Updated July 18

The city’s engineering division of public works is seeking public comment on the proposed 2025 stormwater master plan.

Comments may be submitted in writing to Mark Juras, or discussed at an open house meeting on Aug. 14 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Gibson Room at the Civic Center.

The comment period closes 5 p.m. Aug. 15.

The final draft is available here.

The city is updating the current stormwater master plan, which commissioners adopted in 1989 and identifying “a range of macro scale drainage improvements to help make informed decisions for construction required to address existing system deficiencies and serve the city as it grows,” according to city staff.

Residents who witness flooding are encouraged to report the location and attach photos, if available, to any emails submitted.

City approves contract for stormwater master plan [2023]

If there are comments or questions to the document itself, reference the page number and/or exhibit number in your submission.

For more information, contact Mark Juras, development review coordinator, at mjuras@greatfallsmt.net or call 406-455-8120.

In 2023, City Commissioners approved a $455,870 contract to Great West Engineering for the stormwater master plan.

City approves 27 percent utility increase, discussing how those new funds will be used

The commission adopted the current plan in 1989 and it analyzed and identified drainage deficiencies and provided a range of concepts for the construction of future facilities and prioritized system maintenance and improvement projects.

The 1989 plan also recommended the creation of a storm drain fee to pay for necessary upgrades and maintenance.

Road closures continue downtown for stormwater, utility improvements

The plan update process was initially planned to include public outreach and a website with a GIS-based data collection tool to allow public identification of drainage concern areas, according to the 2023 staff report.

City staff told The Electric that portion of the project was cut due to budget constraints and instead the final draft of the plan includes instructions for providing comments or reporting localized flooding.

The plan update will develop a computerized hydraulic model of the city’s storm sewer network using the city’s existing storm drain utility mapping, as-built plans, and Lidar data. Supplemental surveying will be conducted where data is not available, according to city staff.

City conducting stormwater survey [2024]

The storm drain model for the existing drainage networks will be run and refined for the various storm events to perform capacity analysis for the existing pipes and to identify areas of surcharging and overtopping, according to city staff.

The plan update will also include an evaluation of potential overflow improvement alternatives for flood mitigation efforts during substantial rain events, such as the August 2016 rain storm, according to staff.

City considering contract for updated stormwater master plan [2022]

The plan will also include macro scale drainage concepts for future facility construction and analysis of possible locations for future city owner regional stormwater detention/retention ponds.

The plan will also review industry practices used by Montana municipalities and industry standards for stormwater rate structures, according to staff. The rate study will determine the revenue needed to meet the utility’s financial obligations, including capital, operating, and regulatory commitments and make recommendations for a rate structure.

City Commission to consider $140,795 contract for stormwater management plan [2018]

The project has been prioritized in the city public works capital improvement program and budgeted with storm sewer funds, unassigned capital improvements and the enterprise fund, according to staff.