March 2017
NEWS
The Southwest Portland Post • 5
Stormwater management a major concern on Capitol Highway project
Kurtz told the 30 or so residents in the
room, “such as ditches and culverts.
In the case of Capitol Highway, it
has a nice pavement but the side
Stormwater management was on
roads are not so good and many are
everyone’s mind at the Southwest
unimproved.”
Capitol Highway subcommittee
“Water came into our guestroom,”
meeting in early February.
said Patti Waitman-Ingebretsen, who
Record rainfall had recently fallen in
has lived along Capitol Highway for
the area causing widespread flooding,
40 years. “It then flooded through the
landslides, and road closures making
wall into the family room. We had to
this topic appropriate.
move everything and unload book
Residents who live along the stretch
shelves.”
of Capitol Highway between Barbur
Waitman-Ingebretsen said she and
Boulevard and Spring Garden Road
her husband were up until 2 a.m.
have been afflicted with water run-off
sopping up over six gallons of water
problems for years.
out of the rug pad alone.
City project managers were on hand
“This has been the worst we’ve ever
at the meeting to share stormwater
seen since living here,” she said.
and roadway plans for the proposed
Recently there have been frequent
highway improvements.
road closures, overwhelmed storm
Ti m K u r t z , t h e B u r e a u o f
drains, and water quality issues.
Environmental Services project
Kurtz explained that gray water
manager, presented first.
needs to be mixed with lime which
“Water goes where it wants to,”
reduces acidity, improves fertility and
oxygen levels, and acts
as a filter.
“By tracking habitat,
hydrology, sanitary
overflows, and routes
of conveyance,” Kurtz
explained, “we have a
better idea on how to
manage the water.
“The city now
has a strict set of
water management
requirements,” Kurtz
continued. “This
includes flow control,
water quality drainage
reserves, and green
street details.”
S t re e t s t h a t u s e
vegetated facilities to
manage stormwater
runoff at its source are
referred to as a “green
street.”
Kurtz added that
A typical basin bioswale captures water at Southwest
Barbur Boulevard and Capitol Hill Road.
the bureau also has
(Post photo by Erik Vidstrand)
to collaborate with
By Erik Vidstrand
The Southwest Portland Post
the drinking water
unit, fire and rescue
for emergency access,
parks, and urban
forestry.
“On top of it all,”
Kurtz said, “we have
t o c o o rd i n a t e w i t h
Oregon Department of
Transportation, TriMet,
and Metro who are
planning the nearby
light rail line.”
Water management
has many names. The
most popular ones the
city uses include basins,
eco-roofs, green streets,
planters, ponds, and
swales.
The first Portland
bioswale was built 20
years ago and is located
at Southwest Palatine
Hill Road and 47th
Avenue. Now there
are more than 1,800
bioswales. In 2004, the City staff and neighbors inspected storm drains and
city adopted the Green pavement issues along Southwest Capitol Highway last
summer. (Post photo by Erik Vidstrand)
Streets Program.
The project manager explained that
Someone asked whether some of
Capitol Highway has extra special
the basins holding water become a
issues like unimproved rights of way,
host for mosquitoes. Kurtz responded
private yards, encroachments, trees,
that the city has a great relationship
fences, and retaining walls.
with the county vector control.
“We also have to factor in infiltration,
“Typically, we don’t have problems,”
bedrock, clay, and topography,” Kurtz
Kurtz replied, “but if water remains
went on. “Water also causes havoc
for a while, it does. Mosquitoes love
when leaves clog storm drains and
plants for shelter but actually people’s
gravel remains in roadways.”
(Continued on Page 6)
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