RCWD Changing Climate and Floodplain Resiliency
Background
Ongoing hydraulic and hydrologic (H&H) model development for the Rice Creek Watershed District (RCWD) have proven essential to developing resiliency plans for the community’s future and changing climate.
The Project
RCWD retained Houston Engineering, Inc. (HEI) to simulate future hydrology conditions, consistent with climate-driven extreme weather patterns, using the existing district-wide H&H model. The model simulated multiple rainfall/runoff scenarios to determine critical rainfall durations and identify at-risk locations for increased flood stages.
The locations with the greatest risk increase included Judicial Ditch 2, Middle Rice Creek, and Long Lake. Of these areas, Lexington and Mounds View in Middle Rice Creek were identified as areas of concern related to environmental justice. It was pertinent to include areas of environmental justice concern due to the project’s goal of building climate resiliency.
Then, using an ArcGIS screening methodology, seven potential capital improvement storage project locations were identified throughout the watershed district. A combination of modeling, engineering, analysis, and community engagement via workshops through the Freshwater Society were also completed to support these efforts.
These concept storage locations were simulated within the district-wide model to evaluate effectiveness in combating climate-related flood impacts. The results of this study provide a vehicle for the District to pursue project partnerships with its member cities and grant opportunities to support the funding of the project.
- Detailed simulations of future climate events were developed, drawing from multiple external research projects and utilizing the District’s prior modeling investment.
- HEI identified several capital improvement projects that will support climate resiliency and are eligible for state funding.
- HEI, along with the Freshwater Society, pinpointed vulnerable sites across 186 square miles of mixed rural and urban areas for flood risk mitigation.
Project Details
Location: Rice Creek Watershed, MN
Project Highlights
- Detailed simulations of future climate events were developed, drawing from multiple external research projects and utilizing the District’s prior modeling investment.
- HEI identified several capital improvement projects that will support climate resiliency and are eligible for state funding.
- HEI, along with the Freshwater Society, pinpointed vulnerable sites across 186 square miles of mixed rural and urban areas for flood risk mitigation.
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