Urban Storm Water Runoff and Inland Lakes: A Tale of Two Cities

Jarron D. Hewitt and Martin T. Auer Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton,

MI 49931

Crystal Lake, Iron Mountain, MI

Lake Alice, Fergus Falls, MN

ECOSYSTEM HEALTH CONCERN: Coliform Bacteria

and Nutrient Loading

ECOSYSTEM HEALTH CONCERN:Eutrophication: Algae and Aquatic Macrophytes

ECOSYSTEM HEALTH CONCERN: Oxygen Consuming Sediment and

Winter Fish Kills

ECOSYSTEM HEALTH CONCERN: COLIFORM BACTERIA AND NUTRIENT LOADING

SOLUTION: DIVERSION OF STORM SEWER INPUTS

ECOSYSTEM HEALTH CONCERN: SEDIMENT OXYGEN DEMAND AND WINTER FISH KILLS

SOLUTION: DREDGING OF LAKE SEDIMENT AND ADDITION OF AERATORS

ECOSYSTEM HEALTH CONCERN: EUTROPHICATION: ALGAE AND AQUATIC MACROPHYTES

SOLUTION: DIVERSION OF STORM SEWER INPUTS

Crystal Lake

Menominee River

STORM CAD

Pipe Layoutpipe locationspipe lengths

Design Datadrainage area

elevationsstreet layout

Storm Dataidf curveland use

design storm

Storm CADcalculates

area-specificrunoff

Pipe Design Characteristics(diameter, flow)

Profiles of Pipe Network(slope, ground cover)

GOALS OF STORM SEWER DIVERSION:

•Reduce coliform bacteria inputs and improve swimming health of the lake

•Remove inputs of phosphorus which stimulates growth of aquatic organics

•Manage the 10-year design storm runoff from Iron Mountain and Kingsford

•Find the least expensive option for storm sewer diversion

STORM CAD PROCESSES:

Design Storm Diameter North to East Pipe

Diameter East Pipe to Junction

Chamber

Diameter New Pipe Junction to

1st Open Channel

Open Channel New Pipe to

Detention Basin (depth)

Open Channel Detention Basin to River (depth)

2-year 48 inches 60 inches 72 inches 66 inches 60 inches

5-year 60 inches 72 inches 72 inches 72 inches 60 inches

10-year 60 inches 72 inches 78 inches 78 inches 60 inches

25-year 60 inches 78 inches 84 inches 84 inches 60 inches

50-year 72 inches 78 inches 84 inches 90 inches 66 inches

100-year 72 inches 84 inches 90 inches 90 inches 66 inches

DESIGN 1:

Uses existing open channel and explores the possibility of using additional open channel to reduce the amount of concrete pipe needed to convey storm water.

Existing Open Channel/Drainage Basin

Proposed Storm Sewer Pipe Proposed Open Channel

DESIGN 2:

Uses existing open channel connected with the proposed storm sewer. This design involves 2,580 feet of pipe in addition to what is needed for design 1.

GOALS OF AERATION:

•Improve oxygen conditions in the lake to allow the reestablishment of a fishery

•Offset sediment oxygen demand from organic decomposition

GOALS OF SEDIMENT DREDGING:

Cost including concrete pipe, pipe installation,

and contractor mobilization

DESIGN 1:

$3,870,517

DESIGN 2:

$4,829,390

COST OF STORM SEWER DIVERSION:

•Removal of oxygen consuming sediment to reduce phosphorus release and sediment oxygen demand

•Restore lake bottom to natural sand and improve lake depth

The majority of work done has been on Crystal Lake. Details of the work done towards restoration of this lake are shown at right.

Jarron Hewitt will be continuing work on Lake Alice post-graduation with Interstate Engineering in Fergus Falls.