CFA - Drainage Design Projects






		McKinley Arts Center In 2009, CFA was contacted by City of Reno hydrology staff to assist in the design and implementation of a demonstration low impact development project at the McKinley Arts Center. The former McKinley Park School was constructed in 1910 and renovated in 1999 into the Arts and Culture Center. The project includes landscape design for a bio-retention system and a parking area with permeable concrete paving. Concrete swales convey roof run off to infiltration areas away from the foundations and basement walls of the historic building. Decorative cobbles at swale surfaces allow deposition of sediment that could interfere with the function of the bio-retention basins. Planting design takes into account the historic nature of the building while working with the specific challenges of low water use and possible inundation at the bio-retention basins. Landscape and irrigation improvements were coordinated with existing sprinklers and vegetation on site. The project included working with City of Reno Parks and Public Works staff and McKinley Arts Center personnel for compliance with construction standards and the needs of the art center. Public art opportunities were identified in the work area through the design process. The scope of the project included developing preliminary design concepts, a charrette workshop with the staff, and preparation of construction drawings and bid documents. CFA provided fee services and pro-bono work for the project.

	Summit Sierra Channel	Summit Sierra Channel and LOMR The Summit Sierra is a 72-acre master-planned retail development at the intersection of Mt. Rose Highway and South Virginia Street. The property is bisected by the southernmost branch of Whites Creek, which is mapped as a FEMA Zone A (100-year flood). CFA performed hydrologic and hydraulic calculations and modified a previously prepared design for a flood channel to reroute the 100-year storm flows along the perimeter of the development. This flood channel was completed in December 2005. CFA prepared and submitted an application for a Letter of Map Revision (LOMR), which was issued by FEMA in March 2006, thereby, removing the developed portions of the property from the 100-year flood zone.

	Construction Photo Near Completion Photo	Truckee River Levee and Floodwall Award-Winning Project CFA prepared final civil and landscape plans for 2,300± linear feet of levee and floodwall on the south side of the Truckee River between U.S. 395 and the East Second Street/Glendale Avenue bridge. The design includes a paved multi-use trail on the river side as part of a future regional trail system. This project was necessary to protect adjacent properties from overbank flooding in major storm events up to the 117-year (1997) flood event. Construction of the project will allow improvements to be made on those properties, thus raising land values, supporting safe public access to the river, and improving the overall quality of the neighborhood. As part of the Truckee River Flood Mitigation Project, the design required extensive coordination with numerous agencies, stakeholders, and consultants, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Washoe County Department of Public Works, Truckee Meadows Water Authority, Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, Nevada Division of State Lands, Nevada Department of Transportation, Schaaf & Wheeler (hydraulics), Kleinfelder (geotechnical), and CEI Engineering Associates, Inc. (adjacent site design). The project was completed in August 2009. A celebration in honor of the completion was held on September 24, 2009. In addition to fulfilling a need for flood protection along the south bank of the Truckee River in the 117 year (1997) flood event, the project required: Coordination with multiple adjacent property owners and stakeholders. Coordination with local, state, and federal agencies, including the Army Corps of Engineers. Consideration of opportunities for recreation and public access. Design for handling interior drainage. Consideration of existing utilities. CFA also prepared final landscape plans for the levee and treatments along the river side of the floodwall. Since the land is part of the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, design solutions took into account the cultural heritage of three Great Basin Tribes -- the Paiute, the Shoshone, and the Washoe. The design includes a paved multi-use trail on the river side as part of a future regional trail system and linear park where historic cultural life styles will be explored. The design process included visual analysis of the completed structures from the City of Sparks Fisherman’s Park across the Truckee River. Plans included the design of concrete form liners creating patterns to reduce the visual impact of the floodwall. The design also included coordination of the path with river hydraulic modeling and suitable re-vegetation along the levee portion of the structure in conformance with Corps of Engineers requirements to further reduce visual impacts. Landscape improvements were coordinated with existing adjacent riparian vegetation zones and removal of selected invasive weeds. CFA’s services also included evaluation of construction proposals and construction observation. This project has been selected for two awards – the 2010 APWA Environmental Project-of-the-Year for the State of Nevada for projects less than $5 million and the 2010 “Outstanding Achievement in Civil Engineering-Environmental” from the regional branch of the American Society of Civil Engineers.

	Typical Bailey Canyon Channel Bailey Canyon Flooding near Toll Road, December 31, 2005	Bailey Canyon Basin Drainage Study CFA completed a comprehensive storm water drainage study of the Bailey Canyon Basin in June of 2006. The 15-square mile watershed is located southeast of Reno and ultimately discharges into Steamboat Creek near Geiger Grade. The purpose of the study was to improve the 100-year stormflow estimates from the basin and to quantify the flow amount crossing Geiger Grade to the north. The flow estimates were used to design existing and future storm drain facilities within the Curti Ranch subdivisions. The study included a detailed site survey and the development of a HEC-HMS hydrologic model to estimate the 100-year stormflow of about 2,900 cfs. A new storm frequency distribution based on the latest NOAA Atlas precipitation data was developed to improve the rainfall pattern. The model was also validated by comparing the results with a similar calibrated gauged basin and with other hydrologic methodologies including the Green and Ampt loss method, regression, and frequency analysis. A HEC-RAS hydraulic model was developed to determine the approximate flow split near the intersection of Toll Road and Geiger Grade. From this analysis, it was estimated that approximately 350 cfs would cross Geiger Grade in the event of a 100-year/24-hour storm event.

		Incline Village Elementary School – BMP Retrofit In the fall of 2009, the Washoe County School District transferred all remaining students and staff from the old Incline Village Elementary School site at 771 Southwood Blvd. to the newly expanded elementary school located at 915 Northwood Blvd. As part of the Southwood Blvd. school closure, TRPA required that the Washoe County School District install permanent BMPs and rehabilitate the playground facilities. CFA contracted with the WCSD to provide topographic mapping, civil engineering, and landscape architecture design for this project. We worked closely with TRPA, Washoe County, and the Incline Village General Improvement District to prepare a storm water runoff management design and revegetation plan that preserved the existing site trees and integrated new landscaping with the natural surroundings. The project is currently under review by TRPA and Washoe County. Construction is anticipated to begin in July, 2011.

		Incline High School - BMP Retrofit The existing Incline Village High School located at 499 Village Boulevard was required to install an on-site underground infiltration system. The system was installed as part of a Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) Best Management Practices (BMP) retrofit program. Storm water runoff is collected from all on-site impervious areas in a catch basin. A piping network directs all flows to the infiltration basin. Water collected in the infiltration basin percolates into the ground as opposed to running off of the site. CFA provided surveying, final civil improvement drawings, and preparation and processing entitlements through Washoe County. The project was constructed in 2009.

		923 Tahoe Boulevard—BMP Retrofit The existing commercial project at 923 Tahoe Boulevard was conditioned by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) to install an on-site surface water collection and infiltration system. CFA was contacted in March 2004 to provide surveying, civil design, and permitting for this project. The design for this site included storm water collection and conveyance by means of retrofit curb and gutter, subsurface piping, sand/oil separation, and subsurface infiltration. CFA provided an existing conditions base map, final civil/landscape improvement drawings, and TRPA required BMP retrofit applications, forms, and checklists as part of the permitting process.

		Sierra Star Master Drainage Study CFA prepared a master drainage study for the Sierra Star Master Plan in Mammoth Lakes, California. The study, which covers an area of approximately one square mile, estimated the existing- and post-development runoff rates. The Corps of Engineers HEC-HMS hydrology model was utilized in the analysis along with other hydraulic models to determine flow splits and diversions. Potential drainage alternatives were investigated to mitigate runoff increases due to development including detention and diversion.

		Curti Ranch Master Drainage Plan Award-Winning Project The Curti Ranch Master Drainage Plan was a major component in a 567-unit subdivision site developed in Washoe County. The drainage from the pre-developed site was characterized by uncontrolled sheet flow conditions. Due to the lack of storm facilities or drainage easements downstream, concentrated stormflow was spread out to match existing sheetflow conditions. The Curti Ranch Drainage Plan was a complex solution that mitigated drainage impacts to downstream properties. The drainage plan includes three significant elements. First, a detention pond was designed to capture sediment and to reduce the peak discharge, which facilitated matching of flow quantities downstream of the project. Second, linear flow spread structures were designed to spread the concentrated flows to sheetflow conditions similar to existing conditions. The flow spread structures were also designed so that they may be converted to channels once drainage facilities are constructed downstream. Third, the Chandler Ditch was relocated. Because of the complexity of the ditch’s components (culverts, siphon, lateral weir, and adverse slopes), HEC-RAS was utilized for hydraulic and backwater calculations. In 2004, CFA received the Outstanding Achievement in Civil Engineering Award from the local chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers for the effort and ingenuity put forth on this project.

		Evans Creek Restoration Award-Winning Project Evans Creek was restored as part of Mountain View Corporate Center, a 39-acre business park located in Southwest Reno immediately west of I-580 and south of Del Monte Lane. The project team consisted of CFA, Inc. (prime civil engineering consultant), Myers Design Engineering, Inc. (restoration consultant), and CSCON (wetland mitigation consultant). The project involved the restoration of an already degraded and unstable channel to a more natural-appearing and natural-functioning state. A half-acre wetland was also created in the floodplain to offset the disturbance of an existing jurisdictional wetland. The wetland mitigation was authorized by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under a Nationwide 27 Permit (stream and wetland restoration). The pre-restoration condition of the stream was characterized by vertical instability including over-steepened and eroded banks, active headcutting, and knickpoints. These characteristics indicated an intermediate evolutionary stage of an incising channel system that is entrenched and no longer connected to its former active floodplain. Stream restoration on this site accomplishes the following goals: Improves water quality by minimizing bed and bank erosion. Restores riparian vegetation and minimizes the need for hard lining materials. Reduces maintenance requirements. Provides compatibility with both aquatic and terrestrial forms of wildlife. To accomplish these goals, the slower gradient reaches of the stream were constructed as a meandering bankfull channel within a wider floodplain. In the higher gradient reaches of the stream, vortex weir drop structures, riffles (rapids), and plunge pools were incorporated into the design to dissipate channel velocities and mimic a step-pool channel system. Hydric soil in the existing wetland was blended with gravel (for scour control) and placed on the active floodplain to increase the potential of wetland re-establishment. CFA, Myers Design Engineering, and CSCON were awarded the 2004 Washoe County Design Award of Distinction for the Evans Creek Restoration Project. << Back to top >>

		Master Drainage Studies A master drainage study is prepared at the outset of development as a road map for design of drainage facilities within each phase of development. The master drainage study must identify key drainage issues affecting the project and provide economical, code-compliant solutions. Below is a sampling of the master drainage studies that CFA has prepared for projects in Reno, Sparks, and Washoe County: ArrowCreek (1,090 lots) Spanish Springs Village (600 lots) Eagle Canyon (493 lots) Bridle Path Subdivision (351 lots) Oasis Bluffs (864 units) Monte Vista Village (20-acre office and retail development) FireCreek Crossing (70-acre shopping center) Summit Sierra (72-acre shopping center) Mt. Rose Station (89-acre hotel/casino and retail development)

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