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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-09-14 09-299 ORDERCOUNCIL ACTION Item No. n n99 Date: 9-14-09 Item/Subject: ORDER, Authorizing the City Manager to Apply for and Accept a Hazard Mitigation Grant from the Maine Emergency Management Agency — Stream Flow Gauges — Penobscot River and Kenduskeag Stream. Responsible Department: Fire Commentary: Periodically, reverse tidal flooding along the Penobscot River/Kenduskeag Stream causes flooding in our downtown area, primarily near the confluence of the river and stream. The largest recent event occurred in 1976 with lesser events in 2005 and 2007. In recent years, the Caribou office of the National Weather Service has periodically notified us of potential flooding events; however, the accuracy of these forecasts has been limited by lack of data on river and stream flows. The National Weather Service suggested that the City seek a grant is for the installation of gauges in the River and Stream that will allow for more timely and accurate prediction of potential flood events. Each gauge will cost approximately $20,000, with a local share of $5,000. In addition, the City will be responsible for maintaining these gauges once installed. Funding for the local share is available from the downtown tax increment financing district fund. This project will enhance our ability to better predict when flooding might occur and to take the necessary steps to relocate vehicles parked in low areas and to notify adjacent property owners of when problems might occur. In addition, it may reduce the frequency of closures and warnings in the area. Department Head Manager's Comments: This was discussed by the Government Operations Committee where a number of questions were raised regarding the gauges. Please see the attached memo that provides the requested information. The Committee agreed to forward this item to the Council pending the receipt of this additional information. �S�rZc< City Manager Associated Information: 14,,w d "' "" q Budget Approval: Legal Approval: Introduced for X Passage First Reading Referral 'I',/ ZZ, Finance Director City Solicitor Page _ of _ �9 299 Assigned to Councilor _ D' Errico September 14, 2009 CI`T'Y OF BANGOR (TITLE.) ORDER, Authorizing the City Manager to Apply for and Accept a Hazard Mitigation Grant from the Maine Emergency Management Agency — Stream Flow Gauges — Penobscot River and Kenduskeag Stream By the City Council of the City of Bangor. ORDERED, THAT the City Manager is hereby authorized to apply for and accept a Hazard Mitigation Grant from the Maine Emergency Management Agency in the amount of $30,000 for the purpose of installing stream flow gauges on the Penobscot River and the Kenduskeag Stream. BE IT FURTHER ORDERED THAT funding for the local match of $10,000 shall come from the Downtown Tax Increment Financing Fund. IN CITY COUNCIL September 14, 2009 Motion Made and Seconded for Passage Passed DEPUTY CI CLE ORDER (TITLE,) Aurhorizine the City Manager to Avvly for and -Accept a Hazard Mitigation ;Grant from the Maine Emergency Management Agency - Stream Flow Gauges - Penobscot River and Renduskeag Stream I �"Assigned to Councilor A 299 To: Honorable Council Chair and Members of the City Council Fr: Edward A. Barrett Su: Hazard Mitigation Grant — Gauges — Penobscot River and Kenduskeag Stream At the last Government Operations Committee meeting, there was considerable discussion regarding applying for and accepting a Hazard Mitigation Grant to install stream gauges in the Penobscot and Kenduskeag Streams. Cost Each gauge will cost $20,000 with 75% of the funding coming from the grant. The City will be required to provide a cash match of $5,000 per location, or $10,000 in total. A breakdown of the cost for each gauge is as follows: Site Selection $1,300 Gauge Preparation and Installation 2,320 Site Configuration 1,040 Materials 1,807 Equipment 13,533 TOTAL $20,000 These costs have been reviewed by City Engineer Jim Ring who finds them appropriate and in line with costs for similar installations elsewhere. Location One gauge will be located near the Washington Street crossing of the Kenduskeag Stream and will be used to measure river height, particularly as it is influenced by tides. The second gauge will be located on the Kenduskeag Stream just above six mile falls and will be used to measure stream flow. Final site selection will be determined during a site visit by representatives of the United States Geological Survey and the national weather service. Purpose The National Weather Service Office in Caribou is responsible for forecasting high impact weather scenarios within its forecast area. One of the most difficult of these is reverse tidal flooding along the Penobscot that normally occur when a strong coastal storm moves inland from Penobscot Bay parallel to the River and in conjunction with elevated river levels/and or high tides. The NWS is working toward a full spectrum of hydometeorologic observations, event modeling, timely forecasts, and event verification to provide timely warnings of flood events. Specifically, NWS is working with the Northeast River Forecast Center to develop a model of the river for prediction purposes. At this time, however, there is no way to gather data on the Penobscot and Kenduskeag streams that is necessary to refine and validate this model. The next closest river gauge is located 7 miles upstream of Bangor in Eddington. At this location, it is above most tidal influences. Tidal effects for the Penobscot are estimated using data from Bar Harbor, nearly 50 miles away. The gauge on the Kendukeag will assist by providing flow information upstream of Bangor. 9 299 The overall intent is to provide better data and warnings to the City so that we can take the necessary steps to close parking areas subject to flooding and inform property owners of potential risks so that they can take steps to mitigate losses. Maintenance Costs The annual cost of maintenance will be $4,800 for the Penobscot River gauge and $6,100 for the Kenduskeag Stream Gauge. This later cost is reduced from $12,200 due to an agreement on the part of the USGS to participate in the cost of that gauge. The City will enter into a maintenance agreement with the USGS. USGS is seeking a minimum three year commitment to fund this maintenance. Maintenance is provided annually and as necessary during the year. The cost also covers numerous field visits to insure that the gauges are properly calibrated. The majority of the installation is on the river or stream bank and maintenance will rarely require work in or above the stream. Annual maintenance also covers any costs resulting from damage or vandalism, including complete replacement if necessary. Maintenance is dispatched from the USGS office in Augusta and is provided next day, Monday through Friday, during normal working hours. When hazardous weather threatens, emergency responses are provided to ensure gauge operation at those times. Since the Penobscot gauge will provide data that is of use to our treatment plant operations, particularly in regard to storage tanks located near the river and stream, we would suggest that 50% of the maintenance cost for that installation be funded by the Sewer Fund. The remaining half plus the cost of maintaining the Kenduskeag Gauge, will come from the General Fund. Appearance Depending on the installation, the equipment can be housed in either a small gauge house or in what resembles an outdoor electrical panel. Installations are vandal resistant. Other Gauge Locations At the present time, the 73 stream gauges are located in Maine and monitored by the USGS. For details, please go to http://waterdata.usgs.gov/me/nwis/current/?type=flow Data Availability Data from the proposed gauges, as well as the 73 elsewhere in the state, will be available to the City, the NWS, USGS, and the public in real time on this web site. Data is transmitted via wireless radio. Power Source These units are powered by solar power. Recommendation Staff recommends Council approval. These installations will improve our ability to provide advanced warning of potential flooding events in and around the confluence of the Penobscot and Kenduskeag. They will also be of assistance in future efforts to refine the floodway and A 299 flood plains of the river and stream, especially given the proposal to remove several upstream dams. In addition, improved predictions will also potentially reduce the number of unnecessary warnings and the disruptions they represent. Given the extent of property damage that accurate warnings can reduce, the cost/benefit of such installations is exceptionally high.