ALLEN COUNTY AND THE CITY OF FORT WAYNE TO PARTNER WITH U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS FOR A NEW STORMWATER MASTER PLAN

August 21, 2024 - Allen County and the City of Fort Wayne are pleased to announce they have entered into an agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for a Planning Assistance Study (PAS) to provide a new Stormwater Master Plan.

A Stormwater Master Plan is a comprehensive plan that helps communities assess and prioritize stormwater issues and plan for future management. It develops guiding principles to prevent problems such as flooding, poor drainage, and standing water. Additionally, it can help a community meet regulatory requirements to protect the environment.

The first step in updating a Stormwater Master Plan is to work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to accomplish a Planning Assistance Study. The Allen County Board of Commissioners requested their assistance in February 2023. According to the commissioners, "The Water Resources Development Act of 1974 gives authority for the Corps to assist in the preparation of comprehensive plans for the development, utilization, and conservation of water and related land resources. Their study will also incorporate the recently adopted All in Allen comprehensive land use plan to help us create a complete picture of water use today and into the future."

The master plan will analyze the major watersheds - land area that channels rainfall and snowmelt which eventually flows to lakes, the ocean, or is absorbed as groundwater - within the entirety of Allen County. This initiative is a collaboration between the Allen County Surveyor, Fort Wayne City Utilities, Maumee River Basin Commission, and officials from Huntertown, Leo-Cedarville, Monroeville, New Haven, and Woodburn.

In partnership with the Army Corps of Engineers, the working group is launching a multi-year study to update the county's 50-year-old storm drainage guidelines by assessing how land use and development affect flooding, water quality, and the environment. With Allen County's three rivers and miles of streams and drains, there are upwards of 60 major watersheds in the county. The master plan will study those areas for both today's conditions and for future development, as projected in the All in Allen plan. The study will also consider necessary revisions to rainfall amounts and patterns due to climate change.

The county's current Stormwater Master Plan was published in 1972 with projected community growth through 2020. According to Allen County Surveyor, Mike Fruchey, "Hydrologic engineering practices have changed a lot in the last 50 years and this plan should reflect our current stormwater technical standards. The new master plan will apply current engineering methodology, technology, and land use data to create a new 30-year comprehensive plan."

In total, the project is expected to take five years to complete to create a plan that will benefit our county over the next three decades. The multi-phased project requires coordination of local communities within Allen County, state agencies, and river basin commissions. The first Phase of this project is underway and will be completed in 18-24 months.

"The stormwater master plan is not just about flood prevention; it plays a vital role in protecting public health and the environment. By controlling runoff, we can improve water quality, reduce pollution, and create safer habitats for both people and wildlife," said Anne Marie Smrchek, Manager of Stormwater Engineering at Fort Wayne City Utilities.

Phase I of the project includes the study of current and future hydrology, or the movement of water, in each watershed in Allen County with existing and proposed allowable release rates, as well analysis and gathering information for the updated culvert manual. The cost of Phase I is estimated at $458,000. The funding will be 50% through the U.S. Army Corps, 25% by the City of Fort Wayne, and 25% by Allen County. The project will be jointly managed by the Allen County Surveyor's Office and Fort Wayne City Utilities.

With a commitment to community involvement, later phases will include opportunities for public input.