City ordinance 12:6 listed below.
HMGP & STATE FUNDING
The City of Central is expected to receive 13.8 million dollars of HMGP funding that will be funneled through East Baton Rouge Parish. The city must submit applications with proposed projects that the State and FEMA must approve in order to recieve the money. The projects must meet certain restrictions and requirements and require a local match. On the priority list for the application are projects such as improvements to Beaver Bayou and Blackwater Bayou, and the replacement of every culvert and cross-drain with in the city that has been identified as being undersized.
Additionally, the State Department of DOTD has potentially 10 million dollars available for the city to use towards drainage improvement projects.
City officials are diligently and expeditiously working with all government agencies necessary to secure the available funding.
Prepare For Flash Floods:
Keep Your Culvert Clean
Nearly all neighborhoods are susceptible to flooding during heavy thunderstorms. Keeping roadside ditches and culverts clear of debris can reduce flood damage.
What's a Culvert?
A culvert is a pipe that conveys drainage water under roads or driveways. Where the ditch is not too deep, a concrete dip or shallow channel across the drive is easier to keep clean.
When is it important to have a clean culvert?
Inspect and clean your culvert before expected heavy rainfalls or thunderstorms.
How do you keep it clean?
Make sure that nothing blocks either end of the culvert. Sometimes all it takes is a shovel to clear debris. The bottom of the ditch should be at the same level as the bottom of the culvert If sediment has built up inside the culvert, call IBTS at 225-262-5000 for assistance.
Plugged culverts can:
* Cause property damage
* Restrict vehicle access
* COST YOU MONEY
Will the city clean your culvert?
If you are having difficulty cleaning the culvert, contact the City and a work order will be created to assess the problem and make corrections.
YOU CAN HELP
Tips to Reduce Flooding
When it rains, street drains help to keep City neighborhoods from flooding. When leaves collect in gutters and block these drains, water can back up and cause ponding that slows or stops traffic and can even flood yards and homes. While autumn is when leaves are most likely to collect in drains, it can happen at any time of the year.
Our drainage crews work hard to maintain all of the City’s drainage infrastructure, including storm drains on streets. But with thousands of drains spread all across the City, we need your help too. You can help prevent flooding by paying attention to what’s happening with the drains on your block. A few small maintenance actions on your property can also prevent stormwater from ponding.
Keep leaves and debris out of drains
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Avoid piling yard waste like fallen leaves and sticks in your yard, where it could wash into City drains. Keep it in a yard waste bin or other container.
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Use a rake or broom to remove leaves and debris from the tops of storm drains, and then place the material in your yard waste cart.
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If the drain is still clogged after you’ve removed the debris, call IBTS at 225-262-5000 to report it.
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If an inlet or street drain appears to be blocked by debris, try to safely clear a channel to provide a path for the runoff. If the drain cannot be cleared, or if the cause of the blockage or flooding is uncertain, call IBTS at 225-262-5000.
Maintain your gutters and downspouts
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Clean the gutters and drainage downspouts attached to your roof twice a year. Just one wind or rainstorm can clog a well-flowing drainage system.
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Inspect for leaks or damage to rain gutters that could cause a flat roof to flood.
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Direct flows from downspouts away from your foundation, without discharging flows to adjacent properties.
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Never discharge water over the edge of a steep hill.
Maintain your drainage systems
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Check your property’s drainage system. This is especially important on commercial properties that have catch basins or other drainage systems.
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The best way to find out what’s in your pipes is to ask a professional to “video inspect” your underground drainage system.
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If you have a driveway that leads down from the street, be sure to clear the drain at the bottom of the slope.
Respect the City’s drainage system
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Don't put grass clippings, leaves or other debris into any of the drains, ditches, creeks, culverts, gutters or ravines in the City.
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Do not store furniture or other items like firewood, fuel tanks, containers and loose items in your yard, as floodwaters can wash these items into culverts and cause flooding.
Reduce runoff from your property that causes flooding
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Collect water in rain barrels and cisterns.
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Create rain gardens. A rain garden acts like a native forest by collecting, absorbing, and filtering stormwater runoff from rooftops, driveways, patios, and other areas that don’t allow water to soak in.
Majority of the blockages identified in the drainage system are from man-made obstructions (fencing, pathways, bridges, cables, furniture, appliances, tires, truck beds, etc.).
Please DO NOT place anything in the drainage ditches or canals that can impede the flow of water.
Leaves, debris, and vegetation get snagged on the impediments and create blockages that back up the drainage system.
It's Against the law
Per City ordinance, the property owner is responsible for keeping the drainage ditches on their property clear of all leaves, branches, or debris.
Sec. 12:6. - Obstruction of flow of water.
