Stormwater Master Plan

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The primary objective of this study is to identify and assess areas with drainage related issues within the Village of Palm Springs, provide site evaluations and analysis for each area, provide schematic designs and determine proposed improvements to alleviate the drainage issues and provide estimated construction costs related to the drainage improvements.

Areas with drainage related issues were identified by Village Staff, reports from Village residents or identified by field reviews following rainfall events. In addition to field observations, the assessment for these areas included various research and tasks including:

1. Review of GIS information and record drawings provided by the Village.

2. SFWMD records research

3. FDOT records research

4. Meetings and coordination with regulatory agencies

5. Topographic LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging)

6. Official Records and Plat review

In general, a large number of the isolated drainage issues could be partially or completely alleviated by re-establishing the originally-intended drainage swales and the implementation of routine maintenance protocols. A comprehensive condition assessment of the Village’s drainage system should be conducted to catalog the assets, assess the condition, forecast replacement needs and costs, develop a maintenance plan, and to clean and televise inlets and culverts to determine when future improvements or maintenance activities will become necessary.

Hydraulic and hydrological analyses were conducted to determine the extent of the drainage basins, evaluate impacts to surrounding or downstream drainage systems and evaluate proposed improvements.

Recommendations for improvements were provided for each area of concern and are depicted on the schematic design exhibits. The recommended improvements were prioritized for future implementation based upon several factors such as density/use, severity of flooding, safety, etc.

The following is a list of the prioritized areas with the estimated costs for the proposed improvements:

In addition, it is recommended that the Village conduct a comprehensive assessment of the Village’s drainage infrastructure to assess and evaluate needed improvements and replacement to the existing drainage assets and establish a routine maintenance protocol.

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND

The Village has been experiencing standing water conditions and other various drainage concerns in localized areas throughout the municipality. The Village of Palm Springs authorized Keshavarz & Associates, Inc. (Village Task Order No. 212) to conduct a drainage system assessment and evaluation for the areas of concern. These areas were preliminary identified by Village staff and residents and have been confirmed through field visits where standing water has been observed more than a day after rainfall events.

The scope of work associated with this assessment included various levels of investigation ranging from:

1. Review of construction / record drawings provided by the Village

2. Review of the Village GIS database

3. SFWMD records research and review

4. FDOT records research and review

5. Official Records and plat research and review for easements, ownership and encumbrances.

6. Field visits in wet and dry conditions

7. Meetings with regulatory agencies

8. Topographic survey acquisition

9. GIS database updates

10. Hydraulic/Hydrological analysis

11. Drainage evaluations and assessments

12. Prioritization

13. Schematic design

14. Estimates of probable construction costs

Areas of Concern and Village of Palm Springs Municipal Boundary

South Florida Water Management District Permits within Village

OBJECTIVE

The primary objective is to provide the Village with an assessment of each area of concern with recommendations necessary for the development of implementable drainage improvement projects. Towards this objective, areas of concern will be assessed and recommendations for improvements and repairs will be provided along with associated estimates of probable construction costs for budgetary purposes.

Areas of Concern Reviewed and Assessed in the Field

Please note that areas 26-30 were excluded from the schematic design phase.

ASSESSMENT & EVALUATION

PRELIMINARY REVIEW OF AVAILABLE RECORDS, DATA & DOCUMENTATION

The initial phase of this assessment included familiarization with the existing drainage infrastructure and facilities within the Village. A GIS database was generated with available information and data used to review the drainage facilities and infrastructure throughout the Village as whole. The Village provided GIS based information with their known drainage infrastructure including:

• Catch basin locations
• Stormwater pipe and culvert locations
• Weir and outfall locations
• Swale locations
• Stormwater retention areas

A GIS database was created with this information and other information collected and obtained for this analysis including:

• Roadway centerlines and identification of the public agency responsible for  maintenance of each roadway
• South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD or District) surface water management and environmental resource permits
• 2017 Aerial Photographs
• Palm Beach County Property Appraiser parcel and right-of-way outlines and property owner information 
• FEMA Flood Zones
• Municipal boundary lines
• Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) data for topography and approximate land elevations, dated 2007-2008, as made available by           SFWMD

The GIS database was used to evaluate the drainage facilities and infrastructure throughout the Village. Road rights-of-way and other areas of Village responsibility were reviewed with existing Village drainage infrastructure and SFWMD permitted stormwater management facilities. Based upon this review, sections of the Village were identified with little to no known or permitted drainage facilities, which were closely reviewed in the field with the goal of identifying potential drainage issues, verifying connections between areas, locating the point of final outfall (if any), and evaluating potential improvements to the system.

Additional records were obtained and reviewed consisting of:

• PBC roadway construction plans
• 10th Avenue North
• Kirk Road
• FDOT construction plans
• Military Trail
• Lake Worth Road
• Congress Avenue
• Village Land Development Records
• Official Records and Plat review
• Topographic Survey Acquisition
• Historical Aerial Photographs

A sample of some of the information contained within the GIS database can be viewed on the following page. This exhibit displays the catch basins and drainage pipes throughout the Village. The catch basin are displayed based upon the ownership and maintenance entity responsible for the asset. Village catch basins are displayed slightly larger in green, FDOT in blue, PBC in magenta and privately owned in red.

GIS Drainage System Map

AREA ASSESSMENTS

Field investigations occurred in multiple stages throughout the assessment process. First, the areas of concern originally identified by the Village were reviewed following rainfall events. Standing water and other various drainage related concerns were photographed and documented for further evaluation. The remaining portions of the Village were also reviewed in the field with emphasis on areas previously identified as having little to no known drainage infrastructure. Additional areas were identified during these field investigations, which were later confirmed by the Village staff and included for assessment and evaluation. General characteristics regarding the location and severity of the observed issues, existing drainage infrastructure and outfall configuration were considered. Standing water conditions, when observed, were characterized by the type of area affected (swale, shoulder, driveway entrance, roadway, private property).

