Challenge

A large flood destroyed two streets, sanitary sewer, storm sewer and two houses in the Village of Lake Nebagamon, Wisconsin. The flood also moved the creek from its original location and caused major erosion problems. The City retained Thatcher Engineering to determine the best way to replace the infrastructure, return the creek to its original location and natural condition, and protect houses.

Solution:

Thatcher Engineering immediately designed and the Village installed temporary streets, sanitary sewer and storm sewer systems. Thatcher then worked with the Village and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to prepare plans and specifications for permanent streets, sanitary sewer, and storm sewer and returning the creek to its original location and natural condition such that houses will be protected from flooding. The storm sewer system included one 100 foot long, 6 foot by 6 foot concrete box culvert with end sections and two 45 foot long, 36 inch diameter arch reinforced concrete pipes with flared end sections. Returning the creek to its original condition required removal of sediment deposits, realignment of the creek bed to meandering patterns based to the greatest degree possible on historical information, reshaping, stabilizing and revegetating the banks of the creek, regrading streambank areas and areas adjacent to the creek and establishing buffers. Thatcher also provided construction contract administration and observation services for the Village. Mark Anderson Excavating, a utility contractor, constructed the project.