(a)
No person shall impede or obstruct the passage flow of water of any gutter, ditch or drain, or in any manner dam the same, including sweeping or placing leaves, branches or other debris in the gutter, ditch or drain within any servitude or right-of-way used for drainage purposes; nor shall a property owner or resident allow such material to remain in a gutter, ditch, drain, drainage servitude or right-of-way immediately adjacent to the property where they reside.
(b)
Any persons violating this section shall be fined a maximum of $500 for each occurrence.
PICTURES OF CLOGGED DRAINAGE FROM DEBRIS AND LEAVES
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PIPE AND DITCH MAINTENANCE
If you believe a ditch or drainage pipe is clogged, contact the Municipal Services Office at 225-262-5000. All requests for blockage removal will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. With the amount of drainage ditches, culverts, canals, and drainage structures that are with in the City of Central, the Public Works Department does not have the resources to clean and clear every ditch in the City every year, but they will always respond to emergency situations. If the issue is maintenance, a work order will be written and provided to public works to schedule crews and equipment to correct the problem. If the issue requires more than routine maintenance, a stormwater engineering plan may be necessary.
Ditch maintenance generally includes the removal of accumulated sediment per original ditch design to maintain the depth and slope required to convey stormwater runoff. Citizens can help maintain a well-functioning drainage system by mowing vegetation in ditches and keeping all debris – including leaves and grass clippings – out of ditches and storm drains.
Keep in mind, it is detrimental to the function of the drainage system to intentionally dump leaves, grass clippings, litter and other debris into ditches. Open ditches with maintained grass are preferred in order to provide erosion protection as well as a natural filtration system. Tree saplings and overgrowth are only removed from ditch banks by public works crews when warranted for access due to maintenance needs, or if drainage flow is obstructed. Any routine trimming of grass and vegetation in any ditch is the responsibility of the property owner.
Blockages of ditches and pipes are frequent causes of flooding in neighborhoods. If your neighborhood has a piped stormwater system, City crews responding to blockages or performing maintenance may flush sediment from clogged drainage pipes. A pipewasher is used to pump high-pressure water through the pipe. For difficult maintenance needs, other specialized equipment may be used.
CLEANING OF THE NAMED CANALS
On August 1st, 2017, LGS, Inc. began work on a contract to clean all of the named canals within the City of Central. As with all major waterways, the Army Corps of Engineers had to approve the scope of work and make sure that no federal permits were required to perform the work. The requirement for permits would have delayed the project significantly. In order to get started as quickly as possible, the scope was drafted to include the removal all dead vegetation and debris out of the canals. The Army Corps of Engineers also asked that the the scope be submitted in the form of work packages, due to the scale of the project. The City of Central has submitted a total of 10 work packages, and CSRS engineers identified at least 219 sites of choke points of blockages. Debris has been encountered and removed between those sites as well. The work is projected to be completed in February of 2018.
Week Ending: 8/10/18
Areas Completed:
Work Package # 1 - Saunders Bayou from northern city limit south to Gentry Lane (private drive)
Work Package # 2 – Draughan Creek from southern city limit north to Greenwell Springs Road (includes Section 10 waters in vicinity of Frenchtown Road)
Work Package # 3 – Beaver Bayou from southern city limit north to Wax Road
Work Package # 4 – Shoe Creek and un-named canals and drains from Bryce Canyon Drive north to Hooper Road
Work Package # 5 – Draughan Creek from Droze Road north to Fir Avenue and an un-named tributary starting at the intersection of Wax Road and Greenwell Springs Road north to Lawnside Avenue
Work Package # 6 - Beaver Bayou from Wax Road north to approximately 3,000 feet north of Hooper Road and an un-named canal/drain near Paint Avenue.
Work Package #7 – Beaver Bayou, Hubb Bayou and un-named tributaries from the northern City limit southeast to vicinity of Denham Road.
Work Package # 8 - Blackwater Bayou from North Old Settlement Road south to just east of the intersection of Blackwater Road and Comite Drive
Work Package # 9 - Tributary to Blackwater Bayou from Plantation Way Subdivision south to Willowwood Acres Subdivision
Areas Currently Working:
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Work Package # 10 (City-wide) – includes various sites that have been identified by calls from citizens while work was on-going. Sites remaining to be cleaned in work package #10:
Progress:
Financial:
Projections (based on current resources and work completed to date):
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Total sites Originally identified = 219
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Number of known sites removed this week = 0
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Number of known sites removed to date = 219
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Number of known sites remaining = 0
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Debris is also being removed as encountered between sites.
