Barge Design Group Close To Finishing Livingston Flood Study

Barge Design Group expects to have a solution to Livingston’s flooding issues by next month’s Board of Aldermen meeting.

That according to Vice President Adrian Ward. Ward said the company is looking at the city’s pipe infrastructure to determine how much water can be carried away from Dillon Pond.

“That will give us the volume and drainage area. We’ve started looking at drainage areas, how much water’s feeding into the [pond],” Ward said. “This surveying of the pipes is how much coming in plus how much is going out. Our goal is that we can throttle it back enough and use the existing pipes without upgrading them because that would be the cheapest option for you all.”

Ward discussed the status of the study during Monday’s Board of Aldermen meeting. He said draining storm water into existing drainage systems would be the city’s best option.

“Your existing storm sewer system from the hill down until it gets to 4th Street floats between a 15-18 inch [pipe]. That’s pretty much a minimum,” Ward said. “That being said, that means the drainage areas coming to it are probably fairly small. With definitely several hundred acres draining into the pond, it’s going to take a lot longer for it to hit the pond and for the pond to react before it is these localized drainage systems.”

Ward said Barge will likely conclude the modeling phase of its study by the end of next week.

“We were shooting towards [Aug. 4] to have the report wrapped-up and have something to present to you all,” Ward said. “That would be results of the modeling, what we think we need to do, and then a cost estimate for any lake improvements or sinkhole improvements.”

The City of Livingston experienced severe flooding after heavy rainfall moved through the region in February. The floods closed major city roadways including the intersection of Highway 111 and Highway 52 while damaging several homes and businesses in the process.

Livingston’s next Board of Mayor and Aldermen meetings takes place Monday, Aug. 5 beginning at 6 p.m.