Study for Flood Management and Water Quality Funding

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Consultation has concluded

Fayetteville is growing faster than our current stormwater system can support. A combination of more high-intensity rainfall and growth of hard surfaces have contributed to flooded streets and properties, among other drainage issues, which can ultimately impact the quality of our drinking water source, Beaver Lake.

In the April bond election the residents of Fayetteville voted in favor of implementing the City’s Drainage Improvement Plan, developed after the major flooding event of 2017. The drainage projects outlined in this plan have been identified as top priorities to kickstart improvement of the city’s stormwater management. However, once these projects are completed, an ongoing and sustainable effort will be required to maintain a quality stormwater management system over time.

The City embarked on a Flood Management and Water Quality Funding study to assess what services are currently provided in our stormwater management system, and compared those efforts with a more proactive approach to reduce flooding and pollutants that impact water quality. Staff presented those results to a City Council Stormwater Committee to consider possible options for new services that would enable the City to get ahead and stay ahead of these issues.

Current Status

At the November 5, 2019, City Council meeting, City staff recommended acceptance of the study results, along with an amendment to the contract with the study providers to further refine the recommendations for the extent and level of service with associated rates and other services, most notably including:

  • Stakeholder engagement and education: through workshops, public meetings, etc. in order to further educate the public and targeted stakeholders of the need for a sustainable stormwater program.
  • Stormwater program extent and level of service definition and rate analysis. This will include a review of an alternate rate structure using percentage of impervious area to lot size rather than an absolute rate based on public feedback.
  • Sustainable Credit System: define the credit system and how it will apply to the various tiers shown in the current proposal
  • Fee-in-lieu-of Program Assessment: assessment of the potential for a fee-in-lieu-of improvement in instances where the project site may be limited and there is potential for the City or other parties to make regional improvements.

These additional tasks could take up to one year, at which point an ordinance to establish the utility could be presented to the Council. An additional period would then be required to finalize the billing database and begin collecting the fee from users.


For more information about the study, view the City of Fayetteville's Stormwater Study web page.


Fayetteville is growing faster than our current stormwater system can support. A combination of more high-intensity rainfall and growth of hard surfaces have contributed to flooded streets and properties, among other drainage issues, which can ultimately impact the quality of our drinking water source, Beaver Lake.

In the April bond election the residents of Fayetteville voted in favor of implementing the City’s Drainage Improvement Plan, developed after the major flooding event of 2017. The drainage projects outlined in this plan have been identified as top priorities to kickstart improvement of the city’s stormwater management. However, once these projects are completed, an ongoing and sustainable effort will be required to maintain a quality stormwater management system over time.

The City embarked on a Flood Management and Water Quality Funding study to assess what services are currently provided in our stormwater management system, and compared those efforts with a more proactive approach to reduce flooding and pollutants that impact water quality. Staff presented those results to a City Council Stormwater Committee to consider possible options for new services that would enable the City to get ahead and stay ahead of these issues.

Current Status

At the November 5, 2019, City Council meeting, City staff recommended acceptance of the study results, along with an amendment to the contract with the study providers to further refine the recommendations for the extent and level of service with associated rates and other services, most notably including:

  • Stakeholder engagement and education: through workshops, public meetings, etc. in order to further educate the public and targeted stakeholders of the need for a sustainable stormwater program.
  • Stormwater program extent and level of service definition and rate analysis. This will include a review of an alternate rate structure using percentage of impervious area to lot size rather than an absolute rate based on public feedback.
  • Sustainable Credit System: define the credit system and how it will apply to the various tiers shown in the current proposal
  • Fee-in-lieu-of Program Assessment: assessment of the potential for a fee-in-lieu-of improvement in instances where the project site may be limited and there is potential for the City or other parties to make regional improvements.

These additional tasks could take up to one year, at which point an ordinance to establish the utility could be presented to the Council. An additional period would then be required to finalize the billing database and begin collecting the fee from users.


For more information about the study, view the City of Fayetteville's Stormwater Study web page.