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Total tonnage of debris removed to date = 2,387 (equivalent to 4.7M lbs)
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Estimated linear footage of channels cleaned to date = 248,420 ft (equivalent to 47 miles)
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Total budget for LGS = $3,787,000
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Amount expended this week = $44,371.11
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Total expended to date = $3,751,714.16
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LGS budget remaining = $35,285.84
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Projected end date – 9/15/18
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Projected total cost to complete RFP 2017-001 = $3,787,000 (LGS only)
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Other General Observations:
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Work began on Tuesday, 8/1/17
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Work was stopped from 8/27 through 9/4 due to Hurricane Harvey
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Work was stopped from 12/6 through 12/9 due to rain/snow
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Work was stopped during the period 12/20/17 through 1/3/18 due to weather and holidays
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Work was stopped during the period 1/29/18 through 2/1/18 due to weather
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Work was stopped during the period 2/7/18 through 2/13/18 due to weather
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Work was stopped during the period 2/25/18 through 2/26/18 due to weather
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Work was stopped on 3/6/18 and resumed 3/7/18 due to weather
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Work was stopped during the period 3/16/18 through 3/19/18 due to weather
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Work ended early on 3/29/18 and resumed 4/3/18 due to weather
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Work was stopped on 4/7/18 and resumed 4/9/18 due to weather
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Work was stopped during the period 4/21/18 through 4/23/18
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Work was stopped on 5/4/18 for maintenance and repairs on equipment it resumed on 5/7/18
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Work was stopped on 5/24/18 and resumed on 5/30/18 due to Memorial Day
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Work was stopped on 6/06/18 for maintenance on equipment.
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Work was stopped on 6/12/18 due to weather and resumed on 6/19/18
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Work was stopped on 6/30/18 due to Holidays and is scheduled to resume on 7/9/18
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Work was stopped early on 7/13/18 for maintenance on equipment.
THE LGS, INC. EFFORTS HAVE PRODUCED:
~ 1422 Tons of Debris Removed
~ 200
THE EQUIVALENT OF
elephants
~ 114,610 Linear Feet Covered
THE EQUIVALENT OF
~ 360
football fields
Some of the Before and After Photos
DRAINAGE WORK PERFORMED BY IBTS
ROAD SIDE
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Willowood Acres-–currently working
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Crystal Place Subdivision- currently working
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Cimmeron Subdivision 100% completed
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Rounsaville to dead end- 100% completed
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Morgan Place West 40% completed
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Northwoods- multiple locations cleared
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Monhegan Subdivision 100% completed
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Woods Edge Subdivision 80% completed
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North side of Hooper Rd (from Beaver Bayou to Greenwell Springs Rd) 100% completed
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Plantation Way Subdivision 40% completed
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Brown Road 50% completed
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Numerous individual locations City Wide
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Culvert debris removal in all roadside work areas
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Willowood Acres Subdivision
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Jackson Place Subdivision
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Devall Rd (currently working)
OFF ROAD
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Tallowood Ave rear drainage under bridge 100% completed
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Rounsaville- to Beaver Bayou new canal 100% completed
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Morgan Place West 40% completed
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Bridge Removals:
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2 blockages, McCullough Rd to Core Rd, 100% completed
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Bridge removal at Hubbs @ Denham 100% completed
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Bridge removal at Core @ Gurney 100% completed
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24 miles of debris inspection 100% completed
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Lawnside to Ronson 100% completed
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Monhegan Subdivision 100% completed
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Jackson Place Sullivan Rd to Devall Rd to Beaver Bayou to the box culverts on Hooper 100% completed
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Plantation Way Subdivision 40% completed
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Off Rd ditch for Bridlewood Subdivision – rear of Paint Ave to Amber Lakes Subdivision 100% Completed; plans to relocate through power line servitude directly to Hooper Rd
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Jackson Place (Sullivan Rd to Devall Rd to Beaver Bayou to the box culverts on Hooper, 100% Completed)
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Jackson Place to Hooper
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Jackson Park to Devall
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Hubbs @ Denham off road
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2 Mccullough Bridge (100% Completed)
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Bridge removal at Hubbs @ Denham (100% Completed)
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Bridge removal at Core @ Gurney (100% Completed)
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Woods Edge Sudivision
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North side of Hooper Rd (from Beaver Bayou to Greenwell Springs Rd, 100% Completed)
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Culvert debris removal in all roadside work areas
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Bridlewood Subdivision off rd
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24 miles of debris inspection (100% Completed)
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Lawnside to Ronson (100% Completed)
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Plantation Way Subdivision (40% Completed)
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Morgan Place West (40% Completed)
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Tallowood Ave rear under bridge (100% Completed)
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Northwoods Subdivision (Multiple areas)
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Box culverts at Hooper, Devall, and the school.
