Click here to view recording

FLOOD RISK MODELING MEETS VIRTUAL REALITY _____________________________

Stormwater and Flood Risks in Takoma Park – What To Do?

A TAKOMA STORMWATER SOLUTIONS WEBINAR 

THURSDAY, APRIL 24TH at 7 PM on ZOOM

Researchers from the School of Landscape Architecture at UMD-College Park have integrated Flood Risk Modeling with Virtual Reality software to improve the understanding of those risks by all stakeholders.

A panel of experts then discuss adaptations for property owners that provide co-benefits for their properties and their neighborhoods worthwhile as investments in themselves. Funding sources will be discussed.

Presenters:

Christopher Ellis (PhD), Professor, Landscape Architecture, University of MD, College Park

Dr Ellis has been a teacher and active researcher at the University of MD since 2011. He has made important contributions in landscape ecology and environmental perception; stream and wetland restorations, low impact development/environmental site design, and creative ways to integrate storm water solutions into K-12 school grounds to support environmental education; geographic modeling and analysis of built and natural systems; and Information technology for landscape planning and design. His current research on Visualizing Hydrologic Flood Models in Virtual Reality was recently featured at the 2024 Montgomery County H2O Summit.

Michael Lynn, Lead Ecological Designer, United Designers International

Mike has worked on projects internationally in large-scale watershed restoration, agricultural and agroforestry production systems, and ecological restoration. Around the Chesapeake Bay, his focus has been on storm water management, ecological restoration, and living shorelines. His experience and professional certifications have made him a passionate, motivational trainer in nature-based solutions.

Missy Lauterbach, Education & Training Coordinator, Chesapeake Stormwater Network

Missy has over 25 years of experience as an environmental educator in the Chesapeake Bay region, with an unwavering dedication to preserving and improving the health of the watershed. She joined CSN’s team in 2024 to contribute to its vital mission. Her connection to the water runs deep—she is also an accomplished paddling instructor and guide, seamlessly blending her love for nature with her commitment to water quality.

Eric Buehl, Regional Watershed Restoration Specialist, University of Maryland Sea Grant Extension

Eric has been with the University of Maryland Sea Grant Extension since 2014. He provides technical assistance and outreach to communities in the mid and upper Eastern Shore that are seeking solutions to a variety of watershed issues. His professional experience includes stormwater management, habitat and water quality restoration project design and implementation, and land surveying.

Questions and Answers from the webinar Chat, with additional comments by Byrne Kelly and Steve Whitney

Q1: What does Takoma Park DPW do about stormwater?

A1: The City has installed 88+ stormwater mitigation sites. Most are designed to treat water quality to meet our MS4 requirements. Most of these facilities also have stormwater management functions. Nearly all are on City property: Right of ways (RoW’s); streets, parks; & open spaces. Some projects have included private properties, with consent of the owners.

The following is from Daryl Braithwaite, head of the Takoma Park’s Department of Public Works:

We do provide information on our city website specific to Stormwater Management programs including the following:

General Information about our Stormwater Management Programs - https://takomaparkmd.gov/2129/Stormwater-Management-Program

Stormwater Resources, specifically RainPlan - https://takomaparkmd.gov/2299/Stormwater-Management-Resources

Stormwater Management FAQs - https://takomaparkmd.gov/DocumentCenter/View/3912/Stormwater-Fees-FAQs-PDF?bidId=

Stormwater Fee FAQs - https://takomaparkmd.gov/2124/Stormwater-FAQs

City Map of Stormwater Management Facilities - https://takomaparkmd.gov/265/Stormwater-Facility-Inspection-Maintenan

There are also pages on the process for requesting corrections to the Utility Fee and Credit Applications.

Q2: What are funding options for residents who wish to install stormwater management facilities on their property?

A2: While the City’s DPW has implemented most of its projects on City property, it has also included private properties with the owners consents on a case-by-case basis. The permeable paver installation at the east end of Cleveland Ave was the first of many, where the stormwater captured by the pavers is directed into a rain garden on an adjacent downhill private property.

