Representatives from Strand Associates provided the commission with an update on the work completed since the project was adopted in March.
Project manager Michael Woolum reported that Strand's research has identified 23 problem areas in Paducah. Using the baseline model of a typical 10-year storm event, 75 structures would flood. For a 25-year flood event, 208 structures would experience flooding.
By comparison, Woolum said Paducah's flooding in July of 2015 was considered to be a 100-year storm event. During that event, 416 structures experienced flooding.
Specific problem areas mentioned were 25th at Park Avenue, 23rd at Clay Street, and Harrison and Madison at 24th Street. Woolum said that during a 10-year storm event, a total of 37 structures would experience flooding. As a comparison, during the 2015 event, 133 structures experienced flooding.
Another problem area is along Buckner Lane. For a 10-year storm event, a total of 6 structures would experience flooding. During the 2015 event, 32 structures experienced flooding.
To create the model, Strand included information submitted by city residents electronically and from public meetings held in July and November.
Woolum reported that the master plan development is on schedule. He said the project is challenging due to several factors including several watersheds - the Ohio River and river flood influences, the flood wall and pump stations, flat topography in the city but steeper topography outside city limits, as well as a complicated combined sewer system.
"We're using a tool in the urban area that's specifically designed for the kinds of conditions that the City of Paducah has with its flat topography in the downtown area," said Woolum.
Strand planning advisor John Lyons told the commission the next step in the Master Plan process will be to review the problem areas and establish ten priority areas for evaluation, then evaluate flood mitigation control options and prepare preliminary cost estimates.
For other action taken during the meeting, click on the link below.
On the Net:
Commission Meeting Highlights at city Website
