With rain expected this week in Alexandria, it might be worth a look back at how Alexandria’s battles with flooding have progressed over the years and what’s ahead.
The region was hit with intense flooding in 2019, which thrust Alexandria’s stormwater infrastructure into the limelight. Since then, the city has invested considerable time and money into upgrading that infrastructure, though there have been some frustrations at slow progress.
Ursula Ramos, senior communications officer for Transportation and Environmental Services (T&ES), said the City launched Flood Action Alexandria in January 2021 as a response to more frequent, intense climate-change-induced storm events.
“Flood Action Alexandria is the City’s comprehensive initiative to address flooding issues, while working with residents and businesses to build community resilience and mitigate the impact of flooding,” Ramos said.
In May 2021, the City Council adopted an annual budget which included the Stormwater Management Utility 10-Year-Plan with $170 million in funding for 11 large-scale stormwater infrastructure capacity projects. The 10-year CIP includes over $280 million for projects and programs.
Ramos gave an overview of major upcoming flood mitigation projects:
- Commonwealth, Ashby, Glebe Flood Mitigation Project
- Estimated $50 million
- 90 percent design package expected this fall
- Hume Avenue Stormdrain Bypass
- $4.5 million
- Design planned to be completed by the end of the year
- Mt. Vernon and Edison Dual Culvert Replacement Project
- $2.5 million
- Construction phase expected to begin by the end of this year
- Mt. Vernon Cul-de-sac Inlets and Alley Storm Sewer Improvement
- $1.2 million (construction only estimate)
- In Construction phase- wrap in 2026
- Edison Street Cul-de-Sac Drainage Improvement
- Estimated $980,000
- Final design expected this fall
- W. Reed Ave. and Dale St. Storm Sewer Improvement Project
- Estimated $2.23 million
- 90 percent design package expected this fall
Earlier this year, the City Council approved a five percent increase in the annual Stormwater Utility Fee (SWU) from $308.70 to $324.10 for most single-family homes.
“The SWU fee provides a dedicated, equitable funding source for the City’s Stormwater Program, that includes operations and maintenance of stormwater infrastructure, flood management programs, and capital infrastructure projects,” Ramos said. “The City Council has previously approved similar increases to the SWU.”
The City also launched the Flood Mitigation Grant Program in 2021.
“The Flood Mitigation Grant Program offers grants for up to 50 percent of the total costs of the measures and associated costs, up to a maximum amount of $5,000 for private properties and $25,000 for common areas on behalf of condo and homeowner associations,” Ramos said.
Earlier this month, the City of Alexandria was awarded $525,000 in grant funding to develop a new comprehensive Flood Resilience Plan — identifying hazards, flood mitigation solutions and more.
How has that played out for Alexandria residents? Katie Waynick, author of the DrainALX account, was one of the prominent voices documenting flooding and pushing the city to do better. Waynick told ALXnow the city has made progress, but has still fallen short in other areas:
I think the City has made incredible progress, largely in thanks to the budget allocations by Council and the emphasis by staff to face the problem head on. I serve as Vice Chair of the stormwater advisory group and we have fostered a great working relationship with staff that has really opened up dialogue. In addition, we provide annual reports to Council that lay out where we think the Flood Action program is doing well and areas of improvement.
That being said, the City had fallen so far behind that there is still a lot of work to be done, but that is where this grant will be so impactful. By formulating a comprehensive Flood Resilience Plan, the city can begin strategically focusing on the issue proactively rather than always reactively once problems occur. Personally, I’m so thankful for the work staff has put into making this happen and I’m excited to see where it leads. It will undoubtedly be a big step forward in the City’s flood mitigation efforts.
