Tag Archives: Stormwater

Take Our Regional Flood and Stormwater Survey

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The CSPDC has launched a new public survey inviting residents, business owners, and community members to share their experiences with flooding and stormwater issues in their communities.  

Survey responses will direct how and where funding is prioritized to address flooding concerns across the region through the Central Shenandoah Flood and Stormwater Resilience Plan, a regional process to better understand and address flooding at the local level. The Plan will help participating localities identify priority infrastructure projects — from traditional stormwater improvements to green infrastructure solutions — and position them to compete for construction funding through the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Community Flood Preparedness Fund (CFPF). 

Localities must have an adopted Flood and Stormwater Resilience Plan in place to qualify for CFPF construction funding, and broad public participation a critical input for the process. 

What the Survey Covers 

The survey asks participants to identify where flooding or drainage problems occur, how frequently they happen, and how they affect neighborhoods, roads, and public spaces. Responses will be combined with technical data and local government input to guide project identification and planning across the region. 

The survey is open to all residents and stakeholders in the Central Shenandoah region and takes just a few minutes to complete. 

Access the survey: https://connect.cspdc.org/flood-and-stormwater-resilience-plan 

CSPDC Awarded Grant to Fund the Town of Elkton Elk Run Stream Restoration Project

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The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) awarded the CSPDC a $535,193 grant to fund the engineering and construction of the Town of Elkton Elk Run Stream Restoration Project. The project will improve a 420-foot segment of Elk Run Creek in downtown Elkton and address significant erosion issues along the bank, improve water quality, and enhance town recreation space.

The stream segment is situated between S. Stuart Avenue (US 340), W. Spotswood Trail (US 33 Business), and W. Rockingham Street. The project compliments an existing pocket park adjacent to the stream. The improvements include reshaping the bank, controlling stream grade to establish pools and ripples to support habitat diversity, establishing native trees and vegetation to reduce erosion, and establishing natural path connections for public recreational access to the streambank.

The project will likely begin in late spring 2026. The CSPDC developed the grant application through our Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) Program, which is funded by DEQ and supports stormwater planning and project implementation in the region.

 

 

 

CSPDC Hosts Regional Urban Karst and Stormwater Workshop

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The CSPDC hosted an Urban Karst and Stormwater Workshop on October 28th in Waynesboro City Council Chambers, bringing together approximately 35 stormwater management and public works professionals from across the region. The full-day event explored challenges and best practices for planning and implementing stormwater projects on karst, a geological feature that can complicate conventional approaches.

A primary focus was Appendix E of the Virginia Stormwater Management Handbook, released by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) earlier this year. Appendix E provides site assessment and design guidelines for stormwater management in karst terrain, helping practitioners navigate the technical complexities these geological conditions present.

The workshop featured four expert speakers with extensive karst and stormwater experience. Wil Orndorff, Karst Protection Coordinator for the Virginia Natural Heritage Program at the Department of Conservation and Recreation, co-authored the draft of Appendix E and provided insights into karst geology throughout the Shenandoah Valley. Lisa Perry, a Mitigation Specialist at Ecosystem Services with prior experience administering erosion control and stormwater management for Rockingham County, shared perspectives on regulatory compliance in karst areas. Sheila Reeves, Water Resources Service Director at VHB, drew on her expertise in stormwater management, watershed planning, and floodplain compliance to discuss project planning strategies for karst sites. Aislinn Creel, Senior Stormwater Project Manager at Timmons Group, joined Reeves to present a case study on Mulberry Run Wetlands, an award-winning constructed wetland in Waynesboro that successfully addressed stormwater management challenges in a karst environment.

The workshop concluded with a site visit to Mulberry Run Wetlands, allowing participants to see firsthand how innovative design can overcome karst-related obstacles while achieving effective stormwater management and ecological benefits.

Recent Flood Mitigation Initiatives in the Region

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Image of a flooded road

July proved to be a busy month for regional flood preparedness efforts, with $652,160 awarded in state funding to regional partners and multiple applications submitted for post-disaster federal funding.

On July 2nd, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) announced Round 5 awards for the Community Flood Preparedness Fund (CFPF), with three coming to our region:

  • CSPDC received $270,000 to develop a Regional Flood Resilience Plan, with nearly all of our localities participating. This plan will identify and prioritize flood mitigation projects for implementation, ultimately streamlining future grant applications and unlocking additional funding opportunities.
  • City of Waynesboro received $172,160 to update its Stormwater Capital Improvement Plan, building on previous drainage studies to identify and prioritize site-specific stormwater management projects. The plan will also support the city’s Chesapeake Bay water quality requirements.
  • Town of Craigsville received $210,000 to develop a local resilience plan. Through this planning process, the town will gain a more detailed and technical study of flood occurrences and a list of future projects to reduce the impact of flooding.

Several localities in the region have also submitted applications for FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) following Hurricane Helene, including:

  • Bath and Highland Counties applied for funds to install a joint enhanced flood monitoring system with 14 real-time stream gauges connecting to West Virginia’s flood warning network, benefiting both local communities and neighboring areas.
  • City of Harrisonburg proposed major upgrades to stormwater infrastructure along the Chicago Avenue and Waterman Drive corridor to address chronic flooding, building damage, and safety hazards for motorists and pedestrians.

Note: Round 6 of the Community Flood Preparedness Fund is expected to open this fall.