Example of standing water observed. This photograph is looking at the intersection of Davis Road and Jamaica Road. Areas of Concern / Improvement Project No. 6

Each area of concern was also reviewed in dry conditions to observe the existing drainage infrastructure, if applicable, adjacent or nearby drainage facilities, and to determine possible solutions to address the observed conditions. Exhibits generated from the GIS information were field-checked during observations of the affected areas and associated drainage systems. The GIS database was updated to reflect all field-acquired data of the drainage infrastructure.

Based upon the observed conditions, further analysis was performed as needed to provide schematic design and recommendations for improvements. A list of areas requiring maintenance related attention was provided to the Village for immediate implementation, which included Line Drive and Forest Lane.

EVALUATION

Further investigation and site-specific evaluations were conducted for areas requiring:

1. Modifications to the existing drainage system

2. Areas that could have adverse impacts on surrounding areas

3. Require direct connections to drainage systems owned by others (FDOT/LWDD)

4. Where existing drainage systems and historic drainage patterns were not evident from available records or field observations.

Where necessary, additional review of record drawings, property records, permits, and land development files was conducted to establish historical drainage patterns, locate platted easements and restrictions, or establish the intended outfall location of an area. In some cases, additional survey data was acquired to verify the existence of connections between various surface water management components, drainage basins and outfalls.

Drainage basin boundaries were determined based upon topography as depicted in the available Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data dated 2007-2008. The results of the site-specific evaluations are contained within the individual project areas section of this report. 

1960 Record Drawings for Lake Worth Road and the rerouting of the LWDD L-12 Canal from the south side of Lake Worth Road south ¼ of a mile. This records search along with meetings and coordination with FODT led to understanding the historic drainage patterns within the area and available capacity with FDOT’s system.

SCHEMATIC DESIGNS

Conceptual-level schematic designs were generated for each area based upon the available information (GIS records, record drawings, field observations, etc.). The intent of these schematic designs is to illustrate the pertinent features of the drainage area, outline the general construction classifications and procedures for addressing the issues, and establish an approximate magnitude of financial commitment required to address each area.

Schematic Design for Improvement Project No. 8 Boatman Street

It should be noted that the accuracy of topographic LiDAR information used in this study is not suitable for construction drawings. For the purposes of this analysis, full replacement of existing driveways and regrading of swales was assumed. The locations of the proposed drainage improvements, driveway improvements, etc. will need to be reviewed based upon topographic survey information obtained within the design phase of each project.

RECOMMENDATIONS

General Recommendations

Cleaning and videoing existing drainage pipes will restore the system’s designed conveyance capacity, provide a thorough inspection for scheduling maintenance activities, serve as a sound basis for planning inevitable system upgrades and replacements, and help establish approximate financial parameters for future operation of the system. It is in the interest of the Village to prepare an inventory of its stormwater system for the purposes of developing a maintenance plan.

Collection of suspended solids is a result of most swale systems function, and periodic inspection and maintenance is required for the removal of these materials to maintain suitable performance. Development of a protocol for routine inspection, assessment and maintenance is recommended for all overland and piped components to prevent costs associated with drainage system failures.

Improvement Project Recommendations

Specific recommendations have been provided for each of concerns within the respective project areas. Recommendations based on available data are outlined in each improvement project and are illustrated on the associated schematic designs.

Schematic designs, quantities and estimated costs go beyond simply alleviating the immediate symptoms of drainage system underperformance and establish a permanent, constructible, and manageable infrastructure to address both present and future issues that may arise in these areas.

These recommendations are intended to serve only as guidelines for the future development of detailed engineering solutions. From a design standpoint, final implementation of these recommendations will require topographic survey acquisition, engineering design, maintenance activities (inlet/pipe cleaning), or additional modeling. From an administrative standpoint, decisions made by the Village regarding the extent, timing, and financing of specific remedies may also result in changes to the design, construction, or associated costs.

PRIORITIZATION

Ranking priorities were assigned based on several criteria including (in no particular order):

1. Severity of the issue as depicted in photographs

2. Extent of the issue as depicted in photographs and in conjunction with examination of GIS data for existing stormwater management features

3. Recent additions to the Flood Insurance Rate Map areas of increased flood risk

4. Flood Zone as listed in the FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) designations

5. Indications from topography that the elevation of the area is generally lower than those of adjacent and surrounding areas based on 2007-2008 LIDAR data

6. Intensity of use and/or number of residences affected

7. Potential risk to health, safety, and/or property

Generalized priority rankings were assigned to the remaining areas to assist the Village in decision making activities related to scheduling, funding, and implementing proposed improvements; the first phase of project 1 and project 2 have been implemented and should be constructed this year:

EXCLUDED AREAS

Areas were excluded from this study for the following reasons:

1. Issues appear to be non-drainage related (i.e., pavement failure)

2. Where simple maintenance activities are recommended (such as removal of sediment from a blocked catch basin, etc.)

3. The correction work does not require permits or engineering design

4. Responsibility for the affected roadway lies with another public agency.

IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS

Improvement Projects have been developed for each area of concern to alleviate the associated drainage issue. The following tabs contain the information associated for each Improvement Projects organized to provide independently comprehensive overviews of each specific area and sorted by priority. Tab 1 contains the information associated with 2nd Avenue North: Lake Worth Road to South Congress Avenue. Sections within the tabs for each Improvement Project include:

 Description of the drainage issue(s) observed

 Photographs

 Existing drainage conditions within or adjacent to the project area

 Recommended Improvements

 Regulatory agencies with jurisdiction

 Estimates of costs for the proposed improvements