More recently, homeowners in the 7000 block of Poplar Avenue engaged a contractor to deal with significant flooding on their properties. The contractor unearthed an old embedded stream that runs through their backyards and flows into Elm Avenue. Inspection revealed a very deteriorated pipe system enclosing the stream, plus undersized inlets and drain boxes. The contractor engaged DPW which determined that DPW would (with the agreement of the private property owners) replace the deteriorated pipes, add stormwater inlets, and improve the outfall into the City’s main storm drain system under the intersection of Elm & Poplar Avenue. DPW also agreed to raise the curb heights on Poplar Ave and make improvements to the storm drain pipes in the public right of way on Poplar Ave that connect to the main drain pipes on Elm Ave. The contractor is the Greenfields Company, phone (240) 678-9121.

Takoma Park also offers a program for lowering your annual Stormwater Management Fee by removing impervious pavement on your property and other measures found here: City of TP SWM Fees.

During the webinar the presenters referenced several Grant Programs which may be accessible to non-profit organizations. Takoma Stormwater Solutions, however, is not a formal/legally entitled organization.

TSS is exploring entry possibilities through a larger and well-established organization such as Friends of Sligo Creek (FOSC), which is qualified to receive grants and other funding as a non-profit (501.c.3) organization.

Q3: What are the chances that Takoma Park residents can participate in the County’s already existing rain garden/permeable refund programs? Will the city offer comparable services?

A3. It appears there is no ability for Takoma Park to join the County’s RainScapes program. It has been requested and recommended by residents for decades. However, the Rainscapes website is accessible to the general public and offers training in Spanish & English designed to qualify contractors and homeowners to participate in Rainscapes-funded projects. The City has mentioned an interest in Rainscape-like program but no funding has been discussed.

Q4. What is Takoma Park’s Rainplan program?

A4. Rainplan is a stormwater planning tool provided to Takoma Park residents through a partnership of the City with the Rainplan organization. For more information, see https://takomaparkmd.gov/2299/Stormwater-Management-Resources

The Rainplan tool uses high-resolution aerial imagery to calculate the amount of run-off a property generates. You enter your address on the website and get the runoff level. It also provides information about possible ways to manage and reduce stormwater runoff. Rainplan offers a no-cost virtual site to further discuss stormwater management measures, implementation costs, and available contractors.

Q5. Can Takoma Park create a program comparable to Rainscapes?

A5. This was not specifically discussed in the webinar but questions about funding for projects on private property dominated the chat. Funding opportunities exist for projects sponsored by non-profits. TSS is currently exploring entry possibilities through a larger and well-established organization such as Friends of Sligo Creek (FOSC), which is qualified to receive grants and other funding as a non-profit (501.c.3) organization.

Examples of such funding sources cited by the webinar speakers include:

Missy Lauterbach of Chesapeake Stormwater Network mentioned: NFWF small watershed grants.

https://www.nfwf.org/programs/chesapeake-small-watershed-grants

Chesapeake Bay Trust, which has several programs for non-profit community-based programs: https://cbtrust.org/grants/

Mike Lynn highly recommends the CSN training program, CUSP https://chesapeakestormwater.net/chesapeake-urban-stormwater-professionals-cusp/

Q6: How can a resident identify competent contractors to install stormwater management facilities such as foundation planters or rain barrels?

A6: See https://mygreenmontgomery.org/project/install-rain-barrels/

The Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professionals website has a directory of professionals who are certified through the CBLP training program. See https://certified.cblpro.org/

The Montgomery County Rainscapes program contractor list https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/DEP/Resources/Files/rainscapes/contractor-list.pdf

Byrne Kelly, ASLA, MD:LLA/QEP and Takoma Park resident with years of work on Rainscapes and DC’s River Smart project, tgcinc.bhk@gmail.com, 240-678-9121

Q7: How can a resident find out about soil type in designing stormwater management approaches?

A7: Provided by Mike Lynn: A free resource to get an idea of what types of soil you might have is https://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/

This website provides an estimate of the type of underlying geology and soil, not a report of actual measurement. You would still need to "ground truth" the soil type before finalizing a design.

