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Stormwater project helps Paseo Road residents

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Contributed by: Carrie McCausland on 4/23/2008

One criticism that Stormwater Enterprise Manager Ken Sampley occasionally hears, is an assumption that you have to live on a stream to benefit from Stormwater Enterprise funding. Homeowners Mark and Barbara Crane are relieved that isn't true.

The City has begun construction on a crosspan and drainage ditch connection to eliminate recurring flooding to the Crane's Paseo Road home. Not only will they get a break from the sand bags, but drivers on Paseo will no longer have to navigate the expanse of standing water that forms with each major rainfall. The solution will take the water coming from public streets and a park and safely redirect it. At $48,700 it's not an expensive project, but it's one that would have never been possible before creation of the Stormwater Enterprise.

Prior to establishment of the Stormwater Enterprise, there was little or no funding available for small scale emergency stormwater drainage repairs reported by citizens. Many of these problem areas fall within neighborhoods and cause continuing damage to both public and private property. Stormwater Enterprise fees mean many of these long-standing problems can now be addressed. Though there is a backlog of such complaints to tackle, the enterprise is now able to budget $900,000 per year to help solve these issues.

"It's rewarding to be able to fix these long-standing flooding issues," said Sampley. "The tendency is to focus on the larger creeks, but problems like this are critical to property owners.

In 2007, three small scale emergency stormwater drainage projects were completed and several more were in progress. At lease seven more problem areas throughout the community, including the Paseo project, are slated for improvements in 2008.

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CONTRIBUTOR INFO

Carrie McCausland

Colorado Springs , CO

Carrie McCausland has posted 16 stories and 1 comment since joining on 2/26/2007. Carrie McCausland 's average story rating is 5.

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