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CAP Board accepts Capital Area Stormwater Management Study; thanks watershed district
Summary
The board accepted a multi-agency stormwater study prepared with the Capitol Region Watershed District that identifies priority sites and concepts for large-scale green infrastructure; the resolution expresses gratitude and signals continued partnership for planning and implementation.
The Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board on April 3 voted to accept the Capital Area Stormwater Management Study, a joint analysis prepared with the Capitol Region Watershed District that identifies priority sites and concepts for multi-benefit green stormwater projects across the CAP Board area.
Anna O'Leary, administrator of the Capitol Region Watershed District, presented key findings. She said the study screened the area for existing conditions, identified four priority sites with conceptual treatments and carried out a triple-bottom-line analysis (water-quality, economic and social benefits). O'Leary highlighted the former Sears site (about 17 acres on site, with potential to treat runoff from a much larger drainage area, up to roughly 100 acres in concepts presented), a Rice Creek corridor concept, an intersection-area treatment near University and Rice Streets (concepts treating on the order of 60 acres) and opportunities to reuse stormwater to irrigate the Capitol grounds.
"We examined opportunities to treat rainwater as a resource, as opposed to a liability," O'Leary told the board, adding that only about 10% of the capital area currently has stormwater management practiced at scale.
CAP Board staff and consultants emphasized that the study is an advisory analysis and not a regulatory plan. The board's resolution accepts the study, thanks the Capitol Region Watershed District and consultant team, and affirms continued collaboration to pursue planning and implementation steps. Board members praised the partnership and noted the study's potential to identify construction and lifecycle-cost efficiencies through larger-scale projects.
What happens next: staff and the watershed district plan to address implementation barriers identified in the study and pursue the recommended project concepts in partnership with local agencies and property owners. The study is available on the CAP Board and watershed district websites.
Provenance: study presentation and board resolution occurred during the stormwater agenda item; the board adopted a resolution of acceptance and appreciation.