Q8: What is meant by the 10 year (50 year, 100 year …) storm?

A8: This concept, sometimes called the “design storm specification,” is used in making specific decisions about the level of stormwater management protection your project needs to address. It refers to the largest storm you are likely to experience one time in a 10, 25, 100 … year period. The design storm is expressed in number of inches of rain per hour. If you design protection for a 100 year storm, it means that your project will be strong enough to withstand the heaviest storm expected in the next 100 years (very strong protection). If the design storm is the 10 year storm, you should expect to be nearly, or actually flooded, at least once every 10 years (much less protection). Note that the design storm is not a prediction of rainfall level but a level of protection provided by the project. Design storm levels are based on actual rainfall records for the location of the project. Since increasing rainfall is expected because of climate change, the 100 year design storm published in the year 2000 may be significantly out of date today, such that the project location may experience the old 100 level storm once every 20 years, or five times more often. The design storm for a project is a crucial project requirement.

Q9: How to improve neighbor-to-neighbor interaction?

A9: TSS is planning a webinar on this topic. Since all private funding identified so far requires a scope greater than a single property, neighbors have reasons to work out multi-property project plans. Refer to the paper by David Reed on the TSS Website, https://www.takomastormwatersolutions.net/ and suggestions at https://myrainplan.com/takoma-park-maryland-stormwater-management/

Eric Buehl of the University of MD Sea Grant referred interested parties to this website that enables groups of residents to report problems and solution proposals: https://mycoast.org/md

MFWF addresses the need to cluster multiple properties for community grants: https://dnr.maryland.gov/forests/Pages/programs/urban/mcfc.aspx

Q10: Any sources on how to create citywide private property micro SWM Installations?

A10: Refer to The NY Times Sunday May 4th, “Fighting Floodwaters with Patches of Green”

• www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/climate/50-states-fixes.html?rsrc=flt&smid=em-share

In the article they describe how a low income POC community in the 7th Ward of New Orleans contacted a nonprofit: Water Wise Gulf South and implemented on one City block enough Green Infrastructure to capture 8,800 gallons of stormwater using funding from the non-profit.

Water Wise Gulf South is grant-funded, and they have installed 150 Projects in both Public & Private Spaces across low-lying neighborhoods in Louisiana that, in aggregate, capture 190,000 gallons of water per storm!

TSS has members who are also members of Friends of Sligo Creek: Kit Gage, Sergio Obadia, and Paul Chrostowski (PhD/QEP). Paul has suggested TSS enter into the umbrella of FOSC in order to qualify for grant funding.

Sergio Obadia watched the TSS webinar and recommends we create our own program for the City of Takoma Park. Sergio said he would discuss the idea with Kit Gage as they are both Board members of FOSC.

Byrne Kelly, ASLA, MD:LLA/QEP, has been a practitioner in the “Rainscapes Program” in Montgomery County since its inception, and is also qualified and has participated in Prince George’s County’s “Raincheck Program” and Washington D.C.’s “Riversmart Homes Program”

As of this writing TSS is in a preliminary and exploratory phase to create a citywide Micro SWM Facilities Program for Takoma Park.

TSS is seeking new members and additional advocates for establishing the proposed program.

Please contact us at: takomastormwater@gmail.com

or Byrne Kelly at tgcinc.bhk@gmail.com

Could Takoma Park be the Next Asheville? by Paul Chrostowski, PhD

From: Paul Chrostowski <paul.chrostowski@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Oct 9, 2024 at 11:20 AM
Subject: [ClimateActionCoffee] Could Takoma Park be the Next Asheville?
To: Talisha Searcy <talishas@takomaparkmd.gov>, Shana Fulcher <shanaf@takomaparkmd.gov>, Cindy Dyballa <CindyD@takomaparkmd.gov>, Randall H. Gibson <randallg@takomaparkmd.gov>, Terry Seamens <TerryS@takomaparkmd.gov>, Cara Honzak <carah@takomaparkmd.gov>, Jason Small <jasons@takomaparkmd.gov>, Robert DiSpirito <robertd@takomaparkmd.gov>
Cc: stormwater-takoma@googlegroups.com <stormwater-takoma@googlegroups.com>, Climate Action Coffee <climate-action-coffee@googlegroups.com>, environment-takoma@googlegroups.com <environment-takoma@googlegroups.com>, foscadvocacy@groups.io <foscadvocacy@groups.io>, north-takoma@freelists.org <north-takoma@freelists.org>, councilmember.stewart@montgomerycountymd.gov <councilmember.stewart@montgomerycountymd.gov>, County Executive Marc Elrich <Marc.Elrich@public.govdelivery.com>

