HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-24-21 Public Comment - D. Sauther - Canyon GateFrom:Diana Sauther
To:Jacob Miller
Cc:Ross Knapper; Agenda; Jack Sauther
Subject:Canyon Gate proposal -- storm water concerns
Date:Friday, September 24, 2021 5:24:07 PM
Attachments:Historical drainage route vs current developments.pngSTORMWATER MASTER PLAN-pplat.pdfSTORMWATER MASTER PLAN-color-May 2006.pdf
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Hi Jacob,
I understand that you are the planner assigned to the Canyon Gate proposed development atthe corner of Story Mill and Bridger. I live in the neighboring Legends neighborhood. Are
you aware that the Legends subdivision's Storm Water Master Plan to channel run-off andoverflow from Bridger Creek (and save homes from flooding) ultimately drains onto the
Canyon Gate parcel? The design, approved by the City, retained the historical flows, whichmoved from the Legends area onto the Canyon Gate parcel. In fact, it appears that three of the
four historic outfalls along the western boundary of the Legends flow onto the Canyon Gateparcel. What provisions are being made to accommodate this flow? Given the
unpredictability of our rapidly warming climate with its bigger and more devastating storms,proper plans and facilities for accommodating what used to be 100-year storms is even more
important.
Attached are both the preliminary and final plans -- as well as a side-by-side screenshot I
mocked up to better visualize the drainage plan with the developed neighborhood. Below ismy layman's summary of the the key points.
Any water that overtops the banks on the south side of Bridger Creek is expected toflow initially south and then west toward the Legends property line. Of the 4 historicoutfalls along the western boundary of the Legends, three of them flow onto theCanyon Gate parcel. "When large precipitous of flood hazard events occur, it islikely these existing flow paths or routes represent the major drainage system forthe area." (p.4 of May 2006 report) I've attached a screen shot comparing the flows
depicted in the report side by side with the Legends as developed. The Legends was designed with a substantial system of culverts, swales, retention
ponds, etc., to: reduce the downstream peak runoff to levels that existed pre-subdivision
build off of the existing topography, taking advantage of the many naturalfeatures the contribute to storm water management
create three retention ponds designed to retain the 10-year post-developmentrunoff volume while releasing excess flow at a rate not to exceed the 10-year pre-
development rate. Pond A is 36,000 cubic ft. -- 34 acres -- and abuts the Canyon Gateproperty.Ponds B and C are in the creek corridor near the playground area -- 6,132
and 1,157 cubic ft, totaling 5.9 and 1.1 acres respectively.Overflows for precipitation events exceeding the 10-yr 2-hour willproceed downgrade along historical flow patterns.
road culverts within the Legends greenspace corridors are designed to conveyrunoff from a 25-year event without overtopping the roadway
Storms greater than a 100-yr event are expected to pass over roadways or throughemergency overflow areas
Bottom line: Any development on the Canyon Gate parcel MUST take into account thehistorical flows and be able to accommodate them through proper storm water management.
The proposal the Canyon Gate developer gave to the Legends HOA board does not seem toaddress this -- I see no retention ponds, and only 2 acres of "parkland" to be used as a trail.
On a separate note: The developer shows a new Canyon Gate Lane road tying intoNorthview. To do this, he would have to cross over Legends HOA open space; he doesn't own
that land, and thus has no right to it.
Best,
Diana
--
Diana Sauther
Top Hand Realty Advisors, Inc. 403 W. Main Street, Suite 1 Bozeman, MT 59715 Office: 406-586-0356 Cell: 406-599-3433 Fax: 406-551-1008 Diana@TopHandAdvisors.com www.TopHandAdvisors.com
N:\3959\005\Design Docs\Storm\FPLAT\doc\STORMWATER MASTER PLAN FPLAT.doc
STORM WATER DESIGN REPORT
For
The Legends at Bridger Creek II Subdivision
May 2006
Prepared by:
Storm Water Design Report for The Legends at Bridger Creek II Page 2 of 7
Table of Contents
I. Introduction
II. The Proposed Drainage System
A. Major Drainage System
B. Minor Drainage System
C. Ponds
D. Culvert Inlets and Street Flow
III. Recommendations and Additional Thoughts
IV. Storm Water Maintenance Plan
Appendices
A. Hydrological Calculations
B. Hydraulic Calculations
Storm Water Design Report for The Legends at Bridger Creek II Page 3 of 7
I. Introduction
The proposed Legends at Bridger Creek II Subdivision is located in the south half of Section 32, Township 1
South, Range 6 East. More specifically, it is located east of Story Mill Road and the Legends at Bridger
Creek I, along Boylan Road extended. The development includes 127 single family lots on total area of
approximately 57.3 acres. The project also has approximately 23.7 acres of open space with the Bridger
Creek running through the north end of the property. The neighboring subdivision to the east does not
convey runoff into the subject property. However, recent modeling and historical photographs suggest that
spring runoff down the Bridger Creek Drainage can make its way through the subject property. Since the
neighboring Bridger Creek is a natural, meandering stream perched on alluvium, it is not uncommon to
have areas adjacent to the stream that are actually at or below the elevation of the active stream bed itself.
