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Knoxville Battles Rising Floodwaters
14 Jul
Summary
- Knoxville is undertaking a $4.3 million inventory of its stormwater infrastructure.
- A $598,000 contract was approved to evaluate inventory results and find funding.
- An $8.4 million effort is underway to fix known flooding and water quality issues.
Recent intense storms on the night of July 12th caused significant flash flooding in Knoxville, leading to impassable streets, road closures, and water entering businesses and homes. This event highlighted the city's ongoing struggle with stormwater management, particularly in urban areas where paved surfaces limit water absorption.
The city has embarked on a comprehensive, multiyear initiative to address these challenges. A $4.3 million inventory of approximately 45,000 stormwater infrastructure components, including pipes and catch basins, has been largely completed. Some of these systems are over 80 years old and were not previously documented.
Following the inventory, the city council approved a $598,000 contract to analyze the findings and identify potential funding sources for necessary upgrades. Concurrently, an $8.4 million project is in progress to rectify existing flooding and water quality problems.
Specific improvement projects include replacing a deteriorated pipe with a concrete box culvert on Cherry Street for an estimated $3.1 million and allocating funds for flood control on Baum and Erin drives ($618,000). Additionally, a study of the Loves Creek watershed, examining flooding at Chilhowee Park's Lake Ottosee, received $358,000. Funding for these endeavors is primarily sourced from federal American Rescue Plan Act grants.
