James City County has received state funds as part of a matching grant program to fix stormwater problems in the county.
Gov. Bob McDonnell announced last week James City County was granted up to $655,138 for five county projects to improve stormwater drainage or water quality issues. The grants are matching grants that require a 50 percent match from the county.
The county’s Stormwater Director Fran Geissler said the county applied for eight grants Nov. 15.
“We tried to get some money for Fire Station 1, we tried to get some money for Jamestown Beach and we tried to get some money for Stonehouse Elementary BMP repair,” Geissler said.
While funding was not provided for those projects, it was provided for Southpoint Outfall repair, Williamsburg Regional Library-Croaker Road Partnership, Brook Haven water quality improvements, James Terrace water quality improvements and the Jolly Pond Convenience Center best management practice upgrade.
The projects are aimed at improving stormwater issues, and at improving overall water quality in an attempt at meeting Chesapeake Bay cleanup goals.
“This money was set aside by the General Assembly and the governor out of state general funds, specifically to offset the cost to local governments of implementing some of the mandates that we have, particularly with the Chesapeake Bay,” Geissler said.
Southpoint Outfall Repair
Southpoint Drive is in the Kingspoint neighborhood near the intersection of Route 199 and the Colonial National Historic Parkway. The stormwater from the road discharges into the Southpoint Outfall between two lots; a swale that carries the water is broken and the areas around it have eroded. A hill near a home is eroding, so the county will stabilize and repair the outfall before the home is damaged, Geissler said.
Williamsburg Regional Library-Croaker Road Partnership
The Virginia Department of Transportation will eventually widen Croaker Road in front of the library, so the existing stormwater treatment facility will be upgraded in order to serve the widened road and to improve treatment. When the library was built, the stormwater facility met the requirements at that time, but the replacement will be upgraded to meet current standards. Geissler said library patrons will not be able to see any difference other than the wider road.
Brook Haven Water Quality Improvements
The Brook Haven neighborhood off Ironbound Road near Strawberry Plains Road was built before stormwater requirements were put in place, so there is no stormwater treatment in that neighborhood. The ditches around the road are inadequate, so homes, yards and garages are flooding. This project will control and treat stormwater.
James Terrace Water Quality Improvements
James Terrace, located between Penniman Road and Merrimac Trail, is in a similar situation as Brook Haven: It is an older neighborhood with no stormwater treatment. The county will work with residents in the neighborhood, as well as Grace Baptist Church, to improve the stormwater drainage.
“There are homes in there that are overcome with stormwater when we have large storms and we are trying to really improve that condition,” Geissler said. “It’s very hard to fix things after a neighborhood is built.”
Jolly Pond Convenience Center Best Management Practice Upgrade
The Jolly Pond Convenience Center is facing a modernization, and that includes upgrading the BMP that contains stormwater. The outdated BMP will be upgraded.
All five projects are designed to meet and exceed regulations that are going into effect in July.
“We’re getting incremental improvements above what we’re trying to do … We’re pretty excited,” Geissler said. “I think [the grants are] a recognition that our approach in trying to squeeze a little bit of improvement out of each project … by fixing drainage problems and adding in some water quality, we can be cost effective. And that was our goal, to submit projects that were cost effective and did good here in James City County.”