This phenomenon can be seen just west of the subject property in the Vicinity Map below. And of course
the site itself generates runoff as well.
Vicinity Map
II. Proposed Drainage Plan
The Legends at Bridger Creek II Storm Water Plan consists of two drainage systems- a Minor and Major
System. The Minor Drainage System is designed to provide public convenience and to accommodate
moderate, relatively frequent runoff events. The Major Drainage System has the task of conveying
significantly more water while protecting structures from inundation. The Major Drainage System begins
operating when the rate or volume of runoff exceeds the capacity of the Minor Drainage System. The storm
return period for the Minor Drainage System for this project shall be 25-years for conveyance structures and
10-years for ponds. The Major Drainage System shall convey the 100-year event without inundating
building structures.
Development is commonly known to increase downstream peak flows by increasing runoff volumes and by
decreasing the time it takes the runoff to travel downstream. As part of the minor drainage system,
Storm Water Design Report for The Legends at Bridger Creek II Page 4 of 7
retention pond areas designed for the 10-year return period shall be implemented to reduce the
downstream peak runoff to levels that existed before the subdivision was constructed. The pond areas will
also provide sufficient time for sediment and other storm water pollutant loads to settle out.
Design of the Drainage Plan was based on survey data collected across the subdivision site using sub-
centimeter GPS equipment. The data was used to produce a 1’ contour map of the existing ground. The
proposed plan builds off of the existing topography and takes advantage of the many natural features that
contribute to the management of storm water. Significant lot grading and first floor elevations are proposed
as part of the Stormwater Plan to facilitate proper drainage and manage the risk of potential flooding as the
result of historical rapid snow melt runoff events in this area and the proximity of the proposed subdivision
to Bridger Creek. For the purposes of this study, the modified rational method was implemented to estimate
peak runoff rates from the 10, 25, and 100 year storm events. Supporting calculations can be found in the
appendices.
The Major Drainage System
The backbone of the major drainage system throughout the proposed Subdivision is the Legends Greenway
Corridor. This greenway corridor has the capacity to attenuate and convey the runoff generated by the
100-year event without inundating any building structures within the subdivision. All road culverts placed
within the corridor shall be designed to convey runoff from the 25-year event without overtopping the
roadway. Site grading shall be completed so that storm events greater than 100-year event will pass over
roadways or through emergency overflow areas without causing significant erosion. The street sections in
front of the proposed homes are designed to provide additional runoff conveyance away from the homes,
down to the streets and eventually into the Legends Greenway Corridor. The Grading and Drainage Plan
shows the necessary finished surface grading for each lot. It is noted that at a minimum, first floor
elevations are approximately 0.75 feet above the finished grade contours as shown sheet ST-1. Finished
ground and first floor elevations shall also be located on the final plat and in the subdivision covenants. The
hydraulic performance of the major drainage system including conveyance capacity and backwater
conditions above road crossings were analyzed using HecRas and FlowMaster design software. The
finished ground and first floor elevations of lots were adjusted to account for increases in water surface
elevations resulting from backwater conditions.
Historically, the subject property has drained to the west in multiple broad meandering flow paths that are
generally parallel to Bridger Creek. These flow paths route to four separate, existing and historic outfalls
along the west boundary of the subject property and continue west towards Story Mill Road where it begins
to overtop the road at an elevation of ~4712.5 (COB Datum). When large precipitous or flood hazard
events occur, it is likely these existing flow paths or routes represent the major drainage system for the
area. Runoff that overtops Story Mill Road will proceed across a parking area just north of the NRCS
building where it crosses through a hole in a railroad bed thence flowing northwest in an existing swale
through the golf course and eventually back to Bridger Creek. A more thorough discussion of the existing
drainage system, FEMA floodplain, onsite/offsite historical flow paths and potential hazards can be found in
the preplat Storm Water Plan dated February 2006.
The Minor Drainage System
The minor drainage system is comprised of roads, culverts, swales, and retention ponds. The ponds shall
be designed to retain the 10-year post-development runoff volume while releasing excess flow at a rate not
to exceed the 10-year pre-development rate. If larger storm events are encountered, site grading and the
emergency pond overflow structures will provide a designated path for the overflow to pass into the creek
corridor or natural drainage path without causing significant erosion to the pond. The modified rational
method was used to size all retention ponds. Refer to sheet ST-1 for the noted retention areas. The 10-Yr,
2-Hr storm event shall be routed into each pond.
