As part of a coordinated effort with the Horsepen and North Buffalo Creek watershed master plans, McAdams is conducting a watershed master planning study for the approximately 33-square-mile basin of South Buffalo Creek. The study includes a detailed analysis of its 17 major tributaries, and FEMA-regulated stream reaches.

In conjunction with the Citywide planning analyses, McAdams will be performing updated hydrologic and hydraulic analyses, including HEC-HMS, unsteady 1-D HEC-RAS analysis, and PC-SWMM models, to analyze existing and future conditions, as well as climate-change scenarios for its major stormwater systems. This effort will also entail identifying the Level of Service deficiencies at roadway crossings and drainage networks and providing alternatives analysis and proposed scenarios for mitigating street and structural flooding across the City.

In addition to analysis of these primary systems, McAdams will also assess high-priority secondary systems across the South Buffalo Creek Watershed, including areas of frequent drainage complaints, including flooding and erosion. This project will also include an assessment of streams and open channels for potential streambank stabilization and restoration to be incorporated into future culvert and bridge improvements. The water quality will also be assessed to determine opportunities for nature-based solutions and improvements and the implementation of green stormwater infrastructure where beneficial to future projects. The end result of this effort will include the development of a prioritized listing of future Stormwater CIP projects, complete with Opinions of Probable Construction Costs, for the City to develop into their long-range capital improvement plan and align projects and priorities for decades to come. This project is anticipated to be completed in conjunction with the other basin studies by summer 2024.