Federal Funding May Address Flooding Issues Near Downtown Kalamazoo

Published on December 16, 2024

Flooding occurrences have long been a concern near parts of downtown Kalamazoo and nearby neighborhoods. A federal bipartisan water infrastructure bill now approved by Congress may pave the way for projects aimed at addressing flooding issues.

The 2024 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), approved by both Congressional chambers and awaits President Joe Biden’s signature, authorizes a new Army Corps of Engineers study in the Kalamazoo River Watershed to examine urban flooding in the city of Kalamazoo. The WRDA sets the stage for projects that the City of Kalamazoo has been working to implement.

“The downtown and neighborhood areas along and nearby both the Kalamazoo River and Portage Creek have long been impacted by heavy amounts of rainfall and resulting inland flooding,” said Kalamazoo Department of Public Services director James Baker. “These areas include sections of Crosstown Parkway, Vine Street, and Lake Street near Downtown and Bronson Methodist Hospital, as well as streets east of Portage Street. There is a long history of flooding in the area dating back more than a hundred years, so this is welcome news.”

These densely populated areas within the City of Kalamazoo have experienced high occurrence rates of riverine and backwater flooding. The river channel through the city is insufficient to handle flood volumes, with estimates of 15 to 20 billion gallons or more per flood event. High groundwater elevations, or water table, also contribute to chronic basement flooding for older homes in low lying areas. Along Portage Creek, the channel is insufficient to handle high flow water events, and flooding has impacted private property, transportation, utilities, and access to the area’s only level one trauma center at Bronson Methodist Hospital. Backwater events from the Kalamazoo River also contribute to the flooding events.

For several years, the City of Kalamazoo has partnered with the National Weather Service, United States Geological Survey, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on a joint Flood Inundation Mapping (FIM) project. Partnerships have also been created with the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Department Office of Emergency Management, and with the Northside Association for Community Development.

Bathymetric surveys on the Portage Creek, Kalamazoo River, and adjoining floodplains have been conducted, and survey data has been used to create a two-dimensional hydraulic model to gauge historic, real-time, and simulated streamflow discharge. Using the joint FIM project, City staff have developed alternatives seeking to protect the Portage Creek floodplain area from inundation.

One such initiative includes a by-pass and closure project along the Portage Creek to direct excess stream flows to a pump complex and into the Kalamazoo River. The project would also include a closure complex on the confluence with the Kalamazoo River in Kalamazoo’s Northside neighborhood to prevent backwater flooding, and a pump complex at the closure complex to convey baseflow during closure up into the Kalamazoo River.

The City of Kalamazoo has not yet been provided with the amount of federal funding that will be granted from the legislation to begin this work. The cost estimate on the project could be at least $110 million. A timeline on when the work would begin and be completed is also yet to be determined.

“When the amount of federal funding to the City of Kalamazoo is determined, our crews will be ready,” said Baker. “We know what needs to be done to combat the problem of flooding in the area. With the passing of the WRDA, help may be on the way which could mean eventual welcome relief for the many businesses and residents in these areas that have long suffered from flooding inundation.”