Ponds
Three retention ponds are proposed to retain storm water runoff generated during the 10 year, 2 hour event
as per COB March 2004 design standards. Pond locations are shown on sheet ST-1. Pond A is located in
the southwest corner of the property and is a retention pond with approximately 36,000 cubic feet (cft) of
Storm Water Design Report for The Legends at Bridger Creek II Page 5 of 7
storage and a mean depth of 1.6’. The contributing area to this pond is approximately 34 acres. Pond B is
located in the northwest corner of the property and is a retention pond with approximately 6,300 cft of
storage. The pond has enough capacity to completely contain the runoff from a 10-yr, 2hr storm event. The
contributing area to this pond is approximately 5.9 acres and is shown on sheet ST-1. Pond C is pond
located in the northwest corner of the property and is a retention pond with approximately 1,500 cft of
storage. The pond has enough capacity to completely contain the runoff from a 10-yr, 2hr storm event
contributed from a subarea of 1.1 acres. As with all retention ponds, overflow for precipitation events
exceeding the 10 year 2 hour will proceed downgrade along historical flow patterns
Table 1. Retention Ponds
ID Pond Location Contributing
Area (ac)
Est. 10Yr/2Hr
Retention Volume
(cft)
Proposed Pond
Volume (cft)
Mean Depth
(ft)
Release
Rate (cfs)
A Southwest
corner 34 35,098 35,500 1.6 NA
B Northwest
Corner 5.9 6,132 6,300 1.2 NA
C Northwest
Corner 1.1 1,157 1,500 1.0 NA
- This area intentionally left blank -
Storm Water Design Report for The Legends at Bridger Creek II Page 6 of 7
Culverts, Inlets, Valley Gutters and Street Flow
Inlets will be needed at low points and where street conveyance capacities are exceeded. This project has
inlets in both sump and on grade conditions. Culverts are also proposed where the Legend’s Greenway
Corridor intersects with Boylan Road and Northview Road. Culvert and inlet locations are denoted on sheet
ST-1. The proposed sizes, estimate of capacities and number of inlets can be found in Table 3 below. For
this particular site, street conveyance capacities using a 9.5 foot spread from the face of curb were
adequate and it appears no additional storm water main runs or piping will be necessary. If street
intersections produce a low point or sump condition in the curb return, then flow-through concrete valley
gutters are proposed as shown on the Grading and Drainage Plan.
Table 2. Typical Street Flows
Street Name Est. Max Capacity1
(cfs)
Est. Post Q25
(cfs)
Conveys Post Q25 In
Allowable Street Spread
Boylan Road @ 1% 11.1 10.1 Yes
Northview Road @ 0.6% 8.6 2.1 Yes
Midfield Street @ 0.7% 8.6 3.9 Yes
Typical 30’ Alley at 1.3% 2.4 1.1 Yes
Maiden Spirit Street @ 1% 10.5 1.1 Yes
Medicine Wheel Lane @1.3% 12.7 0.7 Yes
Atsina Lane @ 0.6% 7.8 3.2 Yes
Blackfeet Lane @ 0.6% 7.8 2.7 Yes
Cree Lane @ 1.3% 12.2 2.4 Yes
Richau Lane @ 0.9% 9.9 1.8 Yes
1 The maximum Capacity for street sections is measured from 0.15’ below the top back of curb resulting in 9.5’ of allowable
spread on both sides. Alleys are measured edge of pavement to edge of pavement.
Table 3. Culverts and Inlets
ID Culverts Description Est. Post
Q25 (cfs)
Slope
(ft/ft)
Hydraulic
Head (ft)
Actual
Capacity
(cfs)
# of Inlets2
C-1 Boylan Road Greenway
Crossing1
1- 18.0” X 28.5” 10.1 0.01 1.5 11.0 4 Inlets in
Sump
C-2 Northview Greenway
Crossing1
2- 22.5”X 36.25” 13.6 0.004 2.0 41 NA
C-3 Intersection of Northview
& Midfield
1- 18”
Lead pipe 12”
6.3 0.01 2.5 10 3 Inlets in
Sump
C-4 Northview Low Point @
Sta4+25
1-12” 1.7 0.01 2.5 4.0 2 Inlets in
Sump
C-5 Northview Existing
Drainage Crossing1
1-12” 3.0 0.005 2.0 3.4 NA
C-6 Maiden Spirit @ West
Boundary to Pond A.
1-12” 1.1 0.005 1.5 3.0 2 Inlets on
Grade.
C-7 Pond-B Inlets 1-15” 4.6 0.005 1.5 5.2 4 Inlets on
Grade.