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Crystal Place Subdivision (currently working)
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Devall Rd (currently working)
OTHER MAINTENANCE
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Pre Storm Maintenance at all problem areas; Cleaning Culverts pre rain events City Wide
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Litter and Grass cutting City Wide
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Hooper Rd debris removal @ box culverts
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Multiple storm drain repairs City wide
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Multiple tree removals
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Public Works
Total Work Completed from 8/14/2016-1/29/2018= 3,795 Work Orders
Traffic Signs= 232 Work orders completed; this included replacing missing signs, putting signs back up and straighten signs. Stop signs, Street name signs, speed limit signs, ‘no dumping’ signs.
Pot Holes= 355 Work orders completed; multiple work orders had multiple pot hole requests.
Miscellaneous= 716 Work orders completed; herbicide treatment, tree trimming, tree removal, and winter storm event activities such as staging, setting, and removal of barricades as well as sanding bridges.
Roadside Mowing= 713 Work orders completed; this included litter control and weed eating.
Litter Control= 232 Work orders completed; these were specific places, such as the Central Thruway and debris removal.
Roadside Ditch Cleaning= 1,373 Work orders completed; this includes referrals to DOTD, Sewer Referrals, City Parish Referrals, and off road work. Some have been referred to the major drainage project
Storm Drain Repairs=174 Work orders completed; this included additional dress up and repairs.
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DRAINAGE MASTER PLAN
CITY OF CENTRAL
NOVEMBER 2ND, 2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
On Tuesday, October 17, 2017 Central City Council unanimously voted for technical assistance in preparation of a Master Drainage Plan and assessment (identification) of hazard mitigation funding for post-disaster recovery efforts. This decision is one of several critical steps within Mayor Shelton’s initiative to address our existing drainage system. Like many Central residents impacted by the flood, the mayor would like to see progress immediately. Work on the drainage plan has already begun and will serve as a cost-effective course of action to identify our needs.
The great flood of August 2016 was a devastating wake-up call as to how quickly flood waters can disrupt entire communities within a relatively short period of time. The objective of the study is to establish the basis for storm-water management by identifying drainage projects and developing standards that meet current federal, state, and local regulations. Drainage projects will be prioritized in alignment with policies and procedures which will be detailed in the master plan. The highest priority will be given to projects which provide the greatest protection against the threat to life and property. From this prioritized list, projects will be selected based on available funding for completion in phases from pre-design to construction. The result will be the development of a plan which will divert flood waters away from homes and businesses and out of the travel lanes of our major corridors.
Citizens should anticipate a series of public outreach activities over the course of the nine-month study. Beginning with launch of a website page specific to Central City drainage, residents will have the opportunity to view project study updates, flood inundation and drainage maps, and receive announcements of when outreach meetings will occur. During community workshops, attendees will be informed of current drainage assessments conducted throughout the area and provide input on suggested projects for drainage remediation. For those unable to attend outreach activities, a link to the drainage webpage will include a comment area and encourage visitors to the site to provide feedback on where drainage problems develop more frequently.
Upon completion, the Master Drainage Plan will propose storm-water management strategies implemented in phases as the budget allows, within critical areas of Central City. The plan will establish a schedule for routine maintenance of drainage structures and facilities, allowing for timely response to specific problems within the system. In addition, a recommendation for best practices will provide insight for addressing storm-water servicing within future development areas of the City. The intent of these efforts will produce long-term sustainability of storm related events that are most likely to occur during hurricane season. Most importantly, the drainage plan will aid Central City communities to withstand storm impact and improve flood protection which ultimately enhances resilience to potentially wide-spread damage.
DRAINAGE MASTER PLAN BASICS:
Tentative Schedule:
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Start – November 2017
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Public Outreach Event – March/April 2018
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Draft Findings – March 2019
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Final Document – May 2019
Task Summary:
Gather and collect data (existing data, survey data, past events, etc.)
Model current conditions to identify problem areas within major drainage features
Develop project ideas to address problem areas identified during modeling
Prepare a capital improvement plan with a prioritized list of projects and funding strategies
Develop an inspection and maintenance program
Provide the City with recommendations to improve its FEMA Community Rating which could result in lower flood insurance premiums for citizens
Create recommended resiliency strategies for the City to consider as a tool to minimize future risks
Click below for a copy of the Master Drainage Plan.
https://csrsinc.box.com/s/57e4utriaapsqszpxy0swa7t1v08n54g
Click HERE for the Powerpoint from 4/9/19 Council meeting.
CES CLEANING OF JACKSON PLACE SUBDVISION
After continued problems in Jackson Place Subdivision with the under ground drainage, the City of Central contracted with CES to perform a CCTV cleaning of all of the drainage in the subdivision. Click below for the full reports: