Forrest Manor Storm Sewer Project

The Forrest Manor Storm Sewer Project was a unique and innovative project undertaken on behalf of properties along Lake Huron that are included in a special assessment district established to manage stormwater discharge under the authority of the St. Clair County Drain Commissioner.

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The original design of the system was simplistic and accomplished under criteria that reflected middle 20th century understanding of development and discharge of runoff.  As “dilution was the solution to pollution”, the storm system was designed to collect the runoff generated by two small private subdivisions and pass through adjacent properties to the Galbraith Drain then ultimately flow into Lake Huron as wastewater.

 

As the original concept of the Forrest and Manor subdivisions was as a lower income cottage community served by two-track streets, the runoff volumes were small and the impacts to Lake Huron were considered minimal. That view remained true until the 1970’s when larger homes, paved roads, combined lots, paved patios, accessory buildings, sanitary sewers, water distribution and other utilities were replaced or added. Within this period, occupation of the properties became year-round and the amount of land creating runoff increased as did the sediment load and chemical impurity of the stormwater.

 

The roads were not paved or designed with a drainage system in mind, leaving ills of uncoordinated development and poor quality drainage burdening the subdivision.

Additionally, in the 1970’s MDOT began a program of increasing the nearby highway capacity and safety improvements without addressing storm water runoff.

 

By the time the residents called the St. Clair County Drain Office for action, the regulatory environment and the design criteria for residential storm water management had advanced considerably. This project sought to retrofit the subdivisions and adjacent lands in the district to manage surface water runoff as well as subsurface water conditions. In doing this we were able to effect the development and treatment of discharge in such a way as to comply with St. Clair County's NPDES discharge permit and provide a reduced discharge footprint of cleaner water to Lake Huron.

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These goals have been accomplished through the efforts of the St. Clair County Drain Office with the assistance of BMJ Engineers and Surveyors, Inc. as lead technical expert with a team of sub-consultants, contractors, suppliers, and government agencies. Among the members of the team were FTCH, Inc, McDowell and Associates Inc., USDA-Rural Development, Raymond Excavating Co., Ace Asphalt Co., St.

Clair Irrigation and Nursery, Northern Concrete Pipe, Inc., ADS, Mersino Dewatering and PaveDrain, Inc.

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The completion of the system in late 2016 and early 2017 marked an important milestone of the project when direct discharge to the waters of Lake Huron was curtailed to zero for a 6 month period until the spring of 2017. Between the time of the connection of the outfall to Lake Huron until heavy spring rains in 2017, 100% street, yard and roof run-off from the subdivisions was infiltrated into a trench manifold system under the streets and parks of the subdivision. Improvements to the remainder of the system and isolation of the original outfall into the Galbraith Drain were similarly unburdened as the subdivision flows were disconnected from pipes serving mostly wooded parcels.

 

This project was completed using financing from USDA-Rural Development Agency which has been financed over a period of 30 years.  The experience with the design and loan process was seamless. Acquisition of new easements and records of establishment of the system were coordinated through the Drain Office along with BMJ and the project legal counsel, Woodworth and Associates. FTCH, Inc. successfully worked to assist the Drainage District in obtaining a SAW Grant to assist with planning of the project. MDOT continued its commitment to Michigan’s Drain Commissioners with a contribution that assisted in retrofitting the system to filter the storm water and reduce runoff volumes.

 

The professional approach to construction exhibited by Raymond Excavating and its sub-contractors in accommodating the vehicular traffic and pedestrian access needs of the residents within the very dense subdivisions during construction made the project progress much less painful than anticipated. BMJ and Raymond Excavating worked together to accommodate residents with a complimentary shuttle during street closures, communication of construction schedule through door hangers and follow up communication with association leaders. New streets and driveways are now better drained so to endure longer. The runoff from the highly developed and dense neighborhoods is filtered before leaving the land and utility infrastructure is less burdened with an irregular and variable water table.

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In conclusion, the Forrest Manor Storm Sewer Project is a model success for St. Clair County. The project exceeded our expectations for performance, scheduling and budget. We will continue striving to make more of our projects reflect the approach taken on the project.

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“In an area originally intended for small, seasonal cottages in the 1920's that has developed into a year round residential neighborhood where structures and concrete take up an entire lot, the storm sewers were simply inadequate to the point of being dangerous. After a major flooding event in the area, the SCC Drain Office determined that the system could no longer function to preserve property. Enter BMJ Engineers and Surveyors with a creative design that is functional and aesthetically pleasing. Additionally, during the construction there was a BMJ rep available at all times to answer questions and address concerns, even providing a golf cart and driver to take residents to and from their vehicles. The communication before, during and until project completion was excellent. I am confident that the project corrected a significant drainage problem that will protect people and property for years to come, much  to the credit of our friends at BMJ.” Jorja Baldwin, Fort Gratiot Supervisor