C-8 Pond-C Inlets 1-12” 2.0 0.005 1.5 3.0 2 Inlets on
Grade.
1 Discharges greater than the 25-yr event are designed to overtop roads and flow down the Greenway Swale.
2 Inlets are assumed to be single NEENAH R-3067 Diagonal or equivalent.
3 All culverts within public right-of-way are Class IV RCP unless otherwise noted.
Storm Water Design Report for The Legends at Bridger Creek II Page 7 of 7
III. Recommendations and Additional Thoughts
There are always inherent risks when developing land next to streams. The benefits can outweigh the risks
if the risks are managed properly. It is recommended that the Grading and Drainage Plan be adhered to
and that minimum first floor elevations be enforced. All lots that are immediately adjacent to Bridger Creek
shall have a first floor elevation that is at least 2 feet above the Base Flood Elevation or 100-yr event water
surface elevation. Further refinement of the Grading and Drainage Plan may be necessary as this project
progresses and final design commences. It should be disclosed to prospective buyers that this area is next
to a stream and that lands in this area may become inundated during large events. Although no
subdivisions lots are in the 100-year floodplain as published by FEMA, it is recommended that prospective
lot buyers consider obtaining flood insurance due to proximity.
As the result of short lot setbacks and the proposed lot grading, driveways may tend to be steeper than
usual if a step between the first floor of the residence and the level of the garage floor is not implemented.
Not all lots will need this proposed step. However some lots that may benefit from such a step are 25, 30,
39, 51, 121, & 122. This is not a complete list and it may not be definitive if a particular lot needs a step
until the some of the building details (such as driveway location) are established.
Due to the acute angle formed between North View Road and the Legend’s Greenway Corridor, it is
possible that a small landscape retaining wall may be needed for the area west of lot 39 and east of North
View Road. Creative landscaping may also accomplish the task of blending the 4 foot difference in
elevation. Again it is imperative that the lot finished grade and finished floor elevations be adhered to.
There are areas along the south side of Bridger Creek that possess over-steepened banks, with relative
high rates of erosion. These areas are for the most part hundreds of feet away from residential lots.
However, it may be prudent to complete a channel stability assessment and provide any necessary natural
or soft bank stabilization efforts such as plantings now or in the near future.
IV. The Storm Water Maintenance Plan
The maintenance of the onsite storm water collection, detention and discharge release appurtenances shall
be integrated as part of the duties of maintenance personnel responsible for normal grounds keeping.
Duties shall include routine inspections to ensure that debris, yard waste, and seasonal ice does not
impede operation of the detention ponds and discharge structures. These inspections shall occur after
each major runoff event and on a continued monthly basis throughout the year. All results shall be
recorded and kept on file for future verification by regulation agencies. In addition to the routine
inspections, annual inspections of appurtenances shall assess and mitigate, if necessary, performance of
the detention ponds, and release structures. These inspections shall address accumulation of sediment
and debris in the detention ponds and release structures as well as any weather or vandalism-related
damage. Detention areas and swales shall be mowed on a regular basis during the growing season so as
to remain free of vegetation that might impede their conveyance capacity or ability to function.
N:\3959\005\Design Docs\Storm\PREPLAT\STORMWATER MASTER PLAN - PREPLAT.doc
PRELIMINARY PLAT
STORM WATER PLAN
for
The Legends at Bridger Creek II Subdivision
February 2006
Prepared by:
Preliminary Plat Storm Water Plan for The Legends at Bridger Creek II Page 2 of 16
Table of Contents
I. An Introduction to the Existing Drainage System
A. Existing Historical Flow Paths
B. Bridger Creek 100-yr Floodplain
II. The Proposed Drainage System
A. Major Drainage System
B. Minor Drainage System
III. Recommendations and Additional Thoughts
IV. Storm Water Maintenance Plan
Appendix
A. Photos
B. Hydrological Calculations
C. Hydraulic Calculations
Preliminary Plat Storm Water Plan for The Legends at Bridger Creek II Page 3 of 16
I. An Introduction to the Existing Drainage System
The proposed Legends at Bridger Creek II Subdivision is located in the south half of
Section 32, Township 1 South, Range 6 East. More specifically, it is located east of Story
Mill Road and the Legends at Bridger Creek I, along Boylan Road extended. The
development includes 127 single family lots on total area of approximately 57.3 acres.
