Beyond Rainfall: Advanced Modeling for Resilient Stormwater Solutions in Aberdeen Gardens
Aberdeen Gardens is a residential neighborhood and National Historic District located in Hampton, VA with a history of flooding given its proximity to both Aberdeen Creek, which bisects the neighborhood, and Newmarket Creek which abuts the southern end of the neighborhood. Many of the homes were built near both tidally influenced creeks and within the 100-year floodplain thus putting many of the residences at risk of flooding. Additionally, given the neighborhood’s age approaching 100 years, much of the original stormwater infrastructure is inadequate given today’s increased precipitation and revised design standards since the neighborhood’s initial construction.
The purpose of this watershed study was to identify areas of significant flooding and inadequate capacity issues via a 2D PCSWMM model and to cross check these results with reported flooding data collected by the City and other entities. With this information, the study identified flood mitigation strategies, including grey and green infrastructure, that improve flooding conditions and provide water quality benefits where feasible. The recommended improvements were analyzed using a 2D PCSWMM model and prioritized using a Hazen-developed Power BI tool. This watershed study provides details on the projects identified, benefits provided by the projects, and details on the project prioritization process.
Improvements identified in the watershed study were being developed in collaboration with Wetlands Watch who have completed a Community Resilience Profile of the neighborhood and have an ongoing relationship with the neighborhood civic leagues. The recommended improvements consist of additional stormwater infrastructure, upsized pipes, restored streams, and various green infrastructure strategies.
This presentation will showcase the process the team used to develop the 2D PCSWMM model for the existing and proposed conditions and review details of the flood improvement projects. Efforts between the design team, City departments, neighborhood civic leagues, and other organizations will be highlighted to explain the collaboration required to develop the recommended improvements.
Author Bio
Mr. Smith is a Senior Civil Engineer for the City of Hampton, with a primary responsibility for stormwater management and assisting the implementation of the Resilient Hampton initiative, working to develop and implement adaptation and mitigation strategies in response to Climate Change. Scott’s career spans 37 years, 26 years in consulting and 11 years in the Public Sector. He is a Professional Engineer, a Licensed Land Surveyor and a Certified Public Works Professional. Scott is a Past President of the APWA Mid-Atlantic Chapter. Mr. Carollo is a professional engineer focused on stormwater infrastructure and site/civil design. He graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in Civil Engineering in 2018. He is currently responsible for the design of stormwater management systems and modeling of small and large-scale municipal stormwater systems. He has worked with all localities in the Hampton Roads region and is a Past President of the ASCE Norfolk Branch.
