Stormwater Management
Appleton, Wisconsin

Foth completed a comprehensive stormwater management plan for a developing area for the city of Appleton. The plan addressed a spectrum of issues with the focus on surface water quality, flood control, and “good neighbor” practices while optimizing developable areas.

Apple Creek Stormwater Planning

The study area is located in the upper portions of the drainage basin or watershed. The area drains approximately three square miles of rapidly developing urban lands into Apple Creek. The area is generally flat and contained large tracts of land affected by potential flooding.

Challenges:

• Conflicts between intense urban development and wide-ranging flood-plain lands needed to be resolved for this area to develop and prosper.
• With developed communities downstream, proper stormwater management was critical to the city of Appleton from environmental, growth, liability and “good neighbor” standpoints.
• The project needed to improve water quality and prepare the city for upcoming NR 216 requirements.

Benefits:

• Present and future development was protected through control of floodwaters, delineation and confinement of specific floodplain areas, and enforcement of associated floodplain regulations and other local ordinances.
• Funding assistance was provided through grants such as Section 319-Water Quality Improvements ($100,000), priority watershed ($360,000), and the newly formed stormwater management utility.
• Frequent "nuisance" peak flows were controlled to desirable levels through construction of detention wetland basins and improvements in stream conveyance, culverts and bridges, and storm sewer segments.
• Stormwater quality was improved through a combination of recommended measures such as streambank erosion control and protection, and use of water quality enhancement features in detention wetland basins.