The project also has approximately 23.7 acres of open space with the Bridger Creek
running through the north end of the property. The neighboring subdivision to the east
does not convey runoff into the subject property. However, recent modeling and historical
photographs suggest that spring runoff down the Bridger Creek Drainage can make its
way through the subject property. Since the neighboring Bridger Creek is a natural,
meandering stream perched on alluvial gravels, it is not uncommon to have areas
adjacent to the stream that are actually at or below the elevation of the active stream bed
itself. This phenomenon can be seen just west of the subject property in the Vicinity Map
below. And of course the site itself generates runoff as well. All of the abovementioned
sources and potential hazards are further explored within the pages of this report and are
considered to be major components of the existing drainage system within subject
property.
Vicinity Map
Preliminary Plat Storm Water Plan for The Legends at Bridger Creek II Page 4 of 16
Existing Drainage Basin
The subject property has historically drained to the west, paralleling Bridger Creek as
depicted with the cyan colored drainage arrows in Figure 1. This figure illustrates how the
creek is perched when compared to land adjacent to it. The existing contours show an
undulating surface comprised of farming modifications mixed with ancient channel
meander scars. If water is spilled from the existing left or south bank of the creek, it will
flow away from the creek and proceed in a westerly fashion towards Story Mill Road. The
cyan arrows along the west boundary of the subject property indicate locations where
drainage will likely leave the property.
Figure 1 – Onsite historical flow paths.
The historical flow paths offsite are represented with dark blue drainage arrows as seen in
Figure 2 on the next page. Field surveys and observations in and around the low point of
Story Mill Road were unable to locate an existing roadway culvert. It appears that the
lands east of Story Mill Road provide an area for natural ponding of excessive runoff from
Bridger Creek with no flow through a culvert under the road at this location. Story Mill
Road acts as a barrier creating this historical depressional storage behind it. The limit of
this storage volume is controlled by the overtopping elevation necessary for the
conveyance of runoff over Story Mill Road. Our calculations estimate this overtopping
water surface elevation to be in the 4712.5 to 4713.5 range (City of Bozeman Datum).
This historical backwater effect created by Story Mill road will obviously have an impact
on lands immediately adjacent and east of the road. However, it will have no effect on the
subject property.
Preliminary Plat Storm Water Plan for The Legends at Bridger Creek II Page 5 of 16
Figure 2 – Offsite historical flow paths.
After the excessive runoff overtops Story Mill Road, it then proceeds across a parking
area just north of the NRCS building where it encounters an old railroad bed. The bed
has a hole cut through it allowing flow to cross to the west side of the bed. This rail road
bed shows up on the FEMA Flood Plain Map as well as the USGS Quadrangle Map. The
barrow areas along the side of the existing railroad bed are considerably lower than
native ground and act as channels routing flood flows to the northwest and ultimately
back to Bridger Creek. The subject property and proposed subdivision will not change
this existing drainage pattern but rather use it as it historically has. The proposed
subdivision will detain or retain its own storm water onsite as required by the City of
Bozeman Storm Water Regulations. It is noted that during large runoff events, the
proposed subdivision will convey runoff in the same fashion that has historically been
conveyed.
Preliminary Plat Storm Water Plan for The Legends at Bridger Creek II Page 6 of 16
The Bridger Creek 100-yr Flood Plain
The current regulatory floodplain designation for the subject property is published in the
1988 FEMA Flood Insurance Study (FIS). According to the study and Flood Insurance
Rate Map (FIRM) panels, the subject property is designated as Zone AE along the
primary floodway with shaded Zone X on the fringe and un-shaded Zone X towards
Bridger Drive to the South. The floodway is defined as the stream channel plus any
adjacent floodplain areas that must be kept free from encroachment so that 100 year
flood can be conveyed with less than a 0.5 foot surcharge to the 100 year base flood
elevation (BFE). The floodway fringe is the remainder floodplain area(s) between the
designated floodway boundary and the ground-truth floodplain boundary. The floodway
fringe is the portion of the floodplain that can be completely obstructed without increasing
the 100 year BFE by more than 0.5 foot. Essentially Zone AE is a special flood hazard
area and indicates that the BFE has been established along Bridger Creek using
hydraulic modeling techniques, while shaded Zone X designates either areas of 500 year
flood or areas of 100 year flood with average depths less than 1 foot. A significant portion
of the property is designated as un-shaded Zone X, indicating land outside of the 500
year floodplain but still within the scope of the FIS. Please see Figure 3 containing the
FEMA FIRM map 300028-0008C.
- This area intentionally left blank -
Preliminary Plat Storm Water Plan for The Legends at Bridger Creek II Page 7 of 16
Preliminary Plat Storm Water Plan for The Legends at Bridger Creek II Page 8 of 16
While approximate boundaries are published on the FIRM panels based on coarse survey
data, FEMA methodology requires that the actual boundary for the edge of the AE zone
be determined based on the intersection of the natural ground with the published BFE. A
summary of this delineation and regulatory BFEs are shown in Figure 4.
