Ormond Beach's 10-year stormwater master plan update in the works

Ormond Beach Observer
News

The city of Ormond Beach is currently working to update its stormwater master plan, which will create the roadmap for projects to improve stormwater management and coastal resilience for the next decade.

Back in Jan. 27, the city held a workshop at the Ormond Beach Senior Center to discuss the plan's process, and residents in the priority areas were invited to provide input. Some of those areas include residents who live near Sanchez, Cumberland and Putnam avenues.

“There’s been a lot of historic flooding in that area from the creek there," City Engineer Shawn Finley said. :We had some water in the streets after Hurricane Irma.”

The meeting was attended by about 30 people, he said. Another area of concern for the city is between U.S. 1 and the Halifax River, both north and south of Granada Boulevard.

Mark Ellard, senior principal water resources and environmental engineer for Geosyntec Consultants, said the update is still in the initial stages. There are seven phases, with the last being the City Commission reviewing the plan in a workshop. Currently, the consultants are working on gathering data.

“When you get updated data for what’s going on now that may be relevant to the program and getting information from residents about their problems, issues and questions — it's an important part of the initial phase," Ellard said.

Ormond Beach's flood risks include heavy rainfall, storm surge, groundwater and tidal flooding, and all impact the city's stormwater plan update, he said. Now is the time for residents facing stormwater issues to make their needs known.

“Even though it’s after the meeting, any input that the public may have in the process is valuable," Ellard said.

The city was able to complete virtually every project in the last stormwater master plan, said Finley. It is still working the second phase of the Central Park stormwater project.

Thanks to having a plan in place, Finley said the city was able to obtain $10-12 million in funding from FEMA the state Department of Emergency Management.

“It’s one of the most critical documents we have in engineering to help us plan out our projects and get them accomplished," Finley said.