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Shepherdsville outlines stormwater and drainage work targeting Blue Lake and downtown runoff
Summary
Council members and staff discussed ongoing drainage studies, soil testing and prioritized stormwater projects intended to move water more quickly from Blue Lake toward the river; staff said the work may address roughly 20–25% of the city's drainage burden but will not remove floodplain exposure.
City staff and council members described ongoing stormwater and drainage work focused on the Blue Lake area and the corridor toward U.S. 44 during the Jan. 13 council meeting.
Staff said geotechnical and soil testing are underway and a study contract was signed to evaluate the "blue line" drainage path. The work aims to identify specific storm lines and conveyance improvements to move water more quickly toward the river.
A council member asked whether a 96-inch drainage pipe would be required; staff said that specific pipe size was not confirmed in the meeting and that soil testing and design work will determine final dimensions. Staff confirmed they had "just signed documents today" to start the drainage study and noted some sites will require coordination with state agencies.
Officials said two connection projects (from Blue Lake to U.S. 44 and from U.S. 44 to the river) are an initial priority and could address an estimated 20% to 25% of the city's drainage problems. Staff also said some neighborhoods and roads have longstanding drainage deficiencies and that larger grants or low-interest loans are being pursued to fund significant work.
Public works, sewer and other departments were described as sharing equipment and capacity to reduce costs; staff said that partnering internally avoids third-party contracting in some cases. Staff emphasized that while drainage work can reduce localized standing water and backyard flooding, the city remains in a flood plain and large-scale flooding risks persist.
The mayor and council also discussed a pro bono design effort to regrade Conestoga's water flow and said some local repairs will be triaged by priority. Staff said work on smaller drainage repairs (e.g., Jackie Way, Center View, North Maple) will continue alongside the larger projects.
