Stimulus money pays for stormwater projects

By Kathryn Reed

Federal money is flowing to South Lake Tahoe for public works projects.

The $3.175 million is part of the federal stimulus package that is being filtered through the state’s clean water fund. The city applied for the funds earlier this year.

The stimulus money is being used to construct the Sierra Tract Erosion Control Project Phase 1b ($1.675 million) and Al Tahoe ECP, Project 1 ($1.5 million).

“The projects were highly rated since they were ‘shovel-ready’. The city qualified as an economically disadvantaged community, and the projects would provide water quality benefits by reducing the discharge of pollutants to Lake Tahoe associated with the city’s urban stormwater runoff,” explained Robert Erlich, the city’s engineer supervisor/stormwater coordinator.

Work started this summer on the Sierra Tract project, with completion expected next year. Curbs, gutters, storm drain inlets, storm drain pipe, water quality treatment basins, and vegetation are part of the mix.

South Lake Tahoe had planned to use Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act money to help pay for both projects. That money is now available for other water quality projects in the basin.

Plans are being drawn up for the Al Tahoe project, which will include replacement of a deteriorated corrugated metal pipe storm drain conveyance pipe, installation of drainage inlets, curbs, gutters, roadside shoulder treatment, and vegetation restoration.

“Urban stormwater that has historically flowed directly into Lake Tahoe will be directed through a series of stormwater management devices, including infiltration galleries and filtration vaults, to reduce both the volume of stormwater discharged, and the fine sediment and nutrient loads discharged to Lake Tahoe,” Erlich said.