Figure 4 – Ground Truthed BFE
Preliminary Plat Storm Water Plan for The Legends at Bridger Creek II Page 9 of 16
It should be noted that two gaps exist along the south floodplain boundary indicating
areas where flows may spill out of the creek bank. These areas are denoted with red
arrows on Figure 4. These areas do exhibit signs of previous inundation which has also
been alleged in verbal historical accounts by property owners. Because Bridger Creek is
a perched alluvial stream, a significant portion of the land to the south has natural ground
elevations that are lower than the regulatory BFE. Any water that overtops the banks on
the south side of Bridger Creek is expected to flow initially south and then west towards
the property line as shown in previous figures.
Since the FIS was published in 1988, planform and grade changes within the stream
reach have changed the hydraulic function of Bridger Creek. In order to verify the FIS
boundary with more recent floodplain data along this particular reach of Bridger Creek,
MMI constructed an updated hydraulic model based on current geometric data. This
model used a 100-Yr event flow of 1150 cfs and was calibrated using rating curves
interpolated from the FEMA FIS and a recent Montana Department of Transportation
study related to the Highway 86 Bridge replacement. The model results indicated a
smaller floodplain boundary with narrower regions of potential spillage along the South
side of Bridger Creek than the original FIS model. Another notable difference between
the regulatory FIS and the MMI model is in the area immediately upstream of the east
property boundary where MMI model elevations were approximately 2 feet lower than
those published in the FIS. This difference is significant in that the model predicts water
will not spill out of the south side of Bridger Creek on the adjacent land just upstream of
the subject property.
Summary of the Existing Drainage System
Based on the Current FEMA study and the MMI modeling results, it is possible that some
water will overtop isolated portions of the creek bank along the south side of Bridger
Creek and flow through the proposed development during significant events such as the
100-yr event. This potential spillage will most likely be low velocity water with depths less
than one foot. This description sounds more like a shaded Zone X rather than an
unshaded Zone X. Based on site visits, topographic and airphoto analysis, it does appear
that two primary preferential flow paths do exist on the subject property. The subdivision
will take these paths into consideration and incorporate them into the proposed layout.
During large runoff events, spillage from the Bridger Creek will likely use these primary
flow paths and proceed off-site through other historical flow paths resulting in the
overtopping of Story Mill Road as mentioned earlier in this report. The source and timing
of these large rapid snowmelt events is obviously not produced on or modified by the
subject property and historical outfalls will continue to be utilized by the subject property.
Therefore, the development of the subject property will have no measurable effect on the
historical magnitude or route of the 100-yr food events in this area.
Preliminary Plat Storm Water Plan for The Legends at Bridger Creek II Page 10 of 16
II. Proposed Drainage Plan
The Legends at Bridger Creek II Storm Water Plan consists of two drainage systems- a
Minor and Major System. The Minor Drainage System is designed to provide public
convenience and to accommodate moderate, relatively frequent runoff events. The Major
Drainage System has the task of conveying significantly more water while protecting
structures from inundation. The Major Drainage System begins operating when the rate
or volume of runoff exceeds the capacity of the Minor Drainage System. The storm return
period for the Minor Drainage System for this project shall be 25-years for conveyance
structures and 10-years for ponds. The Major Drainage System shall convey the 100-
year event without inundating building structures.
Generally speaking, development tends to increase downstream peak flows by increasing
runoff volumes and by decreasing the time it takes the runoff to travel downstream. As
part of the minor drainage system, retention and detention pond areas designed for the
10-year return period shall be implemented to reduce the downstream peak runoff to
levels that existed before the subdivision was constructed. The pond areas will also
provide settlement time for sediment and other storm water pollutant loads to drop out.
Design of the Drainage Plan was based on survey data collected across the subdivision
site using sub-centimeter GPS equipment. The data was used to produce a 1’ contour
map of the existing ground. The proposed plan builds off of the existing topography and
takes advantage of the many natural features that contribute to the management of storm
water. Significant lot grading and first floor elevations are proposed as part of the
Stormwater Plan to facilitate proper drainage and manage the risk of potential flooding as
the result of historical rapid snow melt runoff events in this area and the proximity of the
proposed subdivision to Bridger Creek. For the purposes of this study, the modified
rational method was implemented to estimate peak runoff rates from the 10, 25, and 100-
yr storm events. The hydrological calculations can be found in the appendix.
Preliminary Plat Storm Water Plan for The Legends at Bridger Creek II Page 11 of 16
The Major Drainage System
The backbone of the major drainage system throughout the proposed Subdivision is the
Legends Greenway Corridor. This greenway corridor has the capacity to attenuate and
convey the runoff generated by the 100-year event without inundating any building
structures within the subdivision. All road culverts placed within the corridor shall be
designed to convey runoff from the 25-year event without overtopping the roadway. Site
grading shall be completed so that storm events greater than 100-year event will pass
over roadways or through emergency overflow areas without causing significant erosion.
The street sections in front of the proposed homes are designed to provide additional
runoff conveyance away from the homes, down to the streets and eventually into the
Legend’s Greenway Corridor. The Grading and Drainage Plan shows the necessary
finished surface grading for each lot. It is noted that at a minimum, first floor elevations
are approximately 0.75 foot about the finished grade contours as shown on the Grading
and Drainage Plan. Finished ground and first floor elevations shall also be located on the
final plat and in the subdivision covenants. Particular conveyance sections were modeled
using Hec-Ras and FlowMaster design software. As the runoff encounters known
obstacles like roadways, back-water conditions were created. The finished ground and
first floor elevations have been adjusted accordingly with backwater effect in mind.
Please see Figure 5 for the location of a few modeled street and swale sections. A
summary of the results can be found in Table 1.
Table 1.
Est. Max1 Est. Post Conveys
ID Street & Swales Capacity(cfs) Q100(cfs) 100-Yr Event
1 Boylan Road @ 1% 95 10 Yes
2 North View Road @ 0.6% 50 5 Yes
3 Typical 30’ Alley @1.4% 30 3 Yes
4 Legend’s Greenway Corridor 300 - Yes
1 Max Capacity for street sections is measure from back of sidewalk to back of sidewalk. Alleys are measured edged
of pavement to edge of pavement.
As with any development, the possibility of experiencing a 500-Yr flood event or the
failure of a stream bank can exist. The probability of it occurring in any given year is slim,
somewhere on the order of a 0.20 to 0.99 percent chance. Despite the improbability,
Morrison-Maierle has looked at the ability of this subdivision to convey significantly large
flood flows. For example, the Legend’s Greenway Corridor can convey upwards of 300
cfs if necessary, without inundating building structures. These types of measures should
help manage the risk associated with Bridger Creek.
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Preliminary Plat Storm Water Plan for The Legends at Bridger Creek II Page 12 of 16
Figure 5 – Typical Conveyance Sections
Preliminary Plat Storm Water Plan for The Legends at Bridger Creek II Page 13 of 16
The Minor Drainage System
The minor drainage system is comprised of roads, culverts, swales, and
retention/detention ponds. The ponds shall be designed to detain the 10-year post-
development runoff volume while releasing flow at a rate not exceeding the 10-year pre-
development rate. If larger storm events are encountered, site grading and the
emergency pond overflow structures will provide a designated path for the overflow to
pass into the creek corridor or natural drainage path without causing significant erosion to
the pond. The modified rational method was used to size all retention/detention ponds.
Please see Figure 6 for the noted detention/retention areas. The 10-Yr storm event shall
be routed into each pond and through the outlet structure using a “delta time step & mass
balance” method. All outlet structures are modeled to operate in the inlet control
condition with the weir and orifice equations used to model the release rate with respect
to pond depth. The design of the pond outlet structure shall be simple, visually
unobtrusive, and cost effective. It is proposed that small diameter high density
polyethylene (HDPE) culvert pipe will accomplish these two tasks at once. HDPE pipe
shall be the pond’s release culvert and at the same time, provide control of the release
rate.
Ponds
Three ponds are proposed to retain or detain storm water runoff from the site and can be
seen in Figure 6. Pond A is located in the southwest corner of the property and is a
detention pond with approximately 13,800 cubic feet (cft) of storage. The contributing
area to this pond is approximately 29 acres and is shaded orange in Figure 6. The pond
releases at the 10-yr post-development rate of no more than 4.6 cfs. This is
accomplished through an outlet structure comprised of three ~ 10 inch pipes laid at a
slope of 0.4%. The outfall of the pond is to lands west of the subject property in an
existing drainage swale. For storm events that are greater than the 10-yr return period,
the runoff proceeds over the outlet structure emergency overflow without inundating any
buildings in the proposed subdivision.
Pond B is located in the northwest corner of the property and is a retention pond with
approximately 9,000 cft of storage. The pond has enough capacity to completely contain
the runoff from a 10-yr, 2hr storm event. The contributing area to this pond is
approximately 6.8 acres and is shaded pink in Figure 6. If a larger storm event is
encountered, then runoff spills back into Boylan Road and proceeds west through
Legends I Subdivision.
Pond C is pond located in the northwest corner of the property and is a retention pond
with approximately 1,700 cft of storage. The pond has enough capacity to completely
contain the runoff from a 10-yr, 2hr storm event. The contributing area to this pond is
approximately 1.3 acres and is shaded yellow in Figure 6. If a larger storm event is
encountered, then runoff spills back into Boylan Road and proceeds west through
Legends I Subdivision.