 We have all heard about the unexpected flood devastation in Western North Carolina, but this is far from an isolated incident. The U.S. has had at least 5 different extreme rain events this year—from places as far apart as Southern California and New England, and now Asheville. These events were not anticipated by the people who lived there who felt they were safe from the effects of climate disruption. They all involved a 1,000-year (or greater) event (meaning an event so rare that it has a 1/1,000 or 0.1% chance of happening in any given year). Asheville was simple not prepared. Unfortunately, Takoma Park could be in the same boat.

1. The City has not had a flood study since 2009. The one that was produced then only looked at a 100-year flood and did not include effects of climate change.

2. The floodplain study for the Library Project was limited in area, did not account for climate change, and also only looked at a 100-year event. The model used by the consultants was appropriate for stormwater management but inadequate for catastrophic flood analysis.

3. The recent LIDC study focused on remediation of existing stormwater problem areas and did not include any flooding analysis.

4. Most of the existing Takoma Park stormwater infrastructure was only designed to manage a 10-year event. To put things into context, rainfall for the 24-hour 10-year event for Takoma Park is 4.89 inches, the 100-year event is 8.44 inches; the 1,000-year event is 13.9 inches (parts of the Blue Ridge near Asheville received 14 inches).

5. If a 100-year event were to occur in Takoma Park today, it could affect some 619 properties. This event has a 26% chance of occurring over a 30-year period. The impact of a 1000-year event in Takoma Park has never been studied.

6. Maple Avenue from Philadelphia Avenue to Sligo Creek is a particularly vulnerable location for flooding. It is in a former stream valley over relic Brashears Run which drains over 550 acres of Takoma Park, Takoma DC, and Silver Spring. This street, along with the municipal buildings, Piney Branch Elementary and many multifamily residences lies in a basin. In a major event, this basin will act like a bathtub whose only drain is Sligo Creek. The creek itself would be inundated by water from upstream, would not have capacity to drain Maple, and the bathtub would fill up flooding structures along Maple. This is exactly what happened in the Appalachian hollows in North Carolina and Tennessee. This has never been studied for Takoma Park.

7. For years, Takoma Stormwater Solutions (TSS) and others have advocated for a Strategic Stormwater Management Plan for Takoma Park which would include flood vulnerabilities, climate change adaptation, and climate resilience. TSS has also requested that any stormwater management plan and action on the part of the City be fully transparent and consistent with the recommendations of the Maryland Climate Adaptation and Resilience Framework .These requests seem to have fallen on deaf ears and no action has been taken. The time for action by the City Council is now.

I am willing and available to give a presentation to the Council detailing the science behind these facts and actions that can be taken.

Paul Chrostowski

Webinar Tue May 2, 2023 7pm - Solving Neighborhood Stormwater Problems Together

Click here to view recording

Takoma Stormwater Solutions presented a webinar on Payment for Ecosystem Services, demonstrating how to implement an effective, sustainable approach for working with neighbors and our city government to solve perennial flooding problems in Takoma Park.

An experienced environmental economist joins a community leader from the Town of Somerset, MD to explain the steps by which neighbors, when supported by city experts, can implement cost-effective, long-term solutions to seemingly intractable problems.

Webinar Tue September 27, 2022 7pm - Takoma Stormwater Solutions: New Partnerships

Click here to view recording

Webinar Tue May 10, 2022 noon to 1:30 pm - Exploring Takoma Stormwater Solutions

We were  joined by 75 community members including more than half of the Takoma Park City Council and key staff members, a State delegate and County planning staff.

Click here to view recording