posted 11/05/08 11:48 AM | updated 11/05/08 05:32 PM
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Design Update for Madison Valley Drainage Project

By scott
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It's been almost two years since a storm generated a massive wall of floodwater that rushed into Madison Valley and drowned resident Kate Fleming in her basement.   And although the wheels of city planning turn slowly, Seattle Public Utilities is getting closer to solving part of the problem by expanding the existing detention pond at 30th & E. John.

They're holding a public meeting tonight to review the 30% complete designs for that location.

Right now the block is just a sloped hole in the ground with grass and a couple of benches.   And while the intent of the project is to expand the size to accommodate more water, they're also intending to spruce it up to make it more of a neighborhood amenity.

Existing Madison Valley Flood Control Pond

One big change in the new plans is to add many more trees all around the property:

They're also regrading the depression into a series of terraces that would make the space more walkable, with several new pathways, bridges, and a dry creek bed at the bottom:

Construction could begin by late next summer.

A following phase will connect this project to a big new overflow drainage pipe that will empty onto an area near the baseball fields in the Arboretum, on the north side of Madison.

 

 

 

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There are actually a bunch of coordinated projects for dealing with the flooding in Madison Valley. This detention pond is particularly important for the people around 30th and John, which is the lowest point in the valley where the water collects. And, it's great that the city is working to make what's functionally supposed to be just a big ditch into something that's a nice feature of the neighborhood.

Another one of big issues effecting the whole valley has been clogged storm drains and blocked up drain pipes. Part of the cause of the flash flood that led to Kate Flemming drowning was lots of storm drains up-hill from the valley being blocked with leaves. So, this is one thing we individuals can keep an eye out for, and prevent / fix ourselves in many cases.

I don't know much about it, but SPU now has an "Adopt a Drain" campaign that might be helpful:
http://tinyurl.com/35porl

With the larger drain blockage issue, we've seen SPU trucks out regularly over the past months running cameras down the drains to check for blockage, and flushing the drains out with water (they fill at our nearby fire hydrant).

And, if I understand correctly, the big new overflow drainage pipe project will provide a way to get an even larger volume of water out of the upper valley (e.g., off Madison) before it runs down the hills and gets down to the bottom.
Comment by jayf
November 05, 2008
Not sufficient to save her life
As I understand it, a larger detention pond would not have saved Kate Fleming's life. The flooding on Madison that took her life was a separate issue that the city did not address.
Comment by Anonymous
November 05, 2008
RE: Not sufficient to save her life
The detention pond is 4 blocks from Kate Flemming's house, and the flooding that has happened around the pond at 30th and E. John is significantly disconnected from the flash flood that led to Kate Flemming's death.

That said, both the flooding around 30th and E. John and the flooding around Kate Flemming's house in the E. Mercer bowl are (now) on the radar of the city's Madison Valley Project.

In 2007, SPU published a detailed "Madison Valley Flood Investigation Report" that analyzes the factors that caused the flash flood that specifically led to Kate Flemming's death:

http://tinyurl.com/68d4v5

So, from what I understand, the Madison Valley Project addresses all of those causes, plus the specific issues of flooding around 30th and E John and in the E. Mercer bowl.

Here's the Madison Valley Project page at SPU:

http://tinyurl.com/66pmua

Because of where I live / work (down the street from Kate Flemming's house), I can report that the SPU is out here very regularly checking and/or working on what I assume are the specific drains that overflowed and flooded the E. Mercer bowl.

But, you know, at this point: fingers crossed and I hope the drain projects keep getting built fast; and we all should keep an eye out for blocked storm drains that need to be cleared.
Comment by jayf
November 05, 2008
Out of respect
Please know that Kate's last name was Fleming, not Flemming. Thanks.
Comment by Anonymous
November 06, 2008
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