Preliminary Plat Storm Water Plan for The Legends at Bridger Creek II Page 14 of 16
Figure 6 – Pond & culvert locations
Preliminary Plat Storm Water Plan for The Legends at Bridger Creek II Page 15 of 16
Inlets, Culverts and Street Flow
Inlets will be needed at low points and where street conveyance capacities are exceeded.
This project has inlets in both sump and on grade conditions. Culverts are also proposed
where the Legend’s Greenway Corridor intersects with subdivision roads. Culvert and
inlet locations can be seen in Figure 6 and are denoted as items I through 6. The
proposed sizes, estimate of capacities and number of inlets can be found in Table 2
below. For this particular site, street conveyance capacities using a 9.5 foot spread from
the face of curb were adequate and it appears no additional storm water main runs or
piping will be necessary. If street intersections produce a low point or sump condition in
the curb return, then flow-through concrete valley gutters are proposed and can be seen
on the Grading and Drainage Plan.
Table 2.
Est. Post Description Slope Head Act. Cap. # Inlets
ID Culverts Q25(cfs) (ft/ft) (ft) (cfs)
1 Boylan Road Greenway Xing1 9 1- 27”X 44” 0.009 3 24 2 “HH” in Sump
2 North View Greenway Xing1 10 2- 22”X 36” 0.004 4 70 NA
3 Int. North View & Maiden Rock 6 1- 18” 0.01 2.5 10 3 “H” in Sump
4 North View Low point 2 1- 12” 0.01 2.5 4 2 “H” in Sump
5 North View Existing Drainage Xing 3 1- 12” 0.005 2 3 NA
6 West Boundary 5 1- 18” 0.008 2.5 9 6 “H” on Grade
7 Pond C inlets 2 1- 12” 0.005 2.5 3 2 “H” on Grade
1 Flows greater than the 25-yr event are designed to overtop roads and proceed down the Greenway Swale.
Preliminary Plat Storm Water Plan for The Legends at Bridger Creek II Page 16 of 16
III. Recommendations and Additional Thoughts
There are always inherent risks when developing land next to streams. The benefits can
outweigh the risks if the risks are managed properly. It is recommended that the Grading and
Drainage Plan be adhered to and that minimum first floor elevations be enforced. All lots that are
immediately adjacent to Bridger Creek shall have a first floor elevation that is at least 2 feet above
the Base Flood Elevation or 100-yr event water surface elevation. Further refinement of the
Grading and Drainage Plan may be necessary as this project progresses and final design begins.
It should be disclosed to prospective buyers that this area is next to a stream and that lands in this
area may become inundated during large events. Although no subdivisions lots are in the 100-
year floodplain as published by FEMA, it is recommended that prospective lot buyers consider
obtaining flood insurance due to proximity.
As the result of short lot setbacks and the proposed lot grading, driveways may tend to be steeper
than usual if a step between the first floor of the residence and the level of the garage floor is not
implemented. Not all lots will need this proposed step. However some lots that may benefit from
such a step are 20, 21, 22, 26, 40, 121, & 100. This is not a complete list and it may not be clear
if a particular lot needs a step until the some of the building details (such as driveway location) are
established.
Due to the acute angle formed between North View Road and the Legend’s Greenway Corridor, it
is possible that a small landscape retaining wall for the south west corner of lot 100 may be
needed. Creative landscaping may also accomplish the task of blending the 4 foot difference in
elevation. Again it is imperative that the lot finished grade and finished floor elevations be
adhered to.
There are areas along the south side of Bridger Creek that possess over-steepened banks, with
relative high rates of erosion. These areas are for the most part hundreds of feet away from
residential lots. However, it may be prudent to complete a bank stabilization assessment and
provide any necessary natural or soft bank stabilization efforts such as plantings now or in the
near future.
IV. The Storm Water Maintenance Plan
The maintenance of the onsite storm water collection, detention and discharge release
appurtenances shall be integrated as part of the duties of maintenance personnel responsible for
normal grounds keeping. Duties shall include routine inspections to ensure that debris, yard
waste, and seasonal ice does not impede operation of the detention ponds and discharge
structures. These inspections shall occur after each major runoff event and on a continued
monthly basis throughout the year. All results shall be recorded and kept on file for future
verification by regulation agencies. In addition to the routine inspections, annual inspections of
appurtenances shall assess and mitigate, if necessary, performance of the detention ponds, and
release structures. These inspections shall address accumulation of sediment and debris in the
detention ponds and release structures as well as any weather or vandalism-related damage.
Detention areas and swales shall be mowed on a regular basis during the growing season so as
to remain free of vegetation that might impede their conveyance capacity or ability to function.