Project Description
Parsons was retained by The City of Clearwater to develop a comprehensive watershed management plan for the Stevenson Creek Watershed. The scope of work involves evaluating water quality, water supply, flooding conditions, and natural systems within the watershed; and developing alternatives to protect, enhance, and restore the predevelopment conditions in the watershed. The plan included the following elements:
Collecting and Evaluating Existing Information
No information from public and private entities was compiled or analyzed to set the project within the boundaries of its institutional and regulatory framework. Photos of drainage structures were collected and entered into the database. A GIS was created to organize photographs, and a website was created, which allowed managers to view the structure detail against an aerial background.
Soils Mapping and Land-use Mapping
The soils and land use maps were created as ArcInfo coverages. The soils characteristics for each sub-basin in the watershed were determined and used as input to develop curve numbers for the hydrologic analysis. The 1995 land use coverage will be updated to determine existing conditions. The data will be used as input to develop curve numbers for the hydrologic analysis as well as rainfall/runoff coefficients for pollutant loading calculations.
Natural Systems Evaluation
Any undeveloped property and property already in public ownership was assessed for potential use as wildlife habitat, stormwater retention and treatment or preferably, a combination of these uses.
Flood Control
The basins and sub-basins within the watershed were delineated to provide a level of detail that will allow evaluations of future development actions. The hydrologic/hydraulic modeling is consistent with EPA's SWIMM model.
Hydrologic/hydraulic Modeling
AdICPR modeling software was used to analyze the processes associated with flood control. The system will include developing runoff hydrographs and routing the hydrographs through the creek, and developing stormwater conveyance structures.
Internet Web Page Development
A web page was developed to collect public input and distribute progress to all stakeholders. Geographic Information Systems data is displayed and updated on a regular basis.
| 
