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Fayetteville council adds Buckhead Creek and Beavercreek 1 proposed stormwater projects to CIP
Summary
After presentations from city staff and consultants, the council agreed by consensus to include 33 proposed solutions for Buckhead Creek and 22 for Beavercreek 1 in the capital improvements program and to pursue grant funding; staff detailed sequencing, field verification and projected costs.
FAYETTEVILLE — The Fayetteville City Council on Thursday moved to program proposed stormwater projects from two watershed studies into the city's capital improvements program and authorized staff to pursue grants to help pay for them.
City staff and consultants told the council the watershed master-plan effort has identified more than 360 proposed solutions across 10 completed watersheds and that the total program estimate is roughly $1.2–$1.5 billion. Staff said the program was launched in 2018 and has been funded in part through the city's stormwater utility and targeted grants. “We’ve generated over 360 proposed solutions,” staff said during the presentation.
Consultants presented the Buckhead Creek and Beavercreek 1 studies as samples of the larger effort. Gradient consultant Sujit Eka said Buckhead Creek (about 8.6 square miles) produced 33 proposed solutions after a detailed evaluation; staff cited a watershed-total figure of about $156 million. Eka described a required sequencing for several priority projects near Ireland Drive and Village Drive — including culvert upsizing and bypass piping — so upstream and downstream work can function together. He said a sample pipe upgrade was estimated at roughly $3.6 million.
Arcadis’ Mark Van Aken reviewed Beavercreek 1, which moved 22 proposed solutions forward with an estimated cost of about $63.4 million. He highlighted five priority projects combining riverine (culvert) improvements and storm-sewer upsizing to reduce the number of impacted lane miles, road crossings and affected structures.
Council member Handels moved and council members agreed by consensus to approve the 33 Buckhead Creek proposed solutions for programming into CIP and to pursue grant opportunities. Later the council provided consensus to approve the 22 Beavercreek 1 proposed solutions. The chair recorded both votes as unanimous on the council floor.
City staff said the next step is a watershed strategic plan to prioritize delivery over the next 10–20 years, to refine sequencing and to field-verify proposed projects before advancing them to design and construction. Staff noted there are already roughly $50 million worth of projects in the design/construction pipeline and that the program will rely on a mix of stormwater funds, grants and potential revenue bonds as it seeks to accelerate delivery.
The council’s action does not appropriate construction funds; it authorizes staff to include the projects in CIP prioritization and pursue grant support. The watershed program is expected to return to council as projects move from study to design and